Community Learning Trust

Luton Adult Learning, with the support of local Partners through the Community Learning Fund Luton, aims to provide learning opportunities across the town, in local communities. We use a range of formal and informal methods of delivery to help meet all needs.

Luton Council receives direct funding from the Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), which Luton Adult Learning manages. This is made available to local organisations and groups who can bid for this funding to enable them to offer informal community learning.
 
The Community Learning Fund is designed to specifically support and encourage VCS and other third sector and not for profit organisations in delivering innovative learning that supports disadvantaged adults and addresses the key local priorities of the South East Midlands Local Economic Partnership (SEMLEP) and the overarching purpose of Government supported Community Learning which is to:

• Maximise access to community learning for adults, bringing new opportunities and improving lives, whatever people’s circumstances

• Promote social renewal by bringing local communities together to experience the joy of learning and the pride that comes with achievement

• Maximise the impact of community learning on the social and economic well-being of individuals, families and communities

The fund supports project activities that widen participation and transform people’s destinies by supporting progression relevant to personal circumstances, for example learning designed to:

• Engage and/or build confidence

• Prepare for further learning

• Prepare for employment

• Improve essential skills (English, Maths and digital provision)

• Improve health and wellbeing

The fund helps develop strong communities by:

• Increasing volunteering, community engagement and/or social integration

• Bringing together people of different backgrounds, communities and cultures

• Training or retraining local people to develop roles in community leadership or as 'community champions'

Luton Adult Learning expects subcontractors to encourage and support all learners to progress onto new or more stretching provision to help them move into more formal learning or employment. In order to support residents who are most deprived and furthest away from education or employment, we would like to see provision being delivered in the nine wards of multiple deprivation in Luton. 

Successful candidates are awarded a contract to deliver learning programmes over the course of the academic year. This year we are working with:

• Active Luton

• Noah Enterprise

• Bangladeshi Youth League

• Groundworks East

• Autism Beds

• Reactiv8 (for Multiply funding)

If you are interested in applying for future funding opportunities, email clf@lutonacl.ac.uk