Advocacy Information & Advice—Education

Colleges often provide support and advice for people with difficulties, including mental health problems. Some courses are organised so that you can start them at most times of the year and some are quite short, so that you can just get a ‘taste’ to see if you like it. People on benefits can often get courses free (after payment of a small registration fee), if those courses are ‘accredited’.  You can find out which ones are accredited from the college concerned. If you have a course you would like to do and feel you need extra support to be able to take part, you can contact Susan Owen Tel: 01638 508430 or Val Cambers Tel: 01480 383491.

Local Contacts

Cambridgeshire County Council
Community Education, Adult Special Needs Service
Box ELH1101
Castle Court
Shire Hall
Cambridge
CB3 OAP

Tel: 01223 718474

The County Adult Special Needs Team is a county-wide service involved in the provision and delivery of classes to people with learning difficulties, physical and sensory impairments and to people with mental health problems. Classes take place in a variety of venues including day centres and hospitals.

The team is also responsible for organising and supporting the learning partner scheme which is a project which aims to support an adult learner through mainstream or discrete activities by matching them with a co-learner who follows the course and provides friendship and help where necessary.
Classes are available term-times, Monday – Friday for day and evening sessions. The co-ordinators can be contacted at other times.  People may contact them direct or via other agencies e.g. social services, health workers, carers, volunteer groups.

Connexions
20 Benedicts Court
Huntingdon
Cambs
PE29 3PN

Tel: 01480 376800
Email: connexions.huntingdon@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Website: www.purplepigeon.net
www.connexions-direct.com

Connexions is the place for 13-19 year olds to find opportunities, information support and guidance. Advice and guidance for young people includes help with career decisions and career plans, choosing the appropriate courses, training opportunities and a job vacancy service for 16-19 year olds.

Services for adults can include help with considering career change or development, returning to work, techniques for job hunting, assessing your skills, CV writing and review or advice on training or study options. Everyone is welcome to use the careers library for information.

Contact the above address for details of your local Connexions office or Christine Parsons, Adult Guidance Adviser, on 01480 376007.

Huntingdonshire Regional College
California Road
Huntingdon
Cambs
PE18 7BL

Tel: 01480 379100
Email: college@huntingdon.ac.uk
Web: www.huntingdon.ac.uk

The college provide the opportunity to study a wide range of subjects with many leading to a qualification. Courses available include basic skills, literacy and IT together with vocational, work - based learning. Students have access to careers education and guidance to suit their needs and many courses may be tailored to specific requirements. Student counsellors are available to provide support and advice and the college benefits from a comprehensive library, parking and nursery facilities. There is a wide range of provision for students experiencing a learning difficulty or disability and all courses are open to all members of the community on an equal basis. Enrolment is continuous and courses are free to people in receipt of benefits.

Paines Mill Foyer
Phoenix Square
St. Neots
Huntingdon
PE19 1HP

Tel: 01480 406316
Email: painesmill.foyer@axiomha.org.uk

Paine’s Mill Foyer is a supported housing project that helps to accommodate young, single people between the ages of 16 and 25. The accommodation is linked to work, training and education as the Foyer ethos is about helping young people to move on in their lives by breaking the ‘no job, no home’ cycle.

The accommodation comprises seventeen bed sitting rooms with shared use of kitchens, laundry and washing/toilets. There are also two self-contained units for residents with greater support needs. Staff are on site nearly twenty four hours a day and are on hand to provide life skills training, information about work and training and support for residents.

The Foyer also has a IT suite, that provides Learndirect courses and access to the internet to both residents and members of the public.

Workers’ Education Association
Website: www.wea.org.uk

WEA provide informal courses with expert tuition for adults of all ages including disabled people, carers, the unemployed or retired.