Inspiring learner and partner stories have supported Lancashire Adult Learning’s stellar showcase of Health and Wellbeing courses to influential healthcare professionals.

Current and prospective partner organisations from across the Red Rose County were invited to LAL’s latest social prescribing showcase at Northlight where they learned more about LAL’s wide range of Health and Wellbeing provision, and the different ways in which LAL can support organisations and learners.

Empowering tales of improved wellbeing from Lancashire Adult Learning learners who had completed courses including Art for Wellbeing and Chair Based Exercises were shared, and delegates invited to the event also heard inspiring stories from partner organisations of strong engagement in Health and Wellbeing courses.

Social prescribing is about connecting people to non-medical support in the community – an example being where education is prescribed as an alternative to medication, empowering people with the right tools to become self-managing and resilient.

Nicola Hall, Head of Curriculum and Strategic Partnerships, said: “I’m delighted that Lancashire Adult Learning is at the forefront of the incredibly important social prescribing agenda and that we are in a position to support adult learners right across the county’s 12 districts.

“Our social prescribing event was a real celebration of the tangible difference that Health and Wellbeing courses can make to the lives of Lancashire residents, and I’m looking forward to working together with key partners across the county to progress our valuable work further.”

Shamim Rahman, 30, from Burnley, was one of the learners to speak at the showcase. She said: “The course I am doing with LAL is at Linkbridge in Burnley. A community venue is accessible and much more relaxed for me and the course suits me perfectly too as art is my stress reliever.

“By completing the tasks and projects within the course, it gives me a feeling of warmth, pride and achievement. I have a wonderful tutor, I’ve learned new skills and made new friends, and the course has given me a great sense of belonging.”

Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, Director of Public Health for Lancashire, said: “Lancashire Adult Learning is an incredible community asset for the people of Lancashire. They can help with everything from living a healthier life to helping people develop critical skills for employment. What’s more, the courses are free of charge and they are accessible to all.

“This is going to be especially important now the health and care system joins up to work with organisations such as LAL, local authorities and community groups to promote caring for people in the communities in which they live.”

Julie Bell, Head of Libraries, Museums, Culture and Archives for Lancashire County Council said: “Public libraries have been around since the beginning of the 20th century and they have and continue to be the university on the street corner. We should never underestimate the power of what we do and we should celebrate that.

“Working with Lancashire Adult Learning enhances this as the courses offered through the partnership provides our customers with skills for life, and progression onwards and upwards in the world. The biggest and best medicine we can provide is connection, and that is what we do very well.

“The partnership we share with LAL is a real benefit to the communities of Lancashire and we are always looking at new courses and new ways to engage customers and attract new ones. The exciting thing looking into the future is that we have still got a whole lot of untapped potential through the partnership.”

Cosima Towneley, Lancashire County Councillor and Lead Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Services, said: “I’ve always thought that prevention is far preferable to prescription, and that is exactly where social prescribing fits perfectly.

“I found the Lancashire Adult Learning social prescribing event immensely useful, and the range of courses is extremely positive for people right across Lancashire who suffer with mental, physical or financial health difficulties.”

As well as its targeted delivery and partnership work, Lancashire Adult Learning offers a huge range of planned provision across the Red Rose County, from Arts and Crafts to Humanities classes, Languages to Health and Wellbeing sessions and Functional Skills English and Maths and Employability courses.

In February 2018, Lancashire Adult Learning was named as the inaugural winner of the national Adult and Community Learning Provider of the Year at the TES FE Awards.

Further information about Lancashire Adult Learning can be found at www.lal.ac.uk or by calling 0333 003 1717.

Two hundred members of the public from Padiham and Burnley joined Lancashire Adult Learning’s drive to support people to socially prescribe.

Working in partnership with Burnley West Primary Care Network, the showcase event at Padiham Town Hall was the latest in a series of LAL roadshow events working with Primary Care Networks in Lancashire with the aim of encouraging members of the public to socially prescribe.

Social prescribing is about connecting people to non-medical support in the community – an example being where education is prescribed as an alternative to medication, empowering people with the right tools to become self-managing and resilient.

Visitors on the day included Lord Shuttleworth, and all had the chance to take part in ‘Have a go’ learning experiences including Healthier Microwave Cookery, Chair Based Exercises with Drumming, Mandala Stone Art, the Five Ways to Wellbeing, and First Aid, as well as Family Learning, Horticulture, Art and Singing, and Volunteering activities.

Those attending also had the chance to sign up to a wide range of Lancashire Adult Learning’s free Health and Wellbeing courses, as well as take up a free health check including blood pressure, blood glucose and weight measurement from a team of health professionals.

Nicola Hall, Head of Curriculum and Strategic Partnerships at Lancashire Adult Learning, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled at the response from the residents in Padiham and Burnley to our Community Wellbeing Day which was a huge success.

“The event was very well attended, and Padiham Town Hall was alive with around 200 members of the public participating in learning activities to improve their wellbeing.

“LAL’s aim is to help the people of Lancashire live longer, fuller and happier lives, and we are doing exactly that, with the support of Primary Care Networks like Burnley West and the great number of partner and community groups who attended the showcase adding value to the day.”

Dr James Fleming, Clinical Director of the Burnley West Primary Care Network, said: “As a local GP, I feel it is very important to get the basics right like smoking and exercise. As well as that though, we need to focus on our general wellbeing, which is what the day was about.

“There are so many services which are available to the public but they just don’t know about them. For example, the Padiham Community Choir is a fantastic way to help combat loneliness, promote community cohesion and learn something new at the same time. I wanted people to know about services which are free to access but can have a huge impact on health and wellbeing.

“If you could design a service from scratch that would support a community to improve its wellbeing, it would be exactly what Lancashire Adult Learning provides. When I was introduced to their work, I just couldn’t believe how relevant and wide ranging it was. I’ve wanted to do this for years and Lancashire Adult Learning have made this happen.”

Lord Shuttleworth said: “Health and Wellbeing is enormously important, and I think it is brilliant to see Lancashire Adult Learning and the NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group working together to host such a wonderful event for the benefit of the community in Padiham and Burnley.

“I was aware of Lancashire Adult Learning’s work prior to attending the Community Wellbeing Event, but it has opened my eyes to the breadth of the offer and the ways in which adults right across Lancashire are supported by LAL and can access learning opportunities.”

Alice Binns, a member of the public attending the event, said: “I came to the wellbeing day with my sister, and I have been pleasantly surprised at the range of learning opportunities and community groups. It has been a very interesting experience and I have thoroughly enjoyed attending.”

Local organisations who joined the Lancashire Adult Learning team at the Health and Wellbeing event included Burnley FC in the Community; Burnley Leisure; Padiham Community Choir; Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS; Lancashire Women; I Plato; Blind Society; Age UK; Cancer Care Team; Bowel Cancer; Slimming World; Steady On Team, Padiham Green Way; Male Carers’ Group; Virgin Care; Alzheimer’s Society.

Any businesses and organisations in Lancashire who would be interested in working with Lancashire Adult Learning’s Health and Wellbeing Team can contact Craig Pollard at c.pollard@lal.ac.uk.

As well as its targeted delivery and partnership work, Lancashire Adult Learning offers a huge range of planned provision across the Red Rose County, from Arts and Crafts to Humanities classes, Languages to Health and Wellbeing sessions and Functional Skills English and Maths and Employability courses.

In February 2018, Lancashire Adult Learning was named as the inaugural winner of the national Adult and Community Learning Provider of the Year at the TES FE Awards.

Further information about Lancashire Adult Learning can be found at www.lal.ac.ukor by calling 0333 003 1717.

Lancashire Adult Learning and HM Kirkham prison have launched a partnership to better support prisoners as they prepare for life after their release.

The partnership between Lancashire Adult Learning and the open prison was launched with a showcase event for prisoners offering tasters of LAL’s broad provision at the prison’s library and education centre.

Health and Wellbeing initiatives were central to the provision on offer, including a full body workout with Chair Based Exercises with Drumming, and promotion of quick and easy microwave cookery recipes for healthy eating.

Information on the NHS Change4Life programme raising awareness of high fats, salt and sugars in popular off the shelf foods was also available, as well as the promotion of leisure activities for mental wellbeing such as arts and crafts, choir singing and horticulture.

The showcase also included LAL’s Employability team who provided prisoners attending the event with expert advice and guidance on getting back into work once their sentence has been served, and the Family Learning team were also in attendance to promote classes – with evidence showing reduced rates of reoffending in former prisoners when they engage in education with their children after leaving prison.

Nicola Hall, Head of Curriculum and Strategic Partnerships at Lancashire Adult Learning, said: “I’m delighted to launch our partnership with HM Kirkham prison and I believe there is real scope for this relationship to be successful and flourish.

“The launch night was an inspiring occasion, and it was fantastic to see the men at Kirkham positively engaging with the LAL team and our offer.”

Governor at HM Kirkham prison Derek Harrison said: “The learning event held was a real opportunity for men at Kirkham to identify and develop their own learning interests and tie them to accessible learning opportunities which can help to reduce reoffending.

“It was an evening taster session that was really well attended and saw a lot of engagement from prisoners as well as being supported by multiple community services. I look forward to seeing how this develops into the future.”

One of the prisoners who attended the showcase was Wayne. He said: “I’ve found the taster event very good and it is run by brilliant people.

“I had fun with the Chair Based Exercises. It’s something I wouldn’t have considered doing normally, and as well as the exercise, it works your brain too with coordination.

“I found the Employability advice and guidance very good as well, especially about how to manage disclosure when applying for jobs when I am released.”

Another prisoner Mark found the taster showcase very good. He said: “I really think there should be more events like this. I’ve been planning for my release for the past five months and this showcase has been a real eye opener for me in terms of the opportunities I have and the range courses I can do.

“I have had quite a varied career in terms of my employment history and the skills and experience that I have, so it was very useful talking to the Employability team.

“The microwave cookery was also interesting, and I’m very surprised at the number of recipes and the variety of food that you can cook using a microwave.”

Lancashire Adult Learning’s guide for Spring is out now and is full of inspiration for the new year, with courses to help adults across the Red Rose County develop a new hobby, learn a new skill, improve their wellbeing, enhance their social life, gain employment or change career.

As well as its targeted delivery and partnership work, Lancashire Adult Learning offers a huge range of planned provision across Lancashire, from Arts and Crafts to Humanities classes, Languages to Health and Wellbeing sessions and Functional Skills English and Maths and Employability courses.

In February 2018, Lancashire Adult Learning was named as the inaugural winner of the national Adult and Community Learning Provider of the Year at the TES FE Awards.

Further information about Lancashire Adult Learning can be found at www.lal.ac.uk or by calling