New Library, Learning and Customer Services Centre in Kirkbymoorside!

A new Library, Learning and Customer Services Centre has opened in Kirkbymoorside in Church House, High Market Place.

[Entrance New Kirbymoorside Library, Learning and Customer Services Centre]
Entrance to the new Kirbymoorside Centre

People living in Kirkbymoorside and the town's surrounding areas are now able to access a vast range of library and information services as well as an adult learning zone after the renovated Church House re-opened its doors this autumn. The centre, the result of a £650,000 investment between North Yorkshire County Council and Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency, will offer much improved facilities for all customers and act as a one-stop shop for a wide range of services.

Church House represents a new way of accessing a whole range of services under one roof. Alongside the learning zone, Ryedale District Council staff, as well as police staff, will be on hand to deal with queries from community members and will work closely with library staff.

The new library within Church House will offer £10,000 worth of new stock including the latest bestsellers, and a dedicated children's area. A suite of computers will also enable library members to use the internet. In addition, rooms are available for hire by community groups at competitive rates.      

The adult learning zone will offer vocational training courses to help people into work, including brushing up English, Maths and IT skills. Leisure courses such as watercolour painting or languages for holidays are also available. A wider range of courses both during the day and evening will be on offer from January 2010. A brochure giving details of the County Council's Adult Learning and Skills Service courses is available from the library or from the website. 

[Kirbymoorside Library, Learning and Customer Services classroom]

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Co-operation growing at Sherburn High!

An adult education class for aspiring gardeners at Sherburn-in-Elmet High School has brought rural science facilities back into use and made the grounds a nicer place to be in time for the new school year.

As well as getting the local community involved in improving school facilities in a new way, the project has been an excellent example of fruitful co-operation between local adult learners, Schools staff, Adult Learning Service staff and local businesses.

[Learners with tutor and school caretaker]

From left: Carol Blakey, Jill Hobson, Terry Geldard (Students); Jen Ivens (School Caretaker); David Mitchell (Course Tutor).

Below: Before and After!

  [Practice plots area - before]                                     [Practice plots - after]

The dynamic course tutor David Mitchell not only worked closely with school site manager John Wagstaff and rural science teacher Angela Barton, he involved support staff from his local area office at Selby and from County Hall in his plans to give his classes a practical dimension. He also persuaded three local businesses – fencing and building materials suppliers (Atkinsons Fencing from Castleford, Keith Moxon Building Supplies from Church Fenton) and a plant nursery (Millford Plants from Milford) – to donate materials.  

By the end of the Summer term the school had a completed, refurbished vegetable plot, with shrub beds and containers also being given a makeover.  The adult students went on to sell the plants they had grown in the school greenhouse at Sherburn Gala – all proceeds going to the school for the development of horticultural facilities. As Associate Headteacher Martyn Sibley put it, projects like this "make such a difference in enhancing the pride and feel of the school to students and visitors alike".

For details of all Adult courses in the Selby area click here for the latest brochure or contact the Selby area office on: 0845 300 6686 

Praise for adult learning and skills service after dyslexia diagnosis!

A man was found to be dyslexic after he visited North Yorkshire County Council's Adult Learning and Skills Service skills mobile in Thirsk Market Place.

Albert Butterworth, 59, who moved to Thirsk from Leeds last year, visited the skills mobile in the town's market place.

"I went in and said I could do with some help reading and writing tuition," Albert said. As a result, he started a Brush up your English course at the town hall. "The tutor, Liz, thought there was something wrong and asked if she could get someone in to check," he said.

Albert was referred by community development officer Karen Pattison and Skills for Life tutor Liz Spence Livingstone to Jill Swinhoe, the adult learning dyslexia adviser for Hambleton. An assessment showed Albert had difficulties with reading and writing consistent with dyslexia.

[Albert Butterworth - on a Brush up your English course, run by the Hambleton area adult learning service]

"They found out I was dyslexic," said Albert, "after all this time of me thinking I was stupid."

He now receives support, including tuition in the skills needed for accurate and fluent reading. "Now I am getting dyslexic lessons, thanks to the Council, because they put the mobile there," he said. "I get a private lesson and am now progressing quite well."

Albert became confident enough to find a job and now works for Avalon, an agency that works with social services to help people with disabilities and learning difficulties at home and work. Albert is currently supporting a boy who has Downs Syndrome.

"The main thing is, the tuition has given me confidence," said Albert. "It has done me the power of good. I am not out of the woods and I might not be the best speller in the world when I'm finished, but I'm getting there. After being in the dark, you can see light at the end of the tunnel. Now I have a positive attitude where before I had a negative one."

Jill, one of a number of dyslexia advisers working in the Adult Learning and Skills Service, said: "Albert's story shows that whatever issues people have had with reading and writing in the past, they can, with the right support, make good progress at any stage of their life. Albert has shown tremendous commitment. He has grown in confidence. So many doors seemed to have opened for Albert since he started this course."

Brush up your English is one of many free courses available to adults to improve their literacy and numeracy. Many people who attend these courses gain the confidence to seek new careers. There is an opportunity to work towards a nationally recognised qualification.

In addition to being a mobile classroom, the skills mobile often visits towns, villages and events to raise awareness of the Adult Learning and Skills Service.

For further details of community development workers in your area, call 01609 532478.