Wider benefits of active learning for families and communities

Take Part Exeter delivered an accredited ‘Speaking Up’ Level 1 course with active citizenship elements to a Sure Start group of young mothers. The learners were mostly unemployed or on low incomes, and with few qualifications. The learning programmes improved the skills and confidence of learners with tangible outcomes - three long-term unemployed learners gained employment, and others moved to better jobs:

“The course completely changed my life... As I gained self-confidence, I became interested in politics and voted in the general election for the first time. I gained employment and embraced further education. This had a range of knock-on effects on my family. I was able to answer questions from my children that I had difficulty in doing previously, helping them with their homework, and I encouraged my sister to become involved with Take Part. My positive attitude towards learning and politics affected those close to me, who also started to vote and gain a greater interest in education. I am now enrolled on the Level 3 Speaking Up course, and have plans to go to university.”