Encouraging People with Mental Health Problems to Access Education

Liverpool Learning Matters

Encouraging people with mental health problems to access education

Adult Learning Service

At ALS we offer a brand new start! Our tailored course programme will provide the necessary qualifications, confidence and improve mental wellbeing, in order to put people in a better social and professional position.As well as providing the knowledge and confidence to go forward in personal and career paths.

We are committed to providing an outstanding learning experience carried out by professional and friendly staff that are able to help carve out a personal progression pathway so that you are always clear about your next steps whether that is finding a job, setting up a business or helping with personal and social interests.Over 10,000 people enrolled in courses last year, making ALS the largest community learning provider in Liverpool.

ALS has a very proactive neighbourhood engagement team, the learning organisers work with organisations to bring education to the disenfranchised, people with mental health problems and other issues that leave them marginalised. Below are some case histories from some of our learners.

Case study 1

At one of the venues a group of service users who had expressed an interest in learning about poetry. ALS put on a Liverpool Learning Matters class for them.At first the course was offered in a venue the group were used to attending,after a while we brought them into one of our own centres in the community, Park Road Adult Learning Centre (ALC). None of the learners had, had any previous experience of reading or writing poetry, they were complete novices.Seven people attended the class regularly and their wellbeing and confidence improvedto such a degree, that five of them were able to performlive at a public poetry evening.The event took place at the Atrium, an Art in Liverpool venue.This was the very first time that any of them had done anything like this before. The tutor reported that they were ‘thrilled and elated’ at the response to them. They enjoyed the experience so much, that six of them were going to perform in public again, at the Dead Good Poets Society poetry evening at Blackburne House Liverpool.

Case study 2

A group of people wanted to gain a qualification. All the candidates have personal life experiences and have either been volunteers, or who have been service users at one of the various centres offering support around the city. They joined a Liverpool Learning Matters peer mentor’s course.The tutor saidthat they werevery apprehensive in the beginning and not sure if they wanted to engage.After the third week on the course their confidence had greatly improved and they interacted more as a group. All had very good attendance,most never missing a lesson, and they all joined ALS’s online learning community on the Edmodo website.

They have since achieved an NCFE L1 Award in Mentoring. Each of themhave told the tutor how much the course has helped them and changed their own attitudes.Helping them to plan for the future and work towardslong term goals, they never thought they could achieve.

Case study 3

A group of service users had expressed an interested in learning about iPad’s. The organisationhad negotiated a fantastic venue, a room in Liverpool World Museum. The training was arranged around them actually using the iPads, not how to switch it on or this button does this and that button does that. They used the apps to learn how to use the iPad. What happened when they swiped or tapped and what the pinch did? The participants enjoyed playing with the apps that had been downloaded and they listed some apps that they would like to be downloaded. The tutor reported that the lesson had encouraged much discussion and it was a great lesson. They had a lot of fun, there was plenty of laughter and it was a very positive experience all around.So much so that there was talk of people buying an iPad themselves.

Liverpool City Council

Have a very progressive approach to mental wellbeing and has developed a Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The vision is dynamic in the sense that it will evolve over time as they move forward in the understanding of the enormous public health challenges that the city face.

While the Health and Wellbeing Board have taken responsibility for developing the strategy, the vision and inspiration have also come from the experience of our partners. The link below takes the reader to a document that will outline and support the delivery of the vision for a fairer, healthier and happier Liverpool