Hastings & Rother Adult Community Learning Forum Learners Needs

H&R ACLF members Provide learning opportunities in community settings Participants are mostly out of work and community learning is their first step towards independence Forum members include Chapel Park Community Centre, Education Futures Trust, FSN, Hastings Works, HFS, Horizons Community Learning, Rye Partnership

Impact of poverty on learning H&R ACLF members report larger numbers of learners struggling to cope with poverty, and report symptoms of poverty such as learners arriving to study unable to concentrate due to hunger and worry. This means they are less likely to succeed in their studies and make progress towards employment. This in turn impacts on their longer-term wellbeing, their children’s health and education, and eventually even local regeneration targets.

Trying to help Our members have been desperately trying to respond and provide their learners with practical help such as: Affordable cookery courses Community cafes Debt advice courses Hosting benefits advice sessions Emergency funds (for uniforms, fuel, travel) Food bank / food parcels within our organisations

Our response There is a noticeable increase in anxiety and depression amongst learners. We are now sending workers and healthy lifestyle volunteers on training workshops about recognising those with suicidal thoughts. In house counselling sessions staffed by volunteers are overstretched. Currently the organisations are meeting these needs as best they can. Often staff members, who are not especially well-paid themselves, are bringing in food to make up food parcels or lending their own money to learners in crisis.

Concerns to discuss What is the real extent of poverty, particularly food poverty, and how can we raise awareness of the need for more help in our area? Do our organisations have the capacity to cope with the increased demand which will be caused by the roll-out of Universal Credit and reduction of the DESSS (Discretionary East Sussex Support Scheme)? How can we establish a more co-ordinated and accessible service that would be beneficial for local residents?

Our Recommendations The existing Food bank provide pre-packed long-life food parcels to some more accessible collection points (e.g. HFS store in Hastings town centre would be prepared to act as a collection point)? Local funders be approached collectively to support a local crisis fund that could enable charities to help people in need of sanitary goods, toilet roll and so on that aren’t covered by the Food bank? A specialist case worker is funded to work across community learning providers to help learners with additional welfare needs. A caseworker is funded to work across community learning providers to follow up issues around mental wellbeing and anxiety.