Intensive literacy help provided by the adult basic skills service has led to dramatic improvements in literacy levels among adults taking part in the New Deal in Fife, Scotland.

The FIFE project (the Fife Initiative for Employment) has enabled unemployed people to benefit from intensive support to improve their basic skills. Boosting the usual two hours tuition to 15 hours a week has had a dramatic effect on students' progress. Students who have already taken part in the programme have found that their skills and confidence have improved markedly in a relatively short period of time. All students receive individual help within a small group and value the informal, friendly atmosphere.

Since May 1999 the Adult Basic Education Service (ABE) in Fife has been contracted to provide basic skills support for unemployed clients on the FIFE project. It is one of 28 such projects in the UK, and one of only four in Scotland. Clients' participation in the programme is mandatory.

As the students have different levels of ability in literacy and numeracy, all are working on individual programmes, based on an assessment of their strengths and weaknesses. Some are working at a basic level but others are able to work towards certification by undertaking modules in literacy or numeracy such as basic reading skills, basic writing skills, or communications. Gaining a qualification is easily measurable progress but other students progress in small ways.

Maureen, who has only recently joined one of the groups, was able, for the first time in her life, to write and send a card to a friend. In the past she would have to have asked someone to write it for her, so she felt great when she was able to do this herself. Hopefully, Maureen will continue to make progress and benefit from attending the class.

The aim of the FIFE Project is to help people overcome barriers to gain employment. One such success story is John, who is delighted to have secured a job at a new supermarket in Dunfermline. John had not worked for many years and his confidence was at a low level when he joined one of the groups. Working on his basic skills every day meant John soon began to see himself progressing and his confidence improved. He applied for and got a place on a recruitment-training course run by the company. With the support of his group tutor, he completed the course and was guaranteed an interview for a job at the new store. The interview went well and John is now a full-time employee.

Another measure of the success of the classes is the number of students who opt to have a four-week extension to their programme, despite the fact there is no financial reward. Some students decide to continue their studies once they have left the project. The adult basic education team's involvement in the project will inform the national roll out of the New Deal 25+ provision from April 2000. The pilot project itself is likely to be extended to 2001 and adult basic education will remain a key activity of the pilot.

ABE students win cash prize
A group of basic education students participating in New Deal in West Fife is basking in the success of winning a cash prize and the Local Group Award as part of the Adult Learners' Awards in Scotland. Having won locally, the group goes forward to the Scottish Television awards, organised in collaboration with Community Learning Scotland.
 
 

New Deal  Through the Government's New Deal programme, 18-24-year-old clients may already be screened for basic skills needs and offered intensive help to improve their skills. Now Employment Services will also screen unemployed clients aged over 24 after six months' unemployment. Those with basic skills needs will receive help through work based learning. In the past, screening has been haphazard and those with needs have not necessarily received support. The employment service has now started an intensive programme of training for their advisors. To date, 1,100 advisors have completed this training.  The Basic Skills Agency, through its national support project for the New Deal, provides regional training and seminars, including advice on initial assessment, skills training, effective programme design, materials and awareness raising. The New Deal option packs (cost £11) each contain basic skills learning material for each of three options: environment task force, employment and the voluntary sector.   For more information visit the Basic Skills Agency website www.basic-skills.co.uk or call 020 7405 4017.

 
 
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