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Case Study - Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire College runs Learning for Living in partnership with Pembrokeshire
Association for Voluntary Services (PAVS) in Haverfordwest.  On
July 22nd 2005, the Learning for Living course in Pembrokeshire
received a special award at the first ever social care accolades in Cardiff,
a true reflection of the innovative and sustainable elements of Learning
for Living.
Pembrokeshire College deliver the course via a blended approach, using
the online learning materials alongside face-to-face group study mornings
(one session per unit). The group sessions take place at PAVS due to its
familiar and informal environment. Some carers access the online course
from home and others use their local library or the computers at PAVS
or Pembrokeshire College.
Pembrokeshire College are delighted with the feedback that has been provided
so far. Some of the benefits highlighted by tutors and learners from taking
the course include:
- They have grown in confidence and assertiveness.
- They have taken stock of existing knowledge and skills and have planned
their next steps. For some that might mean returning to further education
and for others it might mean looking for part time work.
- They felt a sense of direction in their lives again and a sense of
achievement in completing a qualification that many felt could help
them get back into paid employment.
- They also enjoyed the new experience of online learning, which encouraged
them to use the Web more. Some of the carers will also go on to become
mentors for other carers taking the course.
 If
you are thinking of running Learning for Living but the
online nature of the course provides a challenge, Kate Hawkins recommends
running it as a pilot to begin with. She found that people were
patient and understanding once they had been told they were the
first group of learners. She also said that the strong relationship
between PAVS and Age Concern 'Silver Surfers' helped enormously.
Prior to running Learning for Living, Kate had no experience
of online tutoring. However, she has found the practice to be very
positive and fulfilling and says that the online nature of the course
enables her to tutor learners anytime, anywhere.
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