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About BEGIN
BEGIN Is an impartial Information and Advice Service that can help find the right course to help you improve your:
 
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Spelling
  • Maths
  • English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
  • Skills to do other courses
 
We keep up-to-date details of local Basic Skills courses for adults aged 16+ and try to find a course that is right for you. We can help you if you need to:
 
  • Find a course at the right time and place for you
  • Change your course
  • Find out about Basic Skills qualifications

For more information on finding a course that is right for you click HERE
 
Our Mission
 
At BEGIN, we recognise that low Basic Skills levels cause barriers to the social and economic progress of the people of Nottinghamshire. We are committed to supporting the development of a culture that addresses these issues for individuals and the local economy.  We aim to provide quality services to improve uptake of Basic Skills and the achievement and prosperity of local people through learning.

Our Service Aims
 
  • To provide and develop a high quality, impartial and accessible information, advice and referral service for adults who wish to improve their literacy, numeracy or language skills;
  • To actively engage with hard-to-reach learners and promote opportunities in order to increase participation in basic skills learning;
  • To foster a wider understanding of the issues facing individuals with basic skills needs as well as ways in which organisations can support them;
  • To cultivate the capacity of a wide range of organisations in Nottinghamshire to develop and deliver high quality, innovative basic skills learning provision.
  • Contribute to the local skills agenda at an operational and strategic level.
 
 
 
1 in 5 adults in England are held back by poor Basic Skills*
 
Nottingham figures are higher. Almost 1 in 3 adults are estimated to struggle with everyday Maths and English* and 34% have no qualifications.**
 
Research suggests poor basic skills leads to a cycle of social exclusion through unemployment, lack of training, crime, poor health and children with low level skills.*

*"Benchmark information on the scale of need in different areas of England" Basic Skills Agency, 1998
**2001 census (National Report for England and Wales), (c) crown copyright 2003

 
 
The Good News...
 
Nationally the Skills for Life Strategy Unit are celebrating the success of their activity in raising the profile and quality of Skills for Life provision. Across the country at least 2.4 million learners have accessed 4.8 million learning opportunities and achieved 750,000 national qualifications.
 
Locally the BEGIN advice and information service is proud to have helped learners to access Skills for Life Provision in Nottinghamshire. We are committed to increase the quality and reach of our service.
 
 
Current Activities
 
Current ESF funding has allowed us to expand our services across the County and to offer a more in-depth support service for more vulnerable learners. Nottingham City Council are also providing some funding for referral activity within the City and we are also indebted to One Nottingham for providing funding to streamline our own IT systems to provide a more efficient service.
 
We continue to work closely with a range of partners to try and provide better learning experiences and learning pathways through forums such as the ESOL group and Nottinghamshire Skills for Life Partnership.
 
As a partner of the Nottinghamshire nexstep Advice and Information Service we are pleased to be able to offer advice sessions on learning and vocational routes.
 
We also work closely with the Nottingham City Council’s Family Learning Service to develop quality family learning activities across the City. We believe that family learning can have a positive impact on the lives and educational attainment of our communities.
 
 
The History of the Service

Starting in 1982, BEGIN has expanded and developed its size and range services across Greater Nottingham. In 2002 the team expanded from 2 to 5 staff to deliver an ESF Project 'Basic Skills for All' which ended in 2004. For a copy of the ESF Dissemination Report please email us. BEGIN currently employs 7 staff and in 2007 with ESF Co-financed Projects will be expanding and developing our service further.

For a full description of how we work with our clients and the referral process please see our Statement of Service.
 

BEGIN's Funding Partners


If you have any comments, complaints or suggestions about our service or our website please let us know on the feedback page.

Change how this website is viewed and make it more accessible by visiting our Accessibility Page.

Generated: 11/02/2004   |   Modified: 16/05/2008 by Andrew Bothamley

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