Wokingham

A group of adult learners from Gorse Ride estate in Finchampstead was awarded special certificates by Wokingham District Council Chairman Cllr Angus Ross, at the Gorse Ride Parish Centre at the Church of St Mary and St John on Tuesday (November 21).

Starting in September 2006, the Gorse Ride residents attended a specially designed Wokingham course, introducing them to skills that could be used to set up and run a home-based beauty business. The course included a series of taster sessions in nail care and beauty, along with IT training designed to help learners create publicity materials. All seven learners received certificates of attendance, in recognition of their achievements.

Yvonne Coombs, a Gorse Ride resident, was awarded an attendance certificate for studying IT and beauty and said: “I really enjoyed the course and it’s given me a big ego boost. More courses of this kind are definitely needed.”

Certificates also went to Sarah Bates, Stacey Tagg, Elizabeth O’Hare, Cara Else, Carol Bates and Annette Lenton.

The programme was a joint initiative between Wokingham District Council’s lifelong learning team, the local community development worker, and Bracknell and Wokingham College community development team, with guidance from the Gorse Ride Multi-Agency Steering Group. The team worked closely with local residents to identify what skills they particularly wanted to learn.

Wendy Crosson-Smith, lifelong learning manager for Wokingham District Council, said: “The project was really well received in Gorse Ride. It is a fantastic example of different organisations working together to make a real difference to local people. We’ve had some excellent feedback on this programme and are keen to develop similar courses in the near future.”

Cllr Angus Ross said: “This is an extremely important initiative as it allows us to reach out into the community and help people learn new skills. Everyone involved should be very pleased, especially the seven students for whom this is a commendable achievement. Congratulations are well deserved!”

Wokingham District Council