Purpose

Adult learning is a
non-statutory provision, externally funded via the Department for
Education through the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The
County Council receive a total £3.228m of funding for its
Adult Education Budget each year from the ESFA. This funding is
used to target the provision of different elements of learning for
adults to enable them to obtain skills or qualifications and / or
enhance their lives, health and wellbeing. 
 
In March 2023 the Cabinet
Member for Learning and Skills approved the commencement of an open
procurement process to secure contracts with multiple providers to
deliver adult skills programmes.  The
Cabinet Member also delegated authority 
to the responsible officer to award contracts to successful
providers (decision
LS10(22/23) refers). That decision set out the overall service
strategy and how funds would be deployed with provision split
between the two elements of Adult Skills and Community
Learning.
 
In August 2023 approval was
granted for the award of contracts to deliver the adult skills
provision (decision
OKD11 (23/24) refers).
 
This decision covers that part
of the programme which will enable delivery of the Community
Learning element. In December 2023 providers were invited to bid
for funding for Community Learning Grants across four themes
totalling a value of up to £475k in the academic year 2023-24
and up to £475k in the academic year 2024-25. Approval is now
sought to award the grant agreements to the successful
providers.

Decision

The Interim
Assistant Director (Education and Skills) has approved the award of
Community Learning Grant Agreements to the organisations identified
in Appendix A up to a total value of £817,942 for the period
April 2024-July 2025. This total award comprises:
•        £408,971
in the academic year 2023-24
•        £408,971
in the academic year 2024-25.