Issue details

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.