Learning for Living is a new online learning programme being developed by City & Guilds to meet carers’ and former carers’ needs for training in personal development and confidence building.

Learning for Living builds on the experience that unpaid carers have gained in their caring role. It develops existing knowledge and skills, enabling learners to make informed choices about both living and working.

What’s the learning all about?

Learning for Living is being designed to:

• Support carers’ personal development by developing knowledge and skills relevant to their needs.
• Help carers to draw up realistic plans for further education, training, employment and leisure.
• Provide a fun and accessible route to other learning opportunities or even to employment.

Learners will be able to make the choice between certificated learning only and undertaking a qualification. More details will be available about the qualification in early 2004.

Who can benefit?

Learning for Living is aimed at informal, unpaid adult carers and former carers. Nearly six million people in Britain look after a relative, friend or neighbour who cannot manage because they are ill, frail or have a disability. This number of informal carers will increase by 60% by 2037. Yet surveys show that carers’ needs are only being partially met

Although previous education, training and skills will vary, the programme develops learning at Level Two - roughly equivalent to GCSE. This means carers will need comprehension, reading and writing skills in English at this level.

You don’t need any detailed knowledge or skills to benefit from Learning for Living – only a willingness to learn.