Helping adults gain skills and qualifications for the workplace

Staff and tutors outside the new Stowmarket Learning Centre, from left to right, Andrew Casey, Laura Butcher, Ann Bryant, Carrie Barber, Operations Manager Deborah Williams, and Margot Pigott. (Image: Realise Futures)

Realise Futures Learning and Development has moved its adult community learning centre to a new address in Stowmarket.

The Stowmarket Learning Centre is now in Old Fox Yard at 27 Ipswich Street, following the end of the lease on its former centre across the road.

Realise Futures Learning and Development has six learning centres in Suffolk, based in Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Ipswich (two) Lowestoft and Newmarket.

Last month, the leading adult and learning provider was inspected by Ofsted, and it has retained its ‘Good’ grading for the provision of its learning, delivered on behalf of Suffolk County Council.

Realise Futures Learning and Development helps thousands of people aged 19+ in Suffolk to access community learning courses, improve knowledge and skills.

It has launched its new enrolment programme for summer, with courses covering skills for work, maths and English, computers and technology, health and wellbeing and family learning.

Realise Futures Learning and Development operations manager Deborah Williams said: “Our learners have given us some great feedback about the courses we run - from getting to grips with technology and staying safe online, to gaining the qualifications needed to apply for a new job and the confidence to ace that interview.

“We see every day how learning can make a positive difference in peoples’ lives and the benefits of community learning are manifold – from gaining confidence with new skills to improving people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

Ms Williams added: “Our new home is comfortable and fully equipped with three brilliant teaching rooms plus meeting rooms, offices and break-out areas.

“We have some great courses and we’d be happy to welcome anyone who would like to pop in and see how we can help them to learn new skills, boost their confidence and maybe take their first step into learning and work.”

Realise Futures Learning and Development runs more than 100 courses in Suffolk and provides bespoke courses for businesses and community organisations.

All courses can be found at www.rflearn.co.uk

For further information, please contact:

Realise Futures

Jane Sutton

Business Systems & Compliance Manager

07738 704775

jane.sutton@realisefutures.org

Captions:

Photos by Realise Futures and you have permission to use them.

Photo 1: Staff and tutors outside the new Stowmarket Learning Centre, from left to right, Andrew Casey, Laura Butcher, Ann Bryant, Carrie Barber, Operations Manager Deborah Williams, and Margot Pigott.

Photo 2: Staff and tutors inside the building, from left to right, Tutors Andrew Casey and Margot Pigott, Learning Administrator Carrie Barber, Operations Manager Deborah Williams, Learning Administrator Laura Butcher and Contract Performance Manager Ann Bryant.

Photo 3: From left to right, Carrie Barber, Laura Butcher, Andrew Casey, Margot Pigott, Deborah Williams and Ann Bryant.

Notes to editors

Realise Futures

Realise Futures is one of the largest social enterprises in the East of England, employing around 330 people, 30% of whom have a disability, operating in Suffolk and Essex.

The company has three business divisions:

1. Realise Futures Learning and Development is a leading provider of adult education in Suffolk running Ofsted-graded Good courses on behalf of Suffolk County Council from six centres in Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket, Ipswich (x2), Lowestoft, and Newmarket. It supports around 4000 adult learners every year, offering a range of courses in five areas – maths and English, computers and technology, skills for work, health and wellbeing and family learning. It also runs bespoke courses for businesses, offering training for small, medium and large employers across the Eastern region.

2. Realise Futures Employment delivers employment support services across Suffolk and Essex for people with disabilities on behalf of Essex County Council and the Work and Health Programme in Suffolk on behalf of Shaw Trust. It works with partner organisations to support people who are unemployed, or who have a disability or long-term health condition, to move into sustainable training or work.

3. RF Works are social businesses providing products and services alongside work placements, employment and training opportunities for those who are disadvantaged and/or disabled. The businesses are:

Eco Furniture: This Ipswich-based social firm makes outdoor furniture made from 100% recycled plastic waste.

St Lawrence Café: Located in Dial Lane, Ipswich, our café is set in a 15th Century church in the heart of the town. It has many beautiful, original features including stained glass windows and working bells.

Growing Places: This business cultivates seasonal produce and vegetables in Claydon, Ipswich. It runs a vegetable box delivery scheme delivering our own produce as well as that of local suppliers.

Nowton Park Nursery: is based in Bury St Edmunds with staff who specialise in horticulture, growing and cultivating a wide range of plants and shrubs ideal for all domestic and commercial gardens and grounds. All plants are grown within the Victorian Walled Garden at Nowton Park. There is a gardening maintenance team operating in and around Bury St Edmunds which carries out a range of grounds care services.

Poppy’s Pantry: Award-winning Poppy’s Pantry in Melton, Woodbridge, is a retail business selling wholefood, dairy and gluten-free and eco-friendly products. In March 2018, it won the People Development Award at the Suffolk Coastal Business & Community Awards. Staff run a café at St Mary’s Church, Woodbridge, open on Tuesdays from 10am to 2.30pm.

Fulfilment: This growing business in Ipswich helps to fulfil the packaging requirements of a wide range of businesses in the UK, including well-known brands.