'Chance to change their lives' - Free Festival of Learning for adults in Salisbury
A FREE Festival of Learning in Salisbury will offer adults the chance to change careers.
Wiltshire College & University Centre Salisbury campus will be opening its doors to tell people more about its range of part-time courses on offer.
The event will take place on Saturday, March 1 and it will have a creche and activities for children so parents have time to look at courses, try some fun activities and talk to staff about what they want to learn.
Lisa Cuffy, the college's Adult Learning and Commercial Development Manager, said: "There's so much going on here, we have a wonderful new campus and a range of courses from art to languages, floristry, photography or motor mechanics to music.
"What people don't realise is that the government has recently changed the rules about funding for adult learning and now if you are earning less than £25,000 you may be entitled to study for free.
"We want to help them to recognise that the college is here for the whole community and they are welcome here."
Wiltshire College & University Centre Festival of Learning in Salisbury (Image: Wiltshire College) There will also be a chance to see the college's new Healthcare Zone, complete with its own ambulance and a ward that is a replica of those at Salisbury District Hospital, where individuals, as well as companies, can learn first aid and a range of other healthcare subjects.
READ MORE: Salisbury children get pitchside access at Bath Rugby Club
Ms Cuffy said: "It's really impressive because you don't realise you're actually in a college.
"Many just want to develop an interest, and a by-product of that is meeting new people who enjoy the same thing. It's amazing how quickly people on a course will set up a WhatsApp group, they build good friendships and keep in touch after the course."
She said many people come to study to help boost their mental health. "We see a lot of that, certainly around floristry and some of our art courses. It is great for your well-being to come and focus on a creative activity alongside others."
One new course has been launched as a result of a Facebook appeal for people to tell the college what they'd like to learn. Ms Cuffy said: "We are running a course called The Art of Saying No because of demand."
"It really gives the adults the chance to change their lives."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Buzz Feed
an hour ago
- Buzz Feed
Jared Leto Responds To Sexual Misconduct Allegations
This story contains discussion of sexual misconduct. Jared Leto is responding to allegations, including several claims of sexual misconduct, from multiple women. Earlier today, Air Mail published a story that included interviews with nine women who claimed that the actor and musician had behaved inappropriately towards them. Some women alleged that the incidents took place while they were underage, and one anonymously claimed that 'It's been an open secret for a long time." The reporting accuses Jared of, among other things, allegedly appearing nude in front of model Laura La Rue when she was 17 years old, and allegedly exposing himself and masturbating in front of an 18-year-old before placing their hand "on him." In a statement to Air Mail, Jared's rep "expressly" denied the allegations in the story. They also directly addressed Laura's allegation, claiming that hers and Jared's "communications contain nothing sexual or inappropriate" and that she "later applied to work as Mr. Leto's personal assistant, further underscoring the absence of anything inappropriate in any of their interactions." In the story, Laura denied having ever applied to work for him. In response to another accuser's allegation that he would call her in the middle of the night and didn't "know if he was on drugs," Jared's rep claimed that the actor 'has not had a drink or used drugs in over 35 years.' The rep also told the publication that 'there was never any recruiting, complaints or impropriety" in response to allegations that Jared had hosted parties with the intent for young women to go skinny-dipping. The publication also reported that these allegations against Jared surfaced after DJ Allie Teilz reposted a Facebook status from 2012 on IG, alleging that she was "assaulted and traumatized by this creep when I was 17." Jared's reps say that her "allegations are demonstrably false." You can read the entire report containing the allegations that Jared is denying here.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wayne Lewis, Atlantic Starr Singer and Founding Member, Dies at 68
Atlantic Starr singer Wayne Lewis died on June 5 at age 68 'Please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy,' the R&B music group's Facebook page wrote A rep confirmed his death to PEOPLE but didn't share a causeSinger Wayne Lewis of Atlantic Starr has died. He was 68. A representative for the R&B music group confirmed to PEOPLE that Lewis, a founding member of Atlantic Starr, died on Thursday, June 5. Atlantic Starr also shared the news in an announcement on Facebook, writing, 'It's with great sadness we have to post the passing of Wayne Lewis on June 5, 2025, please keep the family in your prayers and respect their privacy #waynelewis #restinpeace #flyhigh Sunrise 4/13/1957 Sunset 6/5/2025 #restinpeaceWayne.' A cause of death has not yet been revealed. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The news galvanized fans, who swiftly shared their tributes online. 'His band gave my generation so much listening pleasure,' one fan wrote. Another described Lewis as 'a great songwriter.' Atlantic Starr released its first album in 1978, skyrocketing to success with crossover hits such as 'Always' and 'Secret Lovers.' is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Aside from Wayne, the current members of Atlantic Starr are his brother, Jonathan Lewis, Melessa Pierce and Shammah Carter. Read the original article on People

Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Naperville's India Day Festival reduced to parade only due to security requirements
The annual India Day Festival & Concert, which for years has brought large crowds to Naperville, will be scaled back this year, organizers have announced. Usually a day-long affair featuring live entertainment and a cultural festival at Naperville's Rotary Hill, the free event will be reduced to only a parade when held Aug. 10, organizers said in a Facebook post. The decision to curtail festivities was attributed to heightened costs and reduced funding, the post said. Presented by Indian Community Outreach, the festival commemorates Aug. 15, 1947, the day India won its freedom from British rule. Launched in 2015, the event has grown into one of the largest Indian American festivals of its kind across the country, according to Krishna Bansal, event founder and organizer. Cost increases were partly the result of new city-mandated security requirements, Bansal said. Namely, requirements mandating the use of fencing around the perimeter of the event and metal detectors at controlled entry and exit points and dictating that attendees could bring only clear bags onto the grounds, he said. Implementing those rules would have taken a 'mammoth amount of effort,' Bansal said. '(It would) take a huge amount of resources as well as cost to do that.' Sponsors primarily fund the festival, he said. Naperville Police Chief Jason Arres said the security requirements aren't really new. Rather, they're 'something we've really been pushing towards for the past few years and are finally getting traction,' he said. It's a matter of public safety, Arres said. 'Outdoor events are big, big targets for those looking to do bad things,' he said, 'and they're increasingly vulnerable to mass violence. … (These recommendations) keep these events safe and actually can deter threats before they can occur.' They're also in line with what other large-scale events in town — Last Fling and Halal Fest, for instance — have been doing for a number of years, Arres said. 'We're not asking them (to do) anything different than any other progressive agencies and cities are doing because these are the best practices for these big-scale events,' he said. Asked if Indian Community Outreach plans to bring back the event in full in the future, Bansal said, 'We are not looking to cancel the event.' It's just a matter of how and where it will move forward, he said. They want to continue holding the event in Naperville but if doing so isn't feasible, 'we'll have to look around and see where we can do this effectively,' he said. 'This event is immensely popular,' he said. 'People want to have this event. We will continue with what we have built.' Changes to the festival follow last month's announcement that there would be no Naperville Salute this summer. The annual Fourth of July celebration, also held at Rotary Hill, was canceled to preserve the long-term health of both the event and the charitage organization behind it, organizers said. It was scheduled to take place from June 27-29 but now only the Naperville Responds for Veterans Ruck March will be held. Both cancellations come in the wake of Naperville Ribfest, another of the city's longstanding summer celebrations, permanently ending last year. tkenny@