20-02-2025
'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.
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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."
