Adult education provider, ACL Essex, is launching a new volunteer programme ‘Parent Ambassadors’ to help improve the lives of families living in Colchester.
The new scheme will offer Colchester-based residents the opportunity to volunteer in schools and community venues to promote learning opportunities, improve wellbeing and raise aspirations in their local areas.
Helping to launch the Parent Ambassador programme is ACL Essex’s Vice Principal, Christian Norman, he’s keen to reach out into the community to spread the word about ACL Essex’s life-changing courses. He says: “At ACL Essex we offer a wide range of learning options, which are of benefit to those seeking core qualifications at GCSE, as well as digital and IT skills to increase employability. There’s also a wide range of programmes to further benefit families, such as mental wellbeing, self-confidence workshops and cookery courses with kids.”
He continued: “Our learning programmes have changed so many lives within the communities we serve, and we’re keen to find dedicated mums, dads and grandparents eager to step forward and help us make a difference in their local area; to help local families thrive. Many of our courses are free-of-charge and are essential to boost mental wellbeing and help people upskill and gain a promotion in the workplace or get back on the career ladder.”
This is a pilot scheme for parents, grandparents or carers who have children that attend schools in the Basildon or Colchester area. If you’re interested in becoming a Parent Ambassador, please complete the form on the ACL Essex website. Residents interested in volunteering for the Parent Ambassador programme will also be offered a free 13-week bespoke training programme to support them in their new role, which will offer digital literacy, enterprise and communication skills, as well as support for personal goal setting and mental health amongst other training opportunities. The volunteer role could involve organising events and activities, or discussing the range of learning opportunities on offer at ACL Essex with families in the community.
ACL Essex offers a wide range of qualifications and skills at their centres across the county and online. They also offer apprenticeships and professional learning, as well as core subjects, such as English, Maths, Science and digital. There’s also supported learning for people with learning difficulties, creative and cultural learning, mental health and wellbeing, plus community and family learning.
To discover more about becoming a parent ambassador, visit www.aclessex.com/parent-ambassador.