News
Belfast Met launches ground-breaking new supported learning Hub
Belfast Met today (November 23) launched its ground-breaking Live and Learn hub for supported learning students in Northern Ireland.
The brand new facility at the college’s Millfield site in the city centre provides further education training and programmes to help students develop vital life and coping skills, making them more independent. It also opens up further mainstream and employability options for them.
Speaking at the launch event, Sharon Rivers, head of supported learning at the college, said: What we have created here is nothing short of a centre of excellence for young adults with learning difficulties and disabilities. A ground breaking FE facility for learners up to level one.
“We are proud to say that we’re the foremost provider in NI of Full and Part Time supported learning programmes with 800 students enrolled on our FT courses and 400 on our part time programmes.
“We have taken a joined up and collaborative approach to planning this facility which wholly supports the curriculum, nurturing students’ creativity and overall life skills…developing employability for those whom educational and employment opportunities may be limited as they move into adulthood.
“This milestone highlights this college’s commitment to social inclusion and widening participation…to the developing of skills and actively engaging with providers to ensure student progression. This new hub is a major step forward and we look forward to commencing phase two of this project on the Millfield site in Sept 2017.”
Alison Anderson, the college’s curriculum area manager for supported learning added: “For 33 years we have been leading the way in terms of supported learning provision in the further education sector and today the opening of this new hub is an important milestone for us.“The hub and the students who use it have instilled a brand new positive vibe in the Millfield site…the new social areas are hiving with both supported learning and mainstream students mingling, socialising…there is a very real and tangible sense of community here.
“I’d like to extend a thank you to all involved in helping us make this Live and Learn hub such a success, with particular thanks to our estates teams.”
Student Samuel Bradshaw (17) from Belfast said: “I absolutely love studying at the Live and Learn hub. I have made so many new friends and the staff are so helpful. It’s a great place to learn and spend time and I feel so comfortable here.”