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PROMOTING SKILLS TO THE TOP OF THE LEAGUE: Top football clubs join forces to boost adult learning
09 March 2006Ten Premier League and Football League clubs will today team up with the Government to sign on fans wanting to improve their literacy, language or numeracy skills. Supporters of Premier League clubs Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, Newcastle United, Charlton Athletic, Wigan Athletic, and Football League sides Norwich City, Leicester City, Brighton & Hove Albion and Bristol City will be able to hone their learning skills either at their club or local college.The ‘Heading for Success' project, launched today at the FA headquarters in London, will use the power of football to attract adults into learning, for example, learning maths by understanding transfer fees or the battle to avoid relegation, or improving reading and writing by producing match reports or analysing commentary. Today’s launch will be kicked off by Skills Minister Phil Hope; Minister for Sport Richard Caborn and FA Head of Football Development, Sir Trevor Brooking. Phil Hope said:
“We want to use the popularity of football to encourage adults to improve their skills and transform their lives both at home and at work. Although over one and a quarter million people have returned to learning and gained a qualification under our Skills for Life campaign, there are still many more people who could benefit. “Working with football clubs is a great way to reach out to people who might otherwise feel awkward about returning to learning. Now these first 10 clubs and learning providers have committed to the programme we plan to sign up more for the start of the new season.”Sir Trevor Brooking said: “Fans have a great loyalty to their club – and it is great to see some of the top clubs using this to help improve the literacy and numeracy skills in their local community. We hope this initiative will help people realise that it’s never too late to learn as an adult. Anyone wanting to sign up for a free adult literacy or numeracy course should call 0800 100 900 and mention ‘Heading for Success’.” Richard Caborn added: “From Newcastle United to Brighton & Hove Albion, all the clubs involved in this campaign share one thing in common - the loyalty and passion of their fans. Heading for Success is a great example of football clubs harnessing this so they can give something back to their communities. These clubs deserve praise for getting involved in the project from the outset and helping to make it happen.” Also attending the event is Brighton & Hove Albion captain, Charlie Oatway, who has lent his support to the campaign as he has struggled with his own literacy skills in the past. He said: “I got to a stage in my life when the kids were asking me to do things – for example, helping them with their homework. I would just have to send them to their Mum, which was horrible for me but also for them. I knew about the club’s study centre and I just gave it a go. There is a brilliant atmosphere in there that is informal and relaxed. I’m currently trying to get my Level 1 in Literacy. I would say to anyone worrying about their maths or English, just take that first step and call 0800 100 900 – you will always be glad you did.”
The 10 clubs will work with a local college or learning provider to offer adult education in a branded classroom, either at the college or within the club grounds. Football-themed learning materials will also be available. More leading football clubs are expected to join the scheme later in the year. Heading for Success will be supported by the Football Association, the Premier League, and the Football League. Representatives from each of the clubs and learning providers involved were presented with a plaque as an acknowledgement of their support. The event will be hosted by former Tottenham star and broadcaster Garth Crooks.-ENDSFor further information, interviews with [Ministers/Trevor Brooking/Garth Crooks] or photos of the football clubs and colleges receiving their plaques please call the Get On campaign office on 020 7544 3130. Or you can email Sarah Schofield, Vanessa Montero or Victoria Smith at firstname.lastname@fishburn-hedges.co.uk
Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. The Prime Minister launched the Skills for Life Strategy in 2001 to tackle the legacy of adults with poor literacy, language and numeracy skills within England. The strategy aims to help create a society where adults have the basic skills they need to find and keep work and participate fully in society, through: Boosting demand for learning Ensuring capacity of the learning provider delivery system Improving standards of teaching and learning Increasing learner achievement2. The Get On Campaign is part of the Skills for Life Strategy for improving adult literacy, language (ESOL - English for Speakers of Other Languages) and numeracy skills, in order to boost the demand for literacy, language and numeracy learning.3. The Skills for Life National Needs and Impact Survey of Literacy, Numeracy and IT skills, published in October 2003, estimated that in England, 5.2 million adults aged 16-55 have literacy levels below Level 1 (the level of skills required to achieve a GCSE at grades D – E), and 14.9 million have numeracy skills below this level.4. Government has committed to improving the literacy and numeracy skills of 2.25 million adults by 2010, with an interim target of 1.5 million by 2007. The Government is on track to meet the target, having achieved the milestone to help 750,000 adults to achieve their first literacy, language or numeracy qualification by 2004.5. The latest figures released on 2 March 2006 show that since the launch of the Skills for Life strategy in March 2001, we have helped over 3.7 million adults take up 7.9 million literacy, language and numeracy courses. Over a million and a quarter of these adults have gone on to achieve a national qualification.6. The aim of the Heading for Success project is to build long-term local relationships between each club, education provider and local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and in doing so develop a sustainable model of delivery for literacy and numeracy qualifications within the context of football. These partnerships will be ongoing, managed by the club and local providers, with the LSC funding the individual programme of learning.7. Places on the Skills for Life courses will be provided through existing Learning and Skills Council funding. 8. We intend to use the experience of these first 10 clubs and learning providers to help develop relationships between other football clubs (in both the FA Premier League and the Football League) and their local learning providers. 9. Success will be measured by the number of potential learners attracted by the partnership with football, the enjoyment they experience learning in a football context, and the number of qualifications achieved by learners.10. Callers can find out about the free courses run with 8 of the football clubs by calling 0800 100 900 and mentioning “Heading for Success.” The projects at Leicester City FC (0116 224 2240) and Manchester United FC (0161 456 4316) have their own dedicated phone numbers. Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk
Press Notice 2006/0026
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