New Opportunities For Adult Learners

The opening of Thanet’s Coastal Community Learning (CCL) centre on 13th  September drew crowds of local residents, proving the vital social and cultural link this not-for-profit facility provides.

Over 100 people from a wide demographic sampled taster sessions in Lino Printing, Painting, Glass fusing, Beginner’s Italian, Fitness, Creative Life Writing, Meditation and Personal Development. The day’s events included demonstrations of stained glass making and a chance to talk to the tutors of courses such as pottery and sewing skills. 

'This is so needed for Thanet, well done!' said one participant, Christine Chantril Smith.

Cllr Mike Garner, Mayor of Broadstairs & St Peter’s chatted to residents queuing to enrol on a wide and ever-growing range of arts and wellbeing courses. 

“It was great to come along to the recent taster day at Hilderstone Collage and for us to see so many people keen to take part in one or more of the activities on offer. It’s a testament to the hard work that Tanya and the team have put in to prepare courses that are popular and I wish them every success for the future.“

The local authority’s adult education programme has suffered massive cuts. CCL’s aim is to revive and broaden the provision of courses for 18 to 100 year olds. Courses have already begun, and CCL is continuing to roll out a programme of courses of varying lengths, not only at the Broadstairs centre but in various artists’ studios and venues around Thanet. New art and printing classes have been added just this week.

'My art class has been a life saver! It gives me time in my week that is just for me,' says one enthusiastic Thanet resident, Mary Wells.

CCL director Tanya Curran is delighted by the response. ‘This is the rebirth of Adult education, celebrating bringing the community together to promote health and wellbeing,’ she says.