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Learning Hive Creates A Buzz In Jarrow
News
A community bungalow in the Borough has become a hive of activity thanks to a new partnership between the Northern Learning Trust and South Tyneside Homes.
The housing company has teamed up with the North East charity to launch the Jarrow Learning Hive at Salem Street Community Bungalow, offering free learning opportunities to council tenants and residents living in central Jarrow.
The hive is a creative centre for engagement learning and enterprise, which aims to provide accessible learning for the whole community and be a centre for local people to develop new community initiatives and ventures to invigorate their neighbourhood.
Since opening the doors in October, more than 30 learners have already signed up for credit-based learning courses in areas including craft making, family budgeting, home cooking, Maths and English. Six community mentors have also been recruited from the local area to engage and support learners.
Mother of three, Kim Marcinkew said: "I wanted to come along to the Learning Hive to achieve qualifications in Maths and English. I've also signed up for the healthy cooking course, which will be a great help back at home. The Northern Learning Trust find out what we want learn about and then organise the course. "
Diane Murray added: "It has changed my life over the past three weeks as the hive has given me more confidence. I want to achieve more qualifications so I can find employment."
In the run up to Christmas, the group has been making festive decorations and cards. Money raised from the sale of the crafts is being used to hold a Christmas party for their children.
The new partnership has the backing of local Primrose Councillors, Emma Lewell-Buck, Ken Stephenson and James Perry.
Councillor Perry said: "It is fantastic to see that the launch of the hive has already been so successful, empowering members of the local community to take control of their own learning."
Councillor Lewell-Buck said: "Over the coming months, I am looking forward to watching the hive grow through the development of new initiatives that will benefit the surrounding neighbourhoods."
Councillor Stephenson added: "The Learning Hive will also bring huge benefits to the tenants and residents involved, including improved physical and mental wellbeing, reduction in financial exclusion and self confidence."
The Northern Learning Trust is an independent registered charity that aims to advance learning across the North of England, including literacy, numeracy and communication skills.
Graham Woods, CEO at the Northern Learning Trust, said: "We are very pleased to be working with South Tyneside Homes on this project and are very excited about its future potential. The Learning Hive model has proven itself as a highly effective way of engaging tenants into a wide range of learning and community enterprise opportunities."
South Tyneside Homes is the fourth housing provider in the region to join up with Northern Learning Trust to launch a Learning Hive.
John Musson, Director of Housing at South Tyneside Homes, added: "The launch of this new partnership with the Northern Learning Trust will help to bring the local community together and offer council tenants a learning environment where they can develop valuable skills to use in their daily lives.
"It is also hoped that the Learning Hive will engage tenants in projects to further improve estates within central Jarrow, such as estate walkabouts and gardening schemes."
The Learning Hive is located off High Street, Jarrow, and is open from 9am to 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
