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Consultation process
Port Glasgow Community ConversationLearning in the Community
What learning opportunities do you feel are needed in Inverclyde for those who are looking to find work or progress their careers?
What learning opportunities would you like to see provided in your local community centres to help support the health and well-being of Inverclyde residents?
Local Perspective
Inverclyde has a range of challenges which learning in the community could impact upon:
- 18.4% of Inverclyde households are workless compared to 17.8% nationally
- 4.1% of Inverclyde residents are unemployed compared to 3.7% national
- Of those economically inactive 38.7% of those are long term sick compared to 32.7% in Scotland and 27.3% for the UK.
Statistics from NOMIS Stats 2024
- 12.2% of residents do not have a qualification compared to 8% nationally
- 2500 people are out of work in Inverclyde 5% compared to 2.5% nationally
- 75% of learners in ICT services are unemployed
(statistics from UK Government DWP 2020)
- 77% of young adults can complete foundation ICT skills in Scotland compared to 87% across UK
- 39% of adults can complete what is considered essential employment ICT skills compared to Holland which has 83% compliance
Statistics from Digital Education and Skills - A changing nation: how Scotland will thrive in a digital world - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
- 82% of jobs in Scotland require digital skills
- Jobs requiring digital skills pay on average 29% more than those that do not
- 75% of employers are finding that digital skills are a barrier to finding suitably skills employees
(Statistics from Digital Skills Workforce survey 2022)
I think there should be more opportunities for adults to learn skills. There should also be more opportunities to seek work as today too many feel the education system has let them down.
There should be more classes for adults such as English, Maths, Cooking , and general welfare for adults and children.
We need more health education programmes. Nutrition is linked to physical and mental health. Gut health is key for inflammatory issues.
Education should be flexible so people can work and study.
How can you participate in education when childcare options are low.
The cost of learning is prohibitive particularly when the job prospects are low. The pay is low in this area also. Pay is higher in Glasgow.
I would like to see older people's cooking classes for those living alone.
There are real challenges around health education. Comfort food is cheaper and a more attractive option for those on a low income. People do want to eat healthier but there are real challenges. Should be more health courses
people don't know how to cook- use air fyers rather than ovens now
there is a lack of cooking programmes for older single people. I'm alone and i don't know how to cook SQ
Children have a lack of social skills, need parenting programmes
no home economics type courses in the community or schools- lack of skills in this area
There is a lack of decent paying jobs
People are struggling to make healthy choices, they know about healthy foods through education but cant afford to make those educated choices MM
There is not the same opportunities for young people as we had such as PG youth club and all the support people got. Those in care were well looked after back then also. BS
In my opinion any learning on offer should focus on development of critical skills that can be transferable from sector to sector, while its crucial to engage with employers in the area to help meet their recruitment needs we must also realise that for a large number of people job opportunities exist outwith the area. How do we help local people to access these as well? Consideration should also be given to how services can reach young people in their communities who may have disengaged with services and are at risk of becoming long term inactive, what more can be done to encourage these young people to engage, youth work activity is crucial here.
Thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback, you have highlighted key points, including barriers to accessing support. What would you say are the main barriers?