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The landward area of Caithness consists of 685.7 square miles and has a population of just over 25,000. There are two principal towns Wick and Thurso. There are also the larger villages of Lybster, Halkirk and Castletown, as well as many smaller villages.

Adult Basic Education offers a free confidential service to adults in Caithness. We offer help to people to improve their skills such as numeracy, literacy, English as a second language, form filling and IT skills. Some learners choose to complete certificated courses.

Adults come to ABE for different reasons, for example when they get promotion at work and need help with forms, when children start school and need help with their homework, passing a driving test, or learning computing skills.

We are a learner centred service which means that we are led by what people want. We always try to help them achieve their goals.

We have skilled volunteers in Caithness who come from very differing backgrounds and are of a wide age range. All volunteers attend an initial training course, which gives them an insight into the experiences of adults who want help with literacy and/or numeracy skills. Confidence building is often the key to progress and working with a learner on a one to one basis will help raise their self esteem. Volunteers agree that being a tutor is a very rewarding experience.

Projects and Initiatives

Big Plus in Libraries
The Big Plus in Libraries is part of a national campaign to de-stigmatise low literacy and encourage adults to come forward and engage in literacy learning. It builds upon the work which is already taking place between the library services and adult literacies providers.
Working with Learning Connections (Communities Scotland) – which funded the initiative - and the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), Highland Adult Literacies, Highland Libraries and ABE have played an active role in the development of the project. Highland was asked to do this because of the strength of partnership working at a local level and the examples of good practice which have come from this.

Want to know more?
If you would like to volunteer as a tutor or just have a chat to find out more, please get in touch. If you know of anyone who would benefit from this service, please pass on this information and encourage them to contact ABE. Tuition is free, informal and confidential.

Area Co-ordinator Caithness:

Libby Cook
Community Education Offices:

Ackergill Street
Wick KW1 4DT
Tel: 01955 605423

Princes Street
Thurso KW14 7DH
Tel: 01847 895782

E-mail: libby.cook@highland.gov.uk