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Ross and Cromarty is an area which covers almost 5,000 km. Within the area there are places of extreme remoteness as well as several fairly large towns, mostly on the east coast. Wherever there is a need, Adult Basic Education tries to help people.

Learners
We work with people who want to improve their basic literacy or numeracy skills. There may be a number of reasons why they decide to do this. Sometimes they are unable to accept promotion at work because they feel, although they could do the job perfectly well, that they would be unable to do the paperwork. Other people who come to us have a child who is about to start reading at school and they want to be able to help them. We also provide help for people who want to pass entrance exams for the Armed Services, Police, Ambulance and Nursing among others.

A number of people are asking for help with English as it is not their first language. Some work one to one with a tutor and other learners work in small groups, also with a tutor. Many people would like to have, or need, basic ICT skills, and we can assist with these too. The service we provide is free and confidential. Learning is based on the needs of each individual person.

Tutors
Tutors come from a variety of backgrounds. No formal qualifications are necessary as training is given. Once trained our volunteer tutors are matched on a one to one or small group basis with learners.

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.

"inSco" Book Project
As part of the national celebrations for Adult Learners' Week in May 2006 a book of ESOL learners writing entitled "inSco" - short for in Scotland - was launched in Dingwall.
The fourteen writers who contributed came to Scotland from many different countries, including Poland, Germany, Taiwan, Thailand, India, Estonia, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, and the Ukraine, and wrote about their lives since moving to the Highlands. They also took the photographs which illustrate the book.

The publication of the book was funded though a grant from Learning Connections.
All the authors were justifiably proud of their achievement and have shared their book with family and friends both here and overseas.

Hi Hopes Project
In the past two years an increasing number of migrant workers with ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) needs have moved to the Highlands.
ABE and three other organisations - WEA, Highland Adult Literacies, and Inverness College - are collaborating to explore how best to provide services and develop resources for this group in Inverness, Badenoch, Strathspey & Nairn and Ross and Cromarty. Funding for this work has been granted by the European Social Fund.

"Reading the Game": a project integrating ESOL with sport
Partners: Ross County Football Club / ABE / HALP
Based upon "Reading the Game", an integrated literacy programme which was developed by Edinburgh City Council, this pilot project offered ESOL learners the opportunity to improve their skills both in literacy and football. Ross County Football Club and ABE worked together on this project, which was funded by HALP.

Learning took place in a group situation, with each participant undertaking an hour of literacy learning, based around the game of football (co-facilitated by ABE tutors and Ross County's Education and Welfare Officer), and followed by a practical session with Ross County coaches.

Highland Adult Literacies Partnership allocated funding for this project, which took place over twelve weeks and was very popular and successful. Nineteen learners took part from diverse cultural backgrounds: Brazil, Poland, Spain, Portugal, India, Bangladesh, and Lithuania.

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 Ross & Cromarty:

Norma Christie
Community Education Office
The Library
Tulloch Street
Dingwall
Ross-shire IV15 9JZ
Telephone: 01349 864579
E-Mail: norma.christie@highland.gov.uk