Building skills, confidence and opportunities through Adult Learning
Glasgow Life’s Adult Literacy and Numeracy (ALN) programme is transforming lives across the city by helping adults improve their reading, writing, numeracy and digital skills, while building confidence and opening pathways to recognised qualifications.
The programme supports learners from a wide range of backgrounds, including a range of neurodiversities, health challenges or barriers to education. Through personalised support and a learner-centred approach, participants develop practical skills that help them in their work, family and community lives.
Achieving qualifications and building confidence
One learner, a 46-year-old mother of two with learning difficulties, has attended ALN classes for several years to improve her reading, writing and spelling. Despite facing additional challenges after developing Bell’s Palsy, she remained committed to her learning and recently progressed to studying for an SCQF Level 3 Communication qualification after previously achieving Level 2.
Through the support of Glasgow Life tutors and fellow learners, she has developed greater confidence, improved literacy skills and increased independence.
She said: “I have learned to read a bit better. My writing is better. I feel good. More confident. The class helps me a lot.”
Her achievements have extended beyond the classroom. She now reads online news independently, uses digital learning tools at home and has participated in the Aye Write Festival, sharing her own creative work.
Reflecting on gaining accreditation, she said: “I’m so glad I’ve achieved this qualification. I’m so proud I got it and so is my family.”
Developing everyday life skills
The impact of ALN can also be seen in the practical skills learners develop to live independently and confidently.
One learner attending numeracy classes at Royston Library returned to learning after feeling their maths skills had become "a bit rusty". Living independently for the first time, they wanted to improve their confidence managing everyday tasks and successfully achieved an amateur radio licence.
The numeracy skills gained through the programme are now helping them in many aspects of daily life.
“When I go to a shop the work we've done has helped. I round to the nearest pound and I've started shopping online because I can see how much I'm spending.”
“Now it's just me on my own, the work we've done helps me measure out my medicines.”
“I can now add up in my head the cost of my shopping before I go to the till.”
Creating pathways for progression
A key strength of Glasgow Life’s ALN programme is the opportunity it provides for learners to progress at their own pace. Whether learners are seeking to improve everyday literacy and numeracy, access further education, gain employment skills or achieve formal qualifications, tutors work alongside them to identify and support their goals.
The reintroduction of SQA SCQF accreditation across many ALN classes has strengthened these progression pathways, enabling learners to gain recognised qualifications that celebrate their achievements and support future opportunities.
Learners consistently report increased confidence, improved wellbeing and greater independence. Many also describe feeling more connected to their communities and more positive about their future.
By supporting adults to develop essential skills and gain nationally recognised qualifications, Glasgow Life’s Adult Literacy and Numeracy programme is helping tackle inequalities, improve life chances and empower learners across Glasgow to achieve their full potential.
Nisa Amir, Libraries and Communities Officer said:
"It's always great to see learners grow in confidence and achieve things they may never have thought possible. Everyone comes to Adult Literacy and Numeracy with different experiences and goals, so being able to support people in developing skills that make a real difference in their everyday lives is incredibly rewarding. Seeing learners gain qualifications, become more independent and move on to new opportunities is what makes this work so worthwhile."
Hear how community-based adult learning can unlock new opportunities and transform lives in this short video: Adult Literacy and Numeracy classes | Videos & Movies on Vimeo
Find out more about our community-based adult learning classes on our website here: Community Based Adult Learning - Glasgow Life