An adult learning centre aims to expand support and advice its provides after moving into a new venue which will be 'much more accessible for adults'.
Mayor of Lowestoft Stephen Ardley cut the ribbon to officially open Realise Futures - a leading provider of adult education in Suffolk – which has moved its learning centre to premises in Regent Road from its previous base at Lowestoft Library.
The centre, which will now host about 30 staff members, aims to support people's aspirations and achievement levels in education by helping them get back into learning, employment or to even start their own business.
The launch event held on Wednesday, August 26 showcased some of the many learning courses available – including a floristry demonstration on how to make a buttonhole. There were also taster sessions on some of the IT and health and beauty courses.
The mayor was shown around the centre by director and head of Realise Futures learning and development Sally Butcher, who described how the new venue will provide 'better facilities for learning' with and an 'improvement in teaching spaces'.
'It's great to be opening here in Regent Road and we have also combined our Beccles learning centre here,' Ms Butcher said.
'It is a culmination of about a year's effort to find a suitable stand-alone learning venue in Lowestoft.
'The demand for adult learning is the area is quite high and we work with a lot of good community organisations.
'Having a bespoke adult learning centre is really important and this move is absolutely fantastic as where we were before our space was very limited.'
Mr Ardley said: 'I am very honoured and pleased to open such an important centre giving great potential for future education.'
Realise Futures was launched as a Community Interest Company in November 2012 and aims to help people who are disabled and disadvantaged with careers advice, learning and development and employment.
'We have hundreds of different courses to suit everyone's needs, whether it's IT skills or doing a leisure course, like cookery or health and wellbeing. Our new prospectus is already out, and our next enrolment dates are September 1-4 and November 30 to December 4', Ms Butcher added.
The learning centre is one of seven in Suffolk, delivering 1,700 adult learning courses to 8,000 people, over the age of 19 in Suffolk every year.
Courses available are in five areas - maths and English, computers and technology, skills for work, health and well-being, and family learning.
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