Website of the Department of Health

2. Disadvantaged parents with young children (Thurrock, Essex)

This parent support programme, operated by the local PCT in partnership with the community college enabled parents with young children, to access one to one basic skills support in their own homes from community basic skills tutors / support workers. It aimed to improve health and parenting skills reaching out to isolated and vulnerable parents who were not accessing mainstream provision.

3. Bangladeshis with diabetes (London)

In conjunction with local diabetes specialists and supported by the PCT, the college developed resources on diabetes, embedding ESOL (suggest in full) learning activities within them.
Twelve-week LSC (learning and skills council) funded courses were delivered within local community settings, to improve people’s language skills to be able to cope with their diabetes, and to provide advice and support on managing the condition.   Religious leaders were consulted from Muslim and Hindu faiths to ensure the materials are appropriate and accurately reflect lifestyle within different faiths.

4. Black and Minority Ethnic groups (Leicester)

This Community Centre, supported by the local PCT in partnership with a specialist ICT materials development organisation, aimed to develop a multi media resource for the BME, refugee and asylum seeker communities to be able to manage their health issues more effectively.  The project was based on the need to understand their health entitlements, communicate about health and manage their own health issues.  The project developed a series of case studies to:

• help patients be able to explain their needs to a GP
• use as a diagnosis tool that the clients can complete and print out and take to their GP
• provide a series of patient notes on health issues such as diabetes, asthma, post-natal depression and chronic heart disease.

5. Over 50s and physical activity (Derbyshire)

In partnership with Age Concern and the local PCT, the project delivered basic skills activity in a health context to a cross-section of over 50s.  Active Life, which is a health fitness and lifestyle programme, has been mapped and embedded to the National Literacy Standards.  The aim of this 26-week course was to allow learners to create a health and fitness programme to enable them to improve their basic skills, mental health, physical health and general well being.  The course was delivered as a taught programme combining learning and practical sessions.  It covered activity from literacy levels Entry level 2 to Level 2.

6. Older people in care (Calderdale, West Yorkshire)

Over the past 3 years this branch of Age Concern Calderdale has been undertaking short-term pilots delivering basic skills courses to older people in day care and residential settings.  The project consulted learners to inform the development of health related resources and used technology in delivering courses in these settings. The project worked with about 50 people.

7. Older people in rural areas (Norfolk)

In partnership, the local PCT, Age Concern, basic skills providers and health sector organisations, delivered LSC funded sessions on health issues to older people who lived in a rural area.  Basic skills were embedded in a range of subjects and materials, and covered issues such as coping with illness, proper use of medication, accessing health information etc.

8. People with mental health problems (Shropshire)

The partnership, together with other health sector organisations developed and tested teaching materials to support mentally ill patients in assessing and improving their basic skills and their understanding of health entitlements.  The aim of the programme was to improve mental health patient’s understanding of their rights, entitlements and their ability to manage their treatment.