Cllr Toner and Cllr Fitzsimons check out the courses available from Dumfries and Galloway College. Helping them out is the college’s rep John Magill
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An open day at South Ayrshire Council's Carrick Buildings Learning Centre proved to be a great success with more than 100 people coming along to find out about the fantastic new curriculum now on offer for 2010/11.
The curriculum offers a wide variety of courses from an impressive list of providers including South Ayrshire Council, University of Glasgow, John McKenna (Sculptor), Make it Happen Arts Group, Scottish Agricultural College, Ayr College, Stepping Stones for Families and – for the first time – Dumfries & Galloway College.
More than 150 enquiries were taken at the open day for the different courses – many of which are free.
Courses range from arts and culture (sketching, clay modelling, tourism talks) to helping you find work (customer care courses, cabin crew course, site safety awareness) with lots more in between.
There are courses to help improve literacy and numeracy, classes to help improve health and wellbeing, talks to help you find out more about your local environment, sessions to help improve computer skills (from basic to advanced) and teaching in food and hospitality.
There is something for everyone regardless of age, skills or abilities and each course provides the opportunity to learn a new skill, make new friends and have fun.
Courses offered by the Council's newest partner, Dumfries and Galloway College, include an introduction to psychology, computing courses including web design, catering and tourism.
Prospective student Shaun Anderson from Maybole said: "I'm really interested in the web design and technology course on offer here through Dumfries and Galloway College. I think there's a growing need for web designers and this course looks like it gives me every chance to succeed."
Councillor Margaret Toner, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, Tourism and Leisure, spent time with providers and prospective students at the event. She said: "The open day at Carrick Buildings Leisure Centre was an excellent way for people of all ages to find out more about courses and learning opportunities that are right for them.
"A range of options are open to people of all ages and there really is something for everyone.
I was particularly impressed with the enthusiasm, commitment and willingness to help others shown by our learning partners at the open day. I firmly believe the Carrick Buildings will continue to be a centre of learning excellence, dedicated to and serving the needs of Carrick people and the courses now on offer will make a real difference for many."
Girvan man Ward Higgins signed up at the open day to learn more about site safety on a course offered by the Scottish Agricultural College. He said: "I'm always keen to learn more and develop my skills. This course looks ideal for me."
Laurie Hyslop from Colmonell added: "I've already done a course at the Carrick Buildings Learning Centre and am interested in learning to do more. Coming from a rural area means I need to choose courses I can get to easily and that offer flexibility in terms of how I can study.
"The Carrick Buildings Learning Centre does exactly that and is an ideal learning environment for me."
If you would like to find out more about the courses on offer at the Carrick Buildings Learning Centre, visit www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/carrick-buildings.aspx for a copy of the course guide, call 01465 716600 or email cblc@south-ayrshire.gov.uk.