Education courses sees Randolph centre go back to its roots

A RETURN of adult education courses at a community centre has been described as bringing the facility full circle.

Randolph Community Centre, in Evenwood, started off as a school and was later used as a venue for adult education schemes before it became a Durham County Council SureStart centre.
It reverted back to being a community centre last year after Evenwood Parish Council established a board to take over its management.
Thanks to more than £8,000 of funding from Teesdale Action Partnership (TAP), adult training is once again being hosted there.
Chairwoman of the parish council Barbara Nicholson said: “We are going back to the roots because that is what it used to be used for. It was all about education. It has come full circle.”
Julie West, employment and skills manager for Durham County Council, said the courses include construction site skills (including CSCS training certificate and CITB green card), business administration, customer service and digital inclusion qualifications.
The courses are offered free to anyone who has been out of employment for more than three months, she added.
Although the construction site courses are fully booked, places are still available on the business administration, customer service and digital inclusion courses.
TAP co-ordinator Craig Morgan said the response showed “it is the right course in the right place”.
He added that while the partnership had received a number of requests from training, the Evenwood scheme stood out because it is attached to employment.
TAP chairman David Kinch added: “Any chance to
bring people back to work in the Teesdale area is important.”
For more information on the training schemes contact Durham Employment and Skills on 03000 266644 or email DES@durham.gov.uk