What are skills for life?
Skills for Life means the ability to read, write and speak English and use maths at a level which allows you to “function” (ie live a normal life), progress at work and fit into society.
Up to 7 million adults in the UK lack these skills at a ”functional” level 2 which is equal to GCSE A-C.
What this means is that these adults are often:
- unable to lead a “normal” life in terms of reading/ writing and helping their children,
- are unable to progress at work, and
- will find themselves in low skill / low paid jobs which are insecure in our modern globalised economy.
- more likely to suffer unemployment.
Many adults get by at work by “hiding” the gaps in their skills (“I’ve forgotten my glasses today”) and seeking work with low skill demands. But work is changing and upskilling is needed to survive in all areas. GMB Union Learning Reps (ULRs) can help to plug the skills gaps. ULRs can take Skills for Life training to help them in this part of their role.
Assessment
The first part of the process in tackling the gaps in our skills for life will be to find out where the gaps are (what areas of knowledge and skills) and what level we’re operating at in each area. This involves an initial assessment.
What’s Involved ?
An assessment is an entirely confidential one-to-one process. It can be started off by those GMB Union Learning Reps or by the Regional Learning Project Workers who have been equipped with a simple-to-use assessment tool viewed on a laptop. This will give the first indication of what level you may be operating at for English or Numeracy (number skills).
Using the laptop, the initial assessment takes about 40 minutes. A clever piece of software does an immediate print-out of the results. Armed with these results you will be sign-posted to a Skills for Life support unit in your area. If you wish your GMB ULR can accompany you to the unit. Here specialists in the unit will discuss the results and begin a further assessment to find out exactly are the where the gaps in your skills lie. A programme of learning is then planned for you to attend. All Skills for Life courses are free.
Skills for life Courses can also be arranged on site with the agreement of the employer. Contact the Education department for further information.
Then What?
For those who left school without any qualifications it is possible to take a new National Test in English and Numeracy which , when you pass , will certify that you have the necessary skills at either level 1 or at level 2. Many GMB members who start on a Skills for Life programme end up gaining the National Test qualification. The initial Assessment tool available on GMB-provided laptop (see above) also includes a practice version of the National Tests.