Save vital service
Students at a training centre earmarked for closure say they will do all they can to save it.
A petition will call for the decision to close the Learning Shop at Newark College to be reversed.
The centre, formerly the Riverside Business Training Centre, has helped thousands of people learn new skills, particularly in information technology.
The college said demand for the short courses on offer had fallen because young people left school with confidence in IT, many joined apprenticeship schemes and adults were able to access training through employers.
But students say the Learning Shop provides a vital service and, at a time of rising unemployment, it should be promoted not closed.
Miss Debra Shergold (45) of Low Street, Elston, is organising the petition at the college.
She gave up work as a fashion designer seven years ago to bring up her children and joined an IT course in 2007 to improve her chances of getting a job.
“To take away this facility in the current economic climate where people are looking to retrain is appalling,” she said.
“It would be impossible for people from Newark and the surrounding areas to travel to Lincoln as an alternative. We need that facility. It’s got to stay open.”
Friends Carole Papworth (46) of Gainsborough Drive, Newark, and Mrs Lynn Quinton (48) of Winthorpe Road, Newark, have been using the Learning Shop to improve their skills in a bid to find jobs.
They are both studying for the European Computer Driving Licence, an internationally recognised qualification equivalent to an NVQ.
Carole Papworth, who is to be made redundant next month, has four City and Guilds certificates in IT and hoped to continue her studies.
She said, like many people her age, she left school without ever having used a computer.
“When I first started I could just about switch it on,” she said.
“I’ve now got these qualifications. I was hoping to progress to enable me to get a job where I can get a pension and save for my future.
“At a time when people really need these skills they are getting rid of it. It’s crazy.
“Where do people like us go? It’s almost like saying you are on the scrap heap if you’re not leaving school.”
Mrs Quinton was made redundant for the second time a month ago and heard about the Learning Shop from her friend.
Mrs Quinton has rheumatoid arthritis, is unable to drive and struggles to stand for long periods.
“A lot of jobs you go for say you need an NVQ or to be working towards it so this course is ideal,” she said.
She has been told she can complete the course but won’t be able to progress to level two.
Mr Neil Campion (54) of Haddon Drive, Balderton, said the Learning Shop’s closure would be a major blow and people would not travel to Lincoln to continue their studies.
He said: “Gordon Brown tells us to retrain and learn new skills so somebody decides the best thing for Newark is to close a facility where we can do this.”
Mr Campion, who is disabled, said he had heard that 24 potential students had been turned away from the Learning Shop because it was closing so the demand was there.
“We have a right to retrain and learn new skills in Newark,” he said.
“This closure should not be allowed to happen.”
Mr Richard Haig, of Friary Road, Newark, set up a consultancy business last year after being made redundant.
He said the Learning Shop’s information technology training was invaluable and gave him the necessary practical skills to run his own business.
“In the current climate, there must be many others in my position,” he said.
“I would like to think our local college would respect that and do all it could to support local people back into employment.
“Anything we can do to save a valuable resource before it is destroyed is worth a try.”
The MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, said he would write to the college to ask if anything could be done to keep the facility open.
“The ability to retrain or acquire new skills is crucially important at a time of economic downturn,” he said.
Nine jobs at The Learning Shop are at risk.
The college’s director of school of business, Mrs Sue van Zyl, said they were in a period of consultation and a meeting with staff was held on Wednesday. Another meeting is scheduled within the next fortnight.
In January 2007, Newark and Sherwood College merged with Lincoln College, changing its name to Newark College.
As well as Newark, courses are available at Lincoln College’s city centre campus on Monks Road and at Gainsborough.
A college spokesman said students could apply to a full-time or part-time programme of study at all three colleges as well as attending the Learning Shops at Lincoln and Gainsborough.
She said there were a number of flexible evening courses to choose from.
