Northern Learning Trust provides personalised one-to-one tuition across Northumberland. We specialise in maths and English functional skills, but our Bridge tutors also offer ICT support, help with job applications and CVs, and access to other courses and learning opportunities. In addition, we have our own Bridge Worker who can give advice and guidance to beneficiaries and signpost them to other services.
Services adapted to Covid-19 lockdown
During lockdown we have continued to teach our beneficiaries by phone, video call and post. Those who are less confident with ICT, or who do not have access to the internet, have said that they really appreciate receiving work by post. It reduces the potential sense of isolation and enables them to stay focussed on their learning goals.
In some cases, the Bridge tutors may be the only people the beneficiaries hear from, so it has been important to complement their tuition with more general support – for example, encouraging beneficiaries to share news and tips on staying safe, as well as recipes, drawings and photographs from lockdown walks.
Kyra Thompson is Northern Learning Trust’s Community Engagement Tutor and highlighted the benefits of having a dedicated Bridge Worker based with the Trust:
“I haven’t even met my colleague Eve (NLT’s Bridge Worker) in person yet because of lockdown, but we already have a great relationship. We’ve been planning a joint event in Berwick to support our beneficiaries. It’s fantastic that NLT can offer such a wide range of support through this project.”
Vicki receives support from Northern Learning Trust. She says:
“I have been on the Bridge Project for around a year now and I have accessed a few services and found them very beneficial, one being my maths and English. The tutor Kyra is very understanding about your level … and is very supportive.”
Visit Northern Learning Trust’s website for more about their work.
