As part of their Multiple long-term conditions programme, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity has commissioned Learning and Work Institute (L&W) to scope a Citizens’ Curriculum pilot in Lambeth and Southwark. The Citizens’ Curriculum is an approach to the design, development and delivery of adult learning, that seeks to overcome traditional barriers to participation, in order to improve learning, employment and health outcomes. It aims to make learning essential and life skills – like literacy, numeracy or English language – more relevant, by co-creating the content with learners in local settings, and using community-based delivery models.

The initial aim of this project is to map the local offer of programmes, provision and initiatives that could benefit people with multiple long-term conditions – formal and non-formal learning, and skills-based in-work progression support – in priority areas of Lambeth and Southwark. It also includes identifying any relevant local data and existing research.

As part of this, we would like to hear about the key priorities, gaps, challenges and suggestions for future focus areas from the following organisation types:

1. Providers, including employment services, FE colleges, and adult community education.
2. Voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations, existing networks and partnerships which support, or could support, signposting, referral and engagement for example food banks and referral organisations.
3. Organisations which support marginalised groups including BAME communities, people with health conditions, and migrants and refugees
4. Local employers, with an interest in supporting the progression and wellbeing of employees.

The results of this activity will be analysed to produce online, interactive maps of local provision and identify up to four neighbourhoods where future pilots will take place.  In the longer term, we hope to help shape a new local learning offer to benefit people with long term health conditions and improve health and employment outcomes.