At the moment we are working on launching a setting in Kendal in the South Lakes (the aim is for this to start in late 2021) This will be branded ‘Learning 2 Live’ and is a partnership with various organisations including our CIC Right2Work.

We are working with Cheshire based ‘Signature Supported Housing’ to develop this. In early 2020 we agreed the way forward.

What is Learning 2 Live?

In response to a need for more options for young people with learning disabilities in transition from school to adulthood; Oaklea/R2W has developed a unique concept, “Learning 2 Live.” For young people with learning disabilities the option to attend residential college away from home, after finishing school, can be a daunting one. Funding can be agreed for just one year at a time for courses that normally last up to 3 years, and places on such courses are limited.There are no longer any residential colleges within the county of Cumbria and young people and their families are finding themselves attending colleges such as Beaumont (Lancaster) and Dilston (Hexham); some distance from home.

The young people who are lucky enough to attend residential college often find that at the end of their course they return to their family home.

Our Learning 2 Live project is an alternative to a residential college and takes learning a step further by equipping young people with the skills to live independently. The aim is that after they complete the programme they do not return home but instead can live in the community as independently as possible.

Young people with learning disabilities will enrol as ‘learners’ in our project and they will live together in a shared house where they will engage in the Learning 2 Live programme for approximately 3 years; similar in length to the residential college option.

Find out more here in our current brochure Learning2Live Brochure WEB

How will the L2L Programme work?

The programme focuses on achieving independence within three broad theme areas:

• managing a home
• managing oneself
• engaging in the community

The programme works by bringing one team together in collaboration:

• a specialist provider of support including independent living skills – Oaklea
• a provider of specialist employment and learning support – Right2Work C.I.C who are a wholly owned subsidiary of Oaklea and a registered centre to deliver Open Awards qualifications
• a provider of further education – for example Kendal and / or Barrow College
• a Housing provider for specialist accommodation provision

For more information Get in touch