Adults on course

The report, called What Role for Adult Education? compiled by Cathie Hammond and Leon Feinstein, found adult education provided real opportunities for improved health and well-being.

Encouraging adults back into education is therefore not just about raising the levels of literacy and numeracy. It is about adding value to a life.

Figures suggest this is being understood with the past five years showing a steady increase in adult learners.

The National Adult Learning Survey in 2002 showed 76 per cent of those aged between 16 and 69 had taken part in some form of learning in the past three years and of those who hadn't, nearly half said they would like to look into the prospect of being taught something new.

Organisations such as learndirect aim to prove it is never to late to learn by offering advice on hundreds of careers and courses to maximise chances of achieving goals.

It also helps with CVs and filling out application forms.

Gerald O'Dowd, from Woolwich, is one of the many who has discovered the benefits of learning later in life.

The 42-year-old won a learning award during Adult Learning Week last year.

He suffers from a brain disorder called Bipolar and took an art course at Bexley College after discovering the benefits art therapy had for him during a spell in hospital.

Gerard now runs a group which meets once a week for men who experience mental health difficulties, using the art therapy he has learnt.

There are a wealth of resources available to anyone looking to start a new course.

Hotcourses.co.uk, for example, allows you to search in all areas at a level and time to suit you.

It also offers advice on how to enter a range of careers, from fashion designing to firefighting.

For those worried their lack of basic skills will hinder their chance of success, learndirect also offers free literacy and numeracy courses.

Visit learndirect.co.uk for more information.