FACES Sheffield City Council's Family Adult Community Education Service

04/09/2026

Coming Soon!!
FACES Next Steps Event
Tuesday 8th September 10am-2pm, Townhall
Lifelong Learning, The University of Sheffield

03/09/2026

Ready for a New Academic Year!

The FACES team has had a fantastic training week, refreshing our knowledge on Prevent, Safeguarding, Learner Support, Inclusion, plus Health and Wellbeing to help us support our learners throughout the year.

We also got creative, producing some artwork to brighten up our office and celebrate what FACES means to us.

It's been great to welcome everyone back after the summer and we're feeling refreshed and ready for the new term! We can't wait to see our learners in classes soon! 💚

03/09/2026

02/09/2026

Confidence, qualifications and a new future:

"I didn't feel judged. Everyone was friendly, and that made such a difference."

After a successful career in the fire service, Karl knew he needed Level 2 English and Maths to achieve his goal of studying Fire Engineering.

Returning to learning wasn't easy. Past experiences had affected his confidence, but with support from FACES tutors, Karl persevered, improved his skills and successfully enrolled on both courses.

Now Karl is one step closer to university and proving that it's never too late to invest in yourself.

👉 Read Karl's inspiring story and others on our website:
https://lifelong-learning.sheffield.gov.uk/case-study-karl-h

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

02/09/2026

Tim's Story: Building confidence through digital skills:

When Tim enrolled on a FACES Digital Skills course, he described technology as "another language" and had very limited digital experience. Referred by his Work Coach at Cavendish Court, Tim wanted to improve his understanding of technology after recognising that digital skills had become increasingly important in the workplace. Having previously worked in warehousing, he had seen colleagues with stronger computer skills secure opportunities that he felt were beyond his reach.

The eight-week Digital Skills course provided Tim with a supportive and welcoming environment in which to learn. He particularly valued the pace of the sessions and the enthusiasm of the tutors, explaining that, “the course was presented in a way that allowed everyone to keep up and build their knowledge gradually.” Unlike previous learning experiences where he felt overwhelmed by information, Tim found the course accessible, engaging and enjoyable.

Tim's educational journey has not always been straightforward. He spoke openly about difficult experiences earlier in life, including being bullied at school and facing significant personal challenges. These experiences affected his confidence and shaped his view of education. Nevertheless, Tim demonstrated resilience and determination, recognising the importance of continuing to learn and develop new skills.

Through the course, Tim gained practical digital skills including creating and sending emails, searching online effectively, and using shortcuts to find information more efficiently. He also achieved a course certificate, giving him formal recognition of his learning.

Most importantly, Tim believes the course increased his confidence and made technology feel less intimidating. He described the learning experience as something he, “genuinely looked forward to each week.”

The impact of the course extends beyond acquiring digital skills. Tim is now actively looking for employment and hopes to continue working for the next few years before retirement. He has also expressed a strong desire to help others, drawing on both his personal and professional experiences. In particular, he is interested in supporting people through martial arts and exploring opportunities to help others facing challenges similar to those he has overcome.

Tim's learning journey is continuing. He is considering further training with FACES, including Food Safety and First Aid courses, to strengthen his skills and improve his employment prospects. He is also being connected with additional employment support through the Pathways to work team to help him take the next step towards work.

When asked what advice he would give to others considering adult learning, Tim's message was simple:
"I would recommend FACES without hesitancy. I would tell them to try it and they won't regret it. Keep up the good work. Keep doing what you're doing".

Tim's story demonstrates that it is never too late to learn new skills, build confidence, and create new opportunities for the future.

Tim's case study and many others can be found on our website at https://lifelong-learning.sheffield.gov.uk/family-adult-community-education/case-studies-testimonials

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

02/09/2026

From Grandma’s Sewing Machine to London Fashion Week.

What inspires you to dream bigger?

At The Furnival, a group of ESOL learners explored the stories of inspirational women throughout history, building their English, confidence and knowledge along the way.

From learning about Florence Nightingale’s impact on healthcare to sharing stories about the women who inspire them most, learners discovered the power of resilience, determination and ambition.

One learner’s journey even began with her grandmother’s sewing machine and led all the way to London Fashion Week.

Read the full inspiring story and see how adult learning can open doors, empower voices and transform lives.

Read the case study on our website:
https://lifelong-learning.sheffield.gov.uk/case-study-inspirational-women-esol-course-furnival

The Furnival
South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority

02/09/2026

We’ve been quiet. But we certainly haven’t been standing still. 🏗️

We’re delighted to be moving into the 2026/27 academic year with new Adult Skills Fund funding secured across a growing number of regions in England.

That means more opportunities for people to access our Introduction to Construction programmes through both our fixed academies and pop-up training locations.

Manchester. South Yorkshire. Lincolnshire. The East Midlands. Cumbria. Calderdale. Sheffield. North Northamptonshire.

And we’re only interested in doing one thing with that opportunity: making it count.

More people starting careers.
More communities accessing construction training.
More employers meeting new talent.
More doors opening into an industry that needs skilled people.

There’s been plenty of noise in the sector.

We’ve been busy building.

And now 2026/27 is here, we’re ready for the next phase. 💥

28/08/2026

📚 Learn English – English Skills for Health 💬

Know someone who is looking to improve their English skills for health and wellbeing? Please share this course with them! ❤️

This course will help learners develop their English skills to:

🗣️ Talk about health and wellbeing
🏥 Contact health services
💬 Speak confidently in appointments

Spaces are limited, so please complete the ‘ESOL class contact form’ to book your place.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnPjUvxPDSw1ZYlmfFLBPbSkykAfePPhNWXlaLf61hgHx_Iw/viewform

📢 Please share with anyone who may benefit from this course!

28/08/2026

📚 English ESOL Classes – Starting September 2026!

Looking to improve your English skills for health, wellbeing, volunteering and work?

Spaces are limited, so please complete the ESOL Class Contact Form to apply.

👉 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnPjUvxPDSw1ZYlmfFLBPbSkykAfePPhNWXlaLf61hgHx_Iw/viewform

Please share this post with anyone who may be interested! 💗📖