Bridge-Over Mardyke, Rainham, Essex The Bridge-Over Mardyke project is managed by the Learning Freeway, the Borough of Havering's adult education college. The Bridge-Over Mardyke project is based on a successful ACLF-funded project in Harold Hill, another district of Havering. The Harold Hill project is now embedded using European Social Fund (ESF) and Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) funding. This project is centred in Mardyke, a deprived estate in Rainham, Essex with high levels of unemployment. The deprivation is exacerbated by the lack of convenient public transport, which isolates the estate and the community living there. In 1999 it was estimated that about 80 per cent of the people living on the Mardyke estate were in need of basic skills education. Much of the housing is council-owned, and there are high numbers of lone parents and other marginalised groups, eg, ex-offenders and refugees. The estate was chosen by the Learning Freeway as work by the local authority housing department (an important partner in the project) had established a 24-hour concierge service providing a safe and secure location for the project. Using a variety of funds (ACLF, SRB, Standards Funds and the Further Education Funding Council), a Learning Flat was opened on the estate in April 2000. A second flat above, with an IT suite, was opened later. These provided a place in the heart of the community, where people could access learning opportunities without having to leave the estate. All courses are free and childcare is also provided, an important part of the project and a major reason for its success. Other factors contributing to the success of the project (as cited by staff and participants) were the friendly approach of tutors and the flexible approach to learning adopted. Many of the tutors shared personal experiences with learners (eg leaving school with no qualifications, struggling with basic skills, viewing themselves as 'just a housewife'). As a result they can relate to their learners' experiences. Learning is conducted at the learners' own pace, and there is no time limit to complete the courses, another popular aspect of the projects. The courses are all accredited, and include English, maths, IT, floristry, massage and aromatherapy, diet and nutrition, and citizenship. The project also runs family learning projects in literacy, numeracy and computing, to help parents and their children learn together. An Ambassador Programme has been started, where learners go out into the community to promote the project and encourage others to join. Like the tutors, the ambassadors understand the viewpoints and needs of people living on the estate. The project has worked with over 350 learners, across a range of ages, most of whom are women. A further flat on the estate is currently also being used and is in high demand, and two empty shops on the estate are being converted into a 'Learning Shop' which now includes an IT suite and childcare facilities.

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