FAQs

Adult Learning is part of Shetland Islands Council’s Community Development Team. We sit within the Council’s Community Planning and Development Service.

The Adult Learning team is based at Solarhus, 3 North Ness Business Park in Lerwick.

Our learning programmes are delivered in a variety of other locations. We use the Drama Room in Islesburgh Community Centre, King Harald Street, Lerwick, and community venues throughout Shetland.

We can if required, provide learning at home for learners with restricted mobility.

Learn Shetland is the website of Shetland Island Council’s Adult Learning service.

Adult Learning provides flexible, one to one learning and support to help adults build skills and confidence to achieve their goals. This learning is person-centred, flexible and informal and aims to help adults to develop their confidence and everyday skills in eg: reading, writing and number skills, digital skills, communication skills and budgeting.

Adult Learning delivers a range of evening and daytime classes to meet a wide range of learning needs and interests. We deliver classes which help adults develop their confidence and everyday skills in eg: English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), digital skills, skills for learning and work, cooking on a budget and family learning. We also deliver a range of leisure classes to suit a variety of interests, in areas such as arts and crafts, languages and music and dance.

Adult Learning delivers training and support to enable other front-line staff and volunteers to support adults in a range of settings with their learning needs.

All our one-to-one learning support is FREE.

Some of our classes are delivered FREE of charge. Classes which are helping adults to develop their everyday skills, eg: digital, ESOL, budgeting, cooking on a budget, fun with numbers and other life skills, are delivered FREE of charge.

Our leisure based, evening and daytime classes have a charge attached. For these, we also offer concessionary rates for learners in receipt of certain benefits. The cost of a class will be clearly marked on our CLASSES page. Learn more here.

Firstly, give us a call, drop us an email or complete the online contact form, and a member of the Adult Learning team will phone your back – click Contact Us. We will then set up an initial face to face meeting to discuss your learning needs and goals and work out a personal learning plan. All our one-to-one support is person-centred, meaning that the learning you do is agreed between you and the tutor and tailored to the specific goal(s) you want to achieve and is delivered at your pace. Dates and times for the learning sessions will be agreed between you and your tutor.

Yes, of course. We start at the level you are at. It may only take one session to achieve what you need, or it may take longer.

No, not at all. If you have your own device, it makes sense to bring it with you so that you can learn on the device you will be using at home. If you do not own a device, you can develop your skills using one of our laptops or iPads. We can also refer you to the Shetland Library, where you can borrow an iPad for a month.

Initially we offer up to 6 one-to-one sessions. We then review your learning progress and jointly work out if further learning is required. All these sessions are free.

Where possible, we meet learners in the Drama Room in Islesburgh Community Centre. If that is difficult for a learner, due to mobility or other health issues, we can on occasion, visit learners at home where appropriate.

No, our support is not like school. We work in a person-centred way, which means that for one-to-one support, learning is at your pace, and is focused around what you need to learn to achieve your personal goals.

No, we offer free, friendly, informal support to help you achieve your learning goals. This does not involve any formal assessments or exams.

Yes absolutely, we aim to ensure all learners are as comfortable as possible, so we can meet you on your own and at a location where you feel most at ease.

All our current classes are listed on our website. You can also subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest information on all our classes direct to your inbox. To join the mailing list complete our Contact Form.

You can join our mailing list by submitting your details on the form here.

This will give us permission to email you with details of our classes as they go live.

We do not currently have any openings for volunteering with Adult Learning. This is something we are investigating. Keep an eye on our website for updates.

We advertise for Adult Learning tutors periodically via Shetland Islands Council myjobScotland If you have a skill you would like to share with other adults, and are interested in becoming a tutor, we would love to hear from you.

Give us a call on 01595 743888 or email us at classes@shetland.gov.uk and someone will get back in touch to discuss any opportunities and forthcoming recruitment dates.

To book a class, go to the Find a Class page and follow the on screen instructions,If you have any difficulty, you can email us at classes@shetland.gov.uk. Classes must be paid for up-front (if applicable), at the time of booking. If you are claiming a concessionary rate, we ask that you send in proof of your concession status to the above email address.

No, it is optional but not required. You can set up an account, so that when you login next time to book classes, the process will be quicker for you. Or you can choose to sign in as a guest each time you make a class booking. It is entirely your choice.

Of course, we want to make your learning experience as easy as possible.

Please state on your booking form if you will be accompanied by a support worker/carer and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss your requirements.

Most beginner classes require no previous experience. Some advanced classes may require some prior knowledge or learning. This will be made clear in the class description, so be sure to review that before enrolling.

You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging your booking. When the class has enough learners booked to be able to run, you will receive an email confirming your place, with the time, date, location and any other relevant details for the class.

We always try our best to make sure classes go ahead as advertised but sometimes circumstances mean classes will not run. In this case, we will either offer you a place on a rescheduled class or provide a refund.

We can only accept learners who are 16 years or older. Some classes, such as those designated as ‘family learning’ will by their very purpose, accept children and young people, so long as they are accompanied by a parent/guardian/carer. All ‘family learning’ classes will be clearly marked as such.

If you can no longer attend a class, please let us know as soon as possible, to enable us to offer the place to someone on the waiting list. If you let us know before the class starts, you will be eligible for a refund. If you do not cancel with us in advance of the class starting, unfortunately you will not be eligible for a refund.

We are always working to improve and develop our learning offer throughout Shetland. Knowing where our learners live and what age range they are in, helps us to get a better understanding of who is picking up on classes, and from which parts of Shetland. We use this information to identify trends and gaps, and to inform how and where we offer future classes.

If you need any support to book a class, please get in touch with us via email at classes@shetland.gov.uk or through our online contact form, or phone us on 01595 743888.

Once your booking has been submitted, and payment accepted (if applicable), you will receive a confirmation email.

Click on "Forgot Password" link on the login page and follow instruction to enter your email address. If you have an account in our system, an email will be sent to you after you submit the form. The email will contain a link that you may click on to reset your password.

If you are Under 18, Over 60 or if you or your family receive a benefit listed below, you are eligible for a concessionary discounted rate.

Please note that concessions are only given on basic course fees, not on venue hire or additional material costs.

You must provide evidence to receive the discounted rate. A copy of your proof of age / benefit letter can either be emailed to classes@shetland.gov.uk or posted to Adult Learning, Solarhus, 3 North Ness, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0LZ, UK

If you have booked and paid for a class and are no longer able to attend, as long as you let us know in advance of the class starting, you will be eligible for a refund. Once the class has started you will not be eligible to receive a refund. If you do not turn up to a class, you will not be eligible to receive a refund.

We accept credit and debit cards paid via the online payment portal. If you need to make a cash payment, take your class confirmation email/letter along to Shetland Islands Council reception at 8 North Ness.

The cost of classes varies and depends on the number of sessions in the class, the timing of the class, the specific venue and if any additional materials are supplied. The price of each class is shown clearly on the class listing. Many of our classes are FREE, and this will also be clearly displayed.

If you need to buy any materials for your class, your tutor will either supply a list beforehand so you can buy the materials in advance, or supply the items at cost price, and collect the money at your class.

‘Safeguarding’ refers to measures designed protect the health, wellbeing and human rights of individuals. Adult Learning / Shetland Islands Council adheres to the Shetland Inter-agency Child and Adult Protection Procedures, managed by Safer Shetland.

If you have any safeguarding concerns while participating in Adult Learning activities, please do not hesitate to speak to your tutor, or call Adult Learning on 01595 743888.

Safer Shetland has a number to report concerns about a child, an adult, or domestic abuse, you can find more information here - Report a concern