A series of taster sessions for higher level education were held recently at Truro and Penwith College, and attended by over 100 individuals.

Held at Haven House Conference and Training Centre as part of the ESF Widening Participation through Skills Project, these sessions provided learners with an insight into their chosen subject area.

The free four hour training sessions covered a range of subjects to support the growth of the area and enhance individual employment prospects including Teaching, Business, Marketing and Health and Wellbeing.

Charli Styles, ESF project coordinator, said: "The response to our taster sessions has been fantastic and we are thrilled that we have been able to support so many people to take their first steps towards new qualifications, careers and employment opportunities.

"We are now organising a further series of Tasters for May, which we will be advertising over the coming weeks.”

Marcus Kern, a local businessman who attended the marketing and PR session, said: "When you run your own business, you become somewhat of an expert, which is something worth sharing with others.”

Magda Jakubik, who attended several of the taster sessions, said: “I have an itch to learn and do more.”

Jamie Bland, a business entrepreneur, said: "I would love a certificate to show that I am aware about the feelings of the youth of today. I could not fault the enthusiasm in the Mental Health and Wellbeing session.”

Jade Bowmer, who attended the ‘Introduction to Teaching’ session, said: "The session was really informative and I feel like I learnt a lot.

"The tutor, Caroline, was engaging and led by example to display her best teaching techniques. It was good to find out a bit more about what a teaching course would entail so I can discover if this is the right choice for me - there are so many options, it is so difficult to decide alone.”

Jess Robb-Fuell, who recently completed her FdSc Human Behavioural Studies the college, said: "It is so nice to see such a varied age range in attendance to these taster sessions. "It demonstrates that there is that possibility to change your career path whenever it suits you.”

“After scouring the internet myself for various routes into CBT, a taster session was really beneficial because it was somewhere I could physically go to and ask the questions to receive an immediate response.

"Not only this, but you also get the opportunity to see a more personal perspective instead of just looking at a computer screen.”

Anyone who may want more information about accessing higher education, or would liketo attend the next series of taster session in May, should email success@truro-penwith.ac.uk or call 01872 242711.