SWAPWest supports adult learners through programmes aimed at basic intervention, preparatory programmes and guidance all designed to support the adult return to education, gain in self-confidence and feel not just part of society but able to participate in it though local activities, educational opportunities, skills training and return to employment courses.

SWAPWest works in the areas of promoting, facilitating and generating opportunities for socially disadvantaged adults to make the steps back into education.  We work at many levels from providing basic study programme, tasters, to the more advanced programmes where, with appropriate coaching, learners can progress into higher education all without previous formal education or certification.  The key to our success is several fold but amongst them is the impartial, quality assurance mechanisms we use and the guidance that we provide for learners in addition to facilitating programmes to suit their needs and desires.

Since 1987, the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAPWest), the West of Scotland Access Consortium, has played a pivotal role in the development of opportunities for disadvantaged adult returners in Scotland.  SWAPWest is a consortium of 8 Regional Further Education Colleges, 8 Higher Education establishments, working with Community Education. SWAPWest has been successful in putting the needs of the adult learner at the forefront through the development of a wide range of initiatives aimed at helping disadvantaged groups of learners.  Over the 25 years of SWAPWest, more than 19,200 SWAP learners have passed through Consortium institutions. Each year we enrol 800 adults, of which, 81% have no advanced qualifications, 70 % reside in the two most deprived data zones in Scotland, 33% were unemployed and 90% reported that they had no exposure to education beyond school and of those successfully completing 70% proceeded to higher education.  Our numbers and the progress of our students, who may otherwise have not had an opportunity to return to education, is the measure of our success.  We support both the learners and the staff working with learners through guidance, staff training and programme co-ordination, return to study programmes, guidance sessions, taster events, ongoing guidance programmes all of which are often delivered in conjunction with other educational and skills training professionals.

We have 9 years experience in working in European Grundtvig programmes, as partner and coordinator.