A PROGRAMME of activities designed to encourage adults back into learning will be held at Okehampton College in the new year.

Learn Devon will celebrate Devon's environment and encourage adults to learn new skills or develop existing ones.

Okehampton College will be organising three sessions as part of the new initiative.

Devon County Cllr Stuart Barker said the council led the bid for funding on behalf of the Devon Community Learning Partnership earlier this year, from the Government's new Transformation Fund for informal learning.

He said: 'Learn Devon taster sessions will be promoted on a new community learning website to be hosted by Devon County Council.

'As well as details of courses available, the new website will include a news section, advice for community learning groups, tutor skills exchanges and updates of county-wide environmental projects which provide learning opportunities.

'We are very pleased to lead this project on behalf of the partnership. It offers exciting opportunities to work with communities and provide support to local organisations who are working so hard to bring informal learning to adults.'

More than 180 taster activities have been planned and will focus on green issues and conservation, wildlife, local countryside and healthy living.

Chair of the Devon Community Learning Partnership Peter Harding said: 'This is a wonderful opportunity for adults wanting to try new things and get back into learning.

'Local organisations are being invited to set up the taster courses and this provides a wide variety of settings for learning right across the county.'

The sessions at Okehampton College will include public presentations on Climate Change on Friday, January 15, Healthy Meals on Wednesday, January 20 and Energy Efficiency on Thursday, January 21.

For details of times phone Keith Webber on 01837 650910.