The Alternative Learning Hub is a place for children and young people who struggle with mainstream education or find the regular school or college setting unsettling.

Running from September to August, the programme aligns itself with the academic calendar and we're taking referrals for the 2023/24 year! 

Across B&NES and Wiltshire, there isn’t a group programme that exists to steer vulnerable children and young people from a potentially damaging or destructive path. The Alternative Learning Hub is designed to be that programme. We want to make B&NES and Wiltshire more inclusive for all young people.

Using our strong links with the community, children and young people are referred to us by their parents, carers, and teachers, or by other community organisations, including housing associations, youth offending teams and social workers.

What programmes does the Alternative Learning Hub offer?

BOOST (ages 14-16)	PHASE (ages 16-19)	ADVANTAGE (ages 19-25)
A programme for 14-16-year-olds to help them cope with mainstream education. Quite often these are children who may have been disruptive or struggle to settle in class. To not let this behaviour affect both the learner and their peers, the child is referred to the ALH to help them learn ways to better settle and cope in school, using support and coaching as a solution.	For children and young adults aged 16-19, sometimes older. Learners are usually people who have left school at 16 or have been referred to the ALH for their further education studies. The programme offers participants a safe learning space that is different to mainstream education. It provides work experience opportunities and builds learners’ confidence and life skills.	For young people aged 19-25 who live in B&NES, Bristol and Wiltshire who would like to be in work or training but have struggled to find where they fit. The programme helps young people identify their prospects and improve their self-confidence. The programme includes indoor and outdoor based learning and aims to inspire learners in both a group setting and individually. Childcare funding is available for those with care commitments and all equipment is supplied.

How we help young people

There are many ways we help children and young people. Each learner is different. Our trained and dedicated coaching team recognise each learner’s needs and delivers support accordingly. This can range from improving confidence and speaking to others, staying focused during lessons and recognising talents, developing emotional intelligence, offering mental well-being support, and much more.

This year, the Alternative Learning Hub will benefit from a partnership with Bath College, who will provide the programmes with oversight, tutoring and academic registration. 

How do we work with Bath College?

The ALH is run as a partnership between Bath Rugby Foundation and Bath College. Bath College provides Functional Skills Maths and English, RARPA (Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement) and other formal Level 1 & 2 qualifications timetabled to be less than 15 hours of delivery.

Bath Rugby Foundation delivers a curriculum of enrichment including PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic), SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) and other life skills packages to support the overall development of the young person and potential re-integration into mainstream education. This enrichment curriculum is timetabled to be less than than 15 hours of delivery.

Want to make a referral?

Our team would love to talk to you. We’re taking referrals for learners for the coming academic year. You can refer a child or young person by completing the enquiry form and we will be in touch as soon as possible. Downloadable version of the form can be found here.

Alternatively, if you'd like to speak to one of our coaches, please email [email protected] or call on 07741641813. 

Become a Community Coach at the Alternative Learning Hub

We're looking for a Community Coach to join our team here at the Hub.

The successful candidate must have a can-do attitude and work calmly under pressure as part of a team environment. 

They will also have skills to relate to young people and demonstrate listening skills without judgement.

Please read the full job description before applying. 

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to [email protected].

Photo credit: Suzy Slemen