AN EDUCATION project based in Chard is celebrating its first anniversary.

Somerset Skills and Learning (SS&L), which has 11 bases around the county including Chard, was launched as an independent community interest company in August 2015.

In the past year, thousands of people have used the service, which was originally part of Somerset County Council, as they seek to gain new skills to help find them employment.

It is not just education the scheme offers, as it has also provided grants and funding to around 40 local community and voluntary organisations.

Susie Simon Norris, chief executive of SS&L, said: “We’re thrilled to be celebrating our first full year of operation as a community interest company this week.

“In just our first year of operating we have helped 200 young people (aged 16-18) into work, have provided more than 500 apprenticeship programmes for a wide range of employers across Somerset and have delivered qualification courses, including English, Maths, Counselling and ICT, to over 1,000 learners.

“We have also provided a wide range of leisure courses to 8,000 people, covering everything from art to languages, yoga, to sugar craft and family history.

“We are proud to have provided grants for 40 community and voluntary organisations to enable them to deliver learning locally as part of our Community Learning Partnership.

“At our core, we work with employers to support the skills needed for growth and the economic needs of Somerset, and we look forward to supporting even more people and businesses over the next year.”

SS&L has 11 training centres across Somerset, including Chard, Ilminster, Bridgwater, Burnham, Frome, Minehead, Taunton, Wellington, Wells and Yeovil.

For more information on the courses it offers, visit sslcic.co.uk.