Our community learning offer are non-qualifications courses, aimed at teaching you new skills for life and/ or work, for your health and wellbeing, meeting new people and having fun while learning. Courses included in this programme, include: Arts and Crafts, basic IT skills (non-qualification courses), Exercise, Nutrition, Pilates, Study Skills, Workplace learning and Yoga.

Community Learning and Concessions

Where a course has a fee, it is clearly published on our website. After clicking on the ‘enrol now’ button on your chosen course the concessions and flexible payment information will be displayed. Some of our courses are subsidised by government funding. Aspire Sussex reserves the right to increase fees in the future in line with the government’s funding authorities’ guidance.

Our Community Learning courses that attract a Government subsidy offer a 5% discount for those aged 65 years and older and a 45% discount for those on certain means tested benefits.

Aspire Sussex also recognises that as part of your 5 Ways to Wellbeing, learning contributes to supporting your overall mental and physical wellbeing, while helping people to get the most from life. Therefore, we are using our Education and Skills Funding Agency funding to provide places on our courses at a low cost fee of £20 to enable more adults to realise the benefits of learning in West Sussex. For those learners who have been outside of any learning or formal education for two years or more AND are:

  • On a low income (Earning less than £18525)
  • Or have a mild to moderate mental health conditions (such as low mood, depression or anxiety)
  • Or have long term health conditions
  • Or are resident in the most deprived areas of the county

Also look out for our First Step courses for just £15.

If you have any questions about concessions or a particular course before enrolling, please contact our Student Support team on 0345 601 0161 or email us at [email protected]

Means Tested Benefits

We accept the following Means Tested Benefits:

  • Council Tax Allowance/ Housing Benefit
  • Pension Guarantee Credit
  • Income Support
  • Working Tax Credit (if household income on the award is below £25,000)
  • Job Seekers Allowance
  • Employment & Support Allowance
  • Universal Credit (if household income on the award is below £25,000)

Please note that Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is not a means tested benefit.

Please contact our Student Support team on 0345 601 0161 or email us at [email protected] to discuss proof of eligibility.