There are currently 1.1 million young adults in the UK aged 16 to 24 who are not in employment, education or training. Young adults in this group are far more likely to experience difficulties relating to literacy, language and numeracy, and consequently can find themselves further marginalised from formal opportunities.

A conference from NIACE to explore routes to re-engaging young adults in literacy, language and numeracy learning is being held in London next month and will include personal testimony from young adults about their experiences.

The Success factors in informal learning Conference - to be held at the Institute of Education at the University of London, on Wednesday 14th December 2005 and organised by NIACE with the support of the National Research and Development Centre (NRDC) - will explore effective approaches to engage and motivate young adults in literacy, language and numeracy, with a particular focus on the significant contribution informal and community based learning can provide.

The Conference will also discuss the importance of learners´ voices in shaping learning; working with young people in custody; making reading exciting for young adults; exploring creative activities for developing emotional intelligence; gaining confidence through recognising achievement; and effective strategies for embedding literacy, language and numeracy in innovative and relevant learning programmes.

Bethia McNeil, NIACE Project Officer for the Young Adults Learning Partnership, said:

 "This conference will provide an opportunity for practitioners and policy makers to reflect on and explore the potential ways of engaging young adult learners in literacy, language and numeracy provision. The voices of learners will be at the heart of the day, and delegates will have the opportunity to hear from young adults about the approaches and strategies that supported them in achieving their personal learning goals."

She continued, "Young adults are not necessarily resistant to learning itself, but may strongly resist provision that they perceive as being related to formal, school-like learning situations, and unrelated to their own lives, experiences and interests. Many of these young adults feel that ‘learning is not for them´, and feel that education has nothing to offer their lives. This conference will provide an opportunity to share experiences and successes, and enable practitioners to build networks and develop their practice more confidently and creatively."