Some of the most vulnerable members of society will lose out if a London university goes ahead with its plans to close the country's largest centre for adult literacy and numeracy.
The London Language and Literacy Unit (LLU+), at London South Bank University, trains teachers to teach basic literacy and numeracy to adults, and to help them overcome any difficulties they have as a result of dyslexia. Those it has helped include unemployed people and offenders, who benefit significantly from improved reading and writing skills. Recently, it was involved in the rewriting of the adult numeracy and literacy curriculum.
But it is threatened with closure as part of the university's restructuring plans, and its 35 staff face redundancy. In just over a fortnight, the centre has received more than 1,000 signatures for a petition against the closure.
"We have a unique training unit: it's one way in which people who have missed out on education have a chance to re-engage with it," says David Kaye, a teacher trainer at the unit.
A spokesman from London South Bank says the university is undertaking "a comprehensive evaluation of all of its business activities, including those of this unit".
He adds: "Throughout the consultation, the university is working to minimise any impact on the student experience, while working closely with staff who may be affected to mitigate the professional and personal circumstances surrounding any change."
