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Location, location, location as a barrier and enabler

Where a course is located can make it easier or more difficult for learners to get to.

Courses which are held in the local community are generally welcomed as people don't have to spend much time or money travelling. For those who are unemployed or on a low income, travelling costs can be an issue if a course is held some distance away from where people live. The idea of travelling during dark nights is also off-putting to many who would feel less safe.

The amount of time spent travelling is important because of all of the other things which people fit into their busy lives. This is why many feel that learning on the doorstep would be ideal:

"Top of the street would be ideal for me, but saying that, not necessarily I've got transport, it's not that, it's having the time for everything else in my life."

For some people's personal circumstances (e.g. having caring responsibilities or a lack of own transport), being able to learn near where they live does enable them to take part in learning:

"...it's handy for me to get to from home because I live with a disabled daughter so it's only when she is out at college that I can do things and it means if I come here I don't have a lot of travel to get here and I can get home quicker."

However, despite this preference for local courses, many people are happy to engage in learning which is held elsewhere. Generally, the location of learning is held to be more important by older people, but overall was not considered to be a huge barrier or enabler to learning - if people are motivated to engage in some learning, they will get to where they need to be! 

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