THE JOYS of lifelong learning are to be celebrated across Southampton with Adult Learners' Week.

The fun event, which runs until Friday, aims to showcase the huge variety of lively courses on offer in the city.

The week was opened on Saturday when Saints Academy football players joined city mayor Councillor Brian Parnell, belly dancers and Greek dancers at WestQuay for an official launch.

Hundreds of shoppers in WestQuay joined in the revelry, as well as finding out from staff about the many courses on offer at education providers across the city.

Adult Learners' Week encourages people of all ages to take up a new skill and keep on learning.

The range of activities on offer in Southampton covers everything from belly dancing to maths, with foreign languages, computers, basic reading skills, embroidery arts and crafts all well represented among hundreds of other topics.

Adult learning is on offer at a number of schools and colleges in the city, which offer courses tailored to individual's needs, whether a nervous learner or an enthusiastic scholar.

Southampton City Council's adult learning plan manager, Paul Ducker, said: "WestQuay, which has helped hundreds of local people gain new jobs and new skills since it opened more than two years ago, is a fitting and high-profile venue for the launch of the week's events.

"Adult Learners' Week is a great opportunity for people to try a course, for free and without any long-term commitment, whether to improve job prospects, develop new skills, meet new people, stay fit and active or fulfil an ambition.

"We are trying to encourage people to enjoy learning throughout life. It is partly for the benefit of individuals but also for the city as a whole because it helps build successful, confident communities."

During Adult Learners' Week, education providers across the city are putting on a huge variety of different activities. The week offers the chance to visit Tudor House Museum and the 16th century Knot Garden, which is currently closed for restoration work.

It also presents the opportunity to find out about the exciting learning programme the new £11.4m Woodlands Community School will offer its community from this autumn.

Southampton City College will be offering dozens of different courses at its main campus and satellite venues throughout the week and visitors to Taunton's College and the Eastpoint Centre can also take their pick of activities.

Totton College also has a wide range of options.

For those thinking about studying at a higher level the University of Southampton is joining together with the city's libraries to offer information and advice sessions.

For an extensive list of Adult Learner's Week activities visit www.p4l.org or contact 023 8083 3220.