The Comox Valley Lifelong Learning Centre (CVLLC) assists adults in the Comox Valley to enhance the literacy skills needed to benefit themselves, their families and our diverse community. CVLLC delivers free tutoring services, individually and in groups, to assist in advancing to a higher level of literacy. The Comox Valley Lifelong Learning Centre (CVLLC) previously known as the Comox Valley Adul
t Learning Centre (CVALC) has administered and delivered literacy services in the Comox Valley since 1993. At that time, our programming only provided support in the area of reading. Today we address concerns in areas as varied as reading, writing, employment readiness and preparation, family literacy, financial literacy, numeracy, information technology and conversational English. Over the years, in response to shifting demographics and community need, the scope of services has broadened and so too has our definition and understanding of literacy. It is our belief that literacy fosters informed and meaningful participation in social, economic, family and community life. As such, our goal includes providing literacy skills in order to support social and economic participation in our community. As the only low barrier access point for literacy services in the Comox Valley, CVLLC occupies a unique position within the fabric of the social service community in our geographical area. Experience has taught us the value of our service to our community partners as well as the meaningful contribution which our learner-centered model provides to our adult learners. We continue to discover new avenues to embed literacy programming and recruitment of learners into existing intervention models (supportive housing, shelters and drop-ins, food banks, etc.).