We are a Community Interest Company, is a well-known local organisation, providing support and education for communities across Norfolk and Suffolk. ACE primarily operates from two sites, one in Norwich and one in Great Yarmouth. ACE provides support programmes, skills and qualifications for young people and adults, who require additional and individualised help to progress within education, into employment, or further training.
ACE offers a variety of vocational Study Programmes for 16-24 year olds, which are full-time alternatives to college, and Alternative School Provision for younger children. In these programmes, young people can acquire skills in various trades, including mechanics, plastering, carpentry, decorating, and hair & beauty. The organisation primarily serves young people who are unable or unwilling to attend mainstream providers due to complex barriers or exclusion. To better support these students, ACE provides small class sizes, brain-friendly learning, and hands-on vocational teaching methods. The curriculum also includes supplementary functional skills tuition, enrichment studies (such as trips to workplaces), and work experience opportunities for students aged 16 and older.
In addition to its educational programmes, ACE delivers several government-funded community projects for adults. These include projects like Multiply, an initiative to improve national numeracy as part of the Levelling Up agenda, and Skills Bootcamps. The Skills Bootcamps offer flexible vocational training of up to 16 weeks, allowing adults to upskill or retrain in specific sectors like warehousing or construction, and fast-track to an interview with a local employer. ACE also runs a number of funded community outreach projects for unemployed adults, ex-offenders, women, and other minority groups, as well as being involved in various volunteering projects.