A single father with few qualifications, juggling jobs, parenting, and housekeeping, who is unconfident about reading bedtime stories to his children.

A middle class mother who has retired after 40 years of work and now finds herself with too much time on her hands.

A grandmother who wants to learn how to send emails to her grandchildren in Australia.

All these people would benefit from taking a leap back into education, according to Gill Mitchell, area co-ordinator for Cumbria Adult Education.

"The benefits are phenomenal," she said. "It's a big step, but they get confidence and self-esteem, plus the benefits of updating their skills."

One of the tallest barriers to improving mature learners' skills is simply stepping back into a classroom, whether that is a library reading group or a pub language class.

"People have this view of school and everything to do with education but it's just so different now - it's much more relaxed, people are dealt with as adults rather than children and treated equally," said Mrs Mitchell.

"People have an expectation of homework and uniform which can get in the way. Once people get on the first course, they quickly realise they are not isolated and there are other people there in the same situation."

The Government has announced its intention to educate everyone in the country to the level of five GCSEs but the first step is intended to be something fun and simple, such as aerobics or cookery, which can tempt adults back into learning.

Mrs Mitchell said: "They can actually get hooked into it because it breaks down their barriers and they realise, oh, yes, I could go back and get my GCSE maths'."

However, other obstacles remain, such as who will look after the children, and how to get to the centre.

But Cumbria Adult Education runs courses, which are sometimes free, in as many places as possible and can even help fund childcare while the course is on.

Mrs Mitchell said it could be a joy to see the difference a new skill could make: "From our point of view, the best thing is getting people in and seeing them blossom, which sounds quite simple but it's actually quite profound for the individual."

To find out more, contact CAE on 01229-894150, Connexions Cumbria on 0800-435709, call into your local library or visit your nearest secondary school.