LAST October, Somerset Leisure was awarded £93,000 of Government money as part of the Transformation Fund initiative, a national campaign to encourage more adults into informal learning. Hundreds of people have already taken up the courses that were piloted as part of the initiative at 13 leisure centres which are managed across the county by Somerset Leisure.

Circus skills, pilates, salsa and street dance are some of the new courses that are being launched by the leisure trust to encourage adults to use informal learning as a way of improving their physical and mental well-being. Weight management classes and health M.O.Ts are also provided by the trust.

In the New Year, free taster sessions are being organised at leisure centres across Somerset to help families and adults in Somerset make a permanent change towards a fit and active lifestyle.

The Workforce Development Manager for Somerset Leisure Margaret Luck says that the courses that have been piloted with the help of the Transformation Fund have been very successful, and the trust wants to build on that success: ''We have had a great response to the courses so far and we want to continue to innovate and to extend our courses to communities across Somerset. Now is the time to try a free taster session and transform a New Year's resolution into a permanent change and a lifetime of learning and fitness."

Leaflets including vouchers for free taster sessions for the new courses will be available at Somerset Leisure's leisure centres across the county until 14th February.

Local centres include Caryford Fitness & Leisure, Castle Cary (01963-350600); Glastonbury Leisure Centre (01458-830090); Huish Episcopi Sports Centre (01458-251055); Preston Sports Centre, Yeovil (01935-412137); Shepton Mallet Leisure Centre (01749-346644); Stanchester Sports Centre, Stoke Sub Hamdon (01935-825261).