Why Your Region Matters in Adult Social Care Skills Training

At Realise, we work with learners and employers across England to deliver high-quality training in adult social care. But depending on where you’re based, the way skills and training are funded and delivered can vary. One key factor is whether you're in a devolved or non-devolved region.

So, what does this mean—and how does it affect you?

What does “devolved” mean?

In the context of adult education and skills, a devolved region is an area of the country where local government (such as a combined authority or mayoral office) has control over how government funding is spent on adult education, training, and skills.

This means that instead of the national government making all the decisions, local leaders decide what training is funded in their area, based on regional priorities, local labour market needs, and community goals.

Which regions are devolved?

As of 2025, the following regions in England have devolved control over the Adult Skills Fund budget (ASF):

Realise holds the contract for the delivery of ASF-funded programmes in:

• Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) 
  • Liverpool City
  • Wirral
  • Sefton
  • St. Helens
  • Knowlsey
  • Halton
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• West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)
  • Birmingham
  • Coventry
  • Wolverhampton
  • Sandwell
  • Solihull
  • Dudley
  • Walsall
  •  

• • Leeds
  • Bradford
  • Wakefield
  • Kirklees
  • Calderdale
  • Halifax
  •  

• Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA)
  • Middlesborough
  • Stockton-on-tees
  • Redcar and Cleveland
  • Hartlepool
  • Darlington

Realise does not hold the contract for the delivery of ASF-funded programmes in:

• Greater Manchester Combined Authority 
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority
• West of England Combined Authority
• North of Tyne Combined Authority
• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
• Devon and Torbay County Councils
• Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire County Councils
• Hull City Council
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Warwickshire County Council
• Buckinghamshire Council
• Norfolk County Council
• Suffolk County Council

These areas make their own decisions about funding priorities for adult learning, which can include care qualifications, entry-level pathways, and upskilling support workers.

What about non-devolved regions?

If you're based in an area not listed above, you’re based in a non-devolved region, which means adult education and training is funded and managed directly by the Department for Education (DfE).

Non-devolved regions includes:

• Most of the Southeast
• East Midlands
• South-West (outside West of England Combined Authority)
• Parts of the North-West and East of England
• Rural areas that are not part of a combined authority

What this means for employers and learners in adult care

Whether you’re an employer or a learner, understanding whether you’re in a devolved or non-devolved area helps you:

1. Access the right funding for training
2. Understand eligibility criteria
3. Choose local, recognised and approved training providers
4. Align with your regional workforce priorities
   
   

At Realise, we work across both devolved and non-devolved regions and ensure our programmes are tailored to meet each area's funding rules and workforce needs. If you're unsure about your region’s status or what training you can access - we're here to help.

Contact Realise to check your local skills funding options and how we can support your or your organisation’s training journey.

Realise – supporting the adult social care workforce across England