Maggi Dawson Wea

Supporting Further Learning

Maggi DawsonGeneral Secretary/Chief ExecutiveWorkers’ Educational Association

What is WEA?

• The WEA is the UK’s largest voluntary provider of adult education

• Community Learning in South Wales since 1907• Provide adult education for adults from all

backgrounds in both the community and the workplace

• Especially those who have missed out on learning first time around

Incidentally - Emily Davison

• Suffragette• 8th June 2013 was 100th anniversary of her

death• 4th June she ran out in front of King George V’s

horse at Epsom Derby• She was a WEA tutor at the time

A democratic organisation

• Defined by our democratic nature• Learners are active partners in the construction and

organisation of their learning and of WEA as a whole• Membership organisation, charity, lectures, day

schools, branches, links to Trades Unions• Designated FE but also Third Sector• Provides education for participation and

empowerment – in local communities or in a wider sense. Education with a social purpose.

Our purpose

• WEA was created in England in 1903 to address educational inequalities

• With social mobility falling and inequality rising, the need is still here today

• We are flexible and adaptable to the needs of the time and of the people

• We predominantly work in partnership and in C1st areas

• Majority of our learners are women

Examples of courses

• Family Skills Project in Newport : addressing unemployment and economic inactivity

• Digital Inclusion/ Budgeting/Money matters• Advocacy and Lobbying for All• Engendering Change/Women Making a

Difference/Women in Public Life• Community Learning Reps (women only)

Mode of delivery

• Short courses (1 - 3 days)• Long courses (1 -2 years)• Accredited or non accredited• Day Schools• Evening lectures• Campaigns• Negotiated learning to suit the individual/group

group

Family Skills in Newport

• Consortium of Housing Assocs, CVS, Race Equality Council, Homeless Charity and WEA

• Supporting adults with dependant children on low incomes or economically inactive to :

• Access their proper entitlement to benefits• Become better at managing family budgets and debt• Develop social skills, become more confident and

learn literacy, numeracy, ICT and English as a Functional Language

Support families to :

• Learn how to find work, make effective job applications and do well at interviews

• Undertake training so that they have the skills that employers need

• Deal with other challenges like childcare, health issues and substance misuse

• Develop confidence and gain skills within appropriate work placements

• Initial extended support when in employment

Family Skills Project

All participants engage voluntarily onto the project•A flexible learning and skills environment.

•Tailored towards the individual needs of the participant.

•Its approach will be supportive, informal, flexible and, wherever possible, community based

Our Learning Programme

Finding Your Focus• Learning Styles,• Experiences,• Strengths• Future Goals

Essential Skills• Numeracy, Literacy, ITC• Work Related English As A Functional Language

Core Courses• Confidence Building & Motivation• Personal Development• Employability• I.T & Digital Learning Skills• Money Matters

e-Learning with Learn Direct• I.T• Employability• English & Maths• Financial Literacy• ESOL• Language

Sector Skills• Customer Service,• Health & Safety• First Aid• Food Hygiene• Child Care

“Pop Up”Taster Sessions• Taster of Family Skills• Try Something New• Family Fun Days• Community Settings

Contact us

www.weasouthwales.org.uk

m.dawson@weasouthwales.org.uk

7 Coopers Yard,

Curran Road,

Cardiff,

CF10 5NB

02920 235277