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Adult Learning and the Big Society
Adult learning and the Big Society
Greg Coyne
Regional Director
WEA North West
Welcome
To the Peoples History Museum Housekeeping
To our Big Society & Adult Learning Conference The Take Part Programme Supported by a range of partners
Giving an opportunity to discuss how the Big Society and adult education are interlinked
Speakers workshops and networking
The Workers’ Educational Association
WEA is the North West Region Take Part Champion Largest provider of adult learning in the voluntary
sector Focused on the excluded and the disadvantaged A nationwide charity recruiting 100,000 enrolments
every year Providing a wide range of courses giving
2nd Chances to learn Developing community Involvement Cultural studies
A membership which organises and campaigns for adult education
Things to think about
IPPR research “Social fabric of our society would appear to be weaker where polarisation is greater”
The Guardian: “England's most deprived city faces its toughest budget yet as five town halls ratify savings of £200m “ exacerbated by cuts to welfare benefit payments
that underpin the local economies of the region's poorest neighbourhoods.
The Big Society?
Communities in the region faces a major challenge Meeting the challenge may however be about
drawing together as communities Not to develop a new type of society but initially at
least to resist and manage the ravages of the old Less about opportunity more about necessity.
There is much to be gained by working collectively Not necessarily for the government’s agenda
Perhaps for the community iself
Adult Education
Play a role in helping people come together Adult classes gone, Libraries, University fees,
Colleges focused on vocationalism When the powerful wish to enforce their will
Does it help if the powerless are broadly ignorant of an alternative?
So if it is to play a role perhaps it needs to change A proud history of involvement in social change Perhaps we could learn form that history.
Rediscover a movement for education
Critical Action learning
The zeitgeist in adult education? Community Organisers, NIACE, Democracy matters
Starting from where people are and building on their interest and knowledge with study that stretches
Helping them to engage with and change their world Freire: Education is not neutral
WEA framework for this promotes a cycle of learning Research, Context, Action, Reflection Collaborative co-learning between educators & students
Obviously good for citizenship but potentially much wider topics
Opening possibilities of education for a change
Our day
Developing a realistic view of what the Big society might mean in cities and regions like ours and what part adult learning might play.
Delighted therefore to welcome guest speakers Jess Steele - Locality Alan Tuckett - NIACE, Jimmy Devlin - NW Tenants & Residents Assembly Bernard Godding - Educational Centres Association
Workshops and a museum tour Lunch and networking