NEWS
Autumn 2015 Issue 34
Over 11,000 people join the WEA to Save Adult Education ................................................................................................................................................... WEA Chief Executive Ruth Spellman was joined by Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah, student Lisa Birch, tutor Mona Nashed and WEA staff to hand in a petition to 10 Downing Street. With the government set to announce its spending plans to 2020, the WEA has been campaigning to protect funding for adult education in England. Over 11,000 students,
members, volunteers and supporters of the WEA signed the petition, with another 500 writing letters to local MPs to raise the profile of community learning.
per cent and 3.9 per cent to the Adult Skills Budget, there is a real fear that thousands of learning opportunities may be lost if the sector faces more financial pressures.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which funds the WEA, has been asked by the Treasury to model cuts of 25 and 40 per cent by 2020. Having already faced cuts this year of 24
The campaign, which is set to last until final spending decisions are made in the new year, will continue to target MPs and Lords to highlight the life-changing effects of adult education.
WEA Conference 16: Page 4
Get ready for WEA Conference 16 Page 4
North West project wins award Page 12
Campaigning for adults Chief Executive and General Secretary, Ruth Spellman, on the Save Adult Education campaign
T
hese may be difficult times for the adult education sector, but I am continually impressed and amazed at the commitment of our staff, students, members, tutors and volunteers.
To deliver this, the WEA has adopted three strategic objectives: Educational Excellence; Sustainability and Profile Raising. These objectives are giving the WEA a new drive and focus on delivering high quality courses for students across the country.
Since we launched our Save Adult Education campaign at the beginning of October, thousands of WEA supporters have helped raise the profile of our work ahead of the government’s Spending Review.
The WEA has been reviewing its internal systems to deliver a sustainable transformation that addresses the WEA’s long-standing desire to improve its financial and operational effectiveness. This includes developing an improved website and course search along with fit for purpose systems to enable our staff to work more effectively and efficiently.
As the largest voluntary sector provider of adult education in England, I am proud that the WEA has led the campaign to protect learning opportunities for all adults. Together, we have clearly shown the difference education can make to individual lives and communities. I believe this will help us in our future discussions with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. On 30 November, we also hold the first meeting of the new All Party Parliamentary Group for Adult Education, in partnership with the other SDIs, which gives us another way of promoting adult education to politicians. At the same time, we have also been responding to the challenges of reduced budgets at a time when the need for our work is ever increasing. We have been focusing on improving the quality of our courses, reducing bureaucracy and diversifying our income.
Our new Senior Management team have been vital to driving this agenda forward and ensuring that any changes are focused on the needs of our students. Whatever decisions are made by government, the WEA is well placed to continue delivering on our mission, vision and values. We are a beacon of hope in many communities and the work we do today will help ensure that the WEA continues to offer education for everyone who wants and needs it for the next 100 years and more. I would like to thank everyone who has supported our campaign to date. Our efforts are far from over and we will keep you informed as we move to the next phase of our campaign. Adult education is too important for us to fail - so we need to keep the pressure up.
Ruth speaking at the WEA and Scottish Widows Parliamentary Event in May
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Association news All Party Parliamentary Group for Adult Education ............................................................................................................................................................................................... The WEA has joined up with the Specialist Designated Institutions (SDIs) - City Lit, Fircroft College, Hillcroft College, the Mary Ward Centre, Morley College, Northern College, Ruskin College and WMC - and Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle Central to launch a new parliamentary group for adult education. The group has been formed to raise the profile of adult education, and in particular, the vital role it plays in providing high-quality educational provision to the most disadvantaged
members of society. The group will aim to start a wider debate about the future of adult education in this country. It was launched at an event featuring Baroness Oona King and Dr Miriam Stoppard. Ahead of the launch, Chi said: “I’m delighted to be launching, and chairing, this new all-party parliamentary group. Learning can change people’s lives and improve not just their skills and job prospects but also their confidence and health. “We need more opportunities
and support for adults to learn throughout their lives, whatever their circumstances. Our world is constantly changing and learning helps many people to make the positive changes they need – whether it’s finding a better job or broadening cultural horizons. “I am looking forward to working with other MPs, Lords and educational groups like the WEA – who do so much good – in exploring how we can make this happen for more people.”
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A SWIFT change ............................................................................................................................................................................................... As Ruth Spellman has said, education organisations and charities are facing challenging times. There are many unknowns for the WEA but what we absolutely do know is that we are as committed as ever to delivering as much excellent teaching and learning to as many students as possible and to enhancing the social impact that lifelong learning has.
What we also know is that in order to do this we need to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible, whilst retaining the core ethos that makes WEA the organisation that it is. In this context, the WEA has embarked on a programme to put operational practices in place which underpin our ability to deliver the most efficient high quality service possible to our students. The aim of the
programme (which is named SWIFT) is sustainable transformation. Currently at an outline planning stage, SWIFT is expected to run 2-3 years. More details will be available early 2016 so watch this space. If you have any ideas or comments you’d like to share please contact Deb Chambers, Programme Manager, at pmo@wea.org.uk.
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Conference 16 11 & 12 March Cutlers’ Hall Sheffield
Join us for the WEA biennial conference, which will be held on 11th and 12th March 2016 in Sheffield. This year the theme of the conference is sustainability, with an event on the Friday of national significance with a great line up of speakers and workshops along with the Association Dinner. On Saturday, the formal business of the conference will take place with debates on some of the key issues affecting the WEA and adult education. Visit www.wea.org.uk/conference16 for more information and to download your booking form.
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Conference Programme
FRIDAY 11 MARCH 11.00 Conference Registration 12.00 Welcome from the WEA 12.20 Keynote Address: A Sustainable Future 13.00 Lunch 14.00 Workshops Session A 15.00 Workshops Session B 16.00 The Big Debate: The Sustainability of Adult Education 17.00 Close of Conference 18:30
WEA Reception and Dinner
SATURDAY 12 MARCH 9:00 Registration 9:30 Questions to Trustees 10:30 Debate on Motions 13:00 Lunch 14:00 WEA Awards 15:00 Review of Conference 16:00 Close of Conference Timings and speakers are subject to change
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Raising our profile The WEA campaigns to raise the profile of adult education ............................................................................................................................................................................................... Following the General Election in May, the WEA has been stepping up its campaign to highlight the importance of adult education to communities across the UK.
Winterton and Caroline Flint a the House of Commons to raise important questions about the barriers deaf people face in getting into work.
In May, the WEA held its latest event in Parliament in partnership with Scottish Widows. This profiled our joint work and saw the launch of a report on improving gender equality in the workplace. The event was sponsored by Slough MP Fiona Mactaggart and politicians from Labour, the Conservatives, the SNP and the DUP had an opportunity to hear from students, staff and tutors from the WEA.
Over the summer, the WEA made submissions to government on its Dual Mandate consultation, the Budget and Spending Review and in September launched a new All Party Parliamentary Group for Adult Education.
June saw a group of deaf WEA students meet Ed Miliband, Rosie
In partnership with the other SDIs, the WEA also attended the Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour party conferences. At the beginning of October, the WEA in England launched its Save Adult Education campaign, encouraging students, volunteers
and members to write to their local MPs and the Chancellor. Our online petition attracted over 11,000 signatures and was handed in to 10 Downing Street. Over 500 individual letters were also written to MPs. Several MPs have also visited classes across the country and many more are in the pipeline. After the Chancellor announces the results of the Spending Review in November, the WEA will be continuing our campaign to ensure that adult education is prioritised by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills before funding decisions are made next year.
WEA students visit Parliament to speak to MPs about their experiences
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Fiona Mctaggart MP addresses the WEA and Scottish Widows event in Parliament
The WEA’s Sebastian Hanley speaks to Liberal Democrat Leader, Tim Farron MP
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Europe, Democracy and Citizenship As part of the WEA’s ‘Europe, Democracy and Citizenship in the 21st Century’ programme, over 50 students headed to Brussels to find out direct from those at the heart of European politics how citizens can influence change. The trip was a chance for students to discuss their views with parliamentarians, activists and union members. They also had the opportunity to visit the key historic landmarks associated with European democracy. An exciting itinerary was scheduled, with speakers from the European Economic and Social Committee and SOLIDAR (a European network of NGOs working to advance social justice on an international scale) discussing diverse topics from the future of the EU to workers’ rights. Students from the Yorkshire and Humber-based project were greeted by a more familiar face during their visit to the European Parliament – regional MEP Linda McAvan – who gave them an overview of voting procedures during that week’s mini-plenary session. Speaking on the importance of the programme, Ms McAvan said: “Active citizenship is the gateway to transforming widespread participation in politics. Active citizens are stakeholders in democracy whether it’s getting involved at a local community level, or participation in a national or EU campaign. It is important that people of all ages feel that politics belongs to them. “Participation through active citizenship in politics matters and
creates a necessary sense of engagement with political and civic issues. “Education directly forms a part of a part of active citizenship. That is why projects like the WEA’s Europe, Democracy and Citizenship in the 21st century are crucial. It allows participants the chance to develop skills in critical thinking and analysis which brings immense value and prepares them for active citizenship.” Cheryl Grant, one of the students on the trip, said: “Thank you to everyone responsible for developing and delivering the EDC programme. The whole course has been great. The information and group discussions the course produced have opened my eyes and given me a totally different prospective of the EU (I had thought my knowledge was quite good!).
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“My fellow students (the Leeds group) were a brilliant mix of community activists, religions, ages, cultural backgrounds and people from a wide cross section of the community - I have never been part of such a diverse group. The discussions we had constantly challenged my assumptions about the issues and the abilities of everyone in our community to grasp the complex political details.” The Europe, Democracy and Citizenship in the 21st Century programme, headed by Jol Miskin, WEA Regional Education Manager, was established earlier this year to help local people feel empowered to participate in and engage with European politics.
Obituary Peter Quigley ............................................................................................................................................................................................... We are sad to announce the recent death of Peter Quigley, who played an active role in the WEA for many years.
Scottish Convenor, Marc Sherland, said: “I learned Peter Quigley had passed away on the evening of Tuesday 13th October in hospital following an operation, whilst I was attending a WEA Regional Heads Meeting in London. The President Colin Barnes led us all in a few moments of silent contemplation. “Peter was a long standing colleague on the Scottish Committee being elected as the interim Vice Convenor in 2012 and until recently, serving on both the Administration, Finance and General Purposes and Education Sub-Committees. “He had been Convenor of the Fife Local Association for well over 20 years. “Peter had also represented WEA Scotland nationally on the WEA Council and more recently on the Standing Orders Committee. “On the wider stage of life, Peter was a former English teacher, and Union Representative and this often meant that he was called on to represent members in disciplinary procedures. Indeed he represented my Cousin, Bill Bald and successfully defended him in a case of wrongful dismissal. Peter was elected as EIS Vice-President for 2005/2006, and was again the members’ choice, as he took on the role of EIS National President for 2006/2007. “Knowing of my literary aspirations, Peter had chatted to me a couple of times about writing a book himself, though, ever cautious, he never revealed the plot. It is for this and the many other unrealised potentials that we always regret the passing of a life,
the achievements stand as testament, the intentions and possibilities as feasible conjecture. “A forthright individual, Peter always challenged what he did not agree, but with a good heart and there are few who would not say that he sought to improve the WEA and its place in the world. He will be missed. “WEA Scotland would wish to extend to Peter’s family and friends our sincere condolences. Their loss is very much ours. I would also like to record our thanks for Peter’s many years of service to the Workers’ Educational Association.” Chair of WEA Standing Orders Committee, Frank Colls said: “Members of the WEA Standing Orders Committee would want to express their deep sympathy over Peter’s sudden death. “Peter had been a member of the committee since 2011 and contributed greatly to our work. He had been at our meeting in London just a few days before he passed away so it was especially shocking to us when the sad news came through. He will be long remembered for his dedication to the WEA and missed by all who knew him.” Peter’s funeral was held on Tuesday 27th October 2015 at Kirkcaldy Crematorium. Ruth Spellman said: “On behalf of all the staff of the WEA I would like to express my appreciation of Peter’s work and dedication after many years and our deepest sympathies to Peter’s family and friends.” Please consider for a few moments Peter Quigley’s contribution to our lives and the life and success of the WEA.
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Around the WEA Zambrano Carers ............................................................................................................................................................................................... The WEA was recently awarded funding from the Barrow Cadbury Trust for a research project aimed at helping and highlighting the hardship and discrimination of Zambrano Carers in Birmingham and the Black Country. Zambrano carers are typically single mothers subject to immigration control who are the primary carers of children who are British citizens. Crucially, these children, while British, are commonly reliant entirely on the provision of basic support
provided by local authorities instead of mainstream social assistance that other families would receive. They are, in other words, consigned to what some may describe as a ‘third class childhood’ despite, on paper at least, having the same citizenship rights as any other British child. The WEA will work in partnership with Asylum Support and Immigration Resource Team who provide immigration advice, advocacy, legal representation and practical support to asylum
seekers and other people subject to immigration control in the West Midlands. The project hopes to achieve a platform for the voices of Zambrano Carers to be heard at policy level, influencing practice at strategic level within Local Authorities, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Home Office with a view to securing fairer treatment for this vulnerable group. The research project runs until March 2016.
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The power of singing ............................................................................................................................................................................................... We have long known the power of a good sing-along. Now, research from the University of Oxford and the WEA has shown that singing is a great ice-breaker and can get groups of people to bond together faster. A study, published in the Royal Society’s Open Science journal and covered widely in the national media, looked at how a series of adult education classes grew closer over seven months. The conclusion – singing groups bonded quicker than those taking part in other classes. Dr Eiluned Pearce, from Oxford’s Department of Experimental Psychology led the research. She said: “One of the key differences between humans and other primates is that we can exist in much larger social groups. Singing is found in all human societies and can be performed to some extent by the vast majority of people. So singing has long been believed to be one of the
ways in which we build emotional bonds when establishing one-toone connections between everyone in the group is impractical.” The WEA set up courses to test the theory, four in singing, two in crafts and one in creative writing. Each course, made up of twohour sessions, was run over seven months.
Those attending the classes were given surveys before and after individual sessions in the first month, just before the break and at the end of the seven month course. In it, they were asked to rate how close they felt to the other members of the class. Dr Pearce said: “We had expected the singing classes to feel closer to each other than the other classes at the end of the seven months. However, we found something different. “For every class, people felt
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closer to each other at the end of each two-hour session than they did at the start. At the end of the seven months, all the classes were reporting similar levels of closeness.
“But in the first month, people in the singing classes were much closer to each other than those in the other classes. Singing broke the ice better than the other activities, getting the group together faster.” Howard Croft, WEA Project Manager, said: “Feeling connected to those around you, be it friends or family, is one of the key ways to improve your wellbeing. “Adult education of every kind can help improve mental health and boost self-esteem, but singing together is a uniquely communal experience that can foster better relations between people from all walks of life.”
Around the WEA WEA tutor featured in Prima Magazine ............................................................................................................................................................................................... New WEA tutor Tracey Kettridge is interviewed in this month’s Prima magazine in a feature on inspirational women.
level in counselling, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy, Tracy has gone on to work for a women’s refuge.
Tracey is a former beautician who, five years ago, decided to change career and study counselling and hypnotherapy after years of being a shoulder to cry on for family, friends and clients.
In September, Tracey fulfilled another of her ambitions – to become a tutor with the WEA. She will be empowering those with low self-esteem to recognise their worth and talents by teaching a confidence course with us.
It was a difficult feat considering that she had four children (her youngest at the time was one year old) and it meant leaving behind the security of a profession which she was thriving in. While Tracey felt a little daunted by the prospect of studying, she wanted to be a role-model for her children and do something to make herself feel proud. Since qualifying to Diploma
Tracey said: “I love what I do and take such pride in being able to help people. Taking a change of direction in life can seem overwhelming but I’m so pleased I did as I now have the career I’ve always dreamed of. I hope other women will take confidence from my story and decide to go on their own journeys.”
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WEA Scotland six word challenge ............................................................................................................................................................................................... At WEA Scotland we love six word stories. They are fun to write, great to read, and really make you think!
The themes of the challenge – which link to those of the 2015 Book Festival – are very close to our heart:
The most famous one is For Sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.
• • • •
Ernest Hemingway famously stated that this six word story contained everything you would expect to find in an entire novel. Launched to coincide with this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival, the WEA Scotland Six Word Story Challenge will run throughout the year to highlight the plight of over 1 million adults in Scotland who face challenges due to literacies difficulties.
Changing Britain Human Rights Now Spaces for Literacy Staying Well
This is your chance to contribute your own six word stories, and maybe even see your work published. Oh, and you will be helping us out with a really good cause.
Get writing! Post your six word stories on our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ weascotland Alternatively share on our Twitter stream @weascotland using the hashtag #6wordstochangetheworld
Issue 34 Autumn 2015 WEA NEWS 10
End pieces Garden exhibition at the RHS Flower Show in Tatton Park
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Field-to-fabric project wins award ............................................................................................................................................................................................... The WEA’s Field to Fabric project scooped a Bronze award at the RHS Flower Show in Tatton Park. Field to Fabric, the exciting project from Lancashire Museums and the WEA, was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). WEA students from across Lancashire have been researching Lancashire’s textile industry charting the social and industrial background and the journey of cloth production from plant, through the carding,
spinning, weaving and dyeing processes into fabric. The garden itself is a living resource and that charts the journey of cloth production from plant, through the carding, spinning, weaving and dyeing processes into fabric. All plants in the garden are species that play a part in traditional cloth production. The project sought donations of seeds, plants and gardening tools from local garden centres. The garden features a woven
willow fence, to signify the weaving process. This was facilitated by WEA tutor Joevanka Gregory who worked with some Lancashire schools. Working with WEA tutor Julie James Turner, WEA students produced textile and papier mâché pieces, which highlight local entomology and birds. A series of information panels depict the changing social and industrial landscape in Lancashire, songs and stories of Lancashire mills and the story of the Field to Fabric garden from design to planting.
............................................................................................................................................................................................... WEA, 4 Luke Street, London EC2A 4XW T: 020 7426 3450 E: national@wea.org.uk W: www.wea.org.uk @weaadulted
ABOUT WEA NEWS
If you have a story, subject or comment you would like to see included in WEA News, please get in touch at news@wea.org.uk. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the WEA. The WEA is non-partisan in politics. Patrons: Sir Bob Russell, Baroness Shephard of Northwold, Stephen Twigg MP The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) is a charity registered in England and Wales (number 1112775) and in Scotland (number SC039239) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 2806910). Registered Office: Workers’ Educational Association, 4 Luke Street, London, EC2A 4XW.