WEA Annual Review 2011

Message from the Chair

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’m going to make no apology for beginning with the thank you that I include every year but please bear with me as I feel, especially this year, that it is very important.

A year ago you may remember me talking to you about the cut backs in staff we had to implement in order to comply with our reduced budget.

This was part of the New Look Strategy taking place across the Association. I want to take this opportunity to thank all those members of staff, whatever their roles, who have continued to show their loyalty, dedication and professionalism throughout this difficult time, and compliment them on the way that, with increased workloads, they have kept the Yorkshire and Humber ship afloat. Indeed, we have succeeded in fulfilling our Education Targets this year. Well done, everyone; your hard work is much appreciated.

However, the New Look Strategy across the Association is on going and this continues to mean some members of staff are subject to great pressure as their jobs remain under threat of redundancy. Once again, though, these people continue to give 100% to the WEA. With this in mind I would like to pay tribute to Ray Hearne, one of our Regional Education Managers, whose experience and dedication we have lost through this process. For many years Ray has given valued and loyal service and he is very much missed by us all. I am sure you will join me in wishing him well for the future.

Change is inevitable and should perhaps, be looked upon as an opportunity rather than something to be endured. Many of us have found it difficult to do this throughout the year whilst we work through the New Look process. It has taken many hours of carefully reading through sets of papers and attending meetings trying to understand and digest the implications of this Strategy and what it might mean to WEA staff and volunteers. The Governance of the Association has been very concerned about the New Look Strategy and has continually challenged the process where we have felt that the future and integrity of the Association may be compromised.

For all of you who have contributed your thoughts and opinions along the way, thank you; they have

helped to clarify our views. You can be assured that we have, at all times, kept Education and our learners at the forefront of our discussions and any opinions that we have contributed to the process.

Already New Look has given rise for opportunities to work more closely with colleagues from other Regions. This has often been the case previously but we feel that there is a real opening here for us to liaise more closely and learn from one another, both professionally and with fellow volunteers.

It should also be said that we welcome the introduction of the new Director for Volunteers, Membership and Marketing Peter Templeton, whom many of us have worked with before. His vast experience of the WEA and his commitment to his new role, listening to the voice of members and volunteers has been heartening. I am looking forward to new lines of communication being set up between Governors, members, tutors and volunteers to provide a better understanding of the Association for us all.

Our very immediate funding is secure but there is no time for complacency. We have put campaigning for true Lifelong Learning at the forefront of what we do and have gained friends in high places. This must continue as we battle for every penny in this uncertain economic climate. Education has long provided the people with the means to articulate its democratic voice. If we wish to maintain this we must be sure that our provision provides a social purpose and a means of fulfilment for any who wish to engage in Lifelong Learning.

Lindy Gresswell Regional Chair

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Regional Director

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Thank you for reading this Annual Review. It is additional to the Workers’ Educational Association’s formal Annual Report and the Treasurer’s financial report for the Yorkshire and Humber Region. It gives a flavour of some of the WEA’s varied and inspiring work in the Region during 2010-11.

Volunteers and staff organised 2,150 courses with 26,703 enrolments and there have been many shining examples of vibrant, high quality adult education in the Region. Players with learning disabilities from the Bingley Barbarians Rugby Team have been nominated as finalists in the Times Educational Supplement’s FE Stars Awards after learning with the WEA. Sheila Butler, a student from Pontefract won the Topps Tiles Mosaic Award. A separate detailed report of ‘Take Part’ initiatives describes successful activities to promote active citizenship. Students in villages, towns and cities met in their own neighbourhoods to learn about subjects that interested them. These included arts, humanities, family learning, literacy, numeracy, computing and a wide range of tutor-led courses that were run in community-based venues.

These courses were run against a backdrop of declining funds for public services and reductions in other adult education opportunities. Some highly valued partner organisations ceased to exist as cuts took effect and many students found it harder to pay fees for learning. The WEA has campaigned vigorously during this period to show how modest funds for adult education continue to produce value for money and many benefits, including increasing educational attainment in families and enhancing older learners’ wellbeing. Many of our students expressed their particular support for the provision of English for

Speakers of Other Languages. Some, at Parkinson Lane School in Halifax, are featured in this Review. We continue to campaign for adult education and on other relevant issues such as provision of public transport in rural areas, access to the internet and support for public libraries.

Given the current economic climate, the WEA has not been immune from the need to make cuts to our expenditure and the last year’s achievements were made despite having had to go through a cost-saving staffing restructure in the first phase of a continuing ‘New Look’ project affecting the whole Association.

We were unable to replace staff who left us and had to make significant changes to some of our ways of working. All staff teams were affected and all field staff went through a selection process for appointment to a reduced team of Organisers and Course Programme Workers. Sadly, this process resulted in some compulsory redundancies at the start of the academic year. At the time of writing, the second phase of the ‘New Look’ project means that members of the Regional Management Team and Finance Team will be applying for a reduced number of posts during this year. Other valued colleagues chose to leave us in July on the basis of voluntary redundancy.

Tribute will be paid elsewhere to the inestimable Ray Hearne, tutor, organiser, manager and wonderful adult educator, whose loss to the WEA is immense and to other valued colleagues who left the WEA for various reasons. We must also record, with great sadness, that some stalwart WEA volunteers passed away during the year, including Pam Spurgeon, who had been a mainstay of the Grimsby Branch for many years and Colin Blockley, voluntary Treasurer of the Leeds

Branch. They were typical of the volunteers who are the WEA’s backbone, giving generously of their time and considerable expertise and are missed very much by all who knew and worked with them..

My role also changed at the end of the last academic year. Following a selection process, nine English Regional Directors were replaced by five Directors for English Regions whose roles include responsibility for regional provision and national functions. I now have responsibility for Education Administration across the English WEA as well as for the Yorkshire and Humber Region. More details on the new staffing structures and WEA management arrangements are available on request from the Regional Office.

These changes have been difficult for everyone involved and I am immensely grateful for volunteers’ hard work and for colleagues’ continued resilience, dedication and professionalism. Tutors, volunteers and staff have continued to work with commitment and determination throughout the process. Our Regional Officers and Committee, led by our conscientious and hard working Chair, Lindy Gresswell have been an invaluable asset, as ever. Members of governance take their roles and responsibilities very seriously and freely give hours of time and thought to the WEA, as do the tireless volunteers who run WEA Branches and who take responsibility as Committee members. Our Treasurer, Kenneth Wilson, continues to play a key role in the Region alongside the Officers of the Regional Executive Committee.

The thread that ran through the year is a shared commitment to the WEA’s ethos and values, with volunteers and staff working together in various teams to make sure that courses ran and made a difference to students. The reports in this Review are small sample from the wide range of work that we do. We could

have filled the pages many times over with examples of groups or individuals who have learnt successfully with the WEA. We could have reported on many volunteerled branches, including a new Branch of ‘Inspiring Women’ in Bradford, as well as the Grimsby Branch and its hard-working officers, Linda Salkeld and David Egerton who are featured in these pages. We could have mentioned many community-based partners such as Pat Jackson who runs the Mitchell Community Centre in Hull on a voluntary basis. We could have named many tutors and showcased their work with students. We could, of course, have named many successful students, whose achievements are what the WEA is all about.

Throughout the changes, we remain true to our original charitable mission and have instigated a valuable and important dialogue with our students, volunteers, staff and partner organisations to build further on our shared commitment to social purpose education. We have begun to work more closely with other WEA regions, especially our neighbours in the North East and North West. We envisage this gaining momentum in the year ahead, which will see further challenges and changes as we say farewell to Richard Bolsin, who has been our General Secretary for 8 years and welcome a new leader of the Association. We recognise Richard’s personal contribution to the WEA and wish him well in his life after the WEA. The WEA depends on the goodwill and support of countless people working together in partnerships to run courses effectively. Congratulations to our successful students and sincere thanks to everyone who supports the WEA, in whatever role.

Ann Walker Regional Director

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Leeds, Calderdale and Kirklees, Bradford and Wakefield

Making Moves - A Volunteering Project At Osmondthorpe Resource Centre for adults with physical impairments

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smondthorpe Resource Centre asked if we could do something to involve their service users in a volunteering experience to celebrate the International Year of Volunteering.

The Aim: to raise service users’ self-confidence and self-esteem and for them to recognize their own potential by participating in a taster volunteering placement.

Thus the Making Moves Project began.

We were lucky to find a tutor, who devised and ran the courses; a support tutor/development worker, who found, negotiated and secured placements for the learners - both experienced in running projects for volunteers. In addition the Centre allocated one of the care staff as a support worker in all class sessions.

Following an Induction for service users (with their carers and/or families) 14 learners signed up to 40 hours’ course work over the next 5 months followed by 2 taster volunteering placements.

Over the next 5 months the learners embarked on a hugely challenging journey of learning and discovery.

Together they addressed and made sense of their own barriers and anxieties to moving on as well as devising strategies to deal with the barriers they might encounter from society; they re-discovered skills that they already possessed and developed new skills.

There were sessions around H&S, Safeguarding and appropriate conduct in the workplace. As their confidence increased so did the learners’ goals and were able to make realistic choices in their placements.

By July all learners had attended a pre-placement visit, had signed a learner/partner organization agreement and participated in 2 taster volunteer placements.

The achievement of the aims was very high with more than half of the learners still in or pursuing further volunteering.

WEA would like to thank the Leeds City Council East North East area committee for a Well Being Grant to support this project.

Biddy Coghill

Organiser, Leeds

“The volunteering project

has opened the door to opportunity that was once closed to me because of my disability. I now have a new found sense of involvement within society, thank you.”

“The volunteer group makes life more fulfilling and more progressive than it has been. I can now share my talents and help others.”

WEA course short listed for TES STAR Award The Inclusive Rugby course has been shortlisted for the TES Outstanding Contribution to Community Education Award to be presented on 11th November in London.

Bradford Bumble Bee Barbarians are England’s only integrated mixed ability team playing contact Rugby Union.

The team was formed by Bradford tutor Mark Goodwin in response to a request by one of the learners on another WEA course.

The course has given the skills to Bumble Bee players with Learning Disabilities to relate and present their historic experiences in sport to RFU Clubs to help neighbouring teams get over the “fear factor” of playing against disabled, (mixed ability) teams.

Jane Bilton Organsier, Bradford

WEA ESOL learners at Parkinson Lane School WEA ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) learners at Parkinson Lane School, in Halifax, exchanged their fresh, home-made samosas for petition signatures when they organised their own event as part of the National ESOL Day of Action last week.

Although rather last-minute, coming in the wake of a busy week of exams, the learners planned and organised the event, with support from their tutor, school Parent Teacher Association members and school head, Gugsy Ahmed. It was wonderful to see learners using all their different language skills outside the classroom, with such confidence. They prepared the food, banners and leaflets beforehand, as well as learning a specially adapted version of ‘Bella Ciao’ and a few fighting chants!

Amid the chaos and noise at home time, over 200 samosas were given out to parents, staff and children and more than 250 signatures collected on the petition which has been sent to Linda Riordan MP, along with texts written by learners, explaining the need for free ESOL classes and pleading with the Government to change its plan.

Dory Glynn Organiser, Calderdale & Kirklees

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Open Door Hate Crime The Open Door Group, a group of adults with a learning disability funded by Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), presented their work and showcased their new DVD Hate and Mate Crime at the Ilkley Literature Festival.

Rubbing shoulders with the rich and

famous, (past festival performers have included Melvyn Bragg and Will Self) the group gave their presentation to an enthusiastic audience.

The presentation addresses the issue of hate crime against people with a learning disability and the

coping strategies needed. The group are now delivering training to local statutory and voluntary bodies in Bradford as part of their Safeguarding Training.

Jane Bilton Organsier, Bradford

Stills taken from the DVD.

Marvellous Mosaics

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Learners who attend a WEA Creative Art class at the Millennium Care Services in Featherstone have once again hit the press with their art work when a celebration event to unveil two fabulous large ceramic mosaic murals was attended by Emmerdale actor Chris Chittal.

This year with the support of WEA tutor Mandy Williams the group spent 3 months working on every aspect of their mosaics and learning lots of new skills.

One mosaic is based on the Care Services Mission Statement, “We value people” and the other represents activities done at the centre such as a jigsaw piece, a rugby ball and an artist’s palette.

Mandy says how lovely it is to see the learners so

proud of their work which is now on display outside the building for everyone to see.

The work was completed by 12 people who attend the art class as part of the provision at the resource centre which they attend to help with their learning disabilities.

Those involved were Claire Rhodes, Chris Coultas, Charlotte Caulfield, Natalie Taylor, Dennis Matthews, Claire Ambler, Graham Smith, Anthony Farrer, Kerry Write, Thomas Clifton, Chris Pearson, Andy Bradford, Jayne Holbrook and not forgetting the two Millennium Care staff members who supported the group, Kerry Sykes and Kerry Harris.

Trish Hollies

Organiser, Wakefield

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York, North Yorkshire, Hull and East Riding

Hull and East Riding

A total of 150 courses ran in Hull and East Riding across the 3 strands. About 60 of those were offered under the Cultural Studies strand in 12 different towns and villages in the East Riding. About 84 courses were offered under the Community Involvement strand across Hull and the East Riding. Many of those were organised in continuing partnership with 11 children’s centres, 4 schools, Hull and East Yorkshire Mind, the Together Women Project, the Preston Road Women’s Centre and the Mitchell Community Centre.

Several others came about as a result of new partnerships with 4 additional Children’s Centres in Hull, Hessle, Brough and Market Weighton, with the Bransholme Community Arts Entreprise, the Branhsolme Family Learning Centre, the Hull Next Step Project and the Sue Ryder Care Home in Holme-onSpalding-Moor.

Some interesting new work took place. In Hull, a pilot of

the new NCFE Helping in Schools course took place at the Ainthorpe Children’s Centre, a Citizenship course was offered to speakers of other languages at the Rainbow Children’s Centre, four 5-week Internet and email courses for the over 50s were delivered at and funded by the Mitchell Community Centre through a Grassroots grant and one How to Campaign course ran at the Mitchell Community Centre funded through our own WEA Learning for Community Involvement (LfCI) project. In addition, again funded through the LfCI project, three Make your Voice Heard courses were offered in Hull, Goole and Bridlington in partnership with Hull and East Yorkshire Mind.

Nicole Headley Organiser, Hull

A group of learners from the Beverley branch on a field trip to Garton-on-the-Wolds church following a course on A Thousand Years of English Churches.

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Igor Kaminskij came to Britain from Lithuania in August 2006. He has lived in Hull since then and was working through agencies until recently. He realised how difficult it would be to get a job without being able to speak English so he joined an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class offered by the WEA in partnership with the Rainbow Children’s Centre. He is now in his 2nd year and has achieved C&G Entry 3 ESOL qualifications. He also attends an IT course with the WEA. Igor is impressed with adult education in Britain where people can have the opportunity to study at any age and he particularly enjoys his learning experience with the WEA. He describes his WEA tutors as ‘beautiful people’ who ‘are always helpful and understand people who study in another language and give everyone plenty of personal attention’.

Art Showcase in Scarborough

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The WEA “Art for Relaxation” course has proved to be a very popular and fruitful learning experience for many local adults who experience stress, depression and other mental health difficulties.

Tutor Jean North, believes that art can be extremely therapeutic for people who are struggling to cope with the pressures of every day life and learners have commented that they benefit enormously from the chance to express themselves through drawing and painting, learning a host of new skills and boosting confidence and self esteem.

To celebrate their achievements of the Spring term 2011 course the learners have prepared an exhibition of their work. Each learner has contributed with one or more of their drawings / paintings. A local partner organisation, Elders Street Day Centre, is hosting the exhibition during the Easter holidays. From then on one of the learners is hoping to persuade local stores to showcase the artwork and also promote learning with WEA. Partner organisations in Scarborough (including MIND, Mental Health Early Intervention Team, Advocacy Alliance, Stonham, Support for Families and Carers Resource) have been fully supportive of the WEA Art For Relaxation course, signposting and accompanying service users on a regular basis.

The course also received valuable help from an experienced volunteer.

Diane Quinney Organiser, Scarborough

Incredible

Being away from his country and his family, Igor admits to sometimes feeling sad but he says that going to his WEA classes gives him happiness: ‘the atmosphere is easy and friendly. Communicating with people from different countries who are in the same boat, gives me happiness.

Speaking to each other makes you fell less sad. I’ve made new friends’.

Pat Jackson runs the Mitchell Community Centre in Hull on a voluntary basis. A year ago she successfully bid for a Grassroots Grant through Hull CVS and commissioned the WEA to deliver four Internet and email for the over 50s courses. She herself enrolled on one of the courses and now loves ‘surfing’ the internet. She enjoys communicating with her 50 friends on Facebook.

Pat says: ‘You’re never too old to learn. You learn everyday. Even at my age. I am nearly 70.’

Nicole Headley Organiser, Hull

Family Cooking

in Scarborough April 2011 The WEA Incredible Family Cooking course “catered” for 27 adults and children during 3 action packed sessions during the first week of the Easter holidays 2011.

Families from the Eastfield area in Scarborough came together to prepare, cook and eat home made, healthy snacks, lunches and evening meals.

Feedback from the course participants was extremely positive and families certainly enjoyed taking part in traditional activities such as making bread and home made soup and sitting around the table to eat together.

It was also a very valuable for learners to experience the opportunity to gain skills in a working café – Coaster’s Café in Eastfield - managed by a Scarborough WEA partner organisation Coast and Moors Voluntary Action.

Families are now looking forward to the next course in the project – “The Big Lunch” taking place in early June.

“The Big Lunch” is a community event tied in with the local Incredible Edible project which encourages the residents of Eastfield to grow their own food and share it within the community.

These short courses have been funded by the Eastfield Voice Your Choice participatory budgeting fund. Local residents meet at an event each year to hear presentations from bidders and vote on where they want the money to be spent. The WEA bid was well received last year and the recipe for this year’s bid is currently being concocted.

The Big Lottery project lives on……

Diane Quinney Organiser, Scarborough

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uring the spring term, a magnificent floral mosaic mural was created in Selby Town Hall in an initiative run by a partnership of The WEA and Selby Mental Health Recovery Team.

Funded by the Neighbourhood Learning for Deprived Communities fund, administered by the North Yorkshire Learning Consortium, the aim of the project was to identify individuals who would benefit from the opportunity to become involved in a worthwhile creative project which would also provide benefits to the wider local community.

Learners reported that working in this way had been a new experience for them and had helped them not only to expand the specific

art and craft skills needed to produce the piece, but also enabled them to develop transferable skills such as team working, co-operation, negotiating and communication skills, planning and execution - all of which helped to improve their confidence and self-esteem and will ultimately help them when seeking employment. The public display of the art work was also designed to increase general awareness of mental health issues and breakdown prejudice about people who have them.

The finished mural now has a permanent place in Selby Town Hall, where it can be fully appreciated by members of the public. It was unveiled on Thursday,

Selby

17th March 2011 when the artists/ participants not only proudly displayed their work to the public, local dignitaries, invited guests and the press, but also talked about what the project meant to them.

Julia Thompson Organiser, Selby and Goole

Making a Mural for Mental Health Learners on the WEA Film, Photography and Media course run in partnership with the charity Castaway, based in the Courtyard in Goole in summer 2011, have thoroughly enjoyed learning the basics of digital photography under the guidance of experienced tutor, Sue Garner. During the course, learners travelled via mini-bus around Goole, taking shots of local landmarks, road signs and other features of interest to them, in a variety of weather conditions.

Sue Garner reflected, “I think the major achievements were discovering that one learner had

a great eye for a good picture and took a fabulous picture of his reflection by taking the photo in someone’s sun glasses. Two people bought a camera and many were going to take photos when they were away, another of a wedding they were to attend.

“Three in the group had never taken a photo before. Perhaps these are only small steps but for this group they were major strides. “ Believing in the power of music theatre to transform lives, Castaway Goole provides performing, leisure

and training opportunities for adults with learning and physical disabilities and autistic spectrum conditions.

Other courses planned in partnership with WEA for September include Yoga and Act! - (a course aimed at teaching learners the basics of performing to an audience). Further classes which focus upon Dance and backstage theatre skills are also planned in the near future.

Julia Thompson Organiser, Selby and Goole

Learners who attended the WEA Film, Photography and Media course.

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Doncaster, Scunthorpe and North & North East Lincolnshire

Re-establishing Scunthorpe Learning Centre

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cunthorpe Learning Centre, Clare House has spent the year re-establishing itself as a leading adult education provider in the area, there has been a new team brought in to inspire and invigorate activities.

Scunthorpe Learning Centre has hosted a number of events throughout the year from staff & tutor get-togethers, partners & local organisations calling in for mince pies and coffee to full day events such as Community Interpreters and an International Women’s Day Event.

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Community Learning Champions One of the significant courses that we ran at Scunthorpe Learning Centre this year was the Community Learning Champions Course. It ran over seven sessions where students had the opportunity to examine the role of a Community Learning Champion. A cross section of students from the South East Area accessed the course and some have gone on to be volunteers with the WEA, set up a community café and generally promote the work of the WEA within their everyday lives, whilst accessing other courses to develop their own skills

Kathleen Harden

Course Programme Worker, Scunthorpe

International Women’s Day This year’s event centred on women’s education and campaigning with a whole host of varied workshops including: Meet Me On The Bridge celebrating the journey women have travelled to get to where they are today; How to Campaign on the Internet; Women’s Rights; Education for Iranian Women; Getting Crafty and Feeling Good; Feeling Great which took place throughout the day.

Lunch was provided for 40 people and an enjoyable day was had by all with students and partner organisations looking forward to next year.

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nce again the tremendous effort of our Committee Members and Volunteers brought us much deserved success with our ambitious Cultural Programme. We put together a diverse array of topics for our weekday courses including History, Art, Jazz, Railways, Poetry and Egyptology. This year we were particularly heartened by the support we received for our Saturday Half Day Schools, both seating and catering for nearly 425 persons. The subjects covered here were Cleethorpes History, Famous People of Lincolnshire, The Knights’ Templar, The English Civil War, The Staffordshire Hoard, Astronomy and Classical Music, three of which were sell outs (due to room size restrictions of 85) with waiting lists.

This Academic year the Branch decided to use the Education Centre’s canteen to put on two sittings of a Grimsby Branch ‘Grand Christmas Luncheon’. The first was a splendid affair, turkey with all the trimmings, mince pies, fancy hats and tinsel etc., and the canteen staff did us really proud. It was well attended and hugely enjoyed by members and tutors alike.

Unfortunately the heavy pre-Christmas snow forced us to cancel our second lunch but we decided in January to re-book this at the end of the Winter term. By this time it was known that the Centre would be closing so we had a ‘Christmas in April and Farewell Luncheon’

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he elegant building behind this group of Place Detectives is Huddersfield railway station. It has been described as a country house for trains, and it certainly impressed us.

The diverse group from Milton Court embarked upon a voyage of discovery when they travelled to Huddersfield.

After a term investigating the history of places and the clues to uncovering their mysteries, everyone was eager to put the skills they had acquired to the test. Arriving by train they were overwhelmed as soon as they set foot outside the station. With WEA tutor, Sarah Holland at the helm, the intrepid ‘Place Detectives’ explored the buildings of Huddersfield. Their mission was to record their discoveries on fact finding sheets. From the grandest building to the smallest architectural detail, every aspect of Huddersfield’s history and heritage was under scrutiny.

On leaving the station, the

complete with tree, carols and crackers etc etc. This was also very well attended by members and tutors and again, hugely enjoyed by all! A fitting end to a very successful year and a lovely way to say farewell to The Education Centre staff who have looked after us so very well for nearly 20 years.

We now look forward to another successful year, 2011/12, in our new premises – The Central Hall in Grimsby. This is a public venue run by a Charitable Trust and with a footfall of some 60,000 people heightens the Branch’s exposure to the general public as never before.

Linda Salkeld & David Egerton Grimsby Branch

group encountered old banks and shopping arcades; discovered the original market cross as well as the new market; observed several sculptures on buildings including a fibre glass lion; and learned that Harold Wilson was born in Huddersfield.

When it was finally time to catch the train home, everyone had found the visit interesting and enjoyable. The visit had left a lasting impression on everyone, and inspired them to go ‘out and about’ for a series of visits this term.

“Dear WEA, would you please thank all the tutors for the fantastic job they have done with our service users over the past term. I know they have put a great deal of time and effort into the sessions but the service users have really enjoyed the experiences as have I. We can’t wait for the next term to start.” Milton Court, Doncaster.

Sarah Holland Tutor, Doncaster

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Visit to the O

Hepworth Wakefield Gallery

ur visit was intended to meet a current objective of the WEA, to provide education with a social purpose. During previous WEA computer courses at Hickleton Hall, learners expressed an interest in Art and we had used the internet to research and consider many different aspects of Art; how it is interpreted and appreciated, or otherwise, by individuals and groups.

Context Our field trip to Wakefield would build upon our own interpretation and appreciation of Art. It was particularly appropriate, because the Hepworth Wakefield Gallery is quite local, brand new and it celebrates the life & work of Barbara Hepworth, a sculptor who was born in Wakefield and who developed a love of sculpture in a variety of media. She is compared to another local sculptor, Henry Moore, who also displays his artwork locally in the Bretton Park.

Our review was an opportunity to reflect on the visit and provide feedback to each other and to the learners & staff at Hickleton Hall who were unable to attend.

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First impressions We had already considered the ‘look’ of the gallery which was designed by David Chipperfield in a contemporary style and in the latest materials. It was designed to fit in with its surroundings in an industrial and commercial town centre setting adjacent to the river Calder. We agreed that people would interpret the gallery building in their own way, with some people considering it to be a beautiful building which suited its purpose as a place to display sculptures, whilst others might think of it as an ugly grey industrial building which simply blends into its industrial landscape. We believe we had a positive first impression and we looked forward to entering the building and exploring the art within.

What did we find?

Within the building the artworks are all displayed on one floor. Access to the art rooms was very easy with a purpose-built elevator which was the size of a small room. It was very easy to get everyone to the next level all at once. Each room is a numbered gallery to display art on a particular theme. Photography is allowed in two of the galleries, but not in the remainder. This is to

preserve the integrity of the art and to respect copyright legislation. However, we were able to obtain some photographs of sculptures and of work in progress.

One of the most interesting sculptures we found was Barbara Hepworth’s own ‘The Winged Figure’. The Winged figure is 19ft high.

It was commissioned by the John Lewis Partnership Ltd in 1961 and erected on the building by 1963.

We all agreed our visit to the Hepworth Wakefield Gallery was very worthwhile.

We have benefitted from a greater appreciation of Art, especially that of local artists.

Our visit meets the ethos of the WEA, because: It is in the context of the research and learning we had already carried out.

It complements our current studies.

It has created debate and critical thinking within the group.

We have been able to share our findings by feeding back to the learners who couldn’t visit with us. Some learners have connections with local artists who are family members.

Others have been inspired to continue their own research and consider taking a course dedicated to the study of art – this involves progression, possibly to a course at Northern College.

Sheila Smith Organiser, Doncaster

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Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley

Community Interpreting Forum and Volunteer Interpreters’ Showcase Event The WEA Yorkshire & Humberside organised a range of community interpreting activities to highlight the importance of interpreters in ensuring equal opportunity and choice for BME (Black and Minority Ethnic)communities whose language abilities prevent them from accessing and benefiting from local services. The need for training and supporting professional interpreters has become even more apparent following recent government cuts which have had a considerable impact on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and adult learning provision.

Activities included taster events and a national community interpreting forum aimed to provide a platform for interpreters to have their say on language

Siyamend Omar (Interpreter), Mira Georgieva (Tutor), Paul Blomfield MP, Rob Hindle (Organiser, Sheffield) and Justina Wilczewska (Tutor).

barriers affecting their communities and offer information on education and career progression opportunities that would better equip them to represent their communities.

Over 40 learners from diverse BME communities participated in taster events held in Sheffield, Leeds and Scunthorpe. The events were designed to support learners who were fluent in English and a community language to progress onto a formal interpreting course offered by the WEA. With support from local partners including the Refugee Education, Training and Advice Service (RETAS), and Sheffield Community Access

and Interpreting Services (SCAIS), learners were given advice and information about the course and were given a chance to integrate their own life experience in course activities. Each taster event encourages learners to think about the impact of low levels of literacy and spoken English on their communities and inspires them to pursue next steps in volunteering and further training, The region also hosted a Community Interpreting Forum in Sheffield bringing together professional interpreters and representatives from voluntary and statutory organisations across the country to share good practice and discuss important citizenship issues. The event was also attended by Paul Blomfield MP, and Sheffield Councillor Mazhur Iqbal, whose input encouraged participants to focus on major campaign issues such as cuts in ESOL funding and the future of subsidised adult education.

The event inspired participants to contribute to a WEA West Midlands Region campaign video to save ESOL provision, learners in Sheffield even wrote to their MP speaking out against ESOL cuts. The impact of this action was significant in that it influenced Paul Blomfield MP to propose an Early Day Motion in parliament acknowledging the importance of ESOL in enabling UK citizens, refugees and others to contribute to public, social and economic life and to build inclusive and cohesive communities.

Comments include: “I want staff who talk to me as an adult.”

The learner is now a qualified interview panel member “We can easily contact an individual directly, and consistently find an individual who is confident and competent in their role as an interviewer.”

(Bradford District Care Trust).

Sharon Watson

Organiser, Barnsley & Community Interpreting Programme Cordinator

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WEA and GMB Parnership – Inclusive Learning Changes Lives

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The WEA has now worked with the GMB Trade Union at Remploy for a number of years.

It has been an excellent partnership which has enabled a number of workers at the plant to develop their skills and knowledge through both literacy and numeracy provision.

Key to the success of the courses has been the fantastic dedication and teaching skills of the tutors.

Barbara Firth has played a key role teaching literacy and more recently Stefan Sliwinski has taught numeracy. In both classes in 2010/11 the WEA also brought in support staff to address the specific needs of some students.

The other key to success has been the commitment shown by the Union and of course the students themselves.

Vanessa Peart, the GMB Learning Rep says: “It is a pleasure to see the class achieve something with all the hard work that they do.”

And the students sum up what it has meant for them: “I started in Remploy in 1983. It is my first proper job, it has helped me with my skills at work and I have passed exams in Literacy. I have been a union rep. Myself and my partner work at the Sheffield factory. If the company makes us both redundant it will be difficult to get another job because there are thousands of other people on the dole who need jobs.”

“I am 56 years old.

I have worked at Remploy for 40 years. I have made friends here and it has made me feel good because I have Trish Gibson (Tutor, Support Worker), Vanessa Peart my independence. It (GMB Learning Rep and Stefan Sliwinski (Tutor) helped me to read and write. Other companies The employees are devastated would not have the patience to that a Government promise that support me with my disabilities.” was made after the war to fund “Before I started work I had no employment for disabled people future. Working for Remploy has has been broken. Remploy was made my life a lot better and given initially formed so that soldiers me hope of a good life. I am living injured in combat could find now. employment and it has continued to ensure that people with disabilities If Remploy goes my life will go too. are able to work.

It’s got to be better than staying at home doing nothing and claiming The group have put together a few benefits. That’s no life.” comments which I included in a letter written on their behalf as part Whilst these students and many of the GMB union’s campaign to others have benefitted from save their jobs and by implication WEA courses, as well as being in the WEA Literacy course.” employment at Remploy, you will note that they express concern The GMB campaign to save the about their futures which are now jobs, and consequently WEA very much on the line. classes, asserts that the closure “destroys what Remploy set out to Barbara Firth, course tutor, says: do over 50 years ago … enabling “I am a Literacy tutor with the WEA people with disabilities to gain and I have worked with a group of employment and contribute to learners at Remploy Sheffield for society.” five years.

We hope very much that in the next These people’s jobs are now under threat because of the Government’s annual report, covering 2011/12, we can show further progress decision to use the funding rather than the demise of the elsewhere. factory and the hopes of those who work there.

Barbara Firth Literacy Tutor

Sue Taylor Organiser, Sheffield

Jol Miskin Regional Education Manager, South West Area

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL):

Opportunities in Sheffield The class that I teach is a group of Asian women who have limited access to ‘life in Sheffield’ due to their personal circumstances. They are all from well established families in ‘settled communities’ but their English language and personal literacy skills are such that prevent them from really integrating into society.

As a result of this, I, together with a colleague who taught another group from the same community, have proactively worked at giving these learners exposure to different aspects of Sheffield.

During the autumn term we concentrated on the political system of England and they interviewed Anna Chester, PA to their local MP (Paul Blomfield). She answered many ‘practiced’ questions as well as unprompted ones. She also provided learners with an overview of how their MP could help them, which has resulted in requests for help.

As a result of the success of this

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visit, we discussed and decided that the history of Sheffield would enhance the learners’ understanding of where they live and so a trip to the Millennium Gallery was organized. The trip concluded with a visit to the metalwork gallery and they could see all the wonderful exhibits on display.

Many of my learners have lived in Sheffield for many years and had no idea of the industry or gallery just a mile down the road from where they live.

For the summer term, I wanted the learners to see something that their children would enjoy. Something that was inexpensive and easy to reach.

After a discussion we opted for Weston Park Museum.

The museum provided us with specifically designed ESOL worksheets. The museum is

he Making Movies and Creative Industries courses explore the learning and teaching possibilities of digital technology.

Combining the knowledge of learners, volunteers and staff with ‘hands on’ production opportunities, recent video work harnessed green screen technologies and posted the results at www.youtube.com/weamedia1

interactive and they had a go on the training bicycle. They enjoyed the museum so much that we stayed an extra hour.

On reflection, these trips have really helped the learners understand their environment better – Sheffield is more than just shops now. They have practised catching buses to unknown places and experienced free venues that they can visit to enhance their family’s lives too. I hope it will give them more confidence to explore what’s ‘out there’ for them in the future.

Rosemary Johnson ESOL Tutor 15

Making Digital Movies at Sheffield Learning Centre

Pictured above learners from the Making Movies course, left learner George Eaton, volunteer James Guy and Tutor Russell Wall on location.

Making a Change in

South Yorkshire “I will now join in more. I’ll vote and follow the way things happen because I now know that what happens in the world involves me, too” Making A Change learner.

The WEA’s Making A Change course was, for many, an opportunity to become involved in politics for the first time. The civic participation course began by building learners’ confidence to participate fully in public life, and moved on to explore local, regional, national and international politics.

Local councillors and MPs actively supported the Making A Change course; met with participants, and hosted visits to the Houses of Parliament for their constituents. Local authority officers also welcomed the course and one commented, “It was great to host a session in the town hall for participants … understanding the democratic process and how to engage communities and individuals with politicians … is absolutely essential”.

As part of the course, local politicians attended a Question Time event at Northern College in Barnsley, where they were quizzed on issues such as library closures, funding for education, the invasion of Libya, and the high cost of heating bills for council tenants in Barnsley.

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One of the most successful aspects of course was a trip to the People’s History Museum in Manchester and to the Working Class Movement Library in Salford. The visit to the People’s History Museum included a guided tour and a performance of ‘Hard Way Up’, depicting the life of a Manchester suffragette. The tour of the Working Class Movement Library provided participants with a chance to see banners, books, and historic artefacts which shaped the labour movement.

The final word on Making A Change goes to Doncaster Council who were inspired to develop their own version of the course, ‘One of the participants in our spin-out Making A Change course gained the confidence, encouragement and practical support to be elected as a Parish Councillor – something he hadn’t dreamed of before involvement with Making A Change.’

The Making A Change course was delivered in partnership with the local authorities in Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster with support from the Take Part Network and Northern College, and was funded by the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of the national Take Part programme.

Matt Livingstone Regional Educational Projects Co-ordinator

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his was a Learning for Community Involvement (LfCI) funded project which ran in 3 areas within the Region: Barnsley, Scarborough and Wakefield. The learner groups in each area were engaged in community research courses to establish the health issues, local provision and inequalities in their local communities. Findings were then presented at three local mini-conferences which were attended by politicians, health professionals, education staff, WEA staff, friends and family of the course participants.

The courses were delivered differently in each of the three areas according to the needs of each group.

The Wakefield group carried out some very detailed and analytical research which health professionals felt represented the local voice and should be taken into account when planning future commissioning. The Barnsley group were mainly men who had started to engage with their local school and wanted to find out about free and accessible activities in their community so their course was more fact-finding and provision mapping. John Healey MP attended the mini-conference and gave extremely positive feedback on ‘this unusual and impressive project’. The Scarborough group wanted to develop ideas around the Change for Life campaign, particularly looking at ways to promote healthy eating and physical activities for families in local schools.

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The three groups, Organisers and tutors all came together for a joint conference which was held at Leeds University on 20th January 2011. This provided them with an opportunity to share their findings and help us to evaluate the success of the project. The groups created an ‘Inspiration Tree’ and left us feeling inspired by how much had been achieved in this innovative cross regional project. One tutor commented ‘Group cohesion was fantastic and learners were inspired to undertake further learning opportunities in FE or HE. It was a wonderful boost to self confidence all round’.

Sheila Smith, Trish Hollies & Diane Quinney

TRIF: Case Study Tackling Race Inequalities Fund

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orkshops were arranged with an experienced WEA tutor who tailor-made a programme to help the women identify and celebrate their current skills and level of experience. The group also focused on the roles and responsibilities needed for volunteering within a structure such as a WEA Branch. Previously, some of the women had visited the WEA North West Area Committee and been introduced to other volunteers. A wider group of WEA women learners were also invited to the WEA’s International Women’s Day event at Sheffield Learning Centre. This network event brought women together from across Yorkshire to share their experience of education and promote aspiration. Women came from many diverse ethnic origins, with educational experience from the UK and around the world.

l 1 woman is a qualified solicitor and a Bradford council community committee member. She has recently achieved her PTTLS qualification, and is considering teaching a WEA class for the branch. l The group has met subsequent to the training workshops to agree future actions, including setting another meeting to start assigning roles in the new branch. l They have increased confidence to take on new roles eg chairperson, now that they understand what they are committing to. l They have begun working on their constitution and hope that the WEA can provide further support as they move forward

Outcomes for the project: l Increased involvement in community action and organisation. l Increased knowledge, skills and self determination. l Increased involvement of BAME people in civic society such as school governors, management committee members, local forums etc.

TRIF funding has enabled the on-going development of this group of women, who have been supported in their achievements through a variety of WEA funding streams including Skills Funding Agency contract (where they access a range of adult learning classes in areas of health and fitness) through Take Part (where some of them recently achieved the qualification Preparing to Teach in the Life Long learning Sector).

We hope that further funding can be accessed to help support them to volunteer and create a lively and viable new WEA branch.

Rose Farrar

Impact and benefits 18

l 11 women from Bradford and a tutor attended the International Women’s day event, and all noted they would like to be involved in the formation of an online WEA women’s network that the YH Region is hoping to facilitate this year.

How TRIF support helped the project

Organiser, Kirklees

Learners and staff visiting Lady’s Bridge during WEA’s International Women’s Day event at Sheffield Learning Centre.

Train the Take Part Trainers

“The course has helped me achieve the qualification needed to seek employment report trish sending withtttFE providers of adult education” “The course has improved my knowledge of politics, and the civil liberties agenda, as well as helped to gain insights into active citizenship values and principles.”

These are just two of the quotes from participants involved in the Train the Take Part Trainers project and these together with a range of other contributions, including case studies, can be found in the end of project evaluation report.

The project was designed to fit with a growing policy interest around community empowerment initiatives.

Courses and activities were delivered across all nine English regions mostly working in larger towns and cities from Exeter, Sutton and London in the South, through to Sheffield, Bradford and Durham in the North. Some areas had strong, well developed local and regional infrastructures in place already; others, particularly more rurally-located regions such as Eastern region, were in the process of developing those grassroots structures.

The project set out to engage those with an interest in active citizenship and community activism who might be seeking to develop further their skills in becoming ‘Take Part’ tutor/trainers. It sought actively to recruit participants from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and

courses were delivered in a variety of community settings.

The project supported the development of an innovative, active citizenship/ tutor training curriculum which included a range of accredited and non-accredited courses, from introductory short courses and day conferences right through to the accredited level 3 Citymorning and Guilds 7303 Preparing this to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector in Active Citizenship.

Key Achievements for the project included: l 1083 participants trained in active citizenship teaching and learning Approaches l Over 150 participants achieved the qualification required to teach adults in England and thereby to progress to further teaching qualifications l 63 courses delivered across all English regions l Nearly 300 people signed up to the Take Part Trainer Database l 96% of course participants achieved their learning outcomes l A significant number of participants reached were from ‘disadvantaged postcode’ areas l Achievement and success rates on accredited courses were over 85%, and over 96% on nonaccredited courses l A Curriculum Resources File was produced to capture best practice in active citizenship teaching and learning approaches (Sources are drawn from the WEA’s Management Information Systems) Project Outcomes included: l Improved personal confidence l Increased knowledge and skills l Increased take-up of volunteering opportunities l Greater opportunity for community activists to become adult educators, including some into paid work

l Increased engagement of under-represented groups in civic activism, and participation, including community leadership role l Better understanding of political processes l Greater awareness of how to campaign effectively and the benefits of social media l Increased awareness of the role of MPs and of how Parliament functions l Increased awareness of teaching and learning strategies l Increased partnership working and greater opportunity to work with existing partners in new ways In all areas this amounted to a significant increase in learning for community participation and activism by local people over the project period.

The Train the Take Part Trainers programme provided the opportunity to revitalise teacher training and to place active citizenship and social action at the very heart of what it means to teach adults today.

The project confirms the ways in which the Train the Take Part Trainers programme and indeed adult and community learning more generally can been seen to contribute to the aims of the big and ‘better’ Society I wish to thank the WEA project organisers, sessional tutors, and partner organisations who involved themselves in the project activities - either as participants, or through their input to course development and delivery. In particular a special thank you is due to all the course participants whose contributions are identified in the body of the report.

Trish Land Regional Education Manager, South and North East Areas.

A full copy of the report is a available on-line at: www.wea.org.uk/yh/ttt.htm The project was commissioned and managed by the Community Development Foundation (CDF), and funding provided by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

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Departures from the Region

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everal core staff colleagues left in 2010-11. We are still coming to terms with Ray Hearne’s departure from the WEA in July after working with us for all his adult life. We miss him very much. Ray is a big personality yet very selfdeprecating. He has been a tutor, organiser and Regional Education Manager for North Yorkshire and the Humber Area. Ray is principled, clever, bright, quick-witted, humane and brilliant with people, words and song. He is a remarkable adult educator and we hope that he will teach for us again in the future.

Organisers who left us during the year include Peter Finch-Seig, Heather Johnson and Karen de Lucchi. All were longstanding members of field staff who worked with branches and partners in York and Leeds, Doncaster and Scunthorpe respectively. Katherine Hutt and Kath Vaughan moved on from the Finance Team, although Kath Hutt did not go very far and is now the Finance Manager in Swarthmore Education Centre, working on a floor below her former WEA office.

We welcomed Rachel Guy to the Finance Team and Karen Briggs took on the role of interim Finance Manager. All other vacated posts were covered by staff restructuring.

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Mary Richards left the Administration team to pursue her ambition to train as a social worker, while Ken James retired from his post as Caretaker of Sheffield Learning Centre and Mo Stride, an excellent literacy tutor, moved out of the Region.

We thank all of our former colleagues for their work with the WEA and wish them well in the future.

Branch Round-up Bawtry, Dunnington and Grimston, Masham, North Duffield, Riccal and Ripon branches closed or merged with other branches during the year.

We are very grateful to their officers for generous service over the years Pam Kirby recently retired from Nidderdale Branch Committee after around 15 years. She has been a great support to the branch over that time, serving on the Committee including several years as Secretary.

We are also very appreciative of voluntary branch officers who have taken on new responsibilities this year and to those who have stood down after giving their time and energy to branch activities.

Joyce Hutt became Treasurer of Leeds Branch.

Lynn Thorp took over from Eileen McCready in Immingham and Margaret Stokes replaced Stuart Wilson as Treasurer for Scunthorpe Branch.

Richard Geohegan became another new Treasurer in Haxby and Wigginton, picking up the baton from Roger King while Dee Burney-Jones took over from Ursula Vickerton as Secretary for Barton on Humber Branch.

WEA Rotherham Learning Centre

is closing at the end of December 2011, after being on Ship Hill for the last 10 years. This has come about because of increased overheads and the WEA looking to reduce costs wherever possible. The Rotherham Branch will still continue and Branch courses will be transferred to local venues. Many thanks to all Branch Members for their support with the move and to Catherine Bell, who will be based at WEA Sheffield Learning Centre from January 2012.

Social Media Several people from the WEA became more actively involved in social media during 2010-11 and a WEA twitter community is evolving with people sharing information within the WEA and in wider networks.

A small number of tweets, short messages of 140 characters or fewer, about the recent WEA Equality and Diversity event in York reached over 15,000 people.

A guide to twitter is available at https://support. twitter.com/groups/31-twitter-basics – and we can run courses on request!

Regional Managers who tweet regularly include Ann Walker (@annwalkerwea) and Jol Miskin (@jolmiskinwea) and you can also access multimedia clips of WEA activities in Yorkshire and Humber by following @WEAMedia1.

The Association’s official twitter feed is at @WEAadulted and the new Director of Membership, Volunteering and Marketing tweets at @peter_templeton.

Several other colleagues, tutors and volunteers are also on twitter. A list showing WEA twitter activity is available online at http://bit.ly/u2gP9Y. Please let the Regional Office know if there are any other WEA twitter users who should be added to the list or if you would like to learn more about social media.

We also have a growing Facebook presence with the Association’s Facebook site at www.facebook.com/weaadulteducation