2009 The Workers’ Educational Association
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WEA Conference 2007
uring the main WEA business, Conference delegates elected the WEA’s new President Colin Barnes and Deputy President Lynne Smith, voted on fifteen Motions and heard reports of the work done since the last Conference. Conference decided to commit the WEA to promote the value of adult education, to encourage the revitalisation of volunteering and branches and where appropriate to develop other voluntary WEA structures besides branches, at local level. First steps on the road to an improved membership scheme were agreed, as were the development of WEA Enterprises
E
very two years the WEA holds its Conference, where branch and regional representatives vote on key national decisions and elect the WEA’s national Officers. Conference plays a key role in the WEA’s democratic structure – with all branches and regions having the opportunity to propose and vote motions for potential implementation.
“The joint event with NIACE demonstrated the increased respect and importance the WEA commands within the adult education sector – it was very encouraging to be leading a
(a company set up to raise funds for the WEA); sustainability; campaigning and promoting the Association with the public, and engaging with social enterprise and global citizenship thinking.
The 2007 WEA Conference was held in Coventry and included an event
conference with such well known members
Full conference minutes can
held jointly with the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
of the sector.”
be found at
(NIACE) on the public value of adult education, featuring a range of speakers and case studies from the adult learning sector, with the WEA’s
WEA delegate who attended the Conference
www.wea.org.uk/conference2007
formal business taking place the following day. The joint event led to a stimulating debate about the public value of adult learning and gave the
“Participants at the Conference came from all
210 participants (drawn not only from the WEA and
aspects of adult learning. As a branch member, I was
NIACE but also from other organisations active in UK adult education) the chance to visit workshops about twelve case studies, six of which are WEA work, each describing the value of particular examples of adult education to individuals, communities and indeed government departments. Those who were not able to attend Conference can find documents describing each case study at www.wea.org.uk/conference2007
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surprised by the breadth of adult learning covered.”
WEA delegate who attended the Conference