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