AUTUMN/ WINTER 2015

Eleanor Smith Adult Learner of the YearThe Elizabeth Lamb Shield for Adult Learner of the Year went to outstanding learner Eleanor Smith.

Eleanor has been attending literacies classes for the last few years working consistently and enthusiastically towards her long term aim of employment progression. She is a highly committed member of the groups in which she participates, working well with other members and doing research and preparation outside the groups to further enhance the learning she undertakes and the support she can then offer to others.

Eleanor has also started a numeracy class, where she is working towards an SQA qualification that will further enhance her employability and life chances.

Eleanor has overcome many barriers, including health difficulties and disability to get to this stage. She has achieved this through determined hard work and a positive outlook. She is very supportive and thoughtful in her approach to other learners and always has positive experiences to share. Eleanor is a truly worthy Adult Learner of the Year winner. Congratulations Eleanor!

Welcome to the Autumn/Winter edition of Adult Learning in Stirling. Did you know that from August 2014 to June 2015 a total of 1208 local people participated in learning opportunities across Stirling?

Many celebrated their learning achievements at the annual Adult Learners’ Celebration event held recently. Congratulations to all award winners, especially to Eleanor Smith, Learner of the Year 2015.

We were delighted to welcome partners from six European countries to our conference on 8th September which celebrated International Literacy Day. Our European work is supporting both learners and staff with new ideas and approaches to learning. There’s more information inside about our European partnership work.

As the year draws to a close we would like to congratulate all learners on their continued enthusiasm and motivation for learning. We hope everyone has a great festive break and look forward to welcoming you back for the new term on 11th January.Ed Gibbon, Team Leader, Adult Learning

Andrew Craig ASPIRE Employability Learner of the Year

Andrew came back to learning after being out of work for a number of years whilst dealing with some personal issues. Through attendance at the IT class, he was also referred to our Work Club at St Ninians Library where he worked on developing his CV and he attended a training course for Fork Lift Truck Driving.

Andrew has now been successful in securing employment. Congratulations on your achievements Andrew!

This year, the award for Volunteer of the Year went to Jim Adamson. Jim has been a volunteer with the team for a number of years. The judging panel were impressed with his commitment to adult learning and his willingness to learn through the process of volunteering, reinforcing the

benefits of learning with adult learners. Jim, who for many years has supported learners with their literacy skills, is always ready to take on a new challenge. He has also recently become involved in supporting adults with their learning around employability. With skills that without question complement those of the class tutors, learners can be guaranteed a level of service that is second to none.

Thank you for your commitment to Adult Learning Jim!

Jim AdamsonVolunteer of the Year

Winner of the Robert Mooney Quaich Mathew MacInnes

Robert Mooney, who was an inspirational adult leaner with a talent for creative writing and a real passion for encouraging others to do their best through learning, sadly passed away earlier this year. His friends and colleagues created an award in his memory to be presented each year to the writer of a piece of creative writing which together with their approach to learning would make them a worthy winner of the Quaich.

This year’s winner of the Robert Mooney Quaich was Mathew MacInnes. Mathew’s poem “He and I”, stood out for the judging panel, particularly because of the effort associated with the writing, the focus of work and goal setting around its creation as well as Mathew’s sheer enthusiasm for the learning displayed as a result of writing this piece.

Congratulations Mathew!

Volunteers get involved in a range of different programmes supporting adult literacy and numeracy programmes, ESOL classes, work clubs and some are volunteer buddies in community classes such as IT. We currently have 44 volunteers active in the team who all play a vital role in the delivery of quality learning opportunities. Between them they are delivering a total of 96 hours of work each week which is a staggering 3840 hours a year!

Eleanor Smith receives John Reilly Trophy for excellent progression in ICT

The John Reilly Trophy this year was awarded to Eleanor Smith. This trophy has been donated by John Reilly to inspire and encourage people to learn.

Eleanor has been developing her skills through a range of creative contributions that she has been making to the Adult Learning Blog Group. She has contributed many articles and has really enjoyed learning how to present materials for an online audience. Eleanor has learned how to write effectively for this medium, how to upload photos and layout posts, as well as how to edit and publish her contributions.

Eleanor feels that her involvement with the blog has enhanced her relationship and communication with her family, particularly with her sister in America, who has been greatly impressed by her posts. This has really boosted her confidence and belief in herself. She sees the blog as an opportunity to share helpful information with others. Such has been her growth in confidence in relation to her ICT skills, she recently felt able to start her own blog, Ellie’s recipes. Well done Eleanor!

Cowie wins Adult Learning Group AwardThis year the Group Award went to learners in the Cowie community where, as a result of effective partnership working, better use of local resources has been made to provide an improved service for local people. The judging panel thought that the learners, as a result of this partnership, had demonstrated motivation and enthusiasm as well as taking advantage of the combined availability of resources. Learners have taken part in literacy classes, IT classes, Internet tasters and, more recently, been involved in supporting promotional events in the local community encouraging others to take part.

Learning at the Library

Andrew Doyle received his special award for his interest and enthusiasm for supporting other learners. This has been an excellent development as it has demonstrated a growth in confidence and belief in his own abilities to the extent that he felt confident enough to use his own knowledge in the support of someone else. This has also demonstrated the development of Andrew’s communication and interaction skills. Well done Andrew!

Andrew receives award for supporting others

Britney is awarded for progression in learning

Britney Turner has been taking part in two learning opportunities over the last year with both tutors identifying and acknowledging the valuable contribution that she has made, not only to her own learning but to the learning of others. Britney has also been working on overcoming a number of personal barriers which has resulted in a more positive approach to learning being adopted which in turn is having a great impact on her progression and confidence. Congratulations Britney!

Meet our Special Award winners 2015

Carole is recognised for commitment to learningCarole Paton has been coming to Adult Learning classes for a few years. She has developed great self-confidence as a result of her participation in her literacy class. She is a keen and regular participant in her class who clearly enjoys to learn and this is evident through her commitment and enthusiasm to learning. Carole is a positive and respectful person, showing great encouragement to new learners in her class, helping them settle. It is fantastic to see her self-confidence continue to improve and grow. Congratulations Carole!

East Plean Nursery Food Project

Adult Learning in partnership with Health Improvement, Keep Well and East Plean Primary ran a five weeks ‘Tots Make and Taste’ programme for families at East Plean Nursery. The aims of the programme included:• Creating an opportunity locally for

families to engage in food activities together.

• Encouraging children to try new foods and develop new skills.

• Using food activities with children to develop other learning, e.g. numeracy.

• Encouraging families to make food together at home.

Children participating have developed early cooking skills such as: chopping, spreading, pouring, mixing and tasting new foods. At the end of the programme, all parents and carers said that the children have been engaging in food activities at home.

Six parents have now signed up for further family learning sessions in the nursery. Four parents, who initially had signed up for an accredited cooking course have now successfully completed this. They have now signed up for a further accredited food nutrition course.

The ‘Tots Make and Taste’ programme will be available for more families attending East Plean Nursery in the New Year.

Lisa is awarded for learning and workplace successLisa Wright started attending Adult Learning classes in order to improve her employability and general literacy skills and has also participated in the ASDAN Employability course.

As a result of learning Lisa is a much more confident person, feeling more able to put forward her opinion on different issues and engage more confidently in conversation with others. She has been successful with employment and has found that her developing confidence has also been of benefit in the workplace. Well done Lisa!

Special award for Kathleen’s extraordinary performance

Kathleen Prescott has learned how to overcome her own barriers by using sensory skills to participate in the creation of props for the Have Your Say performance “Oor Bonnie Lass”.

In addition to this, Kathleen took on the lead role as Betty Daenothin which involved learning lines and

understanding stage craft. In light of the fact that Kathleen has a visual impairment, this achievement is extraordinary. The impact of this achievement for Kathleen has been significant in developing her confidence and her sense of independence. It has also enhanced her ‘can do’ approach having successfully participated in all areas of the Have Your say performance. Kathleen is a deserving Special Award winner, not only for her own achievement but also for acting as an ambassador for other learners who may have a disability which could inhibit their opportunities but with support and encouragement, can, in fact, overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges. What a great achievement Kathleen!

This summer saw a very special launch of a great learning resource in Raploch. The Magic Carpet has been made by a group of parents at Raploch Nursery, supported by the Adult Learning Team. The beautifully quilted carpet consists of forty eight squares, each large enough for a child to sit on, with every square linking to a family, a story, an activity or a connection to

Raploch’s past or present. The interactive squares allow the children to go on an imaginative journey enhancing their early literacy and language skills. The carpet is truly remarkable and supported parents to participate in their children’s learning in an innovative creative fashion. The project has also supported the development of the skills and confidence of the parents involved, a big factor in helping to raise the attainment of the children. At the launch, parents spoke about their experience of working on the project, what they had learned and their hopes for how the Magic Carpet would be used. A scrapbook explaining the meaning of all the squares was on display, along with videos and photos of the group participating in play activities and working on the carpet at Raploch Nursery.

Raploch Magic Carpet

THRIVE Project DevelopmentThe THRIVE project has further developed over the year delivering three more programmes in partnership with Cornton, Hillview and Fallin nurseries. THRIVE is a partnership between the Adult Learning Team, family workers in the local nurseries and NHS Forth Valley Keep Well team. The project aims to support parents to develop skills and confidence within a women centred programme. Delivered through a 16 week programme the project focuses on change for a healthier lifestyle, promoting individuals to be responsive to personal development. It provides skills based workshops to increase confidence, knowledge and awareness of coping with day to day stresses. Participants explore attitudes and the vital importance of skills for creating pathways and opportunities within the wider community to further education, volunteering or employment. The programme is also supporting participants to be more confident in supporting their children’s learning and development which is vital in terms of raising attainment.

Revealed

Community Class Programme

The 2016 Community class programme

is ready with some new exciting

additional classes. Ask us for a copy.

News in BriefFull marks for MarkMark Lafferty had been attending the Adult Learning Work Club when he decided he needed a CSCS

card in order to achieve his aim of securing a job in construction. Fortunately Mark was able to enrol for the CSCS course and test with Raploch Urban Regeneration Company and, after practising for the test at the Literacies for Work class, went on to pass with full marks. Congratulations Mark!

Work success for IainWell done to Iain McLaren for securing employment with a local employer recently. Ian has been coming to Adult

Learning classes for a while to get support with his reading and writing skills. Ian has now progressed to full time work and we wish him well for the future.

Adult Learning supports rural IT delivery

The Adult Learning Team is working in partnership with Killin and Ardeonaig Trust supporting the delivery of ICT in the North West rural area

of Stirling. This work supports the delivery of a regular internet café in Killin where adult learners are getting support with IT learning for employability, help to get online or advice and support for setting up social media accounts which is helping to reduce isolation for some learners.

iPad classesMembers of the Central Scotland Chinese Association have been getting to grips with their IPad and tablets through a new programme run by the team. Participants have learned basic IPad and Android tablet skills, downloading and using apps and are now more aware of online security.

Cooking on a budget coursesA new cookery course run in partnership with the Sunlite cafe at the Cowane Centre is supporting adult learners and volunteers of the cafe to develop core meals for use at home and at work which are not only of a healthy nature but are designed to be cost effective too.

Plean 50+ GroupThe Halcyon Hangings Project is a new project being developed by the Plean 50+ group designed to bring to life and share the participants’ memories and learning experiences. Participants are designing a series of hangings which captures the group’s development over the last few years. The first hanging is completed and captures the group’s work and experiences around the development of their Pit Stoor publication.

The Adult Learning Team provide a range of classes including:• Reading, writing, spelling and numbers• English for speakers of other languages• ICT skills• Family learning• Personal development and confidence building• Languages• Skills for work• Volunteering and more

Closing the technology gap – Project work with DublinLearners from Plean have been working with fellow learners in the Warrenmount Centre in Dublin on a bilateral project called ‘Closing the Gap’. The project’s aim was to provide mature learners in the Plean Computer Group with the skills and confidence to use the Internet as a communication tool, for example emailing, Skype and e-commerce safely.

During the lifetime of the project the learners communicated via email and Skype. The Scottish learners made two visits to Ireland – firstly to meet with the Irish learners and prepare the programme of activities and then at the end of the project to make an evaluation video. A photo story of the project was also produced to capture the Plean experience.

Adult Learning hosts European conference in StirlingAdult Learning recently hosted a European conference to celebrate our international links and partnership work with six European countries. Practitioners from Portugal, Finland, Austria, Ireland, Estonia and Mallorca shared their experiences of partnership working and highlighted the benefits for learners. Staff and learners from these countries are benefiting from the sharing of learning practices which is having an impact on how we teach and learn about adult literacies.

International Connections Creative Connections

Project with Finland

The Creative Connections Bilateral Project explored a combination of the languages of poetry and a visual interpretation of the images captured in the Haiku form.

Haikus were written by The Bannockburn Study Group in Stirling and sent to the Finnish learners. The richness of the language was translated into the richness of colour and patchwork patterns.

A book has been published showing the history of the journey from words to images as well as a selection of pieces reflecting the art and craft work of the Finnish learners.

Adult Learning working in partnership with Mallorca

Recently we co-operated on a bilateral project with the Centre d'Educació de Persones Adultes CEPA Artá, Mallorca. This project was based on English language for work and focused on methods of improving the second language experience of learners in relation to improving employment prospects. ICT and literacy activities were produced which could be used by the Adult Learning Team in Stirling and the institution in Mallorca as well as in a general adult learning European context.

For further information, call 01786 237517 or email adultlearning@stirling.gov.uk

http:// www.stirling.gov.uk/adultlearning

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