Making a difference:Impact of WEA Education

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WEA Awards 2014

WEA Awards 2014

Founded in 1903, the Workers’ Educational Association is the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult education.With the support of nearly 400 local branches, 3,000 volunteers, 2,000 part time tutors and our active membership, the WEA helps improve lives and communities. By raising aspirations and enabling individuals to create their own change we are all reminded of the power of education. The WEA provides friendly, accessible education close to home. Students do not need previous knowledge or qualifi cations to join most of our courses, only a willingness to share with others their curiosity, ideas and experience. The incredible achievements and eff orts of all who use, support and value the WEA are truly inspiring.

A better world – equal, democratic and just; through adult education

the WEA challenges

and inspires individuals,

communities

and society

WEA Awards 2014

01

Since the WEA was founded in 1903, our mission has been to bring educational opportunities to every community in Britain. This simple idea that learning is for everyone and learning is for life underpins everything we do. High quality, student-centred, tutor-led education for adults can be life enhancing and life changing. It can raise aspirations and empower individuals to take control of their own lives. Above all, it helps people realise that anything is possible.

The WEA Awards is our way of recognising the power of education. The winners of the awards represent some of the best stories from across the Association. Every winner shows the impact education can have and it is a great privilege to celebrate their success.

Our awards are also a chance for us to say thank you to all our students, tutors, volunteers, members, staff , ambassadors and partners. Over 70,000 students study with the WEA every year and we are proud of the positive changes we make to lives

across the country. The commitment and dedication of everyone connected to the WEA makes this possible and without your help we wouldn’t be able to work towards our vision of ‘a better world – equal, democratic and just’.

Congratulations to the award winners and thanks to those that have made these awards possible – the students, staff and tutors who have shared their stories. You are an inspiration to us all.

WEA Chief Executive and General Secretary Ruth Spellman

We are delighted that the WEA 2014 Awards are being presented by The Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor, Councillor Shafi que Shah.Education and its ability to provide great opportunities to progress in life has always been of great importance to the Lord Mayor. He was educated at Sir Wilfred Martineau School and progressed on to graduate in mechanical and manufacturing engineering being qualifi ed to Incorporated Engineer status.

The Lord Mayor has been a school governor in the east of Birmingham for many years and is the chair of Governors at a local girls' school.

He has always had a desire to serve the community and put something back in recognition of what the country and city have given him and his family.

Welcome to the WEA Awards 2014

WEA Awards 2014

Contents

Olive Cordell Skills for Life Student 03Kamila Imtiyas

Olive Cordell Skills for Life Tutor 03Orlando Martins

WEA Volunteer Award 04Kathleen Connolly

WEA Student Award 04Confi dence in Action

WEA Tutor Award 05Mona Nashed

WEA Staff Award 05Holistic Integration Service Team

WEA Innovation and Contribution 06Adam Bracher

Association Services 06Payroll

North East Region 07Kathleen Connolly

North West Region 07Amanda Derry

South West Region 08Khadra Osman

Eastern Region 08Roy Parrot

Southern Region 09Mike Fry

London Region 09Alistair Milliken

East Midlands Region 10Tom Mottram

West Midlands Region 10Confi dence in Action

WEA Scotland 11Holistic Integration Service Team Glasgow

Yorkshire & Humber Region 11Martin Glover

The Mental Health Appeal 2014 12

02

WEA Awards 2014

Kamila has been involved with the WEA since 2009. She is an incredibly positive student who actively supports others in their learning. Kamila is very involved with her local community and she seeks to create a similar sense of inclusion and cohesion in class. By speaking both Urdu and Sinhalese to her fellow learners, Kamila really helps others to feel at ease and included. In many ways she is at the core of her class, she inspires and motivates others through her desire to learn about all the cultures and communities she is surrounded by. Her husband attends the same class and is the only male to do so. Kamila is very supportive of his choice to attend, doing all she can to ensure he feels comfortable and included.

Kamila has recently undertaken project work for the Sri Lankan community centre in Slough. Through fundraising, Kamila has collected nearly £950 for the local mosque with her husband. Kamila has been volunteering at Slough Refugee Support as a receptionist for two years and she is still volunteering as a general helper. Kamila is active in her community, externally promoting the WEA’s courses within the Sri Lankan community among friends and family and also in her local mosque. Kamila is a very committed student with an unstoppable desire to study and progress in life.

Orlando came to the UK in 2002. After getting a job in the education department of Unite the Union and embarking on a TEFL course, he got involved with the WEA. Orlando began thinking about the population of migrant workers and people in lower level jobs who would benefi t from English classes in his local area. Many of these individuals struggled to access education due to shift work and regular relocation. Undeveloped

and under fi nanced, this area needed a great deal of work and Orlando set about creating the ESOL Online software programme in collaboration with Technology Development Manager Adam Bracher from the WEA, an initiative that has enabled students to access online ESOL courses without internet, giving them the option of learning 24/7.

As the main tutor for this project, Orlando has delivered eight courses in a year and has received an ‘excellent’ rating for his OTL. Feedback from both learners and staff involved with the project has been incredibly positive, with

many students leaving the course reporting that they feel prepared to search for employment or, if they are already employed, feeling confi dent about seeking promotion. Due to Orlando’s commitment, courses are now being off ered in six diff erent locations within Eastern region and the WEA is also working with several new organisations. The ESOL Online software initiative recently won a national award at Adult Learner’s Week, a great achievement that has given both the programme and the WEA a great amount of exposure through social media, something that has resulted in many students fi nding out about WEA courses.

Kamila ImtiyasOlive Cordell Skills for Life Student

Orlando MartinsOlive Cordell Skills for Life Tutor

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WEA Awards 2014

Confi dence in Action is a course group made up of 13 students, some of whom had already attended confi dence building courses and some of whom had not. All of the students in the group shared the desire to increase their confi dence levels and to begin to feel they were moving forward in life through positive action.

During their time on the course, the learners took part in two ‘enrichment activities’. This meant visiting a coff ee shop and later a local Art Gallery. Such visits were a fi rst for many of the students and are representative of the journey they had undergone as they were such enormous personal achievements. One of the goals of the group was for each of the students to speak individually about the impact that learning had on them in front of a guest visitor. The students spoke confi dently of the positive eff ects of the course. It was evident to all that the learners had overcome many personal barriers since joining Confi dence in Action, but there were clear shared themes of self-acceptance, increased confi dence and a greater sense of happiness. Three of the learners are now volunteering as a direct result of the improvement in their confi dence, one of them with the WEA. Another student from the group has recently completed a two week work-placement at Marks and Spencer, as a result of the success of the placement, this individual is currently preparing for a job interview.As well as being the recipient of the WEA Student Group of the Year Award, Confi dence in Action have been awarded the title of 2014 West Midlands regional winner. You can read more about their journey with the WEA on page ten.

Kath Connolly, a retired teacher, got involved with the WEA in 2007 and is currently the WEA Durham Branch chair. Much of Kath’s own education took place in her adult life, an experience that she really values and understands the importance of on a personal level. Since her involvement with the WEA, Kath says she has ‘enjoyed meeting diff erent people who have all contributed to the story of the Association in their many diff erent ways’.

An active member of her branch, Kath is on North East regional committee and is also involved with the regional volunteer forum. She is instrumental in promoting the North East regional brochure of adult education courses to both staff and volunteers. This is something she helps the Branch to do at the Durham Miners’ Gala. This event is an annual celebration of Durham’s coal-mining heritage and on the day of the Gala, WEA volunteers staff a promotional stall to launch the North East Course Programme. This year witnessed an attendance of around 100,000 people. The Miners’ Gala is a fantastic opportunity to promote the work of the Association, to raise profi le and recruit new volunteers and students. Through Kath’s involvement with

WEA she was also able to help organise a series of educational events in the week leading up to the Miners’ Gala; this included a programme of historical and political talks and was a great opportunity to promote the WEA.

As well as being the recipient of the WEA Volunteer of the Year Award, Kath was the 2014 North East regional winner. You can read more about her contribution to the WEA on page seven.

Confi dence in ActionWEA Student Award

Kathleen ConnollyWEA Volunteer Award

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WEA Awards 2014

A ground-breaking project, The Holistic Integration Service (HIS) was created to help new refugees integrate into Scottish society as soon as possible following receipt of their refugee status. HIS is a three year Big Lottery funded partnership project made up of Scottish Refugee Council (lead partner), British Red Cross, Glasgow Clyde College, Bridges Programmes and WEA Scotland. The project builds on a previous WEA Refugee and Asylum Seeker focused project with Scottish Refugee Council and British Red Cross.

As part of the project the WEA is working with approximately 400 refugees per year. Our main role is to carry out ESOL Initial Assessments with project participants and to deliver learner-centred ‘Survival English’ courses to 180 new refugees per year.The results of the programme have been exceptional with the success of the initiative leading to the development of another internationally important service aimed at helping Third Country Nationals to integrate into society.

As well as being the recipient of the WEA Staff Team of the Year Award, the Holistic Integration Service team are the 2014 Scottish Award winners. You can read more about the team’s work on page eleven.

Mona teaches Soft Furnishing and Fashion courses in Tower Hamlets, attracting students from the diverse local community. On these courses students learn a wide range of skills and are able to produce items for their families and for their homes. Students have reported that they developed numerous skills through the course in addition to craft skills.

These included literacy and numeracy skills as well as the opportunity to work on their confi dence levels and social skills. This gives many students a greater chance of employment. Mona’s encouragement to develop these social skills helps students to understand the importance of working with others. For many this has resulted in new friendships.

Mona holds an annual exhibition to celebrate the achievements of the students. At this year’s exhibition one student described Mona as being a ‘wonderful inspiration to all women who have never done any sewing, by giving hope and knowledge - as well as giving us a chance to learn and to meet new people in an environment where we feel relaxed, comfortable and can enjoy

ourselves’. This year the local MP, Jim Fitzpatrick attended the event among other community leaders, potential students and partner representatives.

Through Mona’s hard work and dedication, students have learnt the skills necessary to work independently on projects and this has impacted positively on them as individuals and on their families. Mona is responsive and sensitive to the demands many of her students face. She spends a great deal of time with them as individuals to ensure that they achieve their goals on the course and encourages students to talk about and incorporate their backgrounds and experiences into the course, making it an accessible and inclusive environment for all.

Holistic Integration Service TeamWEA Staff Award

Mona NashedWEA Tutor Award

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WEA Awards 2014

The Payroll Team truly embody the concept of teamwork, from how they perform as a functional support service to how they slot in as part of the wider WEA staff team. They have a great reputation and working relationship with other colleagues and teams across the Association.

Deb Chambers spoke of their reputation, saying that she ‘… often receives comments from colleagues in diff erent regions and business units about what a great team they are and how vital their help and support is’.

As a small team, Payroll are often under great pressure based on the deadline driven nature of their work. Despite this they work tirelessly, particularly at peak processing times to ensure that staff are paid accurately and on time. It is always at the forefront of their mind how important their work is to staff and the impact if things go wrong.The Payroll Team work innovatively, seeking sustainable ways of working and constantly striving to improve the service they provide. A great deal of eff ort is concentrated on attempting to streamline and simplify processes vital to the smooth-running of the WEA. The Payroll team seek to maximise the use of electronic forms of communication and take a pro-active approach to problem-solving. The team always respond quickly and professionally to all stakeholders they deal with, they go out of their way to be as helpful as possible in all situations and with all queries and requests for information.

The Payroll Team spoke of their award, saying that “Each member of the team contributes to our shared goals, bringing valuable input and absolute commitment to ensure that we off er the best possible service. It’s a great feeling that our hard work has been recognised”.

Adam Bracher is the Technology Development Manager in Eastern region. In his role, Adam has developed and transformed existing opportunities for students to engage in learning. He has also enabled staff to use

technology in new ways to help them in their roles.

This included establishing and managing a virtual learning environment, managing websites and developing the use of webinars. As a result of his work, more than 2,000 students have been able to engage in an online taster course. This is a completely new area of work and it has allowed the WEA to try out several new methods of learning and communicating, including the establishment of an ‘online branch’ where staff can exchange ‘bright ideas’.

Adam has also supported tutors and staff in looking at ways that technology

could help their current work and led a project for the WEA and UNITE to use technology for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Such activity has not only enabled the WEA to be awarded with an Adult Learner’s Week national award but has helped a large number of students to engage in learning when they would not otherwise have had the opportunity.

Ultimately, as a result of Adam’s dedication, students from across the world now know more about the WEA and are able to engage in our learning activities.

Adam’s inspirational ideas have gone beyond Eastern region, meaning that on a national scale many are now benefi ting from the work he has trialled. Adam’s energy is not just evident through his work with technology, however, as he has also been instrumental in orchestrating many other ideas, such as delivering in supermarkets, developing courses with Job Centre Plus, and a programme for volunteers helping them to make use of technology. On top of this, he has organised a programme in conjunction with a homeless charity and a number of local businesses in Norwich to get people learning through photography.

Payroll TeamAssociation Services

Adam BracherWEA Innovation and Contribution

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WEA Awards 2014

Following several breakdowns and an ongoing struggle with her self-confi dence, Amanda had stopped participating in hobbies that she had once enjoyed and only saw her close family. In 2009, she enrolled on an Endurance Creative Writing class and this marked the beginning of an incredible journey for Amanda, who is described by her tutor as being ‘an inspiration’.Following her engagement in an allotment project, Amanda began to attend the creative writing class on a regular basis. Her writing began a real transformation as she started writing about her family background and experiences. Amanda says she felt that each piece she wrote was like a jigsaw piece, enabling her to understand more about herself as they all came together.In 2011 Amanda read out a poem the class had written jointly at the Endurance Award ceremony. Her confi dence grew sharply from this point. In late 2012 she attended a residential with Endurance. She later took on the Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) course, an experience that helped her gain the confi dence to use public transport.She began to do some voluntary work in a local cafe and later joined as a volunteer at the 3rd Space project, a spiritual group supporting people in need in a safe and sociable environment.After completing her PTLLS course, Amanda immediately began a Basic Skills qualifi cation in Literacy and Numeracy. She went on to support students in all the projects she was involved with, including the Endurance class. She did this in a variety of ways, helping with writing, reading and with ICT.Several WEA managers noticed the work Amanda was doing and as a direct result Amanda now has some support tutor paid work through the WEA. She also runs a voluntary arts and crafts workshop, supplying many of the resources herself.In Amanda’s own words, ‘I feel I’ve progressed from a person who wouldn’t even attend a social occasion at one time, to one who has so much going on in my life, I’m not able to fi t in everything I’d like to!’ She has begun driving again, she now visits family around the country on the train, she’s been on holiday abroad and intends to go again. Amanda has developed strong family and social networks and now lives what she considers to be a full and varied life.

Amanda DerryNorth West Region

07

Kath Connolly volunteers in North East region. She sits on regional committee and is active with the regional volunteer forum. Right across County Durham, Kath’s contribution and value to the WEA is huge. She increases the profi le of the Association through her total endeavour to see the WEA positively promoted. Kath does this in a variety of ways, from regional events and class visits, to promotion via Facebook, through a local study group and by helping raise money for branch funds. She

is often a guest speaker at diff erent events and she uses every opportunity to positively promote the WEA.

Kath is also involved with the North East Labour History Society and the Co-operative, meaning she has a large network of contacts who she keeps informed on the movements of the WEA. This is testimony to the endeavour of her work and standing in the County Durham region. This has had a positive and cathartic impact on WEA North East region.

Tony Bulloch, a Course Organiser in the North East, described Kath as being ‘a truly inspirational person whose heart lies with everyone having a right to learn and with a resolve for encouraging and

nurturing individuals to fulfi l this. Kath is a role model for many reasons. Her support is well received across North East region as not only being practical, forthright and warm, but always there.’

By embracing the rich WEA heritage of democratic and inclusive student involvement, Kath really encourages the present to shape and sustain the WEA’s future. She is valued for her warmth, encouragement and support alongside her will, spirit and energy by all in North East region.

Kathleen ConnollyWEA Volunteer Award

WEA Awards 2014

Roy left school without qualifi cations and prior to joining a WEA course he found it diffi cult to engage with people. Roy fi rst came to MIND two years ago and found he had a real interest in art. Having enrolled on a WEA course Roy has gradually gained confi dence and made friends.This increase in confi dence encouraged Roy to join the Open arts project in Hadleigh and he later set up a ‘follow on group’ for students from the project.Talking about the project, Roy says “people do their own work and talk about it with the others. There are no leaders, we just work on our own and we help each other. It’s making a diff erence to people.”Roy is currently displaying and selling some of his work in the Eastgate Gallery in Basildon. His tutor reports that when Roy joined the WEA course at MIND, he was unsure of himself and felt unable to sit with the other students.

Through supportive teaching Roy’s confi dence levels have steadily increased and his skill set has really grown. Roy recognises and promotes the Wellbeing outcomes that practical art has produced in him and he strives to share this opportunity with others. He values peer learning, saying “we all work as a team so that everyone has a voice”.

Along with one other volunteer, Roy has recently taken over the weekly arts course at Basildon MIND. The course is aimed at helping members become more confi dent with diff erent mediums and basic art techniques. In Roy’s words it is about “making a diff erence to people”. With this positive attitude and his newly acquired skills, Roy continues to inspire others.

Having passed her own ESOL qualifi cations up to level 2, Khadra came to the WEA hoping to join a Certifi ed Education course specialising in teaching ESOL to adults. She got onto the course and stayed for two years, helping in classes and teaching groups of students or whole parts of the classes. Khadra supports the students well, translating where

necessary but also encouraging them to communicate in English. Khadra engaged with volunteering as a means of giving back to the community and country. In her own words, the best part of volunteering is being witness to the ‘journey and the progress of each student’.

The students in the class Khadra supported have done well in their exams, and have appreciated the input she has given. Khadra is working in a class which already has a good reputation among the local Somali community, something she has certainly contributed to. Khadra has been incredibly helpful in situations

where misconceptions have led to disagreements in the class. She has helped to translate and promote a policy of respect and inclusion, in situations which required delicate handling.

Khadra embodies the historical and current values of the WEA because she started her adult life with lower than level 2 qualifi cations and, despite her commitments to home and family life, has trained to a graduate level and will now be in a position to help others to do the same. This is how the WEA started over 100 years ago, and it is good to see that through volunteering this continues.

Khadra’s teaching promotes inclusivity. She creates lessons that all students benefi t from and are listened to. Khadra treats each student equally. Helen Greensmith, the Bristol-based Skills for Life Programme Worker, commented on Khadra’s support in class, saying that ‘her presence as a strong, kind woman in the traditional hijab does a lot to create trust and understanding between diff erent communities united in a small community classroom.’

Roy ParrotEastern Region

Khadra OsmanSouth West Region

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WEA Awards 2014

Mike is a qualifi ed and talented musician who dedicates a huge amount of his time towards planning and preparing for the courses that he teaches. One of his courses, ‘Music for Fun’ is for students with learning diffi culties and disabilities. Mike off ers his students the opportunity to experiment with a range of instruments and sounds. He is innovative and explores new technology to enable all students to participate.

Mike is passionate about his subject area and his ability to annunciate and communicate is very eff ective in organising and encouraging the students when playing instruments. Learning and enjoyment are central to Mike’s classes, with music and singing all the way through. He is innovative, he uses a variety of resources and activities are always interesting, challenging and fun for students.

Mike is exceptional in improvising and using existing provision and resources. He uses an array of instruments for the students as well as a sampler system which

records and plays back sound - all the students fi nd this really exciting.Mike makes all his students feel welcome and by providing a safe and relaxed atmosphere. He is patient, committed and a role model to other tutors who work with students with learning diffi culties and disabilities.

Alistair has been involved with the WEA since attending his fi rst course in 2009 and later joining the Branch Committee. Since then, Alistair has become a member of Regional Committee, being elected as Regional Treasurer at the AGM in 2013. With a background in accountancy, Alistair was immediately able to contribute at Regional Committees with astute and constructive thoughts and ideas. He has rapidly developed a sound view of both London Region and the WEA as a whole.

As Regional Treasurer, Alistair takes an active and supportive role whilst still being inquisitive about the regional fi nancial process. He raises and discusses issues at Regional Treasurer’s meeting and he is a terrifi c sounding board for accounting functions and processes. Ultimately, he brings a highly professional approach to his governance role.

Alistair has been willing at regional and voluntary meetings to become a key spokesperson for the importance of good fi nancial management and its linkage to the strategic direction of the region. Whilst promoting branch provision, he is very mindful of the contribution of other areas of the curriculum and the balance that needs to be maintained.

Alistair is a charmingly modest person who nevertheless has a very keen eye for detail and a sensible approach to the wider picture. He brings a highly professional approach to the demanding role of Regional Treasurer and is a model for others to follow. A willing volunteer, Alistair has realised that he can deploy his own fi nancial skills and awareness to great good for a charity that he believes in. He does this in a modest way that does not seek personal glory but is assiduous in his dedication.

Alistair MillikenLondon Region

Mike FrySouthern Region

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WEA Awards 2014

Tom has a real grasp on adult education, having himself been an adult learner. Driven by a fi erce desire to succeed he achieved a BA degree in Performing Arts. His own experience of adult education, combined with his positivity and confi dence have made him a natural tutor and he has really embraced working with adults. Tom is always calm, he thinks on his feet and adapts well to any situation, maintaining a safe and positive environment for all.

Tom’s natural enthusiasm and interest in people have enabled him to very successfully deliver a number of courses to targeted groups of students with a wide range of learning needs and diffi culties. Students talk about Tom’s ‘contagious energy’ and support staff repeatedly report on the positive impact of his classes. Tom has become a valued member of the WEA 101 branch tutor team, rapidly becoming well respected by colleagues on and off site. Termly tutor team meetings have taken on a new perspective this year; with Tom’s engaging sense of humour, positivity and willingness to tackle and share new ideas or resources, instantly establishing him as a key member of the local network.

Confi dence in ActionWest Midlands Region

Tom MottramEast Midlands Region

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Confi dence in Action is a student group from the West Midlands made up of 13 individuals who were united through a shared goal to increase their self-confi dence. During their time with the WEA, these students have overcome many personal barriers. Each student from Confi dence in Action has had a diff erent journey.One member of the group has successfully completed a WEA Literacy course and has now progressed to the next level.

Two learners who had previously struggled to use public transport are now happy traveling on their own. Speaking of their progression as individuals, one student said that ‘When I am here, I can be me, nobody judges me here. Since doing these courses, I found the confi dence to do other things… I’ve stopped hiding.’ Another simply said “I come away each week with a huge smile on my face.” In the light of the specifi c challenges faced by every person in the group and the distance travelled from their starting points, these unsolicited testimonials represent evidence of really signifi cant impact through learning on the individuals and the group as a whole.

WEA Awards 2014

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The Holistic Integration Service team have built on a previous WEA Refugee and Asylum Seeker focussed project as a means of helping new refugees integrate in Scottish society following an acknowledgment of their refugee status. Working to carry out ESOL Initial Assessments around 400 refugees a year, the Holistic Integration Service team are an outstanding example of the values of the WEA in action.

They are off ering a crucial learning opportunity for some of society’s most vulnerable members at a time when they are in greatest need. Without the hard work, dedication and innovative practice of this group of staff , these results would not have been possible.

Education Development Manager for West and Central Scotland, Kathleen Richardson spoke of the staff behind the initiative as being ‘…

passionate, enthusiastic and dedicated’. Observation of the team’s teaching practice by partners has been called ‘inspirational’. Through their hard work in establishing eff ective partnerships and innovative new ways of working they have ensured that the needs of refugees are met and that they are better able to prosper in their new environment.

Holistic Integration Service TeamWEA Scotland Winner

Martin has been a WEA volunteer for two years and has assisted with the Creative Arts for Well Being courses, targeted at adults with mental health diffi culties, in York. Not only has he assisted the course tutor in supporting teaching and learning in two courses every week, he has also volunteered at a number of other WEA activities.

The value of Martin’s input to the WEA is enormous. It has meant that the students have been able to access so many more opportunities and the tutor can off er further support and plan extended learning opportunities because of having such a capable and willing extra pair of hands.

Because of Martin’s consistent and reliable support at the Creative Arts for Well Being courses the tutor feels that she is able to do more within her teaching, being able to stretch those students who are capable of more challenging work and provide extra support to those who need it. Martin is able to give students a helping hand with aspects of learning but is also extremely good at supporting with anxiety and confi dence issues, helping to calm those who are fi nding life diffi cult to cope with.He engages with the public very easily and is always willing to talk to potential new students about what the WEA can off er. The assistance and support Martin provides is exemplary, demonstrating a natural ability to engage with students he has not met before, showing a genuine interest in everyone and being quick to provide help wherever he can. His ability to inspire learning combined with his patience, sensitivity, understanding and sense of humour contribute enormously to the WEA.

Martin GloverYorkshire & Humber Region

WEA Awards 2014

The Mental Health Appeal 2014

Research has shown that education and shared learning can contribute to good mental health so we want to further support our excellent provision across the WEA. Nearly 3000 people joined WEA courses specifi cally for people experiencing mental health diffi culties in 2013/14 and many more benefi ted from mainstream provision.Through fundraising for the Appeal, we can provide support to those aff ected by mental health issues and develop a greater sense of well-being among our students, staff , tutors and volunteers.

This year, we are encouraging fundraising for the Appeal at a local level, and all students, staff and volunteers can really make a diff erence.

Help the WEA provide better support for people aff ected by mental health issues and enable them to gain confi dence in their ability to manage their mental well-being. Donations can help fund a variety of courses, workshops and other provision, such as outdoor activities, materials for therapeutic courses, additional drop in workshops or extra training for volunteers and tutors on mental health awareness.

This year’s WEA Appeal focusses on improving mental health through education. 1 in 4 people experience some kind of mental health problem during the course of a year. These very common issues can aff ect how people think, feel and behave.

For more information on how to get involved, visit our Fundraising webpages atwww.wea.org.uk/fundraise

and download a Fundraising Resource Pack or contact the Fundraising team on 0117 9166 503 or email volunteering@wea.org.uk

... the art class is having a good impact on my health as it enables me to get out of the house and meet others,

some of whom also have mental health problems.“ “

Lesley was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2004, which radically changed her life. In 2012, she attended a WEA art course that helped her interact socially with others and kept her mind active as she was becoming

very forgetful in her everyday life.

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Impact of WEA provision on Employability Students who are unemployed and looking for work told us that after after completing a WEA course they felt.

More confi dentof fi nding a job

More informed about support

services

Improved communication

skills

Improved literacy skills

Improved numeracy skills

86%

67%

81%

57%

40%

Impact of WEA provision on Health and Wellbeing We asked students to assess how they feel according to the ONS subjective wellbeing scale.

Impact of WEA provision on Community Engagement Students told us that completing a WEA course made them more interested inmaking their community a better place to live.

Impact of WEA provision on our four core themesRecent impact data relating to the WEA’s four core themes strongly supports the view that education has a positive eff ect on health and wellbeing, cultural understanding, community engagement and on employability and job prospects.

Impact of WEA provision on Cultural Engagement Students told us that completing a WEA course made them.

Have a greaterunderstanding of

other cultures

Read moreoften

Visit museumsand galleries

60%

51%

39%

AllStudents

Students from minority ethnic communities

and refugees

UnemployedStudents

Students claimingmeans tested benefi ts

45%

60%

64%

52%

4.5

2.9

Life Satisfaction Well-being Happiness Anxiety

8.9

7.4

9.3

7.7

8.9

7.5

WEA STUDENTUK AVERAGE

WEA employability education develops confi dence, understanding and skills to help adults, at all stages of their lives, participate more fully in the world of work.

Health and physical activity programmes enable students to become more socially connected and comparative data from the Offi ce for National Statistics demonstrates the positive eff ect of WEA provision on wellbeing and happiness measures.

WEA community engagement education combats social exclusion and promotes active citizenship, encouraging students to take a stronger role in civil society.

Cultural education broadens horizons through an understanding of diff erent identities and environments, embodying our commitment to social purpose.

Workers’ Educational Association 4 Luke Street I London I EC2A 4XWT: 020 7426 3450 E: national@wea.org.uk W: www.wea.org.uk

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.

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