An LSEN Community Learning Strategy Group has now been formed following on from the very successful LSEN Seminar held in July.
The Group met for the first time on the 18 October and agreed the following definitions and thematic groups:
“Community Learning describes a broad range of learning that brings together adults, often of different ages and backgrounds, to pursue an interest, address a need, acquire a new skill, become healthier or learn how to support their children. Community Learning is part of a rich tradition dating back to the early 19th century when it was delivered through family, community, social and religious organisations. Movements for the vote, trades unions, ‘mutual improvement societies’, cooperative societies, women’s suffrage groups, independent lending libraries and non-conformist religious groups all offered opportunities for adults to improve their chances in life. This kind of learning has gone by, and continues to go by, many different names - including adult education, adult and community learning, informal adult learning and personal and community development learning - during its long history.
Community Learning, usually unaccredited, is an important part of the wider learning continuum. It can be undertaken for its own sake or as a step towards other learning/training. It covers structured adult education courses taught by professionally qualified teachers, independent study online and self-organised study groups. Some learning will be in very short episodes and some takes place over a term, a year, or longer.
It may happen in personal or work time and be delivered by providers in the public, voluntary or private sectors, or organised by people for themselves through the many groups, clubs and societies where people get together to learn.”
The group have also identified 7 Thematic areas of development for the Community Learning Strategy, as indicated below, and a number of small task groups have been established to further develop the work in these areas:
Theme 1: Map the present Community Learning offer across the City – in the community, in the workplace, in the library, in the local college, adult learning centre and community centre – publically funded, privately funded, unfunded
Theme 2: Promotion of Adult Learners Week and other celebratory learning events organised and delivered by a range of organisations across the City and beyond
Theme 3: Further develop Community Learning Champions, Digital Learning Champions, GO ON Manchester - http://www.go-on-manchester.com/ UK Online Centres, etc – along with evidence and research carried out by Manchester University, LSEN , Peoples Voice Media and a number of other organisations through the MOSI-ALONG Project
Theme 4: Community Learning Trusts – how we can develop then in Manchester
Theme 5 : Co-operative learning, Co-production, Social Capital development, Learning Circles – new ways of learning
Theme 6: Community Engagement, Community Development, Community Conversations, Wisdom Councils, City Camps
Theme 7: The role of Community Learning within the Mental Health agenda
If you would like to get involved in this group or would like to receive further information email Walt Crowson at: [email protected]