personal efectiveness, social enterprise and. lifelong learning; .... Community Engagement.pdf. Community Engagement.pdf
Community Engagement Education combats social exclusion and promotes active citizenship
www.wea.org.uk
Sept 2015
About the WEA
Founded in 1903, the WEA is the UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult education, delivering around 9,700 part-time courses for over 70,000 people each year in England and Scotland. Through education, the WEA brings teaching and people together to inspire communities and helps adults make better lives for themselves and their families. the WEA’s mission is to: n Raise educational aspirations n Involve students and supporters as members n Bring great teaching and learning to local to build an education movement for communities social purpose n Ensure there is always an opportunity for n Inspire students, teachers and members to adults to return to learn become active citizens n Develop educational opportunities for the most disadvantaged Working with socially and economically disadvantaged adults along with members of marginalised communities, the WEA runs courses to help students appreciate political and social issues. The WEA organises its education provision and identifies its impact across four key themes. They are Culture, Health and Wellbeing, Community Engagement and Employability. The themes are equally important and represent some of the most fundamental needs of people living in Britain’s diverse communities. Each theme provides a context within which the WEA offers its wide and varied curriculum. In practice, each WEA course will use one theme as its primary context but may also have secondary themes depending on the subject. Over time, the WEA will link every subject to all of the themes. This will allow students to
explore each subject within the wider contexts of each theme to draw out new insights, ideas and meanings in their subject area. By exploring their subject through all four themes, students and tutors will be able to develop their critical understanding of the subject in new and often valuable ways. All WEA provision encourages students to develop independent research and critical thinking skills and an understanding of the wider world through the broader contexts of the subject being studied. Students are encouraged to become involved in relevant activities outside the classroom that embed their learning. Our themes are designed to enhance the experience of students studying with the WEA and to ensure every student has the opportunity to maximise the learning opportunities provided by their course.
The WEA’s Community Engagement framework draws on the nationally recognised Take Part Framework The Take Part framework (www.takepart.info/) provides a distinctive approach to learning that enables people to make an active contribution to their communities and influence public policies and services. (2011) Active learning for active citizenship provides: n a flexible approach to personal and community development through experiential learning using proven strategies to build stronger communities through promoting personal effectiveness, social enterprise and lifelong learning; n education that is (i) community based, (ii) student centred, and (iii) developed through
active and reflective learning; helping equip individuals and communities with the skills, confidence and experience to tackle the distinctive political, social and technical challenges and opportunities that confront us in an increasingly global society; This type of education is delivered around four essential elements: 1 valuing your own skills and experience (personal); 3 knowing yourself through and with others (community relations); 3 knowing how the external world operates; and 4 knowing where and how to get what you need.
WEA is
Democratic, equal, inclusive, accessible and open, and stands for liberty, respect and tolerance
The WEA Community Engagement theme includes Europe, democracy and citizenship in the 21st century
Personal Development
Students are encouraged to explore the broad concepts of citizenship, democracy and Europe. They are introduced to the institutions of the European Union and how citizens can influence change. Where feasible the course is linked to a study visit to Brussels with the support of MEPs.
WEA personal development courses are designed to fit around people’s lives and work. They help people challenge the barriers that hold back positive change in their lives, encouraging new habits and squashing the limiting beliefs that crush personal growth.They enable people to participate more fully in society by promoting well-being, citizenship and increasing employability.
Talk Shop
Digital Skills
Talk Shop is a new discussion format that enables everyone to get to grips with big issues, reaching their own conclusions, speaking for themselves. It’s designed to promote respect and consensus, to encourage people to listen as well as talk. Above all it’s fun. Nobody gets shouted at, everyone feels they can take part. The starting point for this discussion is a question like what should we do about the EU or inequality? Several options or ways of answering the question will be presented. People then decide which option they prefer and form a small breakout group to explore the pros and cons. They present their thoughts to the whole group, and the debate begins.
Why Vote?
This course seeks to encourage democratic engagement by undertaking a community action research project around voter registration.
Social Media for Social Purpose
A course to help individuals and groups develop the skills, knowledge and confidence to identify and communicate the issues that concern the community. Students will learn how to plan, record, edit and upload an iMovie video to the most appropriate social media sites to promote your campaign message.
Skills For Volunteers
An inspirational course which will help adults to develop their skills to be confident and effective volunteers. Course content includes exploring the role of the volunteer, developing good interpersonal skills, and understanding issues of equality and diversity.
Digital skills courses can both develop basic ICT skills whilst also engaging students in contemporary social, political and community issues. Students may learn how to harness ICT to communicate with politicians, or produce community and campaign literature.
ESOL
Communication is at the heart of participation in a civil society. WEA English language courses include continued practice in listening, speaking, pronunciation, vocabulary building, reading and writing strategies to enable people to access services, articulate their needs and understand the communities in which they live and work. Students work towards nationally recognised qualifications which demonstrate their English knowledge.
Community Action Research
WEA Community Action Research courses provide a framework for groups of students to come together to explore issues of interest and importance to their community. The courses look at facts, explore the issues and give students lots of time to express their views and to share them with others. They are introduced to simple research skills which they can practice in their community, adding to the collective knowledge which is brought together into a single report at the end of the course.
Equalities
A comprehensive programme designed to develop knowledge and skills for learning champions in the community.
WEA Equalities training is available in a range of contexts to help individuals and communities understand one another or train professionals and representatives who are working with diverse communities. It provides increased awareness and understanding of equality issues and current legislation, developing the values and skills of students for higher level study and activism.
Arts, Culture and Community
Workplace education
Community Learning Champions
Courses which enable adults to explore community engagement through the medium of the arts. Drawing on personal stories, contemporary issues and relationship to their current and historical situations.
Community Interpreting
For people who speak English and a community language and are interested in learning about the field of community interpreting and developing their knowledge of UK public services. The course covers the role of the community interpreter and the contexts in which they work. Learners will be encouraged to find relevant voluntary work in the community in order to gain experience in community interpreting.
The WEA works with many trade union partners to help them meet the training needs of their representatives and members. This provides a major route for ordinary people to participate in civil and civic governance and is complemented by advocacy training for workers in nonunionised environments.
Roots of Democracy: learning from the Magna Carta
A short course to learn about the origins and legacy of the Magna Carta in order to inform discussion and action about how to protect rights and freedoms for the future.
Community Engagement Case Study The Power of Education As part of our Why Vote campaign, we have been speaking with Owen Jones, a British columnist and political commentator. In this video, Owen talks about education and how it enables us to understand injustices and to overcome them.
www.wea.org.uk/news/The-Power-of-Education.aspx
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The more we educate people, the more they can understand their own power
Why Vote course has a big impact on women in Doncaster Rosie Winterton MP was invited to the final session of the Why Vote course at Doncaster Women’s Centre along with staff and other students from the centre. The WEA students performed the play they had written during the course about the changing role of women. Rosie spoke to them about the key issues they had raised and about the importance of voting, which was
followed by questions and discussion. Many said they are now registered to vote and will use their vote. The course engaged these women in thinking about local and national issues and some of them are now keen to go on a visit to Parliament. The event also included a celebration of International Women’s Day with everyone contributing food they had cooked at home.
Workers’ Educational Association Eastern Region Cintra House, 12 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1JP E
[email protected] W T: 01223 417320 I E: W: eastern.wea.org.uk T
Workers’ Educational Association 4 Luke Street I London I EC2A 4XW T: 020 7426 3450 I E:
[email protected] I W: www.wea.org.uk
@WEAadulted
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.
