Adult Learners Week

Each year during Adult Learners Week, NIACE present Adult Learner Awards to outstanding individuals that have overcome personal barriers to take part in learning, and to organisations and projects that have had a huge impact on adults accessing learning. Winners are awarded both nationally and regionally (with the North West ceremony taking place in Manchester). last year 3 of the National winners were from Merseyside.

However, the awards ceremonies can only happen if we have nominations.

If you are a learning provider or if you are aware of learning programmes or learners that you think deserve the recognition please nominate them for an award. Or please forward this email to anyone you know that might be interested in either getting involved with the week or making a nomination. Nominations can be completed online. The closing date is Friday 28th January.

Adult Learners Week is a national celebration of learning that takes place each year in May and 2011 will be the 20th Adult Learners Week, so we want to make sure that the celebrations on Merseyside are as spectacular as they can be! Specific celebrations throughout the week include Learning at Work day on Thursday19th and Silver Surfers day Friday 20th.

We are working with Merseytravel & Merseyrail to plan a city centre event in Liverpool at St Georges hall on the opening weekend of Adult Learners Week which also marks Cultural Diversity Weekend. We would  like to see as many providers involved with celebrations as possible! The event will include taster sessions working in partnership with various businesses across Merseyside - the aim of the day will be that visitors will leave having learned something new - so please let me know if you wish to get involved.

We also need learning providers to throw open their doors to offer taster sessions. But it doesn't just have to be learning providers - local businesses could offer information sessions that would be classed as informal learning - perhaps a garden centre or allotment could hold an open taster day with a chance to learn about planting and gardening, or a pet shop could demonstrate dog grooming or an artist could offer a painting demonstration.

Part of VOLA's role is to collate information and publicise details of adult learners week activities. So if you do plan anything please make sure you tell us about it!

We will be planning a network meeting shortly to share ideas for activities and events. if you would be interested in getting involved please let me know.

Please circulate this to your contacts/networks.