Adult Learners' Week in the North West
After leaving school Gil trained as a chef and worked in hotels and restaurants throughout the country as well as two secondments to hotels in France. He then trained as a FE teacher and worked as a catering lecturer at colleges across the North West eventually becoming Head of Sector at Bolton Community College.
For the last five years he has worked for the Lifelong Learning Service at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and currently manages the network of Adult Learning Centres across the borough.
The Lifelong Learning Service supports learners from groups who would not normally access learning, delivering negotiated provision at times and in venues that are convenient to these local residents. It also works with small businesses and has delivered skills for life and other training to groups of taxi drivers, market traders, fast food workers and other groups of workers who traditionally do not receive such help.
As an arm of the local authority, Lifelong Learning is a key player in adult learning in the borough. It provides a focus for local learning during Adult Learners Week and Gil liaises with other organisations that are involved in activities during the week.
Partner organisations include:
- Blackburn College
- St Mary's College
- Training 2000
- The Extended Schools team - providing learning events for the community using the facilities of local primary schools.
- The Women's Centre
- The Library and Museum Service
- Skills for Care
- Workers' Education Association (WEA)
We are actively looking to extend the group to include more community, voluntary and faith organisations.
Gilbert's email address is gilbert.riley@blackburn.gov.uk