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Advocacy
The Regional Development Officers articulate at national level regional issues relating to adult learning, this is usually mediated, rather than through direct intervention. For example, NIACE regional staff provide information about regional issues relating to adult learning to members of the NIACE Directorate or NIACE colleagues working at national level as intelligence in planning work and contributing to national level forums.
Regional Development Officers work with Government Offices, Regional Development Agencies and other strategic bodies located in the regions who may use this intelligence in national level discussions and with other agencies involved in adult learning or related issues with national and regional structures. Some may be direct - e.g. through contact with LSC national officers, DfES officials etc.
Regional Development Officers try to present the 'voice of the learner', and act as a conduit for learners’ voices and wider strategies for listening to learners and communicating their concerns. The development of this work is at an early stage and we are investigating ways to take this forward through NIACE regional staff building their knowledge and awareness of:
 | Consultation and learner feedback activity in the region and sub-regions. |
| Relevant research. |
| Objectives relating to consultation of learners and potential learners and learner feedback in the plans of regional and sub-regional strategic bodies and key funders and action arising from them. |
Also by becoming aware of existing learners' forums and liaising with them on what issues to take forward and most appropriate means for doing this we identify 'gaps' in consultation practice, disseminate best practice and intervene to stimulate policy response to learners' issues through:
| Initiating or inputting to regional policy events. |
| Responding to documents. |
| Research. |
The Regional Development Officers also lobby for regions and sub-regions to have a framework and agreed set of expectations around consulting and responding to learners and potential learners.
The activity may be taken forward through NIACE's:
| Membership of forums, networks. |
| Research development and consultancy activities. |
| Seminars and events. |
| Training. |
Regional Development Officers are able to identify and communicate a wide range of regional issues to interested agencies by:
| Bringing issues together and transmitting this information through membership of a wide range of forums and networks and ongoing contact with strategic bodies and funders. |
| Some of this is shared 'sideways' - e.g. to different sectors - and sometimes it entails supporting communication and understanding between strategic bodies and funders and those working on the ground. |
In addition, the regions team advocates across the range of the range of NIACE’s values and core principles through such means as:
| Forums – making links and arguing for holistic view of adult learning. |
| Stimulating activities and projects. |
| Responding to Regional Policy documents and strategies that affect adult learners. |
