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Latest News: October 2002
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It's a Family Thing
Families are in the spotlight once more as the NIACE launches its 2003 Family Learning Awards scheme.
The awards aim to recognise the good work done by providers of family learning along with the families themselves, who have made a difference to each other, and often their community, by learning together.
"Learning is part of the social and emotional environment in which children and adults are nurtured in families," said Jeanne Haggart, development officer at NIACE. "Family learning has been shown to contribute to social inclusion and community regeneration."
The awards have been expanded this year to recognise family learning provision which takes place in schools and in community-based settings, such as in a museum, library or voluntary group. The two winning providers will be awarded £500 each.
One further award of £500 will go to a "learning family".
The awards are sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills and will be presented next year during Adult Learners' Week, 10-16 May.
Families or family learning providers who wish to apply for the awards should contact the Campaigns and Promotions team at NIACE on 0116 204 4200. Email alw@niace.org.uk
The closing date is Monday 3 March 2003.
 | Read the full Press Release here > |
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Has Learning Changed your Life?
The search is on for the outstanding adult learners of 2003!
NIACE, has called for nominations to its 12th Adult Learners' Week Awards scheme, which recognises people who have used learning to change their lives.
"The Adult Learners' Award winners represent the struggles overcome by thousands of adults who carve out time for learning," said Alan Tuckett, Director of NIACE.
Winners of the Adult Learners' Week Individual awards receive £200 to help them continue their learning. There are also awards for groups of adults, who have learned together to make a difference to their own lives and to that of their community. Group winners receive £500.
If you know an outstanding adult learner or group like the Flagship Team, why not nominate them now? Please call the Campaigns and Promotions Team at NIACE on 0116 204 4200 for an entry form, or download an entry from here.
The closing date for entries is 10 January 2003.
| Read the full Press Release here > |
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Changing the way you live and work
Learning something new can change the way you live and work - that's the message from NIACE, as it launches the 2003 Adult Learners' Week Learning Works Awards.
The Awards recognise and promote the value of learning in relation to the workplace and are open to all adults.
"We're looking for adults who have improved their work prospects because of their new skills," said Sue Duffen, of NIACE. "These people show others that learning can and does make a difference to the way in which we access work."
Winners will receive £250 and be invited to a national ceremony as part of Adult Learners' Week, 10-16 May 2002, the UK's largest national festival of learning.
You can apply for a Learning Works award or be nominated by someone else. Entry forms and 'help' notes can also be downloaded here or ordered from the Campaigns and Promotions team at NIACE on 0116 204 4200.
To discuss the awards please call Francisca Martinez on 0116 204 4202.
The closing date for entries is 7 February 2003.
| Read the full Press Release here > |
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£5,000 prize for an Outstanding Project
Have you developed a project which offers new and exciting learning opportunities to adults? You could win £5,000 to help your project develop.
NIACE is inviting entries now for the 2003 New Learning Opportunities Awards. The awards are offered to projects which have shown creativity and innovation in providing more chances for adults to learn.
As well as the top prize of £5,000 there will be a number of awards of £500.
The awards will be presented during Adult Learners' Week, 10-16 May 2003, the UK's largest national festival of learning.
Entry forms are available here or from the Campaigns and Promotions team at NIACE on 0116 204 4200.
To discuss the awards please call Francisca Martinez on 0116 204 4202 or Kate Malone on 0116 204 4236.
The closing date for entries is 10 January 2003.
| Read the full Press Release here > |
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Could YOU be the Senior Learner of 2003?
Are you aged 50-plus? Do you think you have experiences that could inspire others to begin learning?
NIACE has now launched the search for the Senior Learner of 2003.
To enter for the Senior Learner 2003 award you need to tell us how learning has improved your life. You can apply for the award yourself or be nominated by someone else.
One national winner will receive a voucher for £300 to help them continue their learning, and a number of regional winners will each receive £200 vouchers. Presentations will take place during Adult Learners' Week, 10-16 May 2003.
Entry forms can be obtained by calling the Campaigns team at NIACE on 0116 204 4200. Entry forms are also available here.
| Read the full Press Release here > |
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Grants available to help more adults learn
European Social Fund grants of up to £1,000 are available to help organisations in England plan activities during Adult Learners' Week (10-16 May 2003) to promote learning and reach new groups of learners.
The grants are offered by NIACE and are part of the financial support given to Adult Learners' Week by the European Social Fund.
Kate Malone, of NIACE, said, "Learning can be a life-changing experience and we want more people to benefit. We'll be looking for projects which use unusual venues or publicity to attract adults who wouldn't otherwise be doing any learning."
We also have grants available for organisers who would like to produce publicity materials for Adult Learners' Week events.
Information on how to apply for either type of grant is available here, or contact the Campaigns & Promotions team at NIACE on 0116 204 4200.
The closing date for entry is Friday 14 February 2003. Successful applications will be notified by Friday 7 March 2003.
| Read the full Press Release here > |
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Management Training Programme
Managing Better is an exciting and innovative management training programme for Adult and Community Learning (ACL) managers developed by NIACE in partnership with FPM.
This is the first ever Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funded programme of leadership and management training for Adult and Community Learning managers.
The programme aims to equip participants with the management skills, knowledge and understanding needed to deliver effective, quality driven services to adult learners and the wider community.
This programme will be of particular benefit to:
| Managers who are new to their role or whose role has changed significantly as a result of evolving policy. |
| All recently appointed Heads of Service, particularly those who have had little formal opportunity as yet to develop their management skills and knowledge. |
| Staff who are currently involved in some or all of the following areas: developing and implementing plans, securing/managing resources, commissioning/contracting services, managing provision. |
The Managing Better programme is part funded by the LSC and participants are only required to pay £500 + VAT, towards the cost of the programme. This covers all course fees, course materials, accommodation and meals. Places are limited to 100, and priority will be given to those who apply early.
Further information about this programme, including a downloadable brochure and a calendar is available on the Managing Better Webpage elsewhere on this site. |
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Local Democracy Week
The fifth Local Democracy Week (LDW) will take place between 14 and 18 October 2002. LDW is organised by the Local Government Association (LGA) and the theme this year is 'the communicating council' and it will focus on the following key areas:
| Improving consultation and participation with the public. |
| Raising awareness of the role and functions of local councils with the public; and |
| Improving the communications capacity of councils. |
The LGA are anticipating that up to 300 local authorities will take part.
For further details about Local Democracy Week and to download all relevant materials to support the campaign, please visit the LGA's website (www.lga.gov.uk). |
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Launch of NIACE Policy Paper
Schools are for adults too: schools, adults and communities in the learning age
Schools aren't just for children, but have an important role to play in teaching adults and building the local community, according to a paper to be released at a conference on Monday 25 November 2002 at Woburn House, Tavistock Square, London which has been organised jointly by NIACE and SHA (Secondary Heads Association).
Central to the paper is the argument that schools matter for adult learning and have critical importance in regeneration and in family learning.
"Schools are at the heart of communities and are one of the most accessible and important learning resources available," said Judith Summers, author and member of NIACE Executive. "Yet schools are not generally encouraged to believe that working with adult learners is valued."
The conference explores the role of schools in adult learning and its development in terms of the current policy context. It will illustrate examples of innovation and good practice in workshop sessions. Both the conference and the policy paper will emphasise the central importance of partnership-working if schools are to contribute effectively to building communities. There are 100 places available at the conference. The conference is aimed at school heads, deputy and assistant heads, college principals and managers, adult, youth and community education officers from Local Education Authorities, Learning and Skills Councils and Local Government.
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The Communications Bill and adult learners
Television, Learning and an Education Democracy - how will the new Communications Bill affect adult Learners.
NIACE is supporting a forthcoming seminar which will consider the impact on adult education of proposals in the draft Communications Bill. The seminar, which is being organised by the VLV (Voice of the Listener and Viewer) Forum for Educational Broadcasting, will be held on Tuesday 15 October at the Institute of Education in London.
Speakers will include:
| Paul Gerhardt, Head of Learning Strategy, BBC; |
| Professor Naomi Sargant, NIACE; |
| John Brown, Director, University for Industry; |
| Heather Rabbatts, Managing Director, Channel 4 Learning |
| Tim Suter, Head of Broadcasting Policy Division, Department for Culture, Media & Sport. |
Commenting, VLV Chair, Jocelyn Hay said:
"The provision of adult education and lifelong learning is one of the principal obligations placed on public service broadcasters. It is crucially important that Channels 3 and 5, and especially Channel 4, continue to bear this obligation. In the policy document which accompanied the draft Communications Bills, Ministers claimed that lifelong learning was a key component, yet no clause to the effect is included in the Bill itself. We must remedy this omission when the Communications Bill returns to Parliament in November. This event presents a rare opportunity for all with an interest in adult learning to hear and question policy and decision makers'
For more information about this event please contact: Linda Forbes or Jocelyn on : 01474 352835 |
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Funding adult and community learning: consultation feedback
Consultation on arrangements for funding adult and community learning from 2003/2004 (LSC circular 02/16)
In September 2002, NIACE facilitated, on behalf of the LSC, four seminars to consider the consultative circular and its implications for the provision of ACL and non-accredited learning.
The main aims of the seminars were to:
| provide a briefing on the background to and the content of the Circular. |
| facilitate an exchange of ideas and perspectives on aspects of the Circular; |
| provide clarification on issues arising; |
| inform the subsequent responses of participants to the Circular. |
The seminars were held in London, Manchester, Bristol and Leeds and were attended by a total of 252 local authority and local LSC staff.
Delegates were asked to consider the circular and the options included. They were also asked to note aspects that they welcomed, any parts of the circular that cause concern as well as anything they would like explained in more detail. These were then summarised and fed back at the events.
NIACE is making these notes available on our website so that participants can use them as an aide-memoire to inform their own responses to the consultation.
The feedback notes can be found here >
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Workplace Basic Skills Network Conference
The Workplace Basic Skills Network are holding their annual residential conference and AGM at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole on 13 &14 November 2002.
The conference will focus on 'The Stakeholder in Workplace Basic Skills'. and will look at all stakeholders involved in workplace language, literacy and numeracy programmes. This includes the learner as well as the training provider, employer, unions and others.
There will be a broad spectrum of workshops ranging from 'Initial Assessment in the Workplace' and 'Employer/Provider Partnerships' to 'Developing an ESOL Curriculum for the Workplace'.
Over both days there will be useful workshops for those relatively new to workplace basic skills, as well as productive sessions on 'Moving On in Workplace Basic Skills' for those wanting to find out how they can develop their current practice. There will also be ample opportunities available for networking and resources to view at different stalls.
The conference is aimed at all stakeholders involved in workplace basic skills programmes - from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and from further afield. This includes training providers, practitioners, employers, unions, the Sector Skills Councils and local, regional and national funders and policy makers.
Speakers will include:
| Barry Brooks, Head of Standards, Quality and Curriculum, Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit. |
| Christine Mills, Learning and Development Advisor, BAA Heathrow Airport. |
| Professor John Burgoyne, Professor of Management Learning, Lancaster University Management School. |
| Judith Swift, TUC Learning Services. |
The closing date for registration has now been extended to 28th October 2002.
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New on the Site - October 2002(A list of pages which have been recently added or updated on the NIACE website) Conferences Section:
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Campaigns & Promotions
Projects / Research
Influencing Public Policy / Advocacy
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