Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities Bill Roberts Project Manager Budapest 24 November 2005

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities Theme E: Adaptability - Lifelong Learning Developing the capacity of community and voluntary organisations to support beneficiaries’ learning Developing customised learning programmes, in community organisations Developing new methods to enable informal learning to be recognised These are based on agreeing targets and measuring achievement towards these

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities We are aiming to link recognition and accreditation of informal learning to the Credit and Qualification Framework for Wales The CQFW allows people to build up qualifications from units of learning These qualifications can be at all levels from first level to post-graduate We aim to share this approach with transnational partners, to adapt to their own national framework where it exists

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities Workers’ Educational Association South Wales  WEA is the UK’s largest voluntary provider of adult education  Due regard to Welsh language and culture, and the diversity of communities in Wales  Seek to empower students in and through their learning  Learners are active partners in the construction and organization of their learning wherever appropriate

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities Voluntary Action Cardiff  Capacity building with marginalized communities.  Networks including the Cardiff Voluntary Sector Training Forum and other sectors  Annual training programme  Using ‘Reflect Action’ as an approach to engage beneficiaries, and allow them to negotiate their learning

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities South Riverside Community Development Centre  SRCDC works in an area with a high percentage of people from black and ethnic minorities, many recent arrivals to the UK  ‘Barriers to Learning’ is a tool which will be used with target groups, to assess current level and needs

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities Fairbridge Cymru  National charity supporting young people outside education, training and employment, or at risk of becoming so  Young people disillusioned and with low self-esteem that they may hide with aggression, drug or alcohol abuse, truancy or crime  Use ‘Rickter Scale™’

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities Fairbridge Cymru  Fun and challenging activities that engage young people’s interest, from kayaking to web design, from music to sailing a tall ship  Linked with personal development training and support as we are committed to bringing about long- term changes in behaviour and attitude, not creating a short-term diversion

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities Women’s Workshop Cardiff  Women with mental health issues  Consulting public/voluntary organisations in mental health led to changes in project  Changes: content, some element of choice introduced, hours changed, increased support systems available  Free nursery, prayer room, travel expenses paid

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities Women’s Workshop Cardiff  Two hour personal development session per week, a personal tutor available at any time, regular contact established with external support workers  Changes in confidence and self esteem are being captured using ‘Catching Confidence’; this is at a very early stage

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities NIACE Dysgu Cymru  Represent the interests of adult learners in Wales  Lead partner  We try to use all links and projects to support Equal  NIACE has been involved in developing RARPA: Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement in non-accredited learning

Valuing Learning- Strengthening Communities Common barriers to getting into learning  We will be looking at barriers to learning in our workshop this afternoon  This will be a very practical session using the Reflect Action approach  Be prepared to participate!