The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) in England and Scotland has just published its Annual Impact Report which includes survey results from its learners around issues of mental health and wellbeing. One of the findings is that WEA students visit their GP far less frequently than the national average and this leads to the suggestion that...
Today saw a brilliant meeting of NALAB (Network for Adult Learning Across Borders), a collaboration of the key advocacy bodies from across UK and Ireland – AONTAS, Learning and Work Institute, Scotland’s Learning Partnership and FALNI. Over 90 delegates heard contributions from all jurisdictions around the state of play for adult learning, hopes for moving...
This morning a mix of practitioners from across the adult learning sectors in NI met up with members of AONTAS to learn more about what it does and what it offers members. After greetings and introductions led by the AONTAS CEO, Niamh O’Reilly, participants heard some background information from Dearbháil Lawless, (Head of Advocacy). Mike...
Today AONTAS announced the winners in its annual STAR Awards and Belfast Recovery College was the winner in the Learner Voice category. The award is in recognition of their “Making Silent Voices Heard”, a unique Learning and Leadership Initiative that places the Learner Voice at the core of the college. Through advocacy and building learner...
Belfast Recovery College has grown to become a centre of educational excellence for Mental Health Education. A compelling vision was to open access to mental health education opportunities to all our people in the Belfast community to improve the well-being and mental ill health of everyone – Staff, Carers, Service Users, Friends and Family. So...
On 24th February the Impact Forum and Belfast Learning City held the online launch of their joint publication, Learn Well, Live Well: adult learning and health and wellbeing. We were delighted to have messages of support from the two Junior Ministers, Gary Middleton and Declan Kearney. We also heard from Raúl Valdés-Cotera (UNESCO UIL) author...
The Centenary Commission on Adult Education has organised two debates to be chaired by former Speaker, John Bercow. On Monday 8th March, 6-7 p.m., the question will be Why does adult education matter now? John Bercow will discuss this question with: Lord (David) Blunkett, former Secretary of State for Education and Home Secretary Helen Chicot, Place Integration Lead at...
Each year in October, several thousand older people take part in Age-friendly Belfast’s Positive Ageing Month, now in its 5th year. The month-long festival of events and activities celebrates the contribution that older people make to our city and provides opportunities for older people to have some new learning experiences. Some are taster sessions for...
For over thirty years Ballybeen Women’s Centre (BWC) has been developing and delivering quality services in an area of low and weak community infrastructure. Health Promotion and Education is a key priority of work and the centre has grown to become a valuable and well-known provider of a range of health services within the Ballybeen...
esc films is a Belfast-based arts education charity working with people on the margins. They specialise in mental health and believe in the power of education to create change, to challenge thinking and to transform lives. They build trust with participants in order to turn their stories into powerful, compelling films. The 2020 Baring Foundation...
