Adult Learners’ Week at
local learning centres

15th to 21st May 2010

Adult Learners’ Week is opportunity for people to showcase the variety of adult learning opportunities available locally and how learning can be fun. fifty-two people took part in sessions across the week.

Session at the Bridge, Easterhouse

During the Bridge Library & Learning Centre session, twelve people accessed the Internet. Sean Bruen said, "I can check my email and do loads of others stuff, it is a good place to go and learn about, and set up Facebook and Bebo websites. It's unbelievable that there are so many members at the Bridge". Elaine Thomson Library Supervisor at the Bridge said, "It's a place where people can come and enjoy a relaxed friendly atmosphere, staff are always on hand to help and people have the chance to access different learning opportunities, either in book format or electronically".

Healthy Cooking in Lochend

13 people attended the Healthy Cooking class at Lochend Community High School which is supported by the Glasgow East Family Forum and John Wheatley College. Leanne Gallacher said, "It helps you with your cooking in the house with the weans. I just wanted to try something different and meet new people. When I got here I found out that there were already people from different areas that I knew here". Tammy Cockburn said, "It has taken me two years to get this far, but you are never too old to learn, as Margaret keeps telling us all".

Language sessions in Cranhill

During the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) session at Cranhill Community Project nine local people attended. Barbara Spruch-Kwiaitkowska said, “It is good that the College comes to the people and the classes are here in Cranhill where a lot of the people from the class that live close to the centre and there is creche facilities because a lot of people have children. I have made a lot of friends since I started the class, we can learn and socialise together and help each other”.

ESOL in Sandyhills Learning Centre

Nine adults took part if the IT/ESOL class at Sandyhills Community & Learning Centre, there was also crèche facilities for seven of the adults’ children. Kerry Burley, the ESOL tutor provided by John Wheatley College using Widening Access funds said, “It is good that the learners from the English classes have identified that they would like an IT class, which also has a crèche which is funded by Glasgow City Council Community Planning. The learners build relationships, help and support each other, together the group is producing a recipe book to give to local residents at the Sandyhills Open Day.

Organisers and participating partners

The week long event was by coordinated by the Glasgow East Learning Network’s Network Learning Support Officer in partnership with local community organisations including; FUSE Youth Café, Carmyle Community Centre, Glasgow East Family Forum/ Lochend Community High School, Glasgow Life – The Bridge Library & Learning Centre, Cranhill Community Project, Sandyhills Tenants’ Association/ Tenant Controlled Housing and John Wheatley College

Brian McQuillan, Network Learning Support Officer for the Glasgow East Learning Network said,

There is a fantastic variety of learning opportunities taking place across the East End of Glasgow every week, Adult Learners’ Week helps to provide the opportunity to showcase just some of these.

 

 

 

---