A range learning opportunities were explored during Adult Learners’ Week in Manchester, with over 2000 people taking part in the activities on offer across the city.

Transformation Fund projects from across the North West celebrate the value of lifelong learning

A range learning opportunities were explored during Adult Learners’ Week in Manchester, with over 2000 people taking part in the activities on offer across the city.

Here are some of the highlights:

• A Bangladeshi dancing workshop at Northmoor Community Centre was one of many activities that kicked off Adult Learners’ Week during Cultural Diversity Weekend.
• On Wednesday 19th May, the LSEN Manchester with the support of NIACE and other partners, gathered together 95 people, including a number of Transformation Fund projects from across the North West to celebrate the value of lifelong learning. The projects were invited to showcase their activities, whilst the achievements of individuals and projects from the region were presented with certificates for their learning achievements.
• A variety of free workshops were delivered at The Manchester Museum, including topics such as ‘Darwin, the Lifelong Learner’ and Nature Drawing.
• Manchester Adult Education Service had a diverse range of taster sessions including, a Junk Modelling Workshop, Planting and Silversmithing to demonstrating the vast range of opportunities there are to learn.

ArcSpace Manchester - Adult Learners’ Week activities

• During Adult Learners Week ArcSpace Manchester, based in Hulme, put on over 10 creative eco - techno workshops and events. These included permaculture, ethical textiles, computer recycling and bike maintenance and were attended by over 100 learners from Central, North and Trafford wards.
• One highlight of the week was the creative eco - techno pilot project presentation. A group of adult learners outlined how they have actively got involved in lowering their carbon footprint in under 3 months to another group of people who are keen to become more green. The group used a variety of different styles of action plans. These included radio and video programmes, blogs, powerpoint presentations, talks, visual models, and photo slideshows. All of the pilot group are now working in projects across the city as community champions to help local people become more involved in 'green' living.
• A web streamed discussion between learners from Manchester and the Mathilha Cultural Centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil was a great success. Adult learners, academics and community activists had a video conference online, using free/open source software about key concepts such as the role of technology and digital culture in lessening or increasing environmental issues, food security, and good practice for grass-roots informal learning. They were also joined by senior advisors of the Brazilian Ministry of Culture and a lively discussion took place. Plans are already underway to get more adult learning centres involved in 2011 for the 20th Adult Learners’ Week.
• Finally, over 70 community members came to the closing event on Friday 21st May for an eco techno evening of entertainment, local food and presentations. This included a live jam merging electronic music with acoustic instruments. The activity was truly intergenerational and it was nice to finish off Adult Learners’ Week celebrating learning for all ages. For more information visit www.arcspacemanchester.org.uk

To find out more about the activities that took place in the North West visit our event diary.

Contact the Adult Learners’ Week Coordinator in the City of Manchester: Walt Crowson, email: walt.crowson@lsen.org.uk, tel: 0161 226 7204