Adult at the centre of family learning

True or False? When adults become confident lifelong learners children, families and communities benefit.

Surely true, but is 'family learning' viewed predominantly as early learning?

Adult learning has a huge role part to play and the Scottish Government have recognised this in their 2015-16 programme of Government.

"In 2014 the Scottish Government launched the Scotland Adult Learning Statement ofAmbition which aims to ensure that Scotland becomes recognised globally as the most creative and engaged learning society and that every adult in Scotland will have the right to access learning to meet their educational needs and their aspirations. The National Strategic Forum for Adult Learning is taking forward an implementation plan that will have a focus on literacy and numeracy, family learning, adult achievement awards and workforce development." (p36 programme of Government)

The Scottish Government has an aspiration for Scotland to be both the best place in the world to grow up and that this positive momentum continues through life.

The Strategic Forum referred to above has created strategic objectives which inform the implementation plans.  Members of the forum are overseeing and are involved in the four working groups.

I'm co-chairing the Family Learning working group with Eric Whitfield, East Renfrewshire Council and over an 18 month period we'll be working with a committed team of public and voluntary sector partners who have volunteered to explore ways by which adult learning practitioners use effective approaches to deliver high quality family learning experiences, through which children benefit.

We'll be:

• Gathering and analysing and sharing effective practice findings and research.
• Creating new and enhancing existing professional dialogue for adult learning practitioners who deliver family learning or who are planning to.

Please get in touch to share interesting examples, evaluations, stories. We've created a family learning padlet where you can double click and leave a document or link, or contact Eric: Eric.Whitfield@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk or myself: ewhitelock@lead.org.uk

We're just at the start of our journey and we'll be reaching out to practitioners across Scotland to share their experiences to highlight and celebrate successful adult learning approaches to family learning.

#AdultLearnScot

Happy International Disabled People's Day

The theme for this years International Day for Disabled People on 3rd December 2015 is Inclusion Matters.

Are we making it easy enough for young people and adults to positively identify as a disabled person in 2015?

Channel 4's return of the superhumans video trailer is tongue in cheek of course but there is a serious message behind it about how 'disabled' people are perceived. The negative image of the villain has been sufficiently perpetuated to become a stereotype which we can all recognise.

One of the sub themes on this day which celebrates disability pride is about improving data and statistics.  Less than 1% of the 26,000 modern apprentices in Scotland identified themselves as disabled, even though a larger percentage of those young people would actually fit with the definition of 'disability' under the Equality Act.

That's just one example of how low disclosure rates can skew data and statistics. Skills Development Scotland launched their Equality Action today and Lead Scotland in partnership with the Equality Challenge Unit have been engaging disabled people to make recommendations to encourage disability disclosure to ensure people receive the support they need.

We still meet people who don't know how the Equality Act can support them, particularly learners who are marginalised and/or have lower literacy levels so thought I'd share this easy to read version of the Equality Act which we have found useful as a tool for empowerment.

We respect people's choices about how they define themselves and ultimately what's important is that people feel equal, receive fair treatment and become empowered to overcome any barriers they are facing. We will need to all work harder to look at the nuanced picture; the intersection of disability with other protected characteristics and how disabled people use words like impairment and disability today if the data and statistics are to truly support inclusion.

Happy International Day of Disabled People!

Investing in volunteers as learners

Our 2015 volunteer impact survey (36.5% return) showed that over half of our volunteers are looking for accreditation through volunteering.

Over three quarters of our volunteers are keen to access other organisation's training opportunities as well as Lead's own training. "I have moved into employment, then onto College as a result of my volunteering experience," one volunteer said.  "It has allowed me to upgrade me ECDL" said another.

The new Adult achievement Awards (AAA) offer a new accreditation route for volunteers to gain even more from volunteering.  Lead has been chosen as one of the organisations who are piloting these Awards as part of the implementation of the Statement of Ambition for Adult Learning, highlighted in the Programme of Government for 2015-16. 

Our Learning Co-ordinators and a volunteer have now been trained in the delivery of the Awards by Newbattle Abbey staff. Staff and volunteers are currently supporting learners and some volunteers across Scotland through the Award at SCQF levels 3 to 6. 

We couldn't offer our services without the support of volunteers and we were extremely delighted to be awarded our Investing in Volunteers Award again in October, held since 2005: 

George Thomson, Chief Executive Officer, Volunteer Scotland pictured handing over the Investing in Volunteers Award. "Congratulations. On a personal note I have always appreciated the national exemplar you are in Scotland in engaging the whole community in volunteering. You literally see the best in folk and seek out ways by which anyone whatever their circumstances can express themselves through volunteering and bring about a lot of benefits. Well done and good luck for the next 3 years." 

One outcome from going through the process of Investing in Volunteers was the creation of Lead's Dr Ethel Gray Volunteer of the Year Award to recognise and celebrate volunteering achievements. 

This year's winner announced at our AGM was Jan Marshall from Fife who as well as her volunteering contribution has taken up opportunities to learn a Supporting Adult Literacies qualification and has attended a REAL project workshop. "Receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award from Lead felt like an amazing acknowledgement of the work I share with our learners. As a Lead volunteer I have experienced a real sense of belonging to a truly worthwhile organisation.  I have been supported and encouraged to develop my abilities as a volunteer.  The opportunities to take part in personal development certificates has boosted my confidence on both a personal level as well as with learners and care providers.  Dawn, my coordinator,  values and appreciates my efforts and thanks me in person as well as in emails.  It is wonderful to feel so cared for and nurtured by Lead which in turn helps me to share this wonderful ethos with our learners."

Hilary Cameron, a Moray volunteer who says just "go for it" was 'Highly Commended' recognising her personal journey through volunteering.

Volunteering brings health benefits as well as opportunities to learn bringing people and communities together through shared striving. One of our volunteers recently said it gave them "a feeling of usefulness and self-worth".

Good luck to those embarking on the Adult Achievement Awards and we'll keep you posted with our experience on the pilot.