Adult Learners' Week 2014
A message from David Hughes, Chief Executive of NIACE - the National Voice for Lifelong Learning:
"This year’s events were, as always, an excellent opportunity to celebrate the achievements of this year’s ALW winners, to highlight the broader social and economic benefits of lifelong learning and to examine our new General Election Manifesto.
ALW 2014 has been the best yet, with over 1400 nominations and over 4000 events held both nationally and locally. We effectively engaged over 40 MPs with the Festival of Learning, highlighting the excellent achievements of this year’s winners to policy makers – ever important if we are to successfully encourage policy makers to make the positive changes to the lifelong learning system that we hope to see.
As Matthew Hancock MP – Minister of State for Skills and Enterprise highlighted in his speech at the ALW Parliamentary Reception, our General Election Manifesto ‘Skills for Prosperity: Building Sustainable Recovery for All’ was launched on Friday 13 June 2014. The manifesto proposes a radical new approach to the learning and skills system, and emphasises the centrality of adult skills in securing economic recovery and prosperity for all. An electronic version can be found at http://shop.niace.org.uk/manifesto-general-election-2015.html.
We believe a strong consensus is building for changes to the learning and skills system if we are to face the challenges of an ageing population, meet the skills needs of employers, and continue to demonstrate the value of adult learning to our economy and society. We are committed to continuing to fight for opportunities for all adults to learn throughout their lives and believe that a public debate, generated by a UK-wide independent review, is an important next step in order to gain cross-party support for a long term set of solutions.
ALW 2014 has been a huge success in celebrating and highlighting exceptional people, organisations and achievements. I’m delighted to tell you that the dates for ALW 2015 have now been agreed and are Saturday 13 June 2015 – Friday 19 June 2015. I do hope that you will be able to join us in celebrating the achievements of adult learners next year and would like to ask you to ‘save the date’ until further information is made available. Your continued support for ALW and for learning is very important to us."
Adult Learners' Week 2014 Yorkshire & Humber Awards Ceremony
The Yorkshire and Humber Awards Ceremony was held in June 2014 at The Tetley - a new centre for contemporary art and learning located in the stunning art deco headquarters of the former Tetley Brewery in central Leeds.
Evaluation and testimonials:
“Can’t wait to learn more and more”
“Everything was super!!!”
“A great place of brilliant stories. Well done”
“Thoroughly enjoyable evening, lovely venue and inspiring stories, thank you”
“Rewarding and touching”
By attending the ceremony:
- 72% respondents have learnt more about Adult Learners' Week
- 100% respondents feel inspired to continue learning
- 100% respondents feel inspired to take action
- there is a "commitment to continue promoting learning with enhanced vigour"
- and a "desire to lobby more against cuts in adult education and lifelong learning".
