wea.org.uk

Transforming lives through adult learning

WEA Awards 2018

Impact in your community - award winner: 09 WEA Reading Branch

Regional partner - award winner: 10 Enfield Town Schools’ Partnership (ETSP)

Outstanding volunteer - award winner: 11 Sharon (Ronnie) Stuart

Outstanding tutor - award winner: 12 Vivien Vernede

Olive Cordell foundation tutor - award winner: 13 Maria Crimmins

Olive Cordell foundation student - award winner: 14 Tulay Cenik Akfirat

Social impact - award winner: 15 New Routes Integration

Staff member joint - award winner: 16 Ross Weatherby

Staff member joint - award winner: 17 Deborah Walsh

Student group - award winner: 18 Jobcentre Plus Syrian Refugee Pre-ESOL

Outstanding student - award winner: 19 Kevin McCann

Contents

National Award Winners

WEA Awards 2018

Welcome to the WEA Awards 2018 04

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WEA 2018 Awarded Fellowships 05 - 06

01 - 02

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Regional Award Winners

With thanks to our sponsors 35 - 38

Eastern: impact in your 23 community joint - award winner: WEA Ely branch

Scotland: regional partner 24 - award winner: Glasgow Clyde Foundation for Science for a Successful Scotland

East Midlands: outstanding 25 volunteer joint - award winner: Mandy Grocott

London: outstanding 26 volunteer - award winner: Carol Veitch

North East: outstanding 27 volunteer - award winner: Elaine Pope

Southern: outstanding 28 volunteer - award winner: Nick Dent

South West: outstanding 29 tutor - award winner: Douglas Bence

Yorkshire & Humber: 30 outstanding tutor - award winner: Andrea Goodman

North West: regional partner 31 - award winner: Kensington Community Learning Centre (KCLC)

East Midlands: 32 outstanding staff member joint - award winner: Julie Lane

West Midlands: 33 outstanding staff member - award winner: Lisa Havard

Eastern: outstanding 34 student joint - award winner: Kerrie Holdsworth

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WEA Awards 2018

Since the WEA was founded in 1903, we’ve looked to bring educational opportunities to every community in Britain. The simple idea that learning is for everyone, and that learning is for life, underpins everything we do. High quality, student-centred, accessible education for adults changes lives for the better. You’re empowered to take control of your own destiny. You realise that anything is possible. It really is that powerful.

The WEA Awards event is our way of recognising the impact of adult education.

Every winner has demonstrated this impact, and it’s our privilege to celebrate their success.

Our awards also give us the chance to say thank you to all our students, tutors, volunteers, members, staff, ambassadors and partners.

Around 50,000 students study with us every year, and we’re so proud of the positive change we bring across England and Scotland. Whether you are in low-paid jobs or whether you want to refresh your skills, or learn something new – the WEA is here for you, whoever you are.

Welcome to the WEA Awards 2018

Everyone connected to the WEA has played their part in our progress this year. Without your help, we simply can’t work towards our vision and values and deliver our 2025 strategy - to be the best place to return to learn. Thank you all.

My thanks also to everyone who has made these awards possible this evening -including our hugely supportive host KPMG, and all our fantastic sponsors. Finally, my heart-felt congratulations to all our award winners and nominees this year - you’re an inspiration to us all. These awards are all about you.

Ruth Spellman OBEChief Executive and General Secretary

03 - 04

Jimmy McGovernWEA Fellow

Liverpool-born Jimmy McGovern hasa formidable reputation for writingpowerful dramas for the stage andscreen, often based on real events orsocial issues.

McGovern’s writing creditsread like a list of classic television. Havinghoned his skills working on Brookside, hismajor breakthrough came with Cracker,one of the best-loved UK TV showsof its time. Jimmy received a LifetimeAchievement Award from the RoyalTelevision Society in March 2018.

Jimmy has been awarded the 2018 WEA fellowship in recognition of his outstanding service to drama, literature and the arts. His focus on ‘everyday people’ is in line with the WEA’s commitment to shine a

spotlight on poverty, and the challenges faced by working-class members of society.

WEA Awards 2018

Ruby was awarded the fellowship in recognition of her outstanding achievements in business, her inspiring work with the Mitie Foundation and her energy in championing women in business.

Ruby is a portfolio Non-Executive Director and Advisory Director with current positions which include Mace Group, the Department of Education and Bath University. Ruby was the Chief Executive of MITIE Group PLC, the strategic outsourcing company, employing over 65,000 people predominantly in the UK.

She joined MITIE in 2002 and was appointed as CEO in 2007. She is one of a small number of women who have held the position of Chief Executive in the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 and is the first Asian woman to be appointed in such a role within that group of companies.

Ruby was also an Independent Non- Executive Director of PageGroup, appointed to the Board in May 2007. She chaired the Audit Committee, was a Member of Nomination and Remuneration Committees and also latterly their Senior Independent Director. PageGroup has 35 years expertise in professional services recruitment and currently employs more than 5,300 people in over 160 offices and 34 countries worldwide.

Ruby is a member of the Women’s Business Council (previously Chair) and a Member of the European Committee for Internal Markets in the House of Lords. She is responsible for the Independent Report to the UK Government on Race in the Workplace published in February 2017.

Baroness McGregor-Smith CBEWEA Fellow

05 - 06

National AwardWIinners

WEA Awards 2018

07 - 08

This award honours a tight-knit group of volunteers who recognised a need and set about making life better for people in their community.

Ten years ago, Reading University closed its Department of Continuing Education. In response, Paul Kingston spoke to some friends and colleagues about providing an alternative. They gathered a list of potential students, spoke to potential tutors and researched rooms for hire.

When the branch held its first AGM at the end of 2009 they were able to report £20,000 collected in course fees, £3,000 in the bank and twelve volunteers on the committee.

The Reading Branch listen to their learner base, and they’re never shy to try new things. It’s not all been plane sailing. For example, they lost their main venue last year, but they barely flinched – continuing their programmes as before.

Reading branch is now one of the biggest volunteer-run branches in the WEA, running around 50 courses and day-schools each year, resulting in up to 1,000 bookings. The branch is the main provider of cultural education in Reading.

Impact in your community award winnerWEA Reading Branch

Supported by The Open University

The 10 members of the committee have worked incredibly hard, led initially by Paul Kingston and more recently by John Beale as Chair. The work they get through is astounding. They do this by building really excellent relationships with their tutors and with the University departments to maintain a flow of new tutors coming through to keep the programme fresh.

This is truly WEA branch provision at its very best.

WEA Awards 2018

Collaboration is just a few letters away from celebration. The Enfield Town Schools’ Partnership (ETSP) is an alliance of local schools who work together to develop excellent teaching and learning opportunities for their pupils and the local communities they serve.

The partnership is made up of 18 primary schools, an infant school, a secondary and a special needs school within the London Borough of Enfield, representing many different cultures, nationalities and languages. The WEA’s partnership with the ETSP has allowed us to grow our input from small-scale and local to something more substantial that meets the diverse and challenging needs of parents and carers across the borough.

As our relationship has grown, the WEA has been invited to put more into the local community through the Schools and Parenting Pathway – and students have gained more in return. From a single school in 2016/17 that attracted 34 new students, we have reached nine new primary schools during this academic year.

Regional partner award winnerEnfield Town Schools’ Partnership (ETSP)

The WEA offer taster sessions, Lloyd’s employability workshops and a range of courses to parents, grandparents and carers of children attending the schools. A total of 174 students have attended. 96% of these students were new to the WEA and the tutor team of six has worked tirelessly to support the students.

All of the schools have provided exceptional learning spaces that have really encouraged parents and carers to take their educational and employment opportunities further. In fact several of the schools are employing some of our students in a variety of work placements as mentors and teaching assistants.

The WEA has built up good working relationships with many of the individual schools’ Parent Support Advisors, who email or text parents who have registered to make sure that attendance is good. Many of the parents filmed and interviewed for the Grow Together – Learn Together campaign came from this partnership, which has become a regional model for how we will pursue working with partners to offer pathway courses.

09 - 10

Sharon has a heart of gold – and a voice to match.

Sharon recently joined the WEA through a songwriting course that was part of the WEA Heritage Lottery funded Turbulent Times 1918-28 project. She then became actively involved as a volunteer both for the project and the North East Region’s History and Heritage Branch.

There has been no stopping her. Sharon’s next project was a “Pop-Up Reading Room”, a week-long exhibition and programme of events which included an art workshop, historical information and an informal oral history session.

Sharon’s enthusiasm to make a difference in her local community means she is now working hard to help WEA run more activities. This includes a funding proposal for a whole programme of adult creative art classes in Chopwell, which is an isolated and socially and economically deprived village.

Sharon just gets stuck in. Her ongoing advocacy at public and committee meetings means that she has been able to promote the WEA by example, as well as presenting our work through her contributions to the project publication, and her newly discovered talent for activist songwriting.

Sharon’s warmth and intelligence shine through, and she has an ability to bring together diverse

Outstanding volunteer award winnerSharon (Ronnie) Stuart

Supported by Lloyds Banking Group

groups of people. For example she welcomed a group of refugees who were using the community centre to join the pop-up reading room event. They had felt excluded by their lack of English language skills, but Sharon ensured they were encouraged and supported with communication via their support worker.

Sharon is patient, welcoming, non-judgmental, and yet still displays a sharp eye for detail and helps others focus on the big issues. She is a living, breathing, singing example of everything that’s good about the WEA.

WEA Awards 2018

Vivien makes tutoring look easy. Originally a Primary School teacher, she now teaches the Schools and Parenting Pathway in Oxford. She knows how to bring out the very best in her students, helping them to work out where their strengths lie. Her students grasp the importance of accreditation and the difference it will make in their whole life journey as a tool to break down the obstacles they face.

Outstanding tutor award winnerVivien Vernede

Supported by UNISON

Vivien’s classroom is totally inclusive. The students are at the heart of the action, encouraged to read case studies, collate feedback, link responses to learning outcomes and participate in activities to emulate what will happen during their placements in the classroom. As a result her results are always excellent, with 98% retention and 100% achievement in the last academic year.

Vivien always goes the extra mile for all her students providing excellent support and advice on finding placements, assisting with difficulties which may arise and providing a sympathetic ear for job applications, and advice on interviews. Vivien teaches groups with a huge variety of backgrounds and has a real knack of removing barriers, building excellent classroom relationships and creating a fun, friendly environment where the students really become firm friends.

Building excellent relationships with other tutors is a leading example from Vivian and she is an integral part of the Southern Region’s schools and parenting team. Vivien is more than an exemplary tutor: she is a complete believer in everything the WEA stands for and a true advocate for lifelong learning.

11 - 12

Bradford needs good people like Maria. At less than 70%, Bradford’s employment rate is still below pre-recession levels and well below the regional and national averages. Nearly all of the students on Maria’s ESOL course receive benefits.

None of this seems to phase Maria. When planning her classes, she goes the extra mile to get the best from her students – and help them to enjoy learning. The result of this is that she has created a happy environment in which her students feel valued, safe and motivated to learn.

Maria is committed to progression pathways for her students, using the non-accredited course to build language confidence, commitment and study skills, and then accredited courses to help students achieve a formally recognised City & Guilds qualification. The results speak for themselves. In 2016-17 Maria’s students had 100% pass rate with 90% achievement rate. In 2017-18 she worked across three centres and helped over 30 students achieve at ESOL Entry 2 and 3.

We’re so proud of Maria at the WEA, where she’s an amazing ambassador for our work, building positive relationships with the staff at the community centres and schools. She has also taken part in our ‘peer observations’ project in 2018, sharing her skills and experience with another ESOL tutor as part of their professional development. Learning is an empowering experience for these women and Maria’s role in this is critical.

Olive Cordell foundation tutor award winnerMaria Crimmins

WEA Awards 2018

13 - 14

Tulay loves to talk. As a languages teacher in Turkey, her passion was her profession too. However, when she moved to England with her husband and young family, language became her barrier.

Stripped of her livelihood and her independence, she was forced to rely on her husband for everyday tasks. Without any English, Tulay felt she didn’t belong. Yet, she never gave up.

Determined to be a good role model for her children, Tulay looked for ESOL classes but was frequently turned away due to her immigration status. When the WEA showed opened the door to the Big Lottery-funded New Links classes, Tulay jumped at the chance to learn English through a variety of short courses.

Tulay’s tenacious efforts on her learning journey have paid off. She has many new friends in the city she now calls home, is able to support her children with their schoolwork and communicate with their teachers about their progress at school. Her overall wellbeing has improved and she is back to enjoying an active social life.

Tulay now teaches Turkish Language and Literature and works as a language advisor to OFQUAL and an examiner at the International Baccalaureate. Tulay is a fantastic role model to her children. She is incredibly motivated and has overcome so many barriers to achieve all she has in such a short amount of time.

Olive Cordell foundation student award winnerTulay Cenik Akfirat

Now I stand on my own two feet as an independent woman. I am learning lots of new things about life and people – I do not feel alone anymore

13 - 14

New Routes is an inspiring grassroots organization that supports refugees, asylum seekers, and other recently resettled ethnic minorities in Norwich. Their hard-working team aims to address isolation and promote cross-cultural friendship and understanding. They welcome a diverse range of participants, from over 50 countries, speaking 23 different languages, and reach more than 250 people per week, six days a week.

The strength of New Routes comes from its 180 committed volunteers, ranging from sixth form students to people in their 70s, who help to deliver the wide range of activities and one-to-one support offered. These include English language classes, creative arts, youth activities, homework support, family sessions and programs designed for women and children. There are regular group outings to the seaside and other places of interest, none of which could happen without volunteer enthusiasm and commitment.

The WEA is hugely proud to support aspects of this work through our education provision. Along with other partner organisations, we help to provide classes, which include UK Culture and Law explained, Using the Doctors service, Functional Skills Maths and ESOL.

Many participants are supported through New Routes’ mentoring & befriending program and later train to become volunteer befrienders themselves. To celebrate the success of this project, we held a celebration event with New Routes, attended by the Lord Mayor of Norwich, Martin Schmierer, where 30 students received their completion certificates for Functional Skills Maths and mentors were presented with NCVO accredited mentoring certificates.

The WEA continues to work with New Routes, amid the ever-changing funding landscape of adult education, to increase access to both accredited and non-accredited learning opportunities.

Through this partnership, the WEA has joined the Norwich Asylum Seeker and Refugee Forum, a multi-agency support network, which has resulted in the WEA being asked to provide support, courses and training to the new Syrian families who have been resettled in East Anglia.

New Routes works at grassroots level to offer holistic pathways of support to address the multiple disadvantages and challenges faced by recently resettled migrants with complex needs.

The social impact of this approach is an increase in individual confidence, self-esteem, wellbeing, knowledge, information, self-reliance, circles of acquaintance, cultural understanding and, ultimately, more ethnically representative community participation.

Social impact award winnerNew Routes Integration

Supported by Skills and Education Group

WEA Awards 2018

15 - 16

Ross embodies the WEA ethos and everything we stand for in the north-east of Scotland. He has worked as an Education Coordinator in our Reach Out project in Aberdeen City for many years – accumulating some 18 years for the WEA, and counting.

Working with the City’s most vulnerable people – ex-offenders, those with substance misuse issues, mental health problems and those with special needs – he is totally committed to learner-centred approaches, and has developed much of the project’s programme together with the learners.

Approximately 120 learners per year access the Reach Out project, which was recently evaluated by Aberdeen University, receiving recognition as a widely transferable and valuable intervention.

Staff member joint award winnerRoss Weatherby

Supported by UNISON

What we have found with the Reach Out project is that those who participate go on to be more engaged in their local communities and become more active citizens

Over 30 referral agencies refer people to the project recognising its value to their clients and it was put forward as a an example of good practice at a recent national Adult Learning Conference in Scotland.

The inclusive approach, which does not categorise by issues is highly unusual in terms of interventions with this type of user group. Ross has successfully fostered a culture of mutual respect among learners and zero tolerance of any kind of discrimination. He has supported access to the ‘great outdoors’ via the John Muir awards whereby participants achieve certification.

Ross has also responded to learners needs and devised activities to promote character building which help to improve confidence and self esteem. Learners consistently identify his support as being a major contributing factor in turning their lives around.

Deb has enjoyed an incredible journey from administrative assistant to her current role as an Education Coordinator with the WEA, making a difference to the lives of many students and colleagues along the way.

Today, she is responsible for lots of the good stuff the WEA do in the East Midlands region – no easy task.

Deb has faced her fears head on, and tackled any lack of experience by equipping herself with the knowledge required.

Her years of administrative experience in Leicester, overseeing daily operations including premises management, course administration, along with completion of the Initial Tutor Training course and extensive OTLA training, means she is well qualified for the role. She has worked relentlessly to ensure she has understood relevant processes, seeking confirmation from colleagues as necessary.

Deb is an excellent communicator with a natural ability to develop rapport, earning the respect and trust of staff, tutors and students alike. As the IAG lead for the East Midland Region, she is responsible for providing students and staff with the opportunity to think about their career, learning and training opportunities.

Staff member joint award winnerDeborah Walsh

Supported by UNISON

Under Deb’s guidance, students have become volunteers and found employment at the WEA office in Leicester. Deb is a real team player and showed exceptional commitment during the Celebration of Learning event to support with coordination, and even directed a student testimonials video which was widely appreciated.

Deb is already developing new initiatives, such as attending LLEP events to raise profile of the WEA and created links with Small and Medium Enterprises. Her work in Leicester is a model of inclusion, encouraging people from all backgrounds to interact, socialise and learn together.

WEA Awards 2018

17 - 18

Sometimes the fortitude of our students can leave you speechless. This award is for six remarkable Syrian refugees – all men – who arrived in the UK with their families, unable to speak, read or write basic English without using translation software. Unsurprisingly, they and their families felt severely isolated and lacking in confidence.

The Pre-ESOL course, delivered in partnership with Job Centre Plus (JCP), helped them develop not only their language skills but also their confidence to help support themselves and their young families.

Together they have progressed in learning English, self employment and goal setting, while sharing their experience and encouraging others at the Job Centre and within their community to learn with the JCP/WEA partnership.

Student group award winnerJobcentre Plus Syrian Refugee Pre-ESOL

Supported by Learning and Work Institute

Tasks that many of us might feel commonplace were a cause of great stress and hardship. For example, they needed to learn how to take their children to the doctors, make appointments. With this new-found independence, they now feel safe within their neighbourhood, able to follow directions and understand road signs. They have put themselves out of their comfort zone, in a foreign country, in order to make the most of the resources available from the support services around them.

Other regions are now exploring the potential to do similar project work in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP and local JCPs) following this amazing success with an inspirational group of people.

The group have supported one another, proving great role models for their families and friends as they continue their learning journey through accredited ESOL courses.

Outstanding student award winnerKevin McCann

Supported by KPMG

Kevin is a fighter. A fine boxer in his younger days, he succombed to alcohol and substance abuse. But now he is back on top, and back in the ring, as a potential Olympic boxing judge.

The WEA’s Endurance programme (an initiative set up to provide educational opportunities for people with addiction problems) really helped to turn things around for Kevin, reconnecting him with his love of boxing. The programme includes residential learning and courses that support personal development, team work and group study. The mentoring aspect is unique, as it’s community based and founded on a 12-step programme of development.

Having overcome his own personal barriers, Kevin now acts as a mentor himself, supporting the Endurance programme as a role model for newcomers. Having lived through it himself, there’s nobody better to understand their challenges.

Kevin’s enthusiasm and dedication is infectious, inspiring others to achieve just like him. He now divides his time between teaching boxing skills to fighters, judging bouts up and down the country, and helping with the Endurance programme.

Kevin is proud of his achievements, and plans to continue on his journey with his next stage of Olympic boxing certification. You wouldn’t bet against him succeeding.

WEA Awards 2018

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RegionalAwardWIinners

WEA Awards 2018

21 - 22

Our Ely branch is benefiting from the power of partnership. Since April 2016, Susan and Allison have greatly expanded the scope of help we can offer there. They have formed a successful relationship with the Babylon Gallery to deliver a completely new programme of day schools. 125 people attended these five day schools, which all incorporated an active approach to teaching and learning.

One student who attended the Matisse day school described it as inspirational, praising the lively discussions. Working in partnership with the gallery has raised the profile of the WEA in Ely significantly and this innovative way of working is promoted among education staff and other volunteers as an example of good practice. As a result, the Cambridgeshire Federation will be working with a local theatre company next year to provide a similar activity. Beyond the WEA, Sue and Allison have had a real impact in their local community.

Eastern: impact in your community joint award winnerWEA Ely Branch

WEA Awards 2018

A dynamic partnership, involving the WEA, Dr Heather Reid, Daniel Sellers and the Clyde Foundation, worked tirelessly in the design, development and delivery of this inspiring project.

Scotland: regional partner award winnerGlasgow Clyde Foundation for Science for a Successful Scotland

Ably led by Kathleen Richardson, and with funding from the Clyde Foundation, the project aimed to develop a science learning resource targeted at adult and family learning groups. The materials were published in the spring of 2018 to universal acclaim by schools, teachers, learners, the media, MSP’s and local councillors across the political spectrum.

They are aligned to the Curriculum for Excellence, credit rated on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework and have been cited as offering a potentially significant contribution in the delivery of the Scottish Government’s STEM Strategy.

Fully 69 people have already been trained to use the pack [against an initial target of 10] and over 100 learners are currently using the resource, leading to additional funding from Education Scotland to develop more hard copy packs and a decision to make them available as a free to use open learning resource.

The project’s success owes much to the innovative materials that attract young people and families into science, but also the unwavering strength of the partnership. Kathleen embodies the values of the WEA and works well with colleagues and partners as a very effective and loyal team player.

23 - 24

Mandy is the heartbeat of the WEA in Loughborough. A member of the WEA for over 18 years, she has demonstrated her tireless commitment to the successful running of her local branch.

Mandy is an enthusiastic Secretary and until recently a member of the East Midlands Regional Committee. She is friendly, warm and approachable, and is able to make new students and tutors feel at ease and welcomed. Mandy was instrumental in meeting and arranging a visit by Loughborough’s MP Nicky Morgan, which gave staff and students the chance to promote the work of the WEA and explain how much it is valued in the local community.

She also works hard to raise the profile of the WEA by organising market stalls and setting up promotional material in the local library. She is a dedicated, selfless and generous volunteer.

East Midlands: outstanding volunteer joint award winnerMandy Grocott

WEA Awards 2018

Carol has offered her time as a volunteer since 2003, having discovered the WEA as a student before she retired. As soon as time allowed, she became the branch secretary of the Richmond branch and since then has worked tirelessly - not only running the branch but also serving on the London Regional Committee.

As a result of Carol’s efforts, Richmond Branch has continued to grow and flourish, with more courses in new subjects and a number of new tutors. Carol distributes promotional materials throughout a large geographic area, going into community venues to promote the courses on offer and to gauge interest in other subjects.

Through this activity, she has found new community venues and identified potential new opportunities for partnership work, most recently through a local health centre.

Carol visits the majority of classes in her branch in order to encourage students to become

London: outstanding volunteer award winnerCarol Veitch

volunteers, to support the courses they attend and to provide local support to tutors.

Through her work with the regional committee she also has a broad overview of the groups and partners we work with as well as the strategic focus and uses her excellent networking skills to support the students.

25 - 26

Elaine first became involved with the WEA through a songwriting workshop project and she hasn’t looked back, throwing herself into a wide variety of volunteer activity. She is unfailingly positive and energetic, and has used her sewing and needlecraft talents to costume plays produced by various branches and projects.

Elaine is also a talented visual artist and photographer, drawing on these skills to raise the profile of the WEA. She attends all sorts of events and is always willing to help out in any way she can, including speaking with great passion about adult education and social justice. Elaine recently took on the role of treasurer in the newly formed Heritage thematic branch and has helped steer it through its first year.

Elaine faces her own challenges, suffering from severe back and joint pain, but she can’t curb her curiosity. Where others see obstacles, she sees mere inconveniences.

Those new to the WEA often gravitate to Elaine, as she is a warm and welcoming presence. Elaine understands both physical and social barriers to participation and is able to support those who may be experiencing difficulties with sensitivity.

North East: outstanding volunteer award winnerElaine Pope

WEA Awards 2018

Nick is one of those valuable people who can light up a room and command attention.

As the Chair of the Hastings, St. Leonards and Bexhill Branch for the last three years, he has brought clarity, energy and enthusiasm, both in the branch committee and across the wider community.

Southern: outstanding volunteer award winnerNick Dent

Nick has initiated better links with community partners, last year helping to organise a joint art exhibition for Branch art students and WEA community art groups. He is always open to new ideas about running challenging new classes and is described as the ‘lifeblood of the WEA.’ For example next year the branch will hold an exhibition celebrating “1919 - 100 years of social change and regeneration”, including visual arts, poetry reading and lectures. This aims to publicise the role of WEA, engage with the community and increase student numbers.

Nick is a real motivator and has encouraged many new people to join the committee. By keeping things so vibrant, he is benefitting all students and encouraging people to raise expectations and express their ideas for the development of the work of the WEA locally.

27 - 28

Douglas is our Mr Innovation in the South West. He took the initiative to create, design and deliver the region’s first fully online course. The idea was to give participants the opportunity to write a novel in a year in a different environment, but he also wanted to look into the way teaching techniques would change when tutors saw students on a computer instead of face-to-face.

When the project threw up many challenges, Douglas used these as an opportunity to improve the offer. He did not give up, successfully delivering a series of courses online.

Students from across the country could attend the course free of any travel barriers, opening a new door for learning for those with disabilities.

More online courses have since been developed, involving regions other than the south west

More online courses have since been developed which have involved regions other than the South West.

South West: outstanding tutor award winnerDouglas Bence

WEA Awards 2018

Andrea is extremely committed to her students’ progress inside and outside of the classroom – and they love her for it in return.

Andrea came to the WEA as a student herself, completing Community Interpreting to level 3 in 2012. She then gained a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting and finally a Masters in Translation from The University of Sheffield.

In her community interpreting classes she implements research, employability, and IT skills very effectively to ensure students gain useful

Yorkshire & Humber: outstanding tutor award winnerAndrea Goodman

life skills. Andrea is extremely dedicated to the success of her students, particularly those facing barriers.

All of her accredited courses have achievement rates over 90%. She has worked across the region with students from many different communities including refugees and asylum seekers. From 2015-17, she worked with more than 70 young people between the ages of 13 and 18 on the Languages Sheffield Young Interpreters’ Project – one of the few times the WEA has worked with under 19s.

Andrea has also supported and mentored volunteers on her courses, helping one volunteer to achieve her teaching qualification and move into work in Bradford, and another volunteer is preparing for becoming a WEA tutor on the Community Interpreting course.

Andrea goes the extra mile to support others and empowers them to believe in themselves as they take on new challenges.

As well as providing adult education, WEA is also offering its learners powerful and essential support for their deepest need to feel truly connected with others

29 - 30

Kensington Community Learning Centre brings together members of different community groups who might otherwise never meet or remain isolated at home.

The centre is a national leader in delivering digital skills through the Learn My Way programme and has a flexible and responsive programme of introductory courses.

The ten-year partnership with KCLC has enabled the WEA to engage, retain and progress hundreds of individuals through accredited courses. KCLC has acted as a strong advocate throughout.

The majority of students that are referred have already started their learning journey at KCLC so we find that they are really dedicated and committed. The support to ensure that the students are eligible and ready to progress has a major impact on the effectiveness of our provision at the centre.

KCLC also offers a number of services that add value to the student’s experience. Students go on to find opportunities for employment, volunteering in the centre or local area and feel more integrated into the community.

The small team of Alan, Suzanne, Debbie, Karen and Emma achieve a massive social impact and so the WEA are immensely proud to work in partnership with them.

North West: regional partner award winnerKensington Community Learning Centre (KCLC)

WEA Awards 2018

Julie’s attention to detail and speed of mind makes a huge difference to the smooth running of our organisation, especially for meeting the priorities and targets of our Business Plan.

East Midlands: outstanding staff member joint award winnerJulie Lane

Julie has proved a source of support to many people, helping to develop administrative approaches. She took on the new role of Management and Governance Officer with great enthusiasm and dedication.

Within the region this led to improvements in administrative approaches, health and safety procedures, support for branch volunteers, and cost efficiency savings. Julie embodies the values of the WEA by consulting with stakeholders to identify the most appropriate course of action before taking a decision to move the work forward in a particular way.

Alongside a cool head, she brings a warm heart too. One of the most important assets within the WEA is its volunteers, many of whom have multiple challenges of loneliness, bereavement, physical disability or ill health, mental health problems, loss of confidence and mobility issues. Julie is able to gently encourage and support them, offer a listening ear and demonstrating a genuine interest in everyone’s personal story.

31 - 32

Within the space of less than a year, Lisa has transformed the programme in Birmingham in terms of provision for students, relationships with partners and external profile.

West Midlands: outstanding staff member award winnerLisa Havard

Previously the programme was largely based on ESOL and sewing. Through meaningful discussions with stakeholders there is now a far more diverse programme which highlights the flexible, student-centred approach of WEA.

Every tutor has made a point of mentioning Lisa’s extremely helpful, proactive and responsive support in their reviews. Lisa is able to communicate very effectively and always looks for the positive in a situation.

Partnerships that were struggling are now thriving again, giving more opportunities to students and potential students. Lisa recently arranged a workshop in a local park to attract some hard-to-reach students, and as a result the Community Police have started discussions with the WEA about supporting community integration through collaboration.

Lisa embodies everything a WEA member of staff should be and applies her considerable organising skills to supporting the tutors, partners, and team members who are so important to the delivery of the good stuff we do.

WEA Awards 2018

Kerrie has demonstrated immense courage and determination to learn, overcoming extremely difficult circumstances to succeed in her course to gain full time employment as a direct result.

Kerrie spent years in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. She was controlled and stripped of her confidence and self-esteem.

Isolated from family and friends, she suffered depression, but then the birth of her little girl gave her the strength she needed to break free from her relationship.

Stepping through the door of a WEA course unlocked a bright new future for Kerrie. Through her passion and determination, Kerrie successfully completed the Level 2 Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools course.

Her achievement has demonstrated the value of the WEA Schools and Parenting Pathway in helping people to overcome barriers in their lives

Eastern: outstanding student joint award winnerKerrie Holdsworth

and successfully return to learning, taking pride in their own learning journey and becoming a role model for their children.

Kerrie progressed in her learning and completed level 2 functional English and the level 2 Helping with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities courses. She has recently made the huge step into work, and fulfilled her dream of working with children, securing a job in a local school as a Learning Support Assistant with a child who has special educational needs.

I cannot believe how much my life has changed due to learning. I now have friends and I am earning money. I am happy doing what I always wanted to do, working with children. It has changed everything

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With thanks to our sponsors

WEA Awards 2018

KPMG

KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. We are committed to promoting lifelong learning and increasing numeracy and literacy skills to drive opportunity across the UK. Annually, our programmes reach over 16,000 people. As a major employer and talent-based business, it is crucial that we attract, develop and retain the widest pool of talent possible. We are proud to support WEA. Helping people gain the necessary skills and experiences to enter and remain in the workforce, through organisations like WEA, is not just the right thing to do, but a clear business imperative.

Lloyds Banking Group

Lloyds Banking Group partnered with the Workers’ Educational Association back in 2014 to offer skills based volunteering to LBG colleagues in WEA classrooms. A great opportunity for colleagues and WEA students alike, this has enabled more than 3,000 students to develop their reading, writing, digital skills, confidence and employability.

Based on feedback from those involved, the partnership was extended for a further two years and expanded to focus our energy on the large number of ‘hardly reached’ adults who are in the greatest need of training and education, but receive the least support and funding. The “vulnerable adult” programme was launched in January 2017 and over 70 LBG colleagues have undergone the half day training and 85 students have been supported to date.

An exciting work placement programme has also been piloted in Edinburgh with the Mitie foundation. Unemployed students, referred by Jobcentre Plus, attend an employability session run by WEA and supported by Lloyds colleagues, with the prospect of a 4 week work placement with Mitie and potentially a full time job. This programme and the use of LBG digital champions to support students with their digital learning will continue to develop in to 2019 and beyond. The programme continues to inspire our colleagues and help the most vulnerable in our local communities.

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Learning and Work Institute

We are an independent policy and research organisation dedicated to lifelong learning, full employment and inclusion. We research what works, develop new ways of thinking and implement new approaches. Working with partners, we transform people’s experiences of learning and employment. What we do benefits individuals, families, communities and the wider economy. Our vision is that everyone should have the opportunity to realise their ambitions and potential in learning, work and life.

Skills and Education Group

With more than 100 years of collective experience, the Group’s strategic partnerships create opportunities to develop, inform, influence and represent the wider education and skills sector.

We want all learners to achieve their full potential – no matter what their age, background or ability. We do this by supporting the development and delivery of education and skills providers, as well as providing high-quality qualifications and assessments.

Our brands include ABC Awards, Certa Awards, Certa Access and emfec.

UNISON

UNISON is the UK’s largest union, serving more than 1.3 million members. We represent full-time and part-time staff who provide public services, although they may be employed in both the public and private sectors. UNISON represents and acts for members working in a range of public services and utilities, whether they’re employed by private companies, public authorities or in the community and voluntary sector. They represent members, negotiate and bargain on their behalf, campaign for better working conditions and pay and for public services. And more besides.

WEA Awards 2018

Olive Cordell

Olive Cordell embarked on a career in teaching as an adult learner herself, beginning by taking a part time degree in education whilst employed in full-time youth and community work, going on to excel first at teaching adult literacy and numeracy then at other subjects. Following her death in 2002 Olive Cordell’s family decided to remember, and in a sense continue, her work by funding an award that would recognise and encourage those similarly committed. The WEA was and is the ideal institution to host this award, offering as it does wide access to a host of opportunities which often positively transform the lives of continuing and new students. Both of these annual awards, one for the Tutor and one for the Student, honour the indefatigable self-motivation and hard work which is essential to successful adult teaching and learning.

Olive Cordell

The Open University

For over 45 years, The Open University (OU) has led the way in distance learning, delivering workplace learning and development, research and consultancy solutions to a range of businesses. Specialising in developing high quality learning materials, based on rigorous research and industry insight, the OU combines academic excellence with technological expertise to deliver engaging, flexible and results-driven staff training solutions.

Through offering tailored solutions to suit organisational needs, the OU regularly works with over 1,300 employers, including IBM, BT and KPMG, to develop skilled and high performing workforces.

As the UK’s leader in part time education with a global reach, the OU is well equipped to deliver consistent learning at scale for personal and workforce development.

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The WEA 4 Luke StreetLondonEC2A 4XW T. 0300 303 3464 E. supportservices@wea.org.uk W. wea.org.uk

@WEAadulted weaadulteducation

The WEA is a charity registered in England and Wales (no. 1112775) and in Scotland (no. SC039239).

recognising the power Oof education