Christmas Voices Event Scottish Learning Partnership, 5th December 2023

Adult Learners' Forum Aberdeenshire (ALFA) members worked together to identify the ‘wishes’ they wanted to take to the Christmas Voices event in Edinburgh. The event was an opportunity to discuss with MSPs what matters to adult learners. On Tuesday 5th December 2023 around 50 people, mainly community-based adult learners but also volunteers and CLD workers, met with these politicians at the Holyrood Hotel. CLD Worker Ed Garrett attended on behalf of the Adult Learners' Forum Aberdeenshire (ALFA). He presented the wishes from Aberdeenshire on behalf of the forum:

1. We require parity of access for adult learning groups across Scotland (to suitable learning spaces).
2. We need a national implementation plan to support the current adult learning strategy.
3. We need a new national awareness campaign to promote the benefits of adult learning.
4. We need recognition for adult learning as a route for social prescribing for health and wellbeing.
5. We support the idea of an adult learning bill.

Ed participated in the discussions around themes familiar to ALFA, such as access to learning spaces, promoting awareness and proper resourcing, these wishes were noted by the MSP's present.

The idea for a Scottish adult learning bill was also highlighted during the event. Although this process can take years, this is an area of interest for ALFA. So, as a representative group of adult learners, ALFA will monitor this area of interest and keep these discussions at the forefront of their meetings.

Ed said “It was great to see adult learners from across Scotland having the chance to talk directly with MSPs”