Adult Learners' Forum for Aberdeenshire

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”

On a beautiful day, the 19^th of July 2023, the Adult Learners' Forum for Aberdeenshire (ALFA) group organised a summer social. They met and got to know each other better and identify some of the priority issues in Adult Learning. Over a lovely lunch of sandwiches and homemade Madagascar vegetable pakora contributed by one of our ALFA members, the group agreed to examine some topics identified at the Celebration of Learning event in March in more detail.

ALFA digital discussions on adult learning priority issues

At the Summer social the group highlighted several things they wanted to explore further together in relation to adult learning needs, promotion, learning spaces (online and offline),etc.

How did you find out about these adult learning opportunities?

• Online - I knew the course I wanted to do so looked for a local provider - found that online eventually - time consuming and digital navigations skills.
• Through CLD Email Drops
• From family / Youth work
• leaflets at local shows with some information
• I found out about CLD thorough Aberdeenshire's Mental Health Improvement and Wellbeing Service (MHIWS), and I found Confidence to Cook through Ed while I was learning with him over CLD. I also learned about Power Tools course through Aberdeenshire's Employability service
• need to know what you want online
• CLD Facebook
• Learned about MIB at craft fare
• I found Business Gateway through online research but need to be computer savvy
• Know about Social Media Platforms but don't want to use is as much as many do to share etc. Too many platforms, hard to know which one when - changes with trends etc.

What makes a good online learning space ?

• Options
• Hybrid / Blended learning
• 1:1/small/large groups
• Flexibility
• local/national/global participation
• removes the barriers of childcare and travel to access learning

What does not make a good online learning space?

• Poor connectivity Communication Accessibility (Zoom/ Microsoft Teams /Google Meet)
• Poor facilitation
• Lack of participant engagement
• Cliques
• Exclusion
• Some people find it easier to concentrate on learning when they are in a physical space away from their home

What are your learning needs?

• Personal Development
• Social Media Learning
• Parenting Skills
• Core Skills (Literacy / Numeracy / ICT / Working with Others / Problem Solving)
• SQA Accreditation
• Family Learning

What adult learning experiences have you engaged in, in your community and elsewhere?

• Workshops
• Wellbeing festival
• Crafting and creativity
• Confidence to Cook
• Steps Course
• Cake Decorating
• Welding
• Ceramics
• Pottery

How did you find out about these Adult Learning opportunities?

• Online
• Social Media platforms
• CLD Email Drops ­
• Leaflets at local shows with some information
• Aberdeenshire’s Mental Health Improvement and Wellbeing Service (MHIWS)
• Aberdeenshire’s Employability Service
• CLD Facebook page

Our Supporting CLD Staff

ALFA members thanked Simone Sinclair who has supported the group from its establishment in 2021 with a bouquet of flowers at the Learners’ Celebration event and welcomed Clare Taylor-Brown and Natalie Cooper as their new CLD support team.

If you would like to find out more about ALFA or would like to meet the group to discuss adult learning matters, please contact:

Clare.TaylorBrown@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or telephone: 01467 536968

Natalie.Cooper@Aberdeenshire.gov.uk or telephone: 01467 539310

Lada Copic, from the Community Learning and Development Worker met the Adult Learners' Forum for Aberdeenshire (ALFA) group in May to discuss wider achievement and certification. These themes led to a lot of dialogue and discussion around the value ALFA members of placed on certification as well as accreditation.

Overall, ALFA members felt there was value in certification in wider achievement.

The Adult Learners' Forum for Aberdeenshire co-designed with the Community Learning and Development (CLD) Service the Celebration of Learning event on the 28^{th of} March held at Inverurie Heritage Centre. Adult Learners' Forum for Aberdeenshire (ALFA)member Charlie McCorry compered the event.

The event was attended by over eighty people from all over Aberdeenshire, including Cllr Gillian Owen, Chair of the Education and Children's Services, Head of Service for Communities Wellbeing and Partnerships and CLD Service Manager and Adult Learning and Communities Team Leader, Jane Verity.

Throughout the night, Penny Downs, a local artist did a live illustration of the stories and messages shared by learners.

Eight individuals shared their stories another eight individuals shared their journeys in the community in their work.

This included project with Aberchirder Men's Shed and CLD partnership, The Udny project, The Old Meldrum Mental Health Group and the KMYC project supported by CLD staff.

Comments from those who attended highlighted that the night was inspirational and informative.

"Wonderful event to celebrate everyone’s achievements."

"Very well organised. Lovely inspiring stories which give you the drive to continue. Beautiful evening."

"Brilliant, planned event. Loved hearing everyone’s stories. I have been inspired to do more learning where possible."

With CLD staff support, tabletop discussions were facilitated at the Celebration of Learning event. Listed below are the discussion themes and responses.

The big issues in adult and community learning

• People not knowing what is out there.
• Stigma
• Lack of funding
• Trying to do more with less.
• The journey is as important as the outcome.
• Lack of space to deliver sessions.

The Benefits of Engaging in Adult and Community Learning

• connecting and socialising with others
• access to a computer and the internet to apply for jobs
• employability skills
• Confidence
• meeting new people
• keeps your mind active
• gives me a voice
• refreshes rusty skills
• helps with clarity of thought
• helps me practice my English

How do adults find out about learning opportunities and how can we promote learning opportunities better?

• A central website
• Better signposting
• Promotional Materials
• Community Notice Boards
• Schools
• Parent Teacher’s Associations (PTAs)
• Education does not stop after school!

Barriers to Learning

• Ashamed to ask for help
• Not knowing what is available
• Mindset • Family commitments
• Mental Health
• Cost
• Travel
• Ill-health
• Access to IT
• Too many acronyms
• Don’t assume everyone is in the know – I’m not’

How do we remove barriers?

• Make learning accessible
• Community access
• Putting people in the right direction
• Using the right approach with learners
• Removing the Stigma – “it’s ok not to know things!”
• IT training to access digital opportunities