West Midlands
(Projects are listed alphabetically)
100%
Artspace
Boiled Cabbage and Tapioca Pudding
Digital Inclusion Project
Dudley Web: Past & Present
Enjoy IT here - Building digital literacy in great locations
Featured First Steps - New Opportunities View more...
The aim of the project was to create an environment for informal learning by creating a mechanism by which individuals could access further opportunities in learning.
The target group for this project were women who were classed as 'hard to reach', coming from communities that rarely accessed local provisions due to cultural reasons, and newcomers to the area from other countries. 32 taster sessions were delivered to participants from a range of black and minority ethnic backgrounds, the majority of whom did not have English as a first language.
The project:
- launched a R.E.A.D initiative during which a small group of women who had attended the taster sessions met every fortnight for 2 hours to Read, Enjoy, Apply and Discuss (R.E.A.D) books;
- developed a hub of local resources to signpost individuals to other learning opportunities;
- created a vibrant network of individuals that acted as a catalyst for other women wishing to access informal learning; and
- attracted a 69% attendance rate in a community where 30% attendance is perceived as a success.
The lessons learned were that:
- any initiative requires time to develop and build momentum;
- the needs of groups vary and one type of learning offer cannot suit everyone;
- language support is crucial to engage a client group for whom English is not the first language. Many of the target group had already attended English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes but lacked the confidence to engage in a conversation;
- provision of childcare facilities is crucial for many women as lack of its availability can exclude women from participating; and
- paper based marketing alone does not work with this client group. In fact, it was a combination of outreach and an interim celebration event that helped to engage more individuals onto the taster sessions.
Go Woman Ltd.
C/O Asian-e
2nd Floor,
3 Brindley Place,
Birmingham,
B1 2JB.
Gingerbread Links
Give it a go
Grow 'n' Know
GROW Yourself A Better Future
Hamara
Lads and Dads Programme
Learning Links
Learning Partnerships for Health
Learnival
Mentoring and Personal Development through Sports and Craft
Northfield Ecocentre
Othello
Our Place
Performing Arts Through Digital Technology
StokeReads
Talking Shop
The Podding Club
The Raymond Williams Foundation
Featured The Wellies Project View more...
Growing Rural Enterprise offers training opportunities and works with rural businesses (farms, nurseries, woodland, animal centres etc ) to encourage community use of its resources as therapeutic activity.
The WELLIES project aimed to promote mental well being and recovery through workshops and courses using plants, animals and the countryside.
The project ran 36 one day workshops and six individual six-week courses including fishing, sausage making, floristry, looking after chickens, pig keeping, farm walks, dog walking, horticulture, horse riding, creating nature walks, making bird boxes, mini digger and tractor driving.
The project also produced a DVD.
125 individuals participated in the courses/workshops.
The project had impacted on people's wellbeing and positive mental health. Forty-nine people took part in a WEMBS Survey measuring their mental wellness at the beginning and at the end of the project, out of these 46 people (94%) reported an improvement in their mental wellbeing. This is an accepted measure of positive mood.
This model is now recognised as something that works well, has impact and makes a difference to mental wellbeing. It has also reduced the stigma of mental ill-health amongst rural communities.
Good partnerships with the right organisations are really valuable. For this project it was important to make sure that everyone brought something to the partnership and had good contacts that helped the project to succeed.
Julie White and Nick Platt
Growing Rural Enterprise Ltd
Julie 07971 666474
julie@growingruralenterprise.co.uk
Nick 07767 844921
Time out for Carers
Featured Understanding of Arthritis in Ethnic Minorities View more...
The main aim of the Understanding Arthritis in Ethnic Minorities project was to pilot a network of four learning centres, which targeted ethnic arthritic sufferers and their families, and to establish learning circles.
The project recruited 9 outreach workers and supported learners through delivery of learning sessions at 9 learning centres throughout the City.
Over 700 individuals were involved in the taster sessions, with 248 learners registering with the project, where they received further training around understanding arthritis and learning the techniques to cope with symptoms.
The project allowed many of the beneficiaries to access mainstream information and training opportunities.
Those involved in the project found that, in order to deliver successful activities, it was important to understand the culture and customs of black and minority ethnic (BME) communities and involve individuals from these communities in the planning.
The Birmingham Arthritis Appeals Trust
C/O Birmingham Arthritis Resource Centre
5th Floor Birmingham Central Library
Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3HQ
West Midlands
Projects in the West Midlands
