West Midlands

Introduction:

Projects in the West Midlands

West Midlands Projects

Artspace

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

The aim of this project was to build partnerships and strengthen existing capacity by providing artists with skills and the tools to develop and deliver engaging informal learning clubs as well as to create a transformed learning environment in an empty shop unit in Dudley town centre. Members of the public were encouraged to drop in and try various creative and visual art based activities supported by a range of local artists.

Boiled Cabbage and Tapioca Pudding

SCAWDI - Boiled Cabbage

This project was aimed at people who had had negative experiences of compulsory learning, and offered light-hearted and fun activities to reintroduce people to learning. It used a specialist community development model to address underlying issues that trap people in a cycle of deprivation including low level literacy skills, lack of confidence, poor communication skills, social isolation and disability. The project worked with unemployed people or people in low paid, casual and low status employment, living in deprived areas. Two groups were established: the women’s group engaged in craft and textiles based activities including corsage making, jewellery making, quilting and knitting; the men’s group engaged in out-door activities including clay pigeon shooting, archery and climbing.

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Go-Woman Ltd

Go-Woman! Ltd and Adderley Children’s Centre worked in partnership to lead a project engaging women from black and ethnic minority communities in informal adult learning. Learners took part in taster sessions held in the children’s centre, enabling women with childcare responsibilities to participate and helping to remove barriers associated with unfamiliar environments; ESOL support was also provided. Participants were signposted to further accredited and informal learning opportunities, and reading groups were developed. Take-up and attendance exceeded expectations, reflecting the success of this approach.

Gingerbread Links

Gingerbread

Gingerbread worked with partners in the public, private and voluntary sector and used their experience of supporting single parents to engage this hard to reach group in learning. Over 100 single parents took part in a series of learning workshops hosted by Lancaster District Children’s Centres. Participants learned how to set up Gingerbread friendship groups and contributed to the development of an interactive toolkit, produced by Interactive Web Solutions, that covers setting up a friendship group, staying safe and having fun together. Single parents locally and nationwide can now use the toolkit to set up their own Gingerbread groups, combating isolation and encouraging community involvement.

Learning Links

Bournville College of Further Education

‘Learning Links’, a project developed by Bournville College in partnership with a range of third sector and statutory organisations, developed a network of volunteers, community mentors, and champions, in order to spread the word about learning opportunities across multiple sites within South West Birmingham. The aim of the project was to identify and utilise the skills of local people to encourage intergenerational, incidental and family learning, using the existing community networks and thereby promoting learning and community cohesion through these social networks. A key element of this project was the development of champions within a number of neighbourhoods, and the development of local people who wished to become volunteer mentors. The project focused upon lone parents, senior citizens, white working class families, people claiming benefits and people with learning/ physical disabilities. Tasters (up to nine hours) included introduction to Mendhi, introduction to jewellery making, conflict management, considering self-employment, and what to expect in care.

Learning Partnerships for Health

WEA West Midlands Region

WEA West Midlands, working in partnership with many public and voluntary sector organisations, developed a range of learning activities targeted at people who might not be able to attend conventional face to face classes, including those with long-term health issues. Learners accessed health education courses using digital technology, which allowed them to build confidence with IT as well as improve understanding and self-management of their health issues. The project used existing online resources and developed an Open Learning and Physical Activity Map to help signpost opportunities.

Othello

Birmingham Opera Company

Othello - This project engaged a cross section of people specifically targeting older learners and young men from BME backgrounds and from some of the most deprived wards in Birmingham. Starting with taster sessions participants progressed onto technical and skills based training followed by an 8 week development and rehearsal programme which culminated in performances of Verdi’s Othello. Participants were supported by some of the UK’s top operatic talent.

Our Place

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)

The MLA led a project to site informal adult learning in the heart of the community by using vacant retail premises as venues for learning. The project aimed to link learning with community regeneration and encourage a greater understanding of Blackburn and Taunton through the development of two creative community archives. Learners of all ages enjoyed art, music and dance activities, with 475 participants in core sessions and over 5000 taking part in drop-in sessions.

Performing Arts Through Digital Technology

Clevercherry.com

Based within the Northfield and Longbridge communities, the ‘performance art through digital technology’ project ran a series of IAL performing arts and digital technology tasters to local people. Supported by ‘Industry Educators’, the project led learners into a series of more in-depth workshops to encourage interest in the arts and digital technologies that support production and performance. Representing a partnership between a private ICT/ media arts company, community organisations, the Birmingham Rep, the local authority and the University of London, the project stimulated learners’ personal development and increased confidence, understanding, and involvement in the arts and related technologies. A website was developed (GetinTheatre) allowing access to creative content, an online community, and opportunities to contribute to performance arts productions and voluntary work in sound, light, music and stage set design technologies. The project developed learners’ digital literacy skills, ICT access, increased participation in art and culture, and increased confidence and skills for employability, amongst participants.

The Podding Club

Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

This project’s aim was to train retired people to produce podcasts inspired by the museums’ sites and collections in the form of audio clips which visitors could download to their own listening devices. Initially the podcasts would be for their own peer group. And later If other interested groups were identified, learners were able to cascade their skills to new learners.