learning and skills voice for vcs

The Regional Forum works to raise skill levels in the voluntary and community sector and promote a learning culture in communities. It supports the engagement and involvement of the sector in policy development and delivery and ensures that the sector is represented on key regional and sub-regional bodies.

Campaigning Alliance for Lifelong Learning launched!

NIACE, the National Union of Students, UNISON, the University and College Union, the Worker’s Educational Association and 20 other bodies have formed CALL to rescue adult education after the loss of 1.5 million course places in the last two years – they say:

We have founded CALL, the Campaigning Alliance for Lifelong Learning because we believe that affordable access to the life changing opportunities provided by education is the hallmark of a civilised society. CALL is a non party-political alliance.

We are concerned at the loss of around 1.5 million adult education course places over the last two years as a result of cuts and fee rises, particularly hitting older, disabled and working class students. The only qualification for joining is commitment to our six founding principles below.
CALL believes our education system should provide:

1.equality of access to high quality education for all learners (regardless of: class, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, asylum status or employment status), including a statutory right to learning in the workplace

2.universal access to basic skills, ESOL and ICT courses and a first level three qualification regardless of age

3.learner, teacher and community involvement in all levels of decision-making about their learning wherever it takes place

4.learning for personal wellbeing and development and the maintenance of local authority adult education

5.a path out of poverty and disadvantage including widening participation in higher education and the provision of a second chance later in life

6.a stable, motivated and rewarded workforce of professional practitioners.

http://www.callcampaign.org.uk/

Consultation Event on Informal Adult Learning

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) has received 5,500 responses to its consultation on Informal Adult Learning - believed to be the largest number of consultation responses ever received by government. We now await government's response.

In partnership with the Regional Skills Partnership Board and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), the Regional Forum held a consultation event on the 22 April.


Working Together Developments in the region

Through the national Working Together initiative, a partnership between the LSC and Voluntary and Community Sector, training and learning provision is configured to support national government priorities. Working Together demonstrated the voluntary and community sector contribution to engaging hard to reach communities in vocational training and learning activity.

The VCS also supports NIACE in lobbying for developmental and non-accredited learning provision to be valued and prioritised. A lobbying paper devised and used by the Forum's VCS Regional Learning and Skills Group sets out aspects of the VCS position.