Projects

As holders of a number of quality assurance standards the WEA in the North East is well placed to tender for and manage work funded by such major external funding organisations such as the European Social Fund (ESF), the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and The Big Lottery Fund. Our experience in working with disadvantaged learners is well documented and, with our professional team of project workers, we are able to successfully apply for and deliver innovative and exciting projects at regional, sub regional and local level.

Our most recent projects include:

£94,000 BOOST FOR EAST END PEOPLE'S STORY

Residents of Newcastle's East End will soon be able to tell the story of their communities thanks to a £94,000 grant from the Government's Transformation Fund for informal adult learning.

The 'East End People's Story' will offer courses and workshops in how to make radio programmes and video animations, explore local history, create a Byker tapestry, produce a People's Plan visioning the future of Byker, Walker and Ouseburn, strengthen community development, take part in volunteering and get a taste of a host of informal adult learning topics and opportunities.

Six local organisations secured the grant in tough competition with hundreds of other groups from across the country. The Workers' Educational Association (WEA), the East End Community Development Alliance, Community Broadcasting Initiative Tyneside's NE1 fm community radio station, the Roots and Wings film and photography social enterprise, the Ouseburn Trust, and East End Community Media formed a successful partnership to win recognition for the East End.

The project will run until the end of March next year and will also focus on using local venues to bring informal adult learning opportunities close to where people live. Courses and workshops will provide chances to look at the changing identity of the East End as well as valuing its rich industrial and community heritage. There will be no exams or tests but simply a concentration on learning for enjoyment and to broaden horizons.

The East End People's Story is funded by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills Transformation Fund which is managed by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education.

For more information about East End People's Story's activities contact Carol Hunter on 0191 257 9477.

A timetable of events happening in late November and early December can be found by clicking here.

Working Together Tyne & Wear for the VCS, funded by ESF and the LSC as lead contractor delivering capacity building skills so VCS organisations to seek funding for and delivery of training programmes.

Developing Education Progression: funded by ESF and the LSC to work with hard to reach beneficiaries and work with them to progress to a full level 2 qualification across Tyne & Wear

1:1 – Skills for Life contracts funded by ESF and the LSC to deliver Skills for Life tuition across South Tyneside. We have also received a further grant to deliver 1:1 Skills for Life at local level in Sunderland.

Learn to Engage – funded by ESF and the LSC

BIG – a grant from The Big Lottery to work with mental health VCS organisations to build capacity to deliver innovative training programmes for service users and carers.

For further information about our project work please contact the Regional Projects Manager, Yvonne Ritchie, on 0191 212 6100 or e-mail yritchie@wea.org.uk

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