WEA students come full circle
Brian Arrowsmith and Theresa McLoughlin are living, working proof that enrolling on a course is often just the first step in a journey towards bigger and better things.
 Brian, who works for the City of Sunderland found out about the WEA through UNISON, his Trades Union at work. He joined their Return to Learn class as a mature student and progressed from this to a part-time degree in Philosophy at the University of Sunderland.
After the Return to Learn course Brian decided that he wanted 'to put something back' to help other adults like himself, making the first step back into education.
Former WEA student and now tutor for the WEA, Theresa McLoughlin chairs a workshop at the launch of the WEA North East Region
He trained as a Voluntary Education Advisor to support learners on the UNISON programme and volunteered to join the local Sunderland Branch. He is now Treasurer of the Sunderland and Washington WEA Branch and has successfully raised thousands of pounds to support disadvantaged learners on WEA classes in Sunderland. Brian is very modest about his achievements, but they have made a real difference to hundreds of adults returning to learn, helping to improve their skills and career prospects and joining a wider social network.
Theresa also returned to education as a mature learner a few years ago, through her hobby, tracing Family History. Theresa was in her late fifties when she first joined a class and her enthusiasm and skills in using the internet brought her to the attention of her tutor who suggested she herself could train to be a tutor. Contact was made with staff at the WEA who recognised Theresa’s potential and offered her the chance to start a new career with a Family History course in the Raich Carter Centre in Hendon, Sunderland. Theresa was keen to keep herself busy, after becoming a widow and her son and daughter rallied round to support her new interest, even helping her to buy a car to whiz round to all her classes. Theresa has inspired her learners to achieve great things using the internet – some of her students have never used a computer before, but with Theresa's guidance have managed to trace their ancestors from hundreds of years ago. Since that start, Theresa, has gone on to gain Learner of the Year Award and to achieve a Certificate of Education to qualify as an adult education tutor. At the age of 62, she now teaches classes all over Sunderland for various organisations, including the WEA. Just last month Theresa ran a workshop for adult education professionals from across the North East of England at a conference to mark the official launch of the WEA’s new North East Region at the Centre for Life in Newcastle. 'I thank the WEA for giving me encouragement and taking a chance on me as a tutor' said Theresa at the event.
For further information on the WEA North East Region you can contact:
Workers’ Educational Association
First Floor, Unit 6
Metro Riverside Park
Delta Bank Road
Gateshead NE11 9DJ
 0191 461 8100
 0191 461 8117
 northeast@wea.org.uk
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October News