In the run up to the general election, the WEA ran a campaign to raise awareness of the importance of lifelong learning, with events held around the country giving people the chance to question their local politicians and candidates.

Our Speak up for lifelong learning campaign argued that lifelong learning receives only modest public investment but offers far-reaching positive consequences for individuals, society and the economy - delivering 'outcomes' across the agendas of all government departments. We urged politicians and policymakers to protect funding for adult education and lifelong learning and consider adopting the recommendations for a new national strategy as outlined in the Learning Through Life report (see below for more on the report).

We produced a pack to help supporters of adult education become involved – explaining how they could set up an event and encouraging them to send campaign postcards. Over 5,000 postcards were sent by WEA students, branch members and others to their local candidates.

You can download the campaign pack by clicking here.

Campaign Events

A discussion with your local PPCs Folkestone
The WEA Folkestone branch held a meeting last November, with local potential Parliamentary candidates, organised by WEA Deputy President Lynne Smith, attended by members of the public, co-author of the Learning Through Life report Tom Schuller, a speaker from the local university and WEA General Secretary Richard Bolsin.

Democracy in 2010: Is it working for you? Northumberland
The WEA Take Part Northumberland organised a free event on the 20th March to quiz local politicians on the state of democracy in Northumberland. The panel of candidates from the three main parties was chaired by former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond.

The Future of Adult Learning Leeds
The WEA was represented at a public event in Swarthmore Education Centre, organised as part of the Campaigning Alliance for Lifelong Learning (CALL) on February the 27.

The majority of the audience was made up of adult learners who raised concerns about the future of their learning. Speakers included Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Dan Taubman, senior national official from the University and College Union and Ann Walker, the WEA’s Regional Director for Yorkshire and Humber.

The Right to Learn Newcastle
The WEA North East and the Right to Learn Campaign arranged a Newcastle citywide ‘hustings’ on the 13th April, where candidates from the three main parties from all three Newcastle constituencies met local residents to answer their questions on lifelong learning. The public meeting was also attended by Minister for the North East Nick Brown. The 'question time' focused on the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties' policies for safeguarding the future of lifelong learning. Prof Bill Williamson, Emeritus Professor in the School of Education at Durham University, was on hand to introduce the debate and explain the issues.

Around one hundred people with a wide range of experience as students and education professionals attended the meeting, giving parliamentary candidates a clear impression of the importance of adult education to many people.

'Lifelong learning is hugely relevant for the economy, personal development, active citizenship, the quality of life and not least in preserving good health as we get older. Political parties tend to see lifelong learning as simply about improving skills for jobs. This is important but it's only part of the value of adult learning in every aspect of our lives. Changes in funding for adult education have had mixed impacts on access to learning, some useful and some unhelpful. With a lot of talk about cuts in public spending, we need to know where each party stands. We're very pleased that most of the main parties' candidates in Newcastle readily agreed to attend the public question time.'
Liz Armstrong, spokesperson for the Right to Learn Campaign.

DEFEND ADULT LEARNING Sheffield
A public meeting on the 20th April was organised by the Sheffield CALL and the WEA Sheffield Branch to argue the case for adult education in the current funding climate, in which leading to further courses coming to a close. Students and tutors joined the public discussion and speakers included Alan Tuckett, Director of the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE).

The Learning Through Life report
Learning Through Life is the official report of a two-year independent inquiry into the future of adult learning, which was hosted by NIACE.

It provides an overview of the current state of learning in the UK, makes a compelling case for its value to society, and makes recommendations for long-term change, including:

To read a summary of the report click here.

Useful websites

http://www.niace.org.uk/news/learning-society-essential-for-recovery

www.democracymatters.info
The WEA continues to campaign on the importance of adult education to society. We are a founding member of Democracy Matters, which promotes the role learning can play in effective democracy and citizenship. Visit the website to find out more.

http://www.democracyclub.org.uk/
A website of volunteers working to build the definitive guide to where all candidates stand on major issues, nationwide.