From Norman Newton in Inverness comes news of an ambitious initiative from the WEA’s Highland Local Association, involving sponsorship of a training course in partnership with Wikimedia UK. 

Forgotten Stories of the Highlands arose out of the recognition that local history projects and courses in the Highlands, often (but not always) run by the WEA, had generated lots of information about people and places who were significant locally but not well documented. 

In particular, a series of community projects on women’s suffrage and also World War One, often involving research in contemporary newspapers and other contemporary documents, highlighted the possibilities of making this research more widely available. Susan Kruse, a local WEA Member and Tutor, started compiling possible Wikipedia entries but it was not until recently that an opportunity became available to develop these ideas further. 

Ann MacInnes, a member of the WEA for four decades, represented the Highlands on WEA committees locally and nationally, including the Scottish Committee and WEA UK Council and other committees.  

Thanks to the generosity of her family after Ann’s death in 2023, we have been able to set up a free training course on preparing and editing Wikipedia articles, with 12 people enrolled. Some of us are existing WEA members and three of us work as tour guides, bringing a wealth of local knowledge and experience. Susan Kruse led a couple of introductory sessions on the basic skills needed and on the basic policies of Wikipedia, while more detailed training was provided by the Wikimedia UK Programme Manager Sara Thomas, who has Highland family connections and took a personal interest in our project, guiding our efforts and tempering our ambition with pragmatic examples of how to navigate the editorial process.  

An innovative feature of our Wikipedia training is that there is a three-week gap  between training sessions, giving us the time and space to practice the detailed procedures needed to become a Wikipedia editor. With one more session to go, we now need to have ten minor edits or amendments accepted and will then be in a position to create a new entry. We have all been given an experienced Wikipedia editor as a mentor who will guide us further in the process of becoming an accepted member of the Wikipedia community. 

It would be interesting to hear from any WEA staff or members who have had some experience of Wikipedia editing, or from anybody who would like to know more about our project and is thinking of doing something similar in their area. 

Norman Newton 
[email protected] 

The Mass Observation project was set up in 1937 by sociologist Charles Madge, film maker Humphrey Jennings and anthropologist Tom Harrisson.  It started out as a way to gauge popular opinion in the wake of the abdication crisis, as the men suspected that the newspaper coverage did not accurately reflect the mood of the country.  

The very first diary day was 12th February 1937, when members of the public were invited to write down in detail what they did that day from when they woke until they went to bed. Further calls were made every month of that year, including 12th May: the Coronation.  By the end of 1937, over 500 people had taken part. 

The Mass Observation surveys evolved over time and began to cover days of significance or special days, such as bank holidays.  Directives were also issued asking all volunteers on the panel to write about specific topics. Some of the requested information was very specific, for example, how long did it take to drink a pint of beer or how many chips were included in a six-penny portion. The responses give fascinating insights into areas of everyday life in the UK at the time. 

Mass Observation continued until the early 1950s, but after the end of the Second World War it slowly evolved into a commercial enterprise with a focus on market research rather than the social and cultural information gathering of the project’s earlier years.  
 

Mass Observation resurrected 

In 1981 the project was revived by the University of Sussex and it has continued ever since. Directives are sent regularly to the panel of Mass Observers and cover a diverse spread of topics. For example, in the directive from Autumn 2024, diarists were asked to write about the Cost of Living; Vapes and Vaping; and The United States. Each directive comes with suggested questions or themes that could be addressed as part of the response. 

In addition, each year on 12th May the call goes out across the UK, asking people to write about their day in the form of a diary and send it to the archive, which is housed in The Keep at the University of Sussex. In 2022 over 400 diaries were submitted – around three quarters digitally and the remaining 100 or so sent as paper copies.  
 

Want to learn more? 

If you are interested in learning more, WEA members can log into the members’ area to watch a recent talk by Emily Calcraft, which was part of our popular member lecture series.  

Emily has also written an interesting article comparing and contrasting the Mass Observation responses about the 1937 coronation of George VI and the 2023 coronation of Charles III. 
 

Are you feeling inspired to get involved yet? 

We are running a session for members on 12th May 2025 where we can get together and each start our diary entry for the archive. We want this online event to be more interactive than our usual member lectures, so we will set up breakout rooms for part of the session, giving you the chance to chat with other members.  

We are looking for volunteers to help us with this, so if you can spare an hour on 12th May and you would like to lead one of the breakout rooms please get in touch with us at [email protected] 

If you want to attend the session please book early as we have limited slots available for the breakout rooms.

The WEA Grimsby branch located on Cleethorpe road is the longest standing WEA branch having opened in the 1920’s. This bustling branch has seen many learners and tutors come and go over the years and is still a huge part of the Grimsby community.  

WEA PR Officer, Natalie Coleman caught up with Linda Salkeld, a longstanding volunteer who leads on branch activities to find out more.  

Q. Hi Linda, what first attracted you to the Grimsby branch? 

I first attended the branch back in 1986 after seeing a WEA course advertised in a local newspaper. The course I signed up to was called, “Life and Death in Egypt” and I remember it took place on a Wednesday afternoon for 10 weeks. Back then, I worked as a nurse on the Paediatric Unit at the local hospital. I requested 10 weeks off for the Wednesday afternoon to attend the course – it wasn’t always possible, but I managed at least half of the course and loved it!  

Some years later in the 90’s after suffering with various health issues and injuries, I was recovering slowly then saw a WEA Saturday afternoon lecture advertised. I recalled the course I had done before so enrolled. It was excellent.  I discovered there were more courses and lectures, so I joined the WEA there and then!  The branch has been a great help and support to me over the years. I’m proud to be a part of it.  

Q. Tell me more about the branch and the learners who attend 

Although numbers have fallen since covid the branch is continuing to offer cultural courses and lectures on varied subjects and our numbers are rising again. The branch has always been successful since it first opened back in 1920!  

Learners are mostly retired, unemployed or make time around working for the weekday courses and continue to enthusiastically learn new subjects. We provide two courses a week for two terms Autumn and Winter; Archaeology and Art History. We meet at the Central Hall in Grimsby.  

We also offer six lectures over the same period on Saturday afternoons which take place in the nave of Grimsby Minster. Varied ages attend including those who work in the week. The lectures are very popular with attendance rates of between 40 -100+ depending on the subject.  

Q. What do you like about the branch? 

The people and learning! I’ve met so many lovely, like-minded people over the years and have learned so much. There’s a real joy in learning and it gives the community a chance to get together socially to learn in a safe environment with like-minded people with similar interests. People come here because they want to learn, not because they have to do so. 

Q. Why do you think it’s important to have a branch in the community? 

The branch gives people an opportunity to meet up and chat as well as learn, and there’s no added pressure of exams.  

People have been in the past referred to us by Navigo (an NHS service providing support to individuals for mental health and wellbeing). We know the cultural courses we provide may help those who suffer with ill health, low self-esteem and other mental health conditions.  

Being around others and having the confidence to socialise is important for anyone. It can be harder for those who are retired, live on their own, are unwell or perhaps have moved to an area they’re not familiar with. The branches bring people together in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. 

Gordon (branch volunteer)  

“It was the Saturday lectures that first caught my attention and I believe these are what draw people in.   

I took part in an on-site archaeological dig where tutor Simon Tomson was helping out,although I didn’t realise he was a WEA tutor at the time. I was fascinated by the process and decided to enroll onto his course. I like the classes as they take place in a relaxed environment where there is a great deal of interaction.” 

Asked what he would say to someone thinking of attending sessions at the branch, Gordon said “You must do so. It is an opportunity unlike anything else.” 

Tony – (branch volunteer)

“I first found out about the branch online when I was looking for something to keep my brain active after retiring. I do a mixture of face to face and online learning with the WEA. It’s a great way to find a new interest and it pushes you to self-study. I’ve made some great acquaintances at the branch. If you’re thinking of joining, don’t even think about it - just do it!” 

To find out more about the Grimsby branch email [email protected] or call 0147290775 

Don’t live in Grimsby? Find your local branch here to see what’s on offer near you! 

Could you inspire others to begin their learning journey? Join us as a Learner Attraction and Experience Volunteer! 

Every learning journey begins with a first step. By offering support and encouragement, you can help someone take that leap into something potentially life changing. 

We are excited to launch a brand-new volunteer opportunity: Learner Attraction and Experience Volunteer. 
 

What is learner attraction at WEA? 

Learner attraction is at the heart of the WEA’s mission to make education accessible to all—especially those who have faced barriers to learning. It’s about connecting with potential learners, understanding their needs, and guiding them with clear, accessible information so they can make informed choices. This happens through a wide range of methods, including outreach events, learning centres, the website, local partnerships, and, crucially, volunteers like you. By helping people discover the right courses and supporting them through the enrolment process, we ensure learners feel confident and equipped to begin their learning journey. 
 

What’s the role about? 

As a Learner Attraction and Experience Volunteer, you'll become a friendly face for the WEA at community-based events throughout the academic year. You’ll help new and prospective learners feel welcome, offer guidance through the enrolment process, and share information about the WEA and the many learning opportunities we offer. 

This is more than just handing out flyers—it's about creating connections, building confidence, and showing learners that education really is within reach. 

We're particularly looking for volunteers in the Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham areas but would love to hear from you if you're in another area too.
 

What you'll be doing: 

•  Attending local events and setting up engaging WEA displays 
• Greeting attendees and helping them navigate their learning options 
• Assisting with online enrolment and explaining our course offerings 
• Supporting learners, including those for whom English is a second language 
• Feeding back insights and ideas from events to help us grow and improve 

Is this you? 
We’re looking for warm, welcoming, and proactive people who: 

• Enjoy chatting with folks from all walks of life 
• Feel confident using basic IT 
• Are good listeners and natural explainers 
• Are flexible and happy to attend occasional events throughout the year 

Experience with ESOL learners or a background in community work is a bonus—but if you have a different skill set you think could benefit the WEA, we’d love to hear from you too. 
 

Why volunteer with the WEA? 

Volunteering with us isn’t just about giving—it’s also about growing. We’ll provide you with: 

• A full induction and training tailored to your role 
• Support from your local WEA team every step of the way 
• A chance to make real impact in your community 
• Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses 

Most importantly, you’ll be bringing adult learning, within reach to everyone who needs it.  

For an application pack or to arrange a chat about volunteering contact [email protected]