We are now in a position to announce a series of events, starting in Wales and moving to England (Wolverhampton), Scotland (Glasgow) and Northern Ireland (Ulster). The intention is to make the network as accessible as is possible and thus share our collective ideas and passions for inclusive outreach/Lifelong Learning. Please visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-community-partnerships-as-a-catalyst-for-engagement-in-wp-tickets-33665782261 [1]
Overview
The first event at the Gwent Archives is intended to follow the traditions of bringing learning out of the university and formal learning environment and into the community offering significant attention to participant as well as provider perspectives. The partnerships this network wants to explore are ones which recognise the wider value of working collaboratively towards a LL/WP/WA agenda with partners in education, third sector and employers (as well as any other organisation). Such partnerships can then work towards understanding and distributing the capabilities influenced model which enables communities as well as providers to recognise and to use existing community (spaces) resources towards WP/WA activity.
This introductory event will offer three presentations which will focus on the following:
- The work and ambitions of the Widening Access, Research and Mentoring (WARM) group
- The additional benefits that can be achieved for WP/WA/LL from working with organisations such as Archives
- A model of engagement for developing capability and agency for learning/engagement
Invitations are extended to a cross sector of other providers including education (HE/FE), third/voluntary sector as well as community participants. This inaugural event promises to stimulate discussion towards what partnership opportunities there are to recognise existing delivery of WP outside of a university context. This event also acts as the official launch point of the UALL supported Community Research and Engagement network in Wales.
Timetable
| 11.00 am | Introduction – the what and how of the day |
| 11.10 am | Presentation WARM and their partnership work |
| 11.40 am | Working with community groups – the Gwent Archives perspective – Education Officer at Gwent Archives |
| 12.10 pm | Building a collaborative, community supported learning and research network – what does it mean? Perspectives from RecoverED |
| 12.40 pm | QA/general discussion |
| 1 pm | Lunch (catering TBC) |
| 1.30–2.00 pm | Exclusive tour of the Archives and their materials/resources and how these might be used for partnership/outreach work.
Networking opportunity. For those waiting to tour the Archives then current project work will be made available for discussion and for networking. |
| 2.30 pm | Food for thought? And concluding points. |
| 3.00 pm | Close |
UK Seminar series – as noted, we intend taking the network seminar across the home nations of the UK meaning we will be working with other universities to deliver seminars exploring much of the above. To date, this includes the University of Glasgow (September, details to be confirmed), University of Wolverhampton (October 12th, details to follow) and University of Ulster (November, title and final date TBC). If you feel what the network offers is an area of interest which you may also wish to be a part of, then please feel free to contact us and we can discuss you becoming a part of this seminar series. We intend, at each event, to discuss how we might combine our interests and resources to form a conference specific to the work of this network in 2018.
Cost: £25
Further details are attached. For more information, please contact Mark Richardson at: [email protected] [2]
With best wishes,
Lucy