The Lifelong Learning Centre’s Communities and Partnerships team (C&P) work to create opportunities for under-represented groups to access and enjoy the benefits of Higher Education.
Central to our work in the field of adult education is a social purpose ethos. We have a great deal of experience in outreach and development work with diverse communities, organisations and companies throughout West Yorkshire. Our activities are developed in close consultation with the groups we work with and we are committed to creating both accredited programmes and informal learning opportunities that meet their needs.
The C&P team demonstrate that sustainable university outreach in local communities can have a real impact in widening participation in Higher Education. We have built a trusting and mutually beneficial relationship with a range of community-based partners in both the voluntary and statutory sectors which enables us to work with low-aspiring groups. We aim to connect informal community learning in educational or non-educational settings (i.e. health, community cohesion, early years, citizenship etc.) with progression to HE.
Our work can be broken down into eight different areas of activity.
Aspiration-raising
- The Realise programme aims to address the barriers which make it difficult for adults to enter HE and to encourage adults to consider university as a realistic option.
- We work with a group of mature students from communities across West Yorkshire where going to university is not the norm – these Learning Champions work with other adults from areas of economic and social deprivation and are involved in a wide range of activities and events designed to inspire them to think about HE.
- We have organised a series of Summer Schools for adult learners which have aimed to increase their understanding of the wide range of HE opportunities, the HE student experience, the financial implications of studying and the qualifications required to do so. These events have also sought to tackle the perception that age is a barrier to studying.
- With the help of Aimhigher funding we have produced a toolkit of aspiration-raising materials for use with groups of adult learners and parents.
Community-based HE provision
- Arabic and Islamic Studies is an accredited part-time programme of Level One undergraduate modules available to adults and delivered primarily in community settings.
Informal community provision
- Our Community Learning programme comprises a range of non-accredited courses available to adults and delivered in community settings.
- We regularly offer free seminars and taster sessions for our Arabic and Islamic Studies programme - these enable learners to sample a particular course or subject area at no cost to themselves.
Partners and networks
- The C&P team is a key member in and regularly organises events on behalf of the Progression and Engagement between Communities and Higher Education (PECHE) Network, a regional association of practitioners working with adults in community settings across the Yorkshire and Humberside region.
Pre-entry information, advice and guidance
- Click here for details of our free, confidential and impartial pre-entry information, advice and guidance service for adult learners.
Progression and bridging activity
- In 2008/09 the Lifelong Learning Centre was funded by the West Yorkshire Lifelong Learning Network (WYLLN) to develop a Progression Agreement in the Health, Social Care and Early Years sector. This agreement builds on the collaboration between the C&P team and Leeds City College developed through the Realise programme.
- Our Progression Routes with SMEs project is a partnership between the Lifelong Learning Centre and local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) within West Yorkshire to develop short courses which can support companies trying to grow the management and leadership skills of their employees.
Research
From time to time the C&P team undertake research in areas relating to our work. We are currently carrying out an action research project on Intergenerational Impact which aims to explore the link between the aspirations and attainment of adult learners and their children.
Staff development and employer engagement
- Our Staff Development with Community Workers project aims to identify the community development and leadership needs of staff working in community development with a view to a developing a negotiated pilot curriculum in partnership with the Adult Community Education faculty at Leeds City College.
- Our Working with Frontline Staff project aims to provide a programme of staff-development activities to a range of professional and non-qualified workers who are involved with adults and their families.
We have put together a diagram illustrating the range of our work which you can download here.
If you would like to contact a particular member of the team please click here.
