A Festival That Could Change Your Life

The largest festival of learning in the UK is on its way. Adult Learners’ Week - which runs from 17th –23rd May 2008 and is organised by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) – is a time when thousands of people consider a return to learning and begin a journey that can completely transform their lives for the better.

This is illustrated perfectly by the Adult Learners’ Week Award winners who are recognised for their remarkable achievements through learning. Their inspirational stories clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of learning as an adult. Some of this year’s awards will be presented to:

• a woman who has gone from GCSE Maths to a first class honours degree in only six years –and now has started a PhD;
• a former school cleaner who is now a school-teacher;
• an ex-policeman who had to retire due to two strokes but has now become a qualified gym instructor;
• a deaf man who has completed his FA coaching qualifications and now coaches the Royal Society for the Deaf Football Team;
• a 95 year old man who is learning how to use computers;
• a beauty therapist who’s changed careers and is now a car mechanic.

During last year’s Adult Learners’ Week over 8,000 learning events took place, attracting around 100,000 visitors and participants. Every year adults will get a taste of learning in colleges, shops and supermarkets, factories and businesses, libraries and museums, community and adult education centres. 

Some events already organised for this year include, Medieval Martial Arts at Kenilworth Castle, singing, holiday languages, forensic science, Welding for Women, horse riding and family history alongside computers and digital photography, creative writing, architectural drawing, Monks’ Meals and What We Eat Now, taxidermy and improving your maths. The Army are also planning to hold a special event at their base at Basra Air Station in Iraq. Further details of the events on offer are available from the online calendar of events at: www.alw.org.uk/calendar (external link)

And this year sees the inaugural Dance Off 2008  with over 100 events due to take place across the country to celebrate Cultural Diversity Weekend. The dances range from ballroom, salsa, belly dance, Jewish wedding dance, American smooth style waltz to Latin cha cha, Argentine tango, rumba, samba and Kathak.