International Adult Learners Week
in Europe

Network of Learning festivals

United Kingdom

Adult Learners’ Week

Adult Learners' Week is an opportunity to celebrate, promote and advance all forms of adult learning and is co-ordinated by NIACE, the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education. NIACE also co-ordinates the biannual Sign Up Now campaign.

With its nationwide promotional campaign and its high profile activities, ALW offers organisations a framework within which to promote what they do.

NIACE is the largest organisation working to promote the interests of learners and potential learners in England and Wales and, since 1992, we have brought together a diverse range of private, public and voluntary bodies to celebrate learners – in all their diversity – and recognise their achievements during ALW. Through high-profile media campaigns, conferences and parliamentary activity, the Week is an important means of showcasing the ways in which we can create and maintain a more skilled and knowledgeable workforce whilst at the same time building learning communities in which people can explore shared enthusiasms and work together as active citizens.

With events taking place across the country – in shops, cafes, museums, libraries, prisons, colleges and parks – and with a dedicated telephone helpline for learners which receives thousands of calls during the Week, the benefits of taking part in courses, events and activities during ALW can be highlighted to a huge range of audiences – young and old – in communities the length and breadth of the country.

ALW is an opportunity for all organisations that offer any form of adult learning activity to either present a special promotional activity, or to label their existing learning activities as 'Adult Learners Week' activities.

The Week is celebrated at a national level with conferences and through activities organised regionally.
Click here for the online calendar of events.
Learners are encouraged to call the national helpline, learndirect, on 0800 100 900, for information on ALW events in their neighbourhood. See www.learndirect.co.uk

The winners of the ALW awards are celebrated at the national conferences. The ALW award winners are powerful advocates to motivate others. They show that learning does not stop with initial schooling and that, with determination, many barriers may be overcome.

Themes are set each year to provide a ‘hook’ for events – although local organisers are not compelled to use them, many find them a valuable resource. The themes in 2005 and 2006 include/d

• Culture, community and citizenship
• Equality and diversity
• Learning and health
• Skills for life (including Media Literacy and financial literacy).
• Learning in a global context.

Learning at Work Day is co-ordinated by the Campaign for Learning and is on the Thursday of ALW. It is an opportunity for organisations to show their commitment to staff development and give their workforce the opportunity to break from routine and learn something new. For more information on how you can get involved, visit the website www.learningatworkday.com

Local co-ordinators plan and deliver events on the ground and promote them on the website. Click here for the online calendar of events.

The Week enjoys the support of broadcasters. To find examples of what Channel 4, the BBC and ITV do for Adult Learners’ Week, visit the broadcasters page.

ALW receives significant core support from the Department for Education and Skills and the European Social Fund

Contact

Francisca Martinez
NIACE
Renaissance House
20 Princess Road West
Leicester LE1 6TP
United Kingdom

Adult Learners' Week
www.niace.org.uk/alw