Everything from digital literacy and essential skills to cookery and calligraphy will be on offer across South Wales during Adult Learners’ Week from September 21 to 27.
Hundreds of free online and in-person courses, events, activities and learning opportunities are being offered across Wales to boost people’s career prospects, skills, confidence and wellbeing.
Adult learning providers and community organisations are contributing to the ‘Never Stop Learning’ campaign theme by helping people discover new opportunities.
Adults are being encouraged to embrace opportunities to discover their passion for learning, brush up on their skills, improve their health and wellbeing, progress their career, or seek tailored advice and information on funding or specialised career pathways.
Adult Learners’ Week is co-ordinated by Learning and Work Institute in partnership with Welsh Government with support from The Open University in Wales, National Centre for Learning Welsh, ACT, Agored Cymru and Adult Learning Wales.
All activities are listed at https://adultlearnersweek.wales/ and promoted throughout September via Working Wales -https://workingwales.gov.wales/change-your-story/adult-learners-week .
Adult Learners’ Week aims to make learning and skills opportunities more accessible to everyone and inspire people to discover how learning can change their lives.
The week provides an opportunity for people to embrace a second chance at education and work. Adults of all ages will have the opportunity to start or resume their learning journey with new in-person courses and online sessions at entry level throughout September.
A highlight of the week is the Inspire! Adult Learning Awards, which this year will be held at the Coal Exchange, Cardiff on September 23. The awards recognise those who have demonstrated a commitment to never stop learning.
Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Cefin Campbell MS, said: “Adult Learners’ Week celebrates the life-changing power of learning. Every day, adults across Wales are gaining new skills, growing in confidence and opening up new opportunities for themselves, their families and their communities.
“I am proud organisations across Wales are working together to support Adult Learners’ Week and inspire more people to take the next step on their learning journey. Whether you’re learning to progress in work, trying something new or building your confidence, my message is simple: Never Stop Learning.”
Michelle Matheron, Learning and Work Institute Director for Wales, added: “Free and available to everyone, Adult Learners’ Week is a chance to inspire adults to take a first step into learning, celebrate learner achievements and make local opportunities easier to find.
“Learning providers and community organisations of all types are taking part this year to offer chances to adults to discover learning opportunities. An event held in Adult Learners’ Week may be the spark that helps someone to rediscover the joy of learning or boosts their confidence to try something new.”
Here’s a flavour of events and activities that will be going on across South Wales during the week:
Cardiff and Vale College is running family learning workshops, designed to give adults extra skills to support their children, 72 primary schools and community setting across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
For those interested in taking up sewing, Repair Care Wales is holding a free workshop for beginners at University of South Wales in Cardiff on September 24 from 5pm to 7pm.
Elsewhere in the capital, Finch Creative Wellbeing CIC is hold a series of free sustainable crafting workshops at Lark Design Make in Cathays and the Mackintosh Sports Club, Roath during the week.
Torfaen Adult Community Learning is running an introduction to astronomy taster course at Croesyceiliog Community Education Centre on September 23 from 7pm to 9pm while Aneurin Leisure is holding a wide range of community events in Ebbw Vale and surrounding area during the week.
NPTC Group of Colleges is holding information events at Aberafan Shopping Centre on September 22 and Morrisons store in Neath on September 24, both from 10am to 2pm.
A community open evening will also be held at Brecon Beacons College, Y Gaer, Watton Mount and The Coach House, Ship Street on September 30 from 5pm to 7pm, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the new facilities, meet staff and discover the wide range of courses available.
Coleg Sir Gâr and Coleg Ceredigion are holding free adult learning taster sessions at Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli from 5.30pm to 7pm on September 22 and 23 from 5pm to 7pm.
Gower College Swansea is holding a wide range of free taster sessions, including in art, crafts, digital skills, horticulture and essential qualifications, to name a few, throughout Adult Learners’ Week. Full details at: https://www.gcs.ac.uk/courses/part-time/adult-learners-week-free-taster-sessions#courses .
Bridgend College’s Pencoed Campus is holding an Adult Learners’ Fair from 12pm to 6pm on September 22.
Healthy Working Wales is holding a free, online Ready, Set, Thrive workshop on September 29 from 10am to 12pm for anyone aged 16-24 who is about to start their first job, or has recently started work. Visit: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/2fbb83a5-4059-416f-bc08-c0c2b1ced7ee@bb5628b8-e328-4082-a856-433c9edc8fae/registration .
Amgueddfa Cymru /Museum Wales is celebrating Adult Learners Week across its seven museums, with a diverse programme of opportunities for adult learners on offer throughout the month.
Welsh and ESOL learner resources, mindful guides and trails, 360 films of galleries and historic buildings and exciting heritage trails and folklore booklets await visitors.
There will also be a one hour free tour for blind and visually impaired visitors at the National Roman Museum in Caerleon on Wednesday and Friday.
Way Out West (WOW) is hold life-saving CPR awareness sessions in Milford Haven on September 21 from 1pm to 3pm and in Pembroke Dock on September 27 from 11am to 1pm
