Session 6 – 12th April – 14.15 – 15.05
Title of Presentation: Partnerships – the sum of their parts
Presenter: Alyson Jenkins
Organisation: Carmarthenshire Learning Network
Summary:
Linking in to the conference themes:
The Carmarthenshire Learning Network is a 2-year project supported by the European Social Fund (ESF). It is a partnership of 10 learning and community organizations and its aim is to widen participation in post 16 learning in Carmarthenshire. The Learning Network is engaging with individuals and groups who have not previously participated in learning, to find out about needs, help people overcome barriers to learning and provide supported learning opportunities in local communities. The project is successful; it is reaching its targets and providing a great deal of added value for people and communities as well as providers and partners. The report will highlight the processes, the challenges and successes in reaching learners and in developing, maintaining and strengthening partnership working.
The project began by mapping the existing provision in the county and identifying the geographical gaps. The team got to know people and communities and they formed relationships – they began creating a learning network. 6 community learning officers are based in the 6 network areas of the county and co-ordinate the 6 community learning fora. The learning fora are where partners and providers come together to share information, discuss ideas and strategically plan local provision of adult and community learning, they are vital to the partnership approach. A voluntary-sector learning officer is based at CAVS (Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services) and works through the voluntary sector to reach marginalized and vulnerable groups. In order to engage with people, the project runs taster sessions and days. Here, a range of activities are on offer and people come along to ‘have a go’ in an informal and friendly setting. The learning officers meet people and find out about needs and barriers to learning and documentation has been developed to record this information and use the data for planning provision. The report will highlight some examples of the ways in which the project has worked and collaborated with others to put on tasters and courses.
Inclusive learning relies on an innovative and responsive curriculum, which is being developed through learners, project staff, providers and tutors. The way that the project has facilitated and supported change through partnership working will be discussed in the report.
Partnership enabled the project to exist and continuing partnerships and good relationships are central to the success of the Learning Network. The report will discuss the benefits and challenges of partnership working and the ways in which partnerships at all levels are evolving.