Celebrating Adult Learners' Week
Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) joined in celebrations for this years’ Adult Learners’ Week – which runs from 14 – 20 June 2014 – by inviting their staff, service users and people living in Greater Manchester to find out about all the learning opportunities available at the Trust.
The event took place on 18 June at the Bolton Whites Hotel and celebrated the learning achievements of GMW’s staff and service users and the difference this makes to individual, to patient and to organisational wellbeing.
Students from GMW’s different learning programmes – Health and Social Care Apprenticeships, Leadership and Management, Recovery Academy, Alcohol & Substance Misuse Specialist Training, British Sign Language Training, Mental Health Nurse, Assistant Practitioner and Mentorship Training, and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Training - who had achieved a qualification in the past 12 months, were awarded with a certificate of achievement.
During the event, delegates heard from tutors about the different learning opportunities that are available to staff, service users and the general public across the Trust. The event raised awareness about the Trust’s Recovery Academy, an educational centre that provides a range of free educational courses and resources for anyone who wants to increase their knowledge and understanding of mental health and substance misuse, as well as the apprenticeships and training available for people looking to begin or develop their career in the NHS.
Adult Learners’ Week celebrates the transformational power of lifelong learning through activities and events such as the one held by GMW. Run by NIACE, Adult Learners’ Week forms part of a Festival of Learning; an initiative from the wider education sector during May and June that offers thousands of opportunities to learn something new and discover how learning can transform lives. Throughout the Festival of Learning, NIACE will be inviting people to take on a challenge to learn something new, and then pass it on to others by talking about their experience.
At GMW’s event, delegates were encouraged to learn something new or brush up their skills in a particular area by attending courses like the Academy’s new English, Maths or IT courses, which develops students confidence and skills in a vast range of everyday and workplace situations.
Adults who want to gain an English qualification can sign up to 10-week programme or attend specific sessions of interest to them to improve their reading, writing, speaking and listening English skills. The Basic English Skills course sessions are three hours long and are being held from 4 July to 26 September 2014 at Gloucester House, Back Duncan Street, Salford, Manchester M7 2EY. Phone 0161 772 3782, email recoveryacademy@gmmh.nhs.uk or visit www.gmmh.nhs.uk/recovery to book your place or find out about other courses available.
Claire Watson, Recovery Academy Lead for GMW, said: “We are incredibly proud of the courses that we offer at GMW and the achievements of our learners every year, and Adult Learners’ Week is a great way to recognise this and engage more people with the work we do.
“We know that adults who continue to learn throughout their lives are healthier, happier and have greater self-confidence and self-esteem. Our Recovery Academy offers a wide and varied range of Adult Learning courses, so we would encourage anyone that is thinking about trying something new to have a look at our prospectus and discover how learning could change their life.”
David Hughes, CEO of NIACE, commented: “The Festival of Learning, culminating in Adult Learners’ Week, offers opportunities for people to learn and to discover how learning can transform lives.
“We want people of all ages to take this opportunity to have a go at learning something new, then to pass it on by telling others about their experience. I hope that people take advantage of this event and recognise that you’re never too old to learn.”
Ends
For media enquiries, contact the press office on 0161 772 3986 or email clare.thompson@gmmh.nhs.uk
For more information about Adult Learners’ Week, please contact Hannah.Mackenzie@fourcolmangetty.com or Zoe.Penn@fourcolmangetty.com or call 020 3697 4200.
Notes to editors
1. Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) provides district mental health services in Bolton, Salford and Trafford. GMW also provides substance misuse services in Salford, Trafford, Wigan and Leigh, Blackburn with Darwen, Central Lancashire and Cumbria. GMW delivers specialist mental health and substance misuse inpatient services throughout Greater Manchester and the wider North. www.gmmh.nhs.uk
2. Two photos are attached to this press release:
• Photo 2 Left to Right: Alan Maden, GMW Chair, with Dr. Mary Shinner, Director of GMW’s Psychological Therapies Training Centre. For higher resolution images, please get in touch.
About Adult Learners’ Week
Adult Learners’ Week (14-20 June 2014) celebrates the transformational power of lifelong learning through activities and events. Run by NIACE, Adult Learners’ Week demonstrates the dynamic personal, social and professional benefits of adult learning. Adult Learners’ Week is backed by hundreds of supporters, partners and funders including the European Social Fund (ESF), Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, BBC, Edge Foundation and NOCN. The Festival of Learning throughout May and June will give individuals, families, communities and workplaces the opportunity to take part in activities and celebrate learning achievements.
To find out more about what is happening and how you can get involved, please visit www.alw.org.uk
