Pitman Brown leads the Learning Revolutionaries

“My Black in Beautiful” is Winifred’s project (adapted from the American project)- deals with journalising thoughts, dealing with perceptions and dealing with the media to help positive portrayal.

How to engage and how to learn …

Pitman Brown – performance poet had the crowd rapping about “following the vision he sees”

Great idea this – Learning Circles in care homes are a perfect way to bring new conversations and new recollections … wonderful example from the midlands for Learning Circle for reminiscence … started from 2 people and now 10

a wonderful

Living With Pain – share ideas and techniques, relaxation techniques, dancing, creative dancing

Cookery Clubs

Living With Loneliness – getting mature people out to come together once a week – this group is self sustaining and works for the whole of England. The London lady who started it looked to ‘get back to basics and get people meeting face to face’

Ideas were so interesting and engaging it motivated people to join.

“It would be a shame for the project to finish … people are just starting their journey … “

Free venues are crucial for Learning Revolutionaries.

Valerie Chengaose set up a learning circle to share dancing from around the world and shared it with all of us

Also a wonderful learning circle to help people set up business.

Zoe Buser and Noriko are artists from London and work with people with mental health problems – wonderful learning circle using tearing paper techniques – one of the learners came up and stressed the fun and the satsifaction of Japanese Paper Tearing and collage.

Gladys Mapanda set up Learning Circles to help build women’s confidence in how they dress and present themselves and also another to share cooking skills form around the world.

“somehow we do need to take this forward WEA needs to continue to support the Learning Revoltion”

“For me it was an experience and for the learners it was a journey” … Tamina Khan developed a Learning Circle for Asian women in the community, these women don’t have access to more formal forms of learning.

Heather Johnson from Yorkshire and Humber talking of how the project has inspired people.

Different types of circle:

GOD circle – growing old disgracefully

Putting the World to Rights

Geocaching – using sat navs

the ticking clock has been a pain but it would be great if we could carry on.. .

“WEA is quirky and this project is even more quirky!!”

Disabled people coming together on a project in Doncaster says Toyah Wordsworth.

Very moving hearing Ann Dawbor talk about setting up a Learning Circle for people suffering from cancer  after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in December. In their Circle they have discussed the social service financial  benefits that are available, sharing information on headscarves, partnership working … really helping each other.

Clare Caves the event co-ordinator talked about the fact that learning circles help develop confidence and linking people together – people with learning disabilities getting circles together in London is a great example of how we can help each other.

European Social Fund is about tackling disadvantage – some of their funds need to be released to work with projects such as Learning Revolutionaries.

We must fight for equal opportunities for learning – not just about having letters after your name to be a teacher says Ray Phillips from the European Anti-Poverty Network.