Calderdale Adult Learning (part of Calderdale Council): Resource Management in the Community

An Excellence Gateway case study

Published 19 August 2008

This case study was produced by JISC RSC (Regional Support Centres) Yorkshire and Humber on behalf of the Excellence Gateway

Sector relevance: Adult and Community Learning

Keywords: ACL, Learning for Leisure, Family Learning, ICT, Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Good Practice, Planning and Resources

Summary

Calderdale Adult Learning (part of Calderdale Council) is piloting a new approach to managing community resources. The idea is to give the community ownership over the management and learning in the centre. They provide the equipment but the community groups decide how they are going to use it and what training.

About Calderdale Adult Learning

Calderdale Adult Learning is tasked with providing residents of Calderdale with a wide range of learning activities and courses. Learning takes place at adult and community learning centres in Todmorden, Sowerby Bridge, Brighouse and Halifax, and primary and secondary schools throughout Calderdale. Calderdale Adult Learning has around 100 courses available on subjects ranging from GCSE Maths and Italian for Holidays to Meditation and Bread Making.

The challenge

The challenge was to make the most out of the equipment gained as a result of the successful capital bid. It was also to empower community groups in a deprived area to manage their own learning using these resources. The emphasis was to have the drive from the community and focus on what would be most useful to them, rather than having a Council imposed solution.

The activity

Calderdale Adult Learning was successful in a Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC) funding bid. They called upon the JISC Regional Support Centre for Yorkshire & Humber for help in deciding the best resources to obtain for learning in the community. This equipment included PCs, laptops, satellite navigation systems, a Smartboard, digital cameras, iPods, video cameras, webcams, and an Apple Mac.

A room was refurbished in the Lower Valley Resource Base, managed by Calderdale Adult Learning, to house the equipment. A steering group to oversee the running of the resource was set up and is managed by Voluntary Action Calderdale, which has contacts with over 100 community organisations in the area. The committee includes local community group organisers and aims to engage stakeholders from the local authority and council for voluntary service. A launch event was organised to introduce local groups to the types of equipment available and suggestions on how the equipment could be used.

The outcomes

Community groups can book the space at the Resource Centre and use the resources free of charge. They are also able to loan the equipment free of charge. Calderdale Adult Learning has committed to provide training on how to use the equipment to large enough groups.

The impact

Many types of group in the area have felt the impact.

• Established organised groups (e.g. Scouts): Brighouse has six Scout groups of almost 500 Scouts. Derek, Scout Administrator for Brighouse District, estimates that about a third do not have computers. The main bonus of this resource would be in giving full access to all Scouts. He highlighted how loaning equipment from the Resource Centre would allow Scouts to make video and voice diaries and take photographs whilst on trips. All can contribute to recording the trip and then post-trip activities are enhanced by collaboration in producing displays and presentations.
• Voluntary groups: Organisers of voluntary groups can now save costs on printing, laminators, producing newsletters, etc. They can now use the Resource Centre instead of using their own equipment. Learning new skills such as putting together a newsletter or designing a poster or flyer saves them time and money and brings different community groups together on the courses. There is also the capacity for the group leaders to then train others and share the load. It also helps to better promote the community groups. Pauline, organiser of a group for 16-25 year olds, commented how it is “a really good resource”.
• Learners/Individuals: Individual learners in the Centre have registered their appreciation of the new facilities. Learners who prefer to learn in the environment of the Resource Centre are given the same access to resources and the internet that learners in FE and other formal learning institutions have. One learner with special educational needs who was present at the launch event was enthusiastic about being able to use these resources in his preferred learning environment. Individuals are also able to loan equipment for their own use.
• The Community: By placing the council-managed resource centre at the heart of a deprived community, while giving the community ownership over the management and learning, the Resource Centre can become a true centre of informal, personalised learning.

Useful links

• Calderdale Adult Learning website
  
  
• Voluntary Action Calderdale
• For more information about this case study, email the JISC Regional Support Centre for Yorkshire & Humber.

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