A time of change - let’s help make it for the better

Reading University is running down its School of Continuing Education- but over two years (2009/10 and 2010/11). Meanwhile local people have re-founded Reading WEA (and are running courses from late September 2009) and Oxford University are expected to start running courses in Reading from autumn 2010. Moreover, many local organisations are running courses and other events which are a treasure trove if only we knew they were happening. And increasingly our local authorities (particularly Reading Borough) are taking seriously their responsibility not only for running their own mainly skills-based courses, but for helping other suppliers of brain food to co-ordinate and co-operate.

Reading-ACE (Action for Continuing Education) was stimulated into existence by the threat of closure of the Reading University School of Continuing Education. Our main focus is “informal adult learning”- people who are prepared to find time to stretch their brains in the evenings (if working in the day) or in the day (if retired, or working a shift pattern that makes room for it). Perhaps you want to see beyond what you’re used to; perhaps you want to follow an interest; perhaps you’re thinking of making a big change in your life, and want to dip your toe in the water. Maybe your interest is in local archaeology or the recent history or Europe; maybe you want to use mind-maps or understand more about jazz; maybe you work with things and want to understand more about people, or work with people and want to explore some aspect of science. Maybe you want to understand what different people mean by “faith”. Or maybe you want to get out on a Wednesday to break up the week!

Mostly our focus has been on academic courses, but we understand that Lesley Reilly of “New Directions” has made the intriguing suggestion that we look for potential pairings of academic and skills courses. Understand painters and have the option of signing up too to try your hand with a brush? Study Samian pottery and have the option of signing up too to try your hand at making a pot? An intriguing idea.

Many who like to follow (or challenge themselves with, or explore) academic short courses in Reading had a shock when Reading University announced that they planned to withdraw the excellent School that they had built up over decades. Now we can see that the future of this kind of activity in the Reading area can be better, not worse. But there’s many a slip… It won’t happen unless lots of people keep their eye out for courses (and sign up if they can). It won’t happen if past and potential tutors don’t keep researching subjects and offering courses. And it won’t happen if local voluntary and professional organisations don’t work at it (and those volunteers don’t give their time, and share the work so that it is rewarding rather than a burden).

So- if you are a potential student who’d like to hear about classes, or a tutor who might be able to offer them, or a potential volunteer who might help out… if you’re not already in touch with us, please sign up on this website on the “Contacts” page.

John Mullaney (chair of Reading-ACE) has consulted the committee about the future of what started as a campaigning group. All who have replied see a future for the group, He is putting together the various ideas expressed as a discussion document. It is likely that this website will be maintained in 2009/10, perhaps to give news of developments in informal adult learning in this area, to give pointers to places where you can find details of courses and events offered, and to allow local students (and local tutors) to sign up for more.