ADULT LEARNERS' WEEK May 2010

Adult Learners' Week is a national event which runs every year during May to engage new learners through a range of free taster sessions.

In May 2010, the Aspire Centre delivered a range of taster sessions to celebrate this event. We ran 13 tasters during the week in Art & Design (Jewellery making, Art, Pottery, Textiles; Creative Media (Digital SLR, Web Design, Jobsearch Skills); Sport (Archery, Dance Afreaka, Sailing, Rock Climbing); Cookery and Carpentry, Electrics & Plumbing. 46 learners took part in the event, with 30 of these being new to the Centre and there were 57 enrolments.

Here are some of the quotes from learners who took part in the event:

"CHEF WAS VERY PATIENT AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING VERY WELL, GOOD EXAMPLES. DINNER PARTY WAS FAB AT THE END OF THE SESSION. CHEF WAS EXCELLENT AND HIS APPROACH TO EXPLAINING METHODS OF COOKING INGREDIENTS AND THEIR ACCOMPANIEMENTS WAS FANTASTIC." (Cookery)

"GREAT, WELL PACED AND CONFIDENCE BUILDING" (Rock climbing)

"FANTASTIC TEACHER - I AM EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH WHAT WAS ACHIEVED & THE STANDARD OF TEACHING. ENJOYED THE COURSE & VERY PLEASED WITH THE FINISHED RESULT." (Jewellery-making)

"ELECTRICS & PLUMBING SECTIONS WERE EXCELLENT & TUTOR WAS VERY HELPFUL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE AND OUR LEADER WAS BOMBARDED WITH DIY QUESTIONS." (Carpentry, Plumbing & Electrics)

NATIONAL FAMILY WEEK - 31st May to 6th June 2010

National Family Week is a national event which runs every year during May half-term top engage families to participate in learning through a range of free short courses/activites.

During May half-term 2010, the Aspire Centre deliverd a range of activities for families to celebrate this event in partnership with the CLC, NHS, Wimbledon Park Lake and Wandsworth Family Learning.

These included:

• Family Cookery/Healthy Eating - in partnership with Hannah Bracey, Extended Schools Southfields cluster Health Team Lead;
• Family Fun Watersports - held off-site at Wimbledon Park Lake;
• Family Movie Film Academy, Family iPhoto Slideshow, Family Flash Animation, Family Photography - all held in the CLC;
• Family Fun Jewellery-making;
• Family Box-Fit;
• Family Climbing;
• 2 Parenting workshops - Internet safety and Street gang awareness both led by Carole Gray, Southfields Parent Champion and in partnership with outside agencies.

We also hosted our first "Dads in the Picture" event to target dads/male carers to take part in activites with their children and to introduce them to the Aspire Centre with a view to them attending further activities/courses. We ran a range of activities throughout the day and divided the activities into those with under 5s and those with children aged 5+. For dads/male carers and children aged 5+, we delivered Cookery, Crafts/Textiles, Pottery, Rock Climbing and for dads/male carers and children under 5, we delivered Music & Movement & Storytelling. At the end of the day there was an opportunity for all families to take home a decorated photograph capturing their time at the fun day - here are some of the quotes from the parents at the end of the day:

"GOOD FUN, EVENT DAY." "REALLY HELPFUL, FUN SESSION - ART SESSION." "EXCELLENT STAFF. THIS IS SUCH A GOOD IDEA FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOOK AFTER KIDS." "THE DAY WAS VERY ENJOYABLE FOR THE CHILDREN. THE LUNCH & FOOD WAS LOVELY & EVERYBODY WAS FRIENDLY!"

Overall, 123 parents attended 12 courses/activites at the Aspire Centre during National Family Week. The parents came from several Southfields Cluster primary schools and here's what they thought:

"WE REALLY ENJOYED THE SESSION, THE SELECTION OF FOOD, WITH DIFFERENT COLOUR, TASTE AND TEXTURES. THE RECIPES WERE DOABLE FOR AGES. FAB FUN! - VERY ENJOYABLE COURSE. TAUGHT BOTH OF US ABOUT HEALTHY EATING. MY SON LOVED THE COOKING AND WE WILL COOK AT HOME MORE OFTEN - MANY THANKS." FAMILY COOKERY/HEALTHY EATING

"THE COURSE ORGANISER WAS REALLY HELPFUL. IT WAS A LOVELY CHANCE FOR OUR FAMILY TO WORK TOGETHER. WE ALL REALLY ENJOYED THE COURSE, THE CHILDREN TRIED SOMETHING WHICH THEY HAVE NOT DONE BEFORE AND FOUND IT A VERY GOOD CHALLENGE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH."FAMILY CLIMBING