Digital Stories
North Wales Digital Stories
Older and Bolder
Getting involved in learning activities has many benefits for older people and yet the percentage of people who are learners rapidly declines with age. This project aims to highlight the benefits to policy and decision makers, learning providers and older people themselves in an attempt to increase both the amount and range of provision and encourage participation.
We are pleased to receive support from the Welsh Assembly Government
and from Esmee
Fairbairn Foundation in order to achieve our aims.
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Click here to see summaries from our Older Learners Email Discussion Group
NIACE Dysgu Cymru Inspire Awards 2008
Senior Learner of the Year Award Winner - Margaret Williams
Young at heart in Trelewis
81-year old Margaret Williams of Trelewis wanted to keep her mind active and alert as she progressed through her senior years. Her positive outlook on life is reflected through her work as secretary of the ‘Stay Young at Heart’ community group that provides a learning lifeline to local, older residents who feel isolated.
Through the group Maggie has been involved in a number of different courses and training programmes and has encouraged others to return to learning. Maggie has completed courses on healthy cooking, gardening, flower arranging and glass painting.
Maggie says: “You are never too old to learn. I really feel the health benefits and positive impacts on the quality of my life from continuing to learning later in life. Since starting the group in 1987 we have grown from 11 to 35 members and have held talks on pensions, care and repair, Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil and Health Alliance to name just a few topics. We now complete over 30 weeks of tutored learning and 10 weeks of specialist guest talks a year.”
Sherelle Jones, Communities First Coordinator for Bedlinog and Trelewis, nominated Margaret for the award. Sherelle says: “The group offers a lifeline to individuals that live in isolated areas and have found themselves excluded from other social activities. Margaret gives up her personal time to arrange and organise many different events and activities, such as educational workshops, day trips, health and pamper days and guest speaker evenings.
