Welcome to the March edition of Get Connected: the email newsletter from Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES). Spring is finally here and we’re loving seeing the sunshine make a reappearance. As well as looking forward to picnics in the park, being able to leave our coats at home, and eating too many chocolate eggs, we’re also excited for all the new courses we have starting after Easter!
Coming up in this edition: a review of a confidence workshop at Manchester Art Gallery, learn about food sustainability with Sow the City, hear about our innovative Digital Nature courses, and catch the last of our intensive health and social care courses for 21-22.
Gain a new qualification this summer
Starting from April, MAES will be delivering a range of accredited courses for you to choose from, all of which are free to Manchester residents who are aged 19+.
Find out more and apply at the links below:
Community Interpreting courses
Counselling & Mental Health courses
Digital Skills and IT courses
Teaching Assistant courses
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Uncertain Futures
At Manchester Art Gallery, our Make it Happen team recently delivered an outstanding session on the theme of Confident Language at Work.
This was the fourth in a series of employment-focused events for Manchester women created in partnership with Uncertain Futures, a participatory artwork that seeks to highlight issues around paid and unpaid work for women over 50, focusing on gender, age, race, disability and class.
This 2-hour workshop supported women to identify and talk about their strengths; focused on celebrating personal wins and successes; and suggested ways to approach work environments with confidence.
The feedback from the learners was resoundingly positive. Here is just some of it:
“It was so inspiring, refreshing and uplifting that I am still thinking about it all day today. Perfectly organised, well-thought-out and unobtrusive, conducted in a gentle and playful manner; it easily forced us to think about questions whose meaning we sometimes fail to notice in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”
“What an uplifting morning! It's safe to say everyone thoroughly enjoyed the session. It was great to see everyone interacting and sharing stories and ideas. Your facilitation skills and enthusiasm helped make the session, so thank you again!”
We had a wonderful time too and look forward to hosting more events like this in the future!
Catch the Food Wave
Our friends at Sow the City have an exciting opportunity for 20 committed and enthusiastic young people (18-35 years old) to join the Food Wave programme for Manchester. Successful applicants will attend 6 x half-day sessions to discover greener ways to grow and eat food. The course starts on 27th April 2022 and runs for one afternoon each week for six weeks (1pm-4pm). It will be taught and facilitated by Sow the City, Met Munch and a variety of other Manchester-based environmental organisations.
Participants will attend in-person lectures at Manchester Metropolitan University, work on environmental projects and events, and develop campaigns about food production and climate change. Food Wave will provide digital communication skills, involvement in community projects, and enable you to connect with other young people across Europe.
If you would like to apply, please complete the Food Wave application form online by 5pm on Friday 15th April. We are particularly interested in applications from people from different backgrounds and food cultures. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance.
For more information about this opportunity contact Frankie at frankie@sowthecity.org or ring 0161 465 6954.
Digital Nature
Following a very successful pilot course last year, we are delighted to offer 3 more Digital Nature courses this spring. This outdoor digital skills & wellbeing course looks at using apps to identify species, taking professional nature photos, supporting local biodiversity and practising mindfulness outdoors.
The learners from 2021 had a fantastic time on the course and made lasting friendships. They learned about the different species in Whitworth Park, developed the art of letting nature come to them, took part in some forest bathing, and even went on a behind-the-scenes trip to Manchester Museum to find out how exhibits are digitised. After the course had finished, they didn’t want their experience to end and so they continued to meet each other in the park for outdoor yoga sessions.
Here is what they told us of their course:
“We had a great tutor who was very knowledgeable, patient and great fun. Our visits to the park were a joy and we took some great photographs of interest.”
“Very informative on nature, helped us to learn about our surroundings and the effect of climate change and why we need biodiversity.”
“Well-structured and taught, it was an introduction to real life skills”
If you, or someone you know, would like to join us for Digital Nature this year, here are the details of the courses starting after Easter:
19th April - 24th May Tuesdays 10am to 1pm at Newton Heath Library and Rochdale canal (in partnership with Canal & River Trust). There will be an info and enrolment session at Newton Heath Library on Tues 29th March 1pm to 2.30pm.
20th April - 25th May Wednesdays 10am to 12pm at Old Moat Park (in partnership with Withington Assist)
21st April - 26th May Thursdays 9.30am to 11.45am at Whitworth Park and 12.30pm to 2.45pm at Greenheys Adult Learning Centre, Moss Side
Contact kate.harrison@manchester.gov.uk or 07814 041432 to enrol and for more information.
Last chance to catch our intensive courses!
Did you know that the health and social care sector is one of the biggest and fastest-growing employers in Manchester?
At MAES, one of our primary objectives is to support adults in Manchester into secure employment and so we have developed a whole range of Level 1 to Level 3 intensive courses to equip people with the skills they need to start their careers in health and social care. From L1 Preparing to Work in Schools to L3 in Mental Health, we have something for everyone looking to progress their career and employment prospects.
To apply for our courses, we now have a simple form on our website. After completing this 5 minute form, an admin team member will invite you in for an advice and guidance session, where you can talk to a teacher from your chosen area and be placed on the right course for you.
All intensive courses start after the Easter holidays, so please don’t delay if you want to secure your place!
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