Welcome to the August edition of Get Connected.
At MAES we are preparing to welcome learners, both new and returning, to the 2022/23 academic year. We have lots of new courses on offer this year and lots of exciting projects in the pipeline!
Find out about what we have been up to below and read about some of the new opportunities on offer. For more information visit manadulted.org.uk
We had an amazing time at the first ever MAESFest! Designed as a community celebration of adult learning to mark the 30th anniversary of Manchester Adult Education Service (MAES), the free festival day was a great success.
On a sunny Saturday in July, over 800 learners, staff and members of the community came to our Greenheys Adult Learning Centre in Moss Side where they were treated to a whole range of entertainment. There was music from Reform Radio’s DJs and local performers; bhangra dancers and dhol drummers; nature sessions with Thrive and Growing Manchester; circus skills workshops from The Circus House; African drumming with Creative Hands Foundation; stilt walkers, face painters and a henna artist; wellbeing workshops from The Proper Job Theatre Company; and lots of delicious street food - including Wrays and Cupcakes of Kindness.
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who made it such an enjoyable day. Here’s hoping it’s the first of many!
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New Level 2 pathways for Digital Skills
Whether you need to learn office skills to boost your career or want to promote your business online, we have the qualifications for you.
If you want to join one of the fast-growing sectors in Manchester, then get skilled up with our brand new Level 2 Digital Marketing course. You will learn about the impact of digital technologies on employment, research successful marketing strategies and design your own social media marketing campaign.
Or if you want something which will help you in a range of jobs, why not choose the Level 2 Digital Skills for Work course? This course will develop your practical IT skills and working knowledge of common software applications. You will learn the importance of digital skills in the workplace and improve your digital skills to meet your intended workplace goals, including a focus on spreadsheet software tools and techniques to aid productivity.
Both courses are free for adults living in Greater Manchester. L2 Digital Marketing is only available at Abraham Moss Centre, Crumpsall (in our newly refurbished marketing classroom). L2 Digital Skills for Work is available at Greenheys Centre, Moss Side and Forum Centre, Wythenshawe.
Free Level 3 qualifications for 2022-23
In the academic year 22/23, MAES will be increasing the number of Level 3 courses that it offers across the city. Level 3 qualifications are the equivalent to A-Levels and are suitable for people that want to take their studies further or secure a better job now or in the future.
The subjects that we will be offering at Level 3 include:
- Level 3 Core Maths
- Health and Social Care
- Understanding Mental Health
- Counselling Skills
- Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
- Leadership and Management
- Assessing Vocational Achievement
- Education and Training (for teaching/training adults)
- Digital Marketing (coming in January)
To apply for a Level 3 course, you will need to already have a Level 2 qualification (GCSE or equivalent).
On the 7th and 8th of September, we are running some information and progression sessions for people who are interested in applying for a Level 3 course or who just want to find out more. To register for one of these sessions please complete the form.
End of year presentation for STEP
We have come to the end of the academic year on our STEP programme. This is a partnership between MAES and Pure Innovations designed to help young people with learning disabilities become more independent and confident young adults by engaging in a range of different courses and work experience. We also have individual one-to-one provision called PEP.
Our new head of service, Brian Henry, attended a special event to present certificates to all the STEP and PEP learners in recognition of all their hard work over the past year. They have shown amazing resilience during the challenges of settling back into a routine after the disruption caused by the pandemic. We are so proud of all of them.
The students prepared and planned the day, making photo props and posters of their hard work to display. On the day they had a great time collecting their achievement awards in the Mess Cafe. We also had presentations from the NHS who awarded 3 learners for their help in the NHS hand wash programme (watch out for these posters being displayed in your local NHS services). After the awards, we partied the afternoon away!
Some learner comments from this year include: “it’s fun”, “A*” and “staff help me”. We have also had lots of positive feedback from families, such as “Due to COVID it has been a very difficult time for learners and staff. However the staff have shown that they care and have been extremely helpful with any issues that learners or family members may have.” and “X has become more vocal and confident.”
We look forward to our new venture over at Withington and welcome anyone to pop along and see what amazing work we all create together.
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