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Education brings untold rewards, whatever your age. As Adult Learners’ Week takes place in Wales from 20th to 26th September, we take a look at the many ways you can keep learning throughout your life and the benefits you’ll reap
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s adults, many of us fall into a rut, both personally and professionally, becoming complacent with our abilities and shying away from new challenges. Yet learning can bring great rewards, and continuing our education throughout our lives can have a positive impact not only on our careers but also on our outlook and mental wellbeing. What’s more, there’s always something new to learn. From pursuing a personal passion and rediscovering basic skills, to embarking on continuing professional development (CPD), the possibilities are endless. Every new skill you learn will have a positive outcome in terms of your health, wellbeing and confidence.
Celebrating learning
September is the perfect time to focus on continuing learning. Not only is it the start of a new school year and the time when many courses begin, it’s also Festival Of Learning’s Have A Go Month and the month in which Adult Learners’ Week takes place in Wales. Festival Of Learning (www.festivaloflearning.org.uk) is the biggest celebration of lifelong learning in England, championing the benefits of continuing your education and inspiring more people to have a go at learning something new. During Have A Go Month, organisations and learning providers offer free learning 52 SHIRE MAGAZINE | September/October 2021
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DID YOU KNOW? There were almost 1.75 million participants in adult further education and skills in England in 2019/20
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”Learning brings great rewards, and continuing our education throughout our lives can have a positive impact not only on our careers but on our wellbeing”
activities for adult, which includes taster sessions, online talks, lectures, open days and much more. In Wales, the annual Adult Learners’ Week, which this year runs from 20th to 26th September, also encourages thousands of adults to continue their education. The campaign, organised by Learning & Work Institute Wales (www.learningandwork.wales), signposts free taster sessions, tutorials and short courses, many of which are now delivered digitally. Both campaigns celebrate the benefits of continuing education, offer advice and guidance, and share the stories of learners who have created new futures for themselves. Shire’s regions contain a huge number of colleges, universities and other learning providers offering a vast array of academic, practical and CPD courses. Here we round up some of our favourites, whether you’re looking to expand your technical knowledge, want to get back to basics or feel like exploring your creative side…
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