Katie Shaw
@sewdarngood.bsky.social
Head of Charitable Purpose at the WEA | into post-16 education, anarchism & Antarctica |
Spent the last 15 years saying ‘and what about FE’? Going to spend the next 15 years saying ‘and what about community learning?’
September 30, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Spent the last 15 years saying ‘and what about FE’? Going to spend the next 15 years saying ‘and what about community learning?’
4 out of 5 of learners with pre existing mental health conditions say our courses improves their wellbeing.
88% of learners say they met people in their communities on our courses they wouldn’t usually meet.
6% is being cut from the Adult Skills Budget. Make it make sense
88% of learners say they met people in their communities on our courses they wouldn’t usually meet.
6% is being cut from the Adult Skills Budget. Make it make sense
Our new Impact report launches today.
At the WEA, we bring learning to where it’s needed most, communities not served by traditional education, individuals furthest from opportunity, and adults seeking more than just a qualification.
Learn more: www.wea.org.uk/about-us/our...
At the WEA, we bring learning to where it’s needed most, communities not served by traditional education, individuals furthest from opportunity, and adults seeking more than just a qualification.
Learn more: www.wea.org.uk/about-us/our...
June 10, 2025 at 10:09 AM
4 out of 5 of learners with pre existing mental health conditions say our courses improves their wellbeing.
88% of learners say they met people in their communities on our courses they wouldn’t usually meet.
6% is being cut from the Adult Skills Budget. Make it make sense
88% of learners say they met people in their communities on our courses they wouldn’t usually meet.
6% is being cut from the Adult Skills Budget. Make it make sense
Adult education providers right now
May 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Adult education providers right now
Great guest blog for this @learningatworkweek.bsky.social from @lgupbook.bsky.social on why unions should join the fight to protect adult learning www.wea.org.uk/unions-adult...
Why unions need to fight for adult education | WEA
Why do unions need to fight for adult education? Gavin McCann has a few reasons.
www.wea.org.uk
May 12, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Great guest blog for this @learningatworkweek.bsky.social from @lgupbook.bsky.social on why unions should join the fight to protect adult learning www.wea.org.uk/unions-adult...
Took my boyfriend to see a rerun of Reality Bites at the cinema. He hated it so now we need to break up
April 15, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Took my boyfriend to see a rerun of Reality Bites at the cinema. He hated it so now we need to break up
Reposted by Katie Shaw
WEA's @simonparkinson.bsky.social responds to Get Britain Working Guidance published today:
"The WEA welcomes the prominent role for voluntary sector and adult education organisations set out in the DWP’s Get Britain Working guidance published today." 1/5
"The WEA welcomes the prominent role for voluntary sector and adult education organisations set out in the DWP’s Get Britain Working guidance published today." 1/5
April 3, 2025 at 4:45 PM
WEA's @simonparkinson.bsky.social responds to Get Britain Working Guidance published today:
"The WEA welcomes the prominent role for voluntary sector and adult education organisations set out in the DWP’s Get Britain Working guidance published today." 1/5
"The WEA welcomes the prominent role for voluntary sector and adult education organisations set out in the DWP’s Get Britain Working guidance published today." 1/5
5 days left to join my team as Senior PR and Branding Manager and fight for broad and bold lifelong learning offer (before Labour completely decimate the sector)
www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/workers...
www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/workers...
Senior Branding and PR Manager | Workers Educational Association | CharityJob
Apply now for Senior Branding and PR Manager. , £42,385 - £44,615 per year, find a career with meaning today
www.charityjob.co.uk
March 25, 2025 at 10:54 AM
5 days left to join my team as Senior PR and Branding Manager and fight for broad and bold lifelong learning offer (before Labour completely decimate the sector)
www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/workers...
www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs/workers...
We’re going to undo all the terrible things the Tory’s did under the banner of austerity by *checks notes* doing exactly what the Tory’s did under the banner of austerity
@simonparkinson.bsky.social, WEA CEO & General Secretary, responds to plans to cut Adult Skills Funding by 6%.
#adulteducation #budget #cuts
#adulteducation #budget #cuts
March 19, 2025 at 1:12 PM
We’re going to undo all the terrible things the Tory’s did under the banner of austerity by *checks notes* doing exactly what the Tory’s did under the banner of austerity
DfE sneaking out a 6% cut to the adult skills fund under the noise of their poorly briefed disability benefit ‘reforms’ smacks of a government more interested in cosplaying Cameron & Osbourne than actually, you know, making people’s lives better
✂️ Adult education funding will see a six per cent 'affordability' cut next year, the Department for Education has told providers
DfE announce 6% cut to national adult skills budgets
Adult education funding will see a six per cent 'affordability' cut next year, the Department for Education has told providers.
feweek.co.uk
March 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
DfE sneaking out a 6% cut to the adult skills fund under the noise of their poorly briefed disability benefit ‘reforms’ smacks of a government more interested in cosplaying Cameron & Osbourne than actually, you know, making people’s lives better
At @weaadulted.bsky.social we’re recruiting for a Senior Branding and PR Manager to join my team.
If you want to put lifelong learning back on the public agenda, drop me a message www.wea.org.uk/why-work-for...
If you want to put lifelong learning back on the public agenda, drop me a message www.wea.org.uk/why-work-for...
Why come and work for the WEA? | WEA
Want to help us bring education within reach? Then apply for one of our roles.
www.wea.org.uk
March 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
At @weaadulted.bsky.social we’re recruiting for a Senior Branding and PR Manager to join my team.
If you want to put lifelong learning back on the public agenda, drop me a message www.wea.org.uk/why-work-for...
If you want to put lifelong learning back on the public agenda, drop me a message www.wea.org.uk/why-work-for...
Controlling the education system…how many tactics of fascism can we tick off today?!
While she emphasized returning power to local governments, she also echoed Trump’s call for the federal government to police what schools are teaching. Not sure how you return power but then don’t return all of it.
March 4, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Controlling the education system…how many tactics of fascism can we tick off today?!
EMA (and the ALG) was massively important to the students I worked with in Plymouth. Everything in this article is spot on and another reason why we need to stop ignoring young people when then tell us what they need and what works.
Ex-education and employment secretary David Blunkett launched the education maintenance allowance (EMA) more than 20 years ago: now he's defending it against @theifs.bsky.social criticism
Research on EMA support has defied common sense
Blunkett argues that his Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) helped disadvantaged students stay in education
feweek.co.uk
February 28, 2025 at 8:42 AM
EMA (and the ALG) was massively important to the students I worked with in Plymouth. Everything in this article is spot on and another reason why we need to stop ignoring young people when then tell us what they need and what works.
Reposted by Katie Shaw
🎙️ Anarchist Essay #98!
In our latest episode w/@anarchismresgroup.bsky.social, Rhiannon Firth reads the afterword to the new @freedompress.bsky.social book 'Fight For a New Normal: Anarchism and Mutual Aid in the Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis'
Listen here, or search for 'Anarchist Essays' bit.ly/4aR8q5T
In our latest episode w/@anarchismresgroup.bsky.social, Rhiannon Firth reads the afterword to the new @freedompress.bsky.social book 'Fight For a New Normal: Anarchism and Mutual Aid in the Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis'
Listen here, or search for 'Anarchist Essays' bit.ly/4aR8q5T
Essay #98: Rhiannon Firth, ‘Afterword to Fight for a New Normal: Anarchism and Mutual Aid in the Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis’
Anarchist Essays · Episode
open.spotify.com
February 11, 2025 at 11:17 AM
🎙️ Anarchist Essay #98!
In our latest episode w/@anarchismresgroup.bsky.social, Rhiannon Firth reads the afterword to the new @freedompress.bsky.social book 'Fight For a New Normal: Anarchism and Mutual Aid in the Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis'
Listen here, or search for 'Anarchist Essays' bit.ly/4aR8q5T
In our latest episode w/@anarchismresgroup.bsky.social, Rhiannon Firth reads the afterword to the new @freedompress.bsky.social book 'Fight For a New Normal: Anarchism and Mutual Aid in the Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis'
Listen here, or search for 'Anarchist Essays' bit.ly/4aR8q5T
Reposted by Katie Shaw
Mayors shouldn’t accept this cut and neither should we. feweek.co.uk/fury-as-dfe-...
Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets
Combined authorities told to expect reductions in 'already deeply diminished' adult skills funding
feweek.co.uk
February 7, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Mayors shouldn’t accept this cut and neither should we. feweek.co.uk/fury-as-dfe-...
Reposted by Katie Shaw
We all understand that public budgets are tight, but hard to see how government can achieve any of its missions unless it invests in the education and skills of its people.
✂️Adult education budgets cut in DfE savings spree
Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets
Combined authorities told to expect reductions in 'already deeply diminished' adult skills funding
feweek.co.uk
February 6, 2025 at 10:15 PM
We all understand that public budgets are tight, but hard to see how government can achieve any of its missions unless it invests in the education and skills of its people.
Reposted by Katie Shaw
"We Learn With Each Other", a 3-color riso from @werdmvmnt.bsky.social !
justseeds.org/product/we-l...
justseeds.org/product/we-l...
February 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
"We Learn With Each Other", a 3-color riso from @werdmvmnt.bsky.social !
justseeds.org/product/we-l...
justseeds.org/product/we-l...
It’s giving 2010 vibes
Exclusive: DfE has warned mayors their adult education budgets will be cut as part of government savings
This means £30 million in adult skills and 'free courses for jobs' cuts coming next academic year
feweek.co.uk/fury-as-dfe-...
This means £30 million in adult skills and 'free courses for jobs' cuts coming next academic year
feweek.co.uk/fury-as-dfe-...
Fury as DfE cuts adult education budgets
Combined authorities told to expect reductions in 'already deeply diminished' adult skills funding
feweek.co.uk
February 6, 2025 at 8:07 PM
It’s giving 2010 vibes
‘Life long learning is the vaccination again populism’ - Lord Knight giving a storming speech in the Lords on the critical need for adult learning
February 6, 2025 at 6:07 PM
‘Life long learning is the vaccination again populism’ - Lord Knight giving a storming speech in the Lords on the critical need for adult learning
Reposted by Katie Shaw
Minutes from the 1903 Provisional committee which would form the WEA @weaadulted.bsky.social. Representing workers were G Alcock (Railway Servants), WR Salter (Brushmaker), & AH Thomas (Engineer). From documents held by London Met Special Collections
February 2, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Minutes from the 1903 Provisional committee which would form the WEA @weaadulted.bsky.social. Representing workers were G Alcock (Railway Servants), WR Salter (Brushmaker), & AH Thomas (Engineer). From documents held by London Met Special Collections
Shout out to @nhathiari.bsky.social, the people’s Secretary of State for Education
We were delighted to speak with Bridget Phillipson today at a community education roundtable in Leicester about the need for combined authorities to prioritise funding for tailored learning to better support parents' mental and physical well-being before they transition into work
January 31, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Shout out to @nhathiari.bsky.social, the people’s Secretary of State for Education
Reposted by Katie Shaw
The WEA believed the loss of the Union Learning Fund was a blow. Things are looking more positive with unions included in Skills England and some MCAs. We will look with interest to the answer to Alex Mayer MP's question in Parliament tomorrow: thewea.info/4jsDgWy
thewea.info/3CtQ1iF
thewea.info/3CtQ1iF
Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Information from UK Parliament on written questions & answers, written statements and daily reports.
thewea.info
January 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The WEA believed the loss of the Union Learning Fund was a blow. Things are looking more positive with unions included in Skills England and some MCAs. We will look with interest to the answer to Alex Mayer MP's question in Parliament tomorrow: thewea.info/4jsDgWy
thewea.info/3CtQ1iF
thewea.info/3CtQ1iF
If government is serious about properly devolving decision making to local communities, Mayors need to be serious about ensuring communities are equipped with the tools, knowledge and access to engage with these new local powers.
In response to the English Devolution White Paper published today, a statement from WEA's Simon Parkinson on how adult education funding can support local democracy and strengthen communities: https://buff.ly/3OYQVGx
WEA's response to White Paper | WEA
Simon Parkinson, WEA Chief Executive & General Secretary responds to today's announcement on the English Devolution White Paper.
buff.ly
December 16, 2024 at 5:18 PM
If government is serious about properly devolving decision making to local communities, Mayors need to be serious about ensuring communities are equipped with the tools, knowledge and access to engage with these new local powers.
First day at @weaadulted.bsky.social done. Can’t wait to get properly stuck into all the brilliant work that’s going on
December 9, 2024 at 7:23 PM
First day at @weaadulted.bsky.social done. Can’t wait to get properly stuck into all the brilliant work that’s going on
Had some leftover lights
December 1, 2024 at 2:35 PM
Had some leftover lights