Old & Active: Maintaining the Old & Active: Maintaining the older person’s health activity older person’s health activity

and employmentand employment

Mainstreaming later life learning into older Mainstreaming later life learning into older people’s policypeople’s policy

Jim SoulsbyJim Soulsby

88thth February 2007 - Birmingham February 2007 - Birmingham

How can we ensure that the educational needs of older people are included in

wider Government policy? How can we encourage the gerontology and ageing

networks to look much more seriously at the role, place and value of education in

later life?

A Sure Start to Later Life: Ending A Sure Start to Later Life: Ending Inequalities for Older PeopleInequalities for Older People

“This is all about increasing quality of life for all, including the most excluded where the biggest gains can be made, and will be

achieved by creating a cycle of well-being through participation, leisure, education,

improved health and ensuring older people are valued in families, the workplace and

communities”

Phil Woolas, MP, Minister of State for Social Exclusion and Baroness Kay Andrews, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Later Life Learning is an element in:Later Life Learning is an element in:

• Link Age Plus Pilots

• Opportunity Age

• Quality of Life indicators

• CSCI inspection procedures

So whilst we have the tacit agreement that later life learning is valuable we don’t

really have the political and administrative structures or commitment to make it

happen!

NIACE’s work has been in promoting NIACE’s work has been in promoting education in later life as:education in later life as:

• A major social policy issue and not simply the responsibility of DfES and its agencies

• A process to understand & manage change rather than a product to be enjoyed in “retirement”

• As a necessary element of every Government policy that impacts on older people

Asserting the benefits of learning in Asserting the benefits of learning in later life?later life?

• Decision making

• At times of transition

• Establishing identity or re-asserting

• Maintaining well-being

Asserting the benefits of learning in Asserting the benefits of learning in later life?later life?

• Assisting engagement

• Becoming or staying active

• Understanding impinging issues

• Retaining independence

• Enhancing employability

Current & recent participation in Current & recent participation in learning by age, 2006learning by age, 2006

Green Shoots – The NIACE Survey on Adult Participation in Learning 2006

0102030405060708090

17-19

20-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65-74

75+

Future intentions to learn, by age, 2006Future intentions to learn, by age, 2006

Green Shoots – The NIACE Survey on Adult Participation in Learning 2006

0102030405060708090

17-19

20-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65-74

75+

Education is transformationalEducation is transformational

“This is the first chance in my life to study. For me education is special. It is

important to know what is happening in the world. Without education there is no prospect in life and life would be blind”

Education is transformationalEducation is transformational

“My experience of re-entering education has been nothing short of life saving. It laid

bare wounds that I did not know I carried, it gave me a taste of the humility

necessary to reach down and pick myself up; it provided me with the stimulus, the passion, the hunger, the tenacity and the strength to build my life. I will not readily

relinquish my hold on salvation”

Learning in Later Life: Motivation and Learning in Later Life: Motivation and Impact (2000)Impact (2000)

“80% of learners aged 50-71 reported a positive impact from learning in areas

such as their enjoyment of life, self confidence, and their ability to cope with events such as divorce or bereavement,

while 28% reported an increased involvement in social, community and

voluntary activities”

What role might SPARC and LARCI have to further this

agenda?

Jim Soulsby

Development Officer

Tel: 0116 2042843

Email: jim.soulsby@niace.org.uk

NIACE

21 De Montfort Street

Leicester

LE1 7GE