Community learning for older adults comes of age

The concept of live/age, a social model of community learning for older adults, is gathering momentum across the UK. The model is the result of research carried out by Leicester Adult Education College in partnership with De Montfort University's Educational Partnerships Directorate. The COOL (Community Opportunities for Older Learners) Leicester project investigated opportunities for learning that existed in four neighbourhoods in Leicester and a follow-up study explored resources in the more isolated rural area of Melton Mowbray, Leicester. Findings indicated that: (1) older adult learning was often taking place in similar environments and organisations not known to each other; and (2) older learners and their achievements were often hidden from the wider community and, therefore, so was the input of many larger community institutions as potential resources for older adult learning. This article discusses the live/age model and the importance of community partnerships and resource sharing, outlines the key factors that impact on the creation and maintenance of good partnerships and offers a few tips for organisations/groups to develop partnerships.

The concept of live/age, a social model of community learning for older adults, is gathering momentum across the UK. The model is the result of research carried out by Leicester Adult Education College in partnership with De Montfort University's Educational Partnerships Directorate. The COOL (Community Opportunities for Older Learners) Leicester project investigated opportunities for learning that existed in four neighbourhoods in Leicester and a follow-up study explored resources in the more isolated rural area of Melton Mowbray, Leicester. Findings indicated that: (1) older ...  [+] Show more