Written by Oxford Hub.
Oxford Hub and Activate Learning have been working in partnership since May 2023, in an exciting Community Organising project.
The project, supported by Citizens UK and funded by Lankelly Chase, aims to provide learning opportunities to people in the Leys, whilst improving access to community assets such as Activate Learning’s Technology Campus and a whole range of other local places.
Our colleague at Activate Learning has undertaken a listening campaign, supported by a 2-day Community Organising training with Citizens UK. Danielle has worked with local groups of people including local residents, community groups and existing providers of services, to understand the need and interests of the community.
Co-located at Oxford Hub’s new Windale Community Hub, Danielle has been able to work alongside members of the community to understand what’s important to them.
Although our partnership is only in its infancy, already this year, 21 different classes or courses have been facilitated by a range of local and professional tutors, in 6 different community spaces in East Oxford including Activate Learning, Windale Hub, Blackbird Leys Library and The Clockhouse.
Make it stand out
The courses that Activate have facilitated cater for different needs and interests across the community, for example Painting and Drawing classes, Gardening, Woodwork and Employability.
Another course that has been accessed by local professionals (many of whom are also local residents) and community members, is the Introduction to Coaching Course.
“I really enjoyed this course on coaching, the pace and content worked really well for me too. By the end of the first day, I could already see how I can apply the tools and techniques taught in my work with families.
It was difficult though coming up with the right kind questions to ask but I absolutely understood the process being taught.
Often when working with families, I come up with suggestions of solutions and they are not always achievable. By using these coaching techniques I am able to support families as they come up with their own solutions that are achievable within a time frame that they make.
It is great when those we work with realise they have the power to make positive changes in their homes there by increasing their self esteem and belief and self worth. I have already recommended this course to my colleagues so please let me know when the next one comes up.”
Not only have these courses provided accessible and enjoyable learning opportunities for local people, that help to upskill people in their areas of interest, but many of the courses have been facilitated by local people.
This is a fantastic way to provide employment and experience to local professionals with a skill that they want to share, as well as a respected college supporting their work and linking them up with free local space to deliver their course. In turn, this factor will also help to increase engagement from local people and to improve the perception of Activate as a good local employer and accessible learning institution.
There have been challenges, not least internally, with Activate Learning’s on-boarding process with new tutors, which has been slower due to the start of the academic year, but is now picking up speed. The increasing efficiency of this process will now mean we can do even more in the next 6 months than we have so far!
We do want to achieve more and we have already identified a need as well as tutors for 14 further courses, which are in the pipeline. These include an exciting Project Management Course, due to start in January 2024, to which we already have several referrals. They also include a Science and engineering course, Robotics course, Cultural programme in partnership with Oxford University, Cooking on a Budget, Music and more.
Going forward we will be facilitating a Windale Community Steering Panel consisting of community members and local delivery partners. The Panel will meet regularly, hearing from a range of stakeholders including Oxford Hub projects such as Parent Power and Social Prescribing, about gaps in provision. Using its local knowledge and connections, the Panel, including Activate Learning, will identify local tutors and volunteers, and local free spaces (Windale for example) to meet this need.
This will help to
Open up Activate to new local learners and increase footfall into learning sessions
Increase access to local spaces
Broaden the diversity of learning opportunities available
Provide career opportunities through onboarding and supporting new tutors
Build on the positive perception of the college and of learning in general
Ensure new opportunities are responding to the needs of the community and are delivered in a way that is accessible to the community (as informed by them).
Our funding for the partnership with Activate Learning will end in 2024, and we hope Activate will continue to sponsor Danielle’s time for co-location on two days a week, and participation in the Community Steering Group. This will enable Danielle to continue to have direct exposure to a diversity of groups in the community to understand the need and also to support, connect and on-board local trainers and tutors.
