AEA Response to gov consult:

BUILDING A SOCIETY FOR ALL AGES

"Building a Society for all Ages" is a government consultation paper, which was published by the Department of Work and Pensions in July 2009. It puts forward a series of proposals to help bring about a major cultural shift and assist our society in preparing for for the demographic changes being brought about by the fact that people are living longer lives.

Key elements of the strategy involve providing support for people in looking look forward to and planning earlier for their longer lives, and making sure that services are suitable, when the time comes to use them.

Professor Brian Groombridge summarises the main proposals here. Groombridge summary

Further details of the strategy an be found on this website: building-a-society-for-all

And the full report can be accessed here: Building a Society for all full report

AEA Response

The proposals in "Building a Society for all Ages" formed part of a public consultation, which closed on Monday 12th October 2009. AEA was among the organisations which responded to the consulation. AEA Response to Building a Society for All Ages

THE LEARNING REVOLUTION

The Government White Paper, 'The Learning Revolution', was launched on 23 March 2009 and sets out the Government's strategy for informal learning.

.......The Learning Revolution - link to download

Update

More information on the latest developments, including The Learning Revolution Transformation fund can be found here.

.......The Learning Revolution - associated documents

AEA Response

When the White Paper was first published, on behalf of AEA, Development Coordinator Jim Soulsby gave our comments on "The Learning Revolution"

........ Response to The Learning Revolution

LATER LIFE LEARNING: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

AEA’s own contribution to the current debate on policy, provision and practice concerning older learners was prepared by Sasha Anderson on behalf of the Association and published in May 2008.

Copies of the full literature review (67pp) are available as follows:

Members: £5.00 (inc. p&p)

Non members: £10.00 (inc. p&p)

Our current offer of the Literature Review includes published copies of Brian Groombridge's 2006 memorial lecture and Eric Midwinter's 2007 one - while stocks last.

To order, write to Carol Allen, AEA Secretary, 132 Dawes Road, LONDON SW6 7EF enclosing a cheque for the appropriate sum.

Copies of the Literature Review summary document (16pp) are available free on request, via e-mail only, from aeasecretary@googlemail.com or are downloadable from here:

Lit_review_summary_May_08

AEA COMMENT ON OTHER ASPECTS OF GOVERNMENT POLICES AND INITIATIVES

Older people’s engagement with Government
The UK Government Department of Work and Pensions appointed an independent reviewer, John Elbourne, to report on whether older people are currently able to inform Government policy and actions at all levels. His final report Review of Older People's Engagement with Government was published in November 2008. AEA’s Development Coordinator, Jim Soulsby, summarises the report’s recommendations and gives a personal view on them... Jim_Soulsby_response_to_Elbourne_review

Consultation on informal learning in UK

Informal Learning - Shaping the Way Forward was published for consultation last spring by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, attracting thousands of responses from organisations of all sizes and from individual learners.

A response from the Association for Education and Ageing (AEA):

The AEA welcomes the discussion that the Secretary of State has introduced and the opportunity to respond to this consultation. The Association has existed for over 20 years with the aim of promoting learning in later life. As an organisation run on a purely voluntary basis, it has concentrated mainly on assisting its members - drawn from across the entire education world - to develop more, better and different learning experiences for older people.

more... DIUS_CONSULTATION-AEA_response_June_08