South Ayrshire Council - News - Pan Ayrshire Real Life Literacies Conference

PAN AYRSHIRE REAL LIFE LITERACIES CONFERENCE

A Pan Ayrshire Real Life Literacies Conference held in Ayr provided practitioners with an opportunity to learn and exchange best practice methods in adult literacy. The Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Lifelong Learning Committee, Councillor Pam Paterson, opened the conference.

Almost 120 people involved in the partnership in North, East and South Ayrshire Council areas took part in the conference which recognised their continuing good work and provided a Pan Ayrshire networking opportunity.

Since funding for projects of this kind began in 2001, 116,415 people in Scotland have been helped to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.

Speaking about the conference Councillor Paterson said: “The Pan Ayrshire conference enabled local practitioners to share examples of good practice and to promote the latest information and techniques available in the field of Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland. It is vital that adults who come forward and are keen to improve their skills are given all the necessary support.

“Conferences such as this highlight the practical challenges people face on a daily basis when they struggle with literacy and numeracy skills and more significantly they help to dispel the stigma attached to lacking such skills.”

Media campaigns, both local and national, have resulted in a steady increase in the number of people looking for help with literacy and numeracy. The new skills have already helped many to find a job, gain promotion, read a medicine label, help children with their homework, get a mortgage, use computers and to carry out many everyday tasks.

Learning Connections funded the conference and the key speaker was Professor Lyn Tett from Edinburgh University. Throughout the day, workshops gave delegates the chance to share their approaches to the challenges of adult literacy and numeracy.

Pictured at the start of the conference are (left to right) Judith Paterson, Literacies Co-ordinator North Ayrshire Council; Linda Muir, Literacies Manager South Ayrshire Council; Lyn Tett, Professor of Community Education and Lifelong Learning; Councillor Pam Paterson, Convener of South Ayrshire Council’s Lifelong Learning Committee; Sheila Doogan, Learning Connections Communities Scotland and Janice Harrison, Literacies Co-ordinator, East Ayrshire Council.

May 2006