Joyce lens support to Ceredigion Learning Festival

Assembly Member Joyce Watson attended a digital photography class in Lampeter last week to mark the end of Ceredigion’s month-long Learning Festival.
The one-off tutorial, held at University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s Lampeter Campus on Friday (20 June), was one of more than 800 free classes and taster sessions organised across Wales throughout May and June to promote adult learning. The campaign culminated last week during Adult Learners’ Week (14-22 June).
The Labour Mid and West AM, who is a member of the Welsh Assembly’s Enterprise and Business committee, said Adult Learners’ Week gives people a unique chance to develop workplace skills and have a go at trying something new.
Mrs Watson said:
“Adult Learners’ Week is Wales’s largest and longest running learning campaign. Every year thousands of adults of every age and background are encouraged to give learning a go.
“I returned to education whilst bringing up a young family. Getting those qualifications – A levels and then a degree – made a huge difference to my life. I believe everyone should have an opportunity to continue learning in adulthood – it is great for professional and personal development.”
The course was organised by Peter Gwynne of the Workers Educational Association (WEA) Cymru. The tutor was David Power, ICT and Photography tutor for WEA Cymru.
Mrs Watson continued:
“I am very grateful to Peter and David – I am a keen photographer and I really enjoyed learning new tricks and techniques.
“My fellow students were local self-employed people who wanted to develop skills that will benefit their businesses. Nowadays, with social media and online sales and marketing, small businesses need to be smart and tech-savvy, which is what our class was geared towards.”
Adult Learners’ Week is co-ordinated by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE Dysgu Cymru), co-funded by the Welsh Government and the European Social Fund.