Adult Learners' Week (ALW) is a collaborative venture between education and training providers, broadcasters and national and local government. This event is held annually during one week in May.

Adult Learners' Week 2009 ran from 9th to 15th May and included a formal presentation of national awards at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster on Friday 15th attended by HRH Princess Anne.

The London Regional Awards celebrate the achievements of adult learners across London. Click here for more information.

Click here to see the photos from the 2009 London Regional Awards Ceremony.

Click here to see photos of the 2008 winners.

Taster Courses provided in local venues during the week are also a key part of introducing and celebrating Adult Learning. Click here for more details.

There were over 600 events that ran across the region during Adult Learners' Week 2009, 291 of which were registered on the NIACE events calendar.

Cultural Diversity Weekend

• Saturday and Sunday 9th and 10th May 2009 was Cultural Diversity Weekend. London is the richest city in Europe for diversity - from art to dance to food and fashion, but we don't always take time out to recognise and celebrate it. This weekend gives a platform for people to come together to share thoughts, experiences, practice and knowledge, and to participate in activities to help them appreciate the diversity of the city in which they live.

  Cultural Diversity Weekend aims to raise awareness and understanding between different cultures, encourage community cohesion and offer information on the barriers to learning to policy makers. It also allows learning and cultural organisations to engage with adults through interests they are comfortable with such as faith, tradition, food, fashion and art.

  There were 37 specific events around Cultural Diversity Weekend, including languages with food, Japanese calligraphy, black history and gospel singing. Big celebratory events were run by Greenwich Council, Bexley Adult Education, Working Men's College, Haringey Adult Learning, SCOLA and Community Action Southwark. The V&A Museum also ran its 10th "Inspired by" competition and exhibition. There were 21 dance-focussed events including capoeira, salsa, ballroom, belly dancing, tap, contemporary dance, Bollywood, African dance and Greek rhythms.

  Working Men's College ran a large diversity event which was opened by Camden's Mayor Faruque Ansari.

  

Learning at Work Day

• Thursday 14th May was Learning at Work Day. This day provides a special focus on learning activities that take place in and around the workplace and includes activities and taster courses run by unions, employers, employees and learning providers. Learning at Work Day is co-ordinated nationally by the Campaign for Learning.

For further information, ideas, planning packs and free resources, please click on the following links:

• Employers' Area - NIACE
• Learning at Work Day - Campaign for Learning
• Workplace Learning Network - Workplace Learning Network

Silver Surfers' Day

• Friday 15th May 2009 was Silver Surfers' Day, the biggest annual media literacy campaign for older people throughout the UK. It has become established since 2002 and takes place on the last day of Adult Learners' Week.

  Silver Surfers' Day is managed by Digital Unite, a leading campaigner for media literacy and digital inclusion. Digital Unite's principal partner in the Silver Surfers' Day 2009 Campaign is Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries.

  On Silver Surfers' Day as many people and organisations as possible – from libraries to community groups to large employers to charities to faith groups to schools to individuals in their own homes or offices – are encouraged to hold Silver Surfers' Events.

ALW is co-ordinated by NIACE (the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education) and is supported by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) and the European Social Fund (ESF) with additional support from learndirect and Ofcom.