Strengthening Support for BME Women in Reading
Reading Community Learning Centre (RCLC), has been formed to develop some aspects of the work previously undertaken by WEA. The new Centre plans to expand its support services and to develop a multiagency approach to its work.
Background
The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) has been providing education to adult learners from Black and Ethnic Minority (BME) communities since the mid-90’s, shaped by a needs analysis undertaken in 1996. Changes to adult education and reductions in the funding for informal learning in community settings have created a challenging environment for this work.
Why did we undertake this work?
RCLC, as a newly-created charity, has a large fundraising target. It has developed a vision for its work as a result of ten years’ experience of delivering community education to its target learners. The Needs Analysis enabled us to:
- Check out whether our vision was appropriate and achievable in the eyes of other agencies, current learners, potential learners and other key partners.
- Collect the statistical evidence necessary to convince potential funders to fund our vision.
How will we use the information that comes from the Needs Analysis?
- The report gives us valuable information about how our vision is perceived by others and it will be used to inform the development of our work.
- It gives us useful feedback on potential partners and on possible overlap in the work we are planning.
- It provides some evidence which will be useful in applying for funding.
