"We live and learn"

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In the 21st century learning doesn't have to stop when you leave school or college. 'Lifelong Learning' is about continuing to learn in many different ways be it reading a book, exploring the internet, mastering a new skill, training for a job, taking a course for fun or studying for a qualification. Learning throughout your life can help you live a longer, healthier and happier life.

What is lifelong learning?

• Lifelong learning includes the learning we do formally and informally, intentionally and incidentally, from organised courses and from other learning experiences
• All of us are involved in lifelong learning: at home, at work, in the community and in educational institutions
• Lifelong learning is important for individuals, communities and society, widening participation in learning and developing social inclusion
• Lifelong learning enables us all to achieve our potential, including those previously excluded from learning opportunities
• In addition to formal qualifications, lifelong learner brings wider benefits, including a sense of belonging and identity and personal growth and development
• Lifelong learning in part enables us to play our part as active citizens
• Lifelong learners aim to be active in recognising and developing their learning needs throughout their lifespan

What do I get from learning?
Learning has the power to transform us. We can become successful at home, at work, at large in our local community. Learning can help us to solve problems and change our attitudes. It can be fun and it can be challenging!

GO for it!

Seniors Network is developing this theme and will continue to expand and add useful items to our learning pages.  If you have an idea you wish us to follow - just drop me an email.

I am now adding some articles on Positive Thinking - the first being 

Believe you CAN succeed and you WILL
More to follow

Many thanks to Mike Williams of University of the Third Age

Committees
Many of us have just been elected to the management committee for the very first time.  What do we do?  As chair or secretary, what am I expected to do? or say?  What is this constitution thing?  Should we go for Limited liability?  Should we have charitable status?  What are all these strange words?  Ultra Vires? Is it a computer virus? How do I go about hiring staff?

I have have had numerous questions regarding problems within organisations - principally due to lack of the appropriate information.  In this section I have attempted to collate all such useful information that may be needed.   I hope they prove useful to you and your group?   Please let me know.

The information is in Four sections:
A guide to Seniors Forums, Organisations and Constitutions, Meetings, Hiring Staff

A guide to Seniors Forums

A Guide to help you get started!  This guide is only a brief extract from a booklet written by Caroline Nash and Tony Carter. 

Organisations and Constitutions

 In setting up an organisation you will have to make the choice - whether to make it Limited (Incorporated) or unincorporated.  Charitable status?  Will I need a constitution?

1   Choices- choice of setup

2   Limited or incorporated companies

3   Unincorporated organisations

4  Charities - the basics

5   Constitutions - what's involved in compiling

Meetings

Many of us have just been elected to the management committee for the very first time.  What do we do?  As chair what am I expected to do? or say?  What are all these strange words?  Ultra Vires? Is it a computer virus?

This section is designed to help us improve our meetings. To make them more productive.  If your chairperson or committee doesn't have a computer please download these pages for them. 

1 - Holding effective meetings

2 - Compiling an agenda

3 - Some of the mysterious words used at meetings - explained

Since most of us have never before been in a position to hire staff I have compiled some useful techniques for you to use.  When you or your committee need to hire someone it is useful to follow the following systems:

1. Guidelines for drawing up a job description - Having decided that you have a vacancy you should describe the job!   Prepare a Job Description!
2. Having compiled a Job description it is time to specify the type of person that is needed to  fill the post!   Compile an Employee or Person or Personnel Specification
3. Use the Person Specification to help you to draft an advertisement for the vacancy and search for the person that most matches the person specification
4. Prepare the selection process