Recent work
FALNI (Forum for Adult Learning NI)
Colin currently chairs the Forum which he helped found in 2010. It brings together organisations from across the sectors with an interest in adult learning, usually as practitioners. It has worked to keep Adult Learners' Week alive in Northern Ireland where sadly it is not celebrated to the same degree as in other parts of the UK. It also advocates for adult learning producing Manifestos to set forth the advantages of investment to assist build an economically vibrant, healthy and socially integrated and stable society in Northern Ireland. Colin links FALNI into the wider GB and European adult learning circles through links with NIACE (National Institute for Adult Continuing Education) and Scotland's Learning Partnership, and through representing NI on the UK Reference Group for the European Agenda on Adult Learning.
On behalf of FALNI Colin is currently managing a NIACE/Erasmus+ contract to set up and run an Impact Forum in Northern Ireland to mirror similar forums in England, Wales and Scotland. The Impact Forum brings together stakeholders in adult learning from across various sectors - members include DEL, DSD, Open University, Invest NI, OCN NI, Women's Resource & Development Agency, Colleges NI, Libraries NI, BBC and Action Mental Health. In April the Impact Forum held its second meeting in the Open University, discussing the issues to be addressed to improve access to learning for various excluded groups.
The 4th meeting of the Impact Forum took the form of a conference and over 60 delegates attended. The event was opened by the Junior Minister Jennifer McCann. The morning theme of employability was addressed by Mark Huddleston (NI Commissioner for Employment & Skills), Ian McIlveen (NACCO, Craigavon), Nicola Alyward (NIACE) and Gerry Campbell (Colleges NI). Afternoon workshops covered adult learning and - 50+, rurality, family learning, health & wellbeing and social cohesion.
The EU Commission has just approved a further 2 years funding.
EPALE - E-Platform for Adult Learning in Europe
In May 2015 Colin was awarded a contract as the NI Rep for EPALE. This is a new website launched by the EU that is becoming the go-to site for all those involved in the delivery, research and administration of adult learning across Europe. The site creates an opportunity for relationships, partnerships and community to be built through the sharing of good practice and theory via blogs and articles. It also offers a mechanism to search for partners which will be of particular interest to those intending to apply for an Erasmus+ grant.
Interest in the site has grown in Northern Ireland and in 2016 there were 34 blogs from local organisations and individuals, most encouraged to contribute by Colin. EPALE has also run a workshop as part of the Belfast Festival of Learning in both 2016 and 2017.
IN 2017 and 2018 Colin will be working with EPALE Ireland to run cross-border events.
Erasmus+
Erasmus+ supports transnational learning opportunities amongst member states. In summer 2015 Colin was invited to join the UK's Sector Consultative Group for Adult Learning.
Good Relations and Leadership
In the autumn of 2014 Colin was part of a partnership that won a PEACE III contract from the NW PEACE III Partnership to bring a group of emergent leaders across to Dubrovnik in Croatia to see what lessons can be learned from another post-conflict society. The group heard personal stories of those who lived through the conflict and were able to draw many parallels with with situation in Northern Ireland. They returned with fresh stimulus for peacebuilding work and with new local relationships and contacts to assist this work.
This is just one of several PEACE III projects with which Colin was involved since 2009, focusing on dealing with diversity and leadership for a shared society.