Archived Family Learning Festivals

Family Learning Month October 2008

A festival of Family Learning Fun Activities was held across County Durham in October 2008.

Healthy Eating, Young Explorers, Story Telling/Creative Writing and Digital Photography tasters were on offer at different venues in South East Durham organised by Learn East.

Return to Learn held Fire Safety and Fire Engine Sessions in Primary Schools and Children’s Centres across Derwentside. They also held Peadiatric First Aid sessions in Catchgate and Stanley Children’s Centres and a Get online Internet Safety drop in session at Return to Learn centre followed by Basic Computing sessions held at Sunnydale Community College. In addition to this there was a Family Bike ride organised from Stanley Community Centre which involved a Pre-Ride Cycle Workshop, the Family Bike Ride from Stanhope to Stanley and a Celebration Event to finish with back at the Community Centre.

LEAP office organised Stained Glass at Middlestone Moor Primary, Making Divali Lamps at Cockton Hill Infants, and Backyard Buddies (making a birdfeeder) at Butterknowle Primary whilst Focus on Learning held a Family Fun under Canvass event at Clayport Library.

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Family Learning Week 8 - 16 October 2005

The ’51 Minutes’ event was held at County Hall, 14 October 2005 10.00am to 3.00pm.

Between the ages of 0 to 16 children and young people spend only 9 minutes of every hour in schools. While this time is vitally important to their learning the other 51 minutes spent at home with families is equally important.

To celebrate Family Learning Week, Family Learning in County Durham held a ’51 Minute’ event where parents/carers participated in ‘15’ minute taster workshops. As well as the exciting workshops, many other interactive displays and fun activities were held in the Durham Room.

What Happened in Your Area?

There were many activities organised throughout County Durham for Family Learning week, to see information on how different areas celebrated, please click on the links below.
Chester-le-Street
Durham City
East Co Durham
Sedgefield
Teesdale and Weardale
Derwentside

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Family Learning Week 11- 17 October 2004

Schools across County Durham took part in the Big Draw as part of Family Learning Week celebrations. Artists helped parents, children and school staff to get drawing using everything from crayons to charcoal.

Bernadette from The Grove Primary School said
‘I would love to do it again. The best bit was having Dad there’

Ashleigh also from The Grove said
‘It’s really cool because I don’t usually get to draw with charcoal’

Each year in County Durham we link up Family Learning Week led by the Campaign for Learning and The Big Draw led by the Campaign for Drawing. The Campaign for Learning supports learning at home, in the family and in the community. The Campaign for Drawing encourages everyone young and old to experience the fun and satisfaction to be gained from drawing. Big thanks to all the artists who took part including those from Bear Park Artists Cooperative, to Carolyn Earlam Durham LEA’s Arts Inspector and to all the schools and families that took part.

View the Big Draw Picture Gallery

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International Women's Day - March 2004

Took place on 8th March 2004, 12 pm - 3 pm at Craghead Village Hall and included:
Beauty treatments
Salsa taster
Domestic violence forum
Advice and guidance on women’s health
Mini MOT
International buffet
Raffle
And lots more...

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Family Learning Weekend 2003

Family Learning Weekend takes place each year in the second week of October. Last years dates were 10 - 12 October 2003. Activities took place all over the country, following the success of the 2002 event where an estimated 6000 events were organised with around 150 000 people taking part. Visit www.familylearningweekend.com for more information.

UPDATE: Following an initial planning meeting held on 14 May 2003, Family Learning weekend events in County Durham will be co-ordinated through our Area Family Learning Operational Groups.

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Family Learning Video Arts Celebration - March 2003

Over the past 15 months there have been five Dale's Communities, and over 100 people actively involved in the CONNECT Family Learning Video Project. They each produced a unique video documentary, which portray themes and interests of the communities involved, and taken advantage of various creative options, from dance, drum and drama to felt and model making to express themselves and it has all been captured visually in thoughtful, yet fun videos.

The Rural Development Programme, DfES Adult and Community Learning Fund, Northern Arts, Northern Rock Foundation, Durham Co Council, Teesdale District Council and the Teesdale Market Town's Initiative supported and funded this innovative and successful community project.

On the 25 March the participants from Barnard Castle, Bowes, Cockfield, Evenwood and Hamsterley gathered together to celebrate their achievements. The event was held at the Witham Hall, Barnard Castle from 11.30am to 2.45pm. There was a presentation of certificates and a display of the work and videos produced. There was also workshops on animation, editing, felt making and weaving taking place.

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Family Learning Weekend 2002

Family Learning Weekend is a national awareness campaign that aims to raise awareness of the importance and scope of family learning. It aims to strengthen communities and to create more opportunities for the family to learn together by encouraging a special family learning event on the second weekend in October each year.

This year's events took place between 11th - 13th October 2002. Family Learning in County Durham, Durham County Council Cultural Services and Durham Local Education Authority joined forces to present the Big Draw, providing an opportunity for families to have fun working with professional artists. The Big Draw took place on Saturday 12 October from 12 - 3pm at County Hall in Durham City. Artists from Bear Park Artists Co-operative explored fun and unusual ways of drawing and Cultural Services' IT specialists helped to create computer-generated portraits of families. This year the Big Draw also included activities for under 8s and Family Learning activities to try with specialists from Education in the Community.

We have a list of the other events which took place in the region. Can you spot the event you attended?? Why not give us your comments on any of the events you visited... you could Email Us or alternatively speak to June or Dawn at Family Learning In County Durham on (0191) 370 6412. There is now a gallery of photographs from Family Learning Weekend, why not take a look!

Family Learning Weekend in Shildon...

Family Learning Weekend was celebrated in Shildon at Jubilee Fields Community Centre on Friday, 11th October. The youngest person at the event was only weeks old and the oldest was retired (and of indeterminate age). There was something to do for everyone. The youngest baby looked at the colours, the smallest children made Mr Men or Little Miss, older children made balloon heads and the adults glass-painted.

The pre-school children at the event talked about the Mr Men books and decided which of the characters they were most like. They then picked up a head shape, ears, eyes, noses and hair and assembled and glued them to make Mr or Miss 'Me'. There were thirty-eight Mr or Miss Me faces made and one Easter egg!! Older children made faces using balloons, plastic cups, ribbons, card, pens and glue. Some of the children then named their creations. Sixteen balloon faces were made in all. The adults designed and glass-painted twenty-two light bulbs using different techniques and materials.

The turnout was much higher than anticipated; 63 people attended the event in all. A good day was had by all.

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