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Cliff-hanger

The South East region was the first to have a designated heritage coastline when the Countryside Commission recognised the White Chalk Cliffs between Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters and Seaford Head as a stretch of coastline of particular natural beauty

A SEE-IN partner

Support for new and emergent learners

Museums, Libraries and Archives working with new and emergent learners
In 2005/6 MLA South East grant aided Portsmouth City Arts, Libraries and Museums Service
to take forward a programme of activity aimed at new and emergent learners. The grant
funded the recruitment of a project worker and the development of outreach activities to
engage and consult with new and emergent learners.


The project involved liaison with tutors of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
and basic skills and – in consultation with learners – looked at new ways of learning
through the arts, libraries and museums. The project also looked at how best the arts,
libraries and museums could communicate with learners, providing relevant and useful
material and tailored courses.


Working with ESOL, the Essential Skills Support Unit, Highbury College, Learning Links, Parentlink team family learning section and Portsmouth College, the project leader visited
learning sessions and planned relevant topics to be followed up in future sessions within the libraries, museum and arts centre. The project leader also worked with the multicultural
services librarian to build on contacts already made with various asylum andrefugee groups.
Some of the challenges of the project:

  • It took time to establish confident use of the services by new learners beyond the formal
    group or class visits
  • The libraries service aimed to support reading groups for new and emergent learners and
    initial take up for these was low
  • It was challenging to establish comfortable two-way communication where the learners
    could feel able to express their needs
  • Finding triggers for motivating new learners proved hard. ESOL students were easier to
    engage and reach as they often had more time and a desire to keep in touch with friends
    and family overseas through the internet. Libraries have a natural place in this process
    and as a result these students were less reluctant to use them as an information resource
    and for study
  • The need to respond quickly to different cultural group needs in order to build
    confidence
  • The short term nature of the project funding and the need to consider how to sustain
    good work


Some of the outcomes of the project

  • The students were genuinely empowered through involvement in the selection of book
    stock . The views and needs of new learners informed the libraries’ stock purchases for
    2005/6
  • Weekly drop in at the central library has been established when new learners can get
    direct support
  • Other library campaigns and promotions have been exploited in the projects with new
    learners, in particular the BBC RaW campaign and the libraries’ Rapid Reads books stock
  • Learners have gained a wider understanding of the local area through planned visits to
    museums, the records office and arts centre
  • Regular trips and visits to museums have been established as part of formal learning