ABSTRACT
A COMMUNITY-BASED UNIVERSITY ADULT EDUCATION PROJECT
Origins
Whilst the industrial studies programme has been the bedrock of the Leeds Department's provision for working-class adults, there has also developed since the mid-1970s a complementary concern with community adult education. After detailed discussions within the Department it was agreed in 1976 that a vacancy be filled by a lecturer in social science with specific responsibility for the development of community adult education in Bradford. A significant programme of community adult education work in the Bradford area was developed by the appointee, Jean Gardiner, with the support of a group of full-time staff colleagues. Of particular note was the varied programme of work with women, ranging from estate-based discussion group courses with working-class women stemming from initial contact at 'mother-and-toddler' groups, through to sustained New Opportunites for Women (NOW) courses held at various locations, including the University's centre. Several successful courses were also held in conjunction with Asian women's groups, and a wide range of contacts established with both voluntary and statutory agencies. In 1979 an official DES inspection of this whole area of work was carried out, and the subsequent report was extremely favourable.(3) Indeed, HMI has been a constant and much valued support in the whole development of community adult education, and, later, of the Pioneer Work section.
