About Us
Here's our history in a nutshell...
The Continuing Learning Group has come out of the Senior Learners' Programme, which was founded in 2006 as part of the Department of Continuing Education's long commitment to supporting older people's learning and Lancaster University's ongoing widening access and participation agenda.
In 2009-10 a Government Transformation Fund project, the 'New Learning Adventure', was the basis of a very productive learning partnership between the Department of Continuing Education and Lancaster and Morecambe University of the Third Age (U3A).
These positive relationships continue with our current co-operation with Lancaster University Centre for Ageing Research in addition to a number of other higher education organisations and independent researchers in the area. The Continuing Learning Group is stronger than ever.
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If you feel you could benefit from involvement with our group, or would like a group of laypeople to take part in your research, please feel free to contact us: seniorlearners@lancaster.ac.uk
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And this is us now...
The programme runs on Wednesdays and consists of regular Lunchtime Lectures on a whole range of topics with plenty of chance to ask questions and explore the themes.
Open Lectures are available where older learners have a chance to attend a selection of undergraduate lectures in a variety of subjects.
The Research Circle runs every week during term times, on Wednesday afternoons. It is both sociable and educational and is where much of our learning takes place. Participants can choose to take part in one of our discussion groups focused around Centre for Ageing Research (C4AR) projects, Open/Lunchtime Lectures, or Personal Research Studies.
Using this web based Senior-Learners-Forum, members of the Continuing Learning Group, those thinking of joining,
and those further afield or housebound who would like to participate in some way, can stay in touch, find out news and
contribute ideas and research findings.
The CLG have strong Research Ambitions and, to date, have contributed to a large number of research projects being
carried out by Ph.D. students and organisations. We are eager to expand on this aspect of the programme.
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The Importance of Taking Control and Planning Ahead.
One thing that we in the Continuing Learning Group are passionate about is taking a positive approach to later life, and this includes active planning for end of life provision.
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This portfolio (downloadable via buttons below) has been developed by a small group of people interested in planning for their future needs and helping other people think about these issues, too. When you prepare your portfolio your end of life may be many years into the future. However, thinking about it now and discussing it will help you to decide what is important for your future. It will assist your family and friends to understand your priorities. Consider whether you want a named person to ensure your wishes are carried out or will informal discussions be sufficient?
This portfolio is an opportunity to bring together information, preferences, ideas and plans for future support and care. Close family and friends might find this helpful in the future should your health deteriorate.
If individuals have not thought about their future plans then decisions, options and personal wishes may be more difficult to achieve. By thinking ahead, it will help you and others to know and respect your wishes.
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Feel free to download the portfolio documents below and use them to make sure your plans and wishes are known and respected.