{"id":3276,"date":"2015-03-22T11:28:22","date_gmt":"2015-03-22T11:28:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?p=3276"},"modified":"2015-03-29T10:52:46","modified_gmt":"2015-03-29T10:52:46","slug":"votingmatters-at-the-wea-north-east-region-spring-conference-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.katewilloughby.co.uk\/?p=3276","title":{"rendered":"#Votingmatters at the WEA North East Region Spring Conference, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Emilymatters_80096b\"<\/a><\/p>\n

# V O T I N G M A T T E R S\u00a0 A T\u00a0\u00a0 T H E
\nW E A\u00a0\u00a0 N O R T H\u00a0\u00a0 E A S T\u00a0\u00a0 S P R I N G\u00a0\u00a0 C O N F E R E N C E
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0.<\/p>\n

\"WEA_SthTyneside_Emilymatters_at<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I spent a lovely day in Newcastle upon Tyne on Friday 20th March thanks to the WEA<\/strong> (Workers’ Educational Association)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It was a pleasure and a privilege to speak alongside Ann Walker<\/strong><\/a> (WEA Director for Education) and Dr Ian Roberts<\/strong> (WEA North East Region chair) at the WEA<\/strong> North East Regional Spring Conference.<\/p>\n

The theme of my speech was Adult Education & Democracy, with a specific focus on #Votingmatters<\/strong><\/a>, which included a rehearsed reading of a short extract from my Emily Davison<\/strong><\/a> play, ‘To Freedom’s Cause<\/strong><\/a>‘.<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

\"WEA_VM_whatmatters<\/a>

Your voice matters: What matters to you at this election?
Some of the contributions from WEA NE Region delegates.<\/p><\/div>\n

.<\/p>\n

Although I was aware of the work of the WEA<\/strong>, preparing for the speech and the rehearsed reading gave me a greater understanding of the important role the WEA<\/strong> play in adult education.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1903<\/strong>, the same year that Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters set up the WSPU<\/strong> <\/a>(Women’s Social & Political Union), one of the WEA’s early members was Emily Davison.<\/p>\n

Ann Walker<\/strong> explained in her speech what an important role Emily had played with other women members in modernising the Association in its earliest days:<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

\"WEA_A<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I may have made a joke about the number of delegates I spoke with called Ann or Anne, but seriously, the WEA<\/strong> has an incredibly broad and inclusive reach, which enables them to transform lives and strengthen communities across the UK.<\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n

\"KW_was<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

Making a Difference – in the Heart of the Community<\/strong><\/p>\n

.<\/p>\n