Ross Weatherby
Learning & Development Worker – Reach Out Project, Aberdeen
I manage the WEA Reach Out project and tutors, design and implement courses that are relevant to the Reach Out learning environment, I complete reports for funders, I take part in residentials and I facilitate groups that are part of the Reach Out programme.
I bring 17 years experience working with WEA learners, my love of education, my desire for social justice. To quote the renowned educationalist, ‘Washing ones hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral’ Paulo Frierre. I bring my love of the outdoors and the love of helping people realise their full potential to the job. I bring my ‘attitude’ to the Reach Out project and my relationship with funders, referral agencies and partner organisations. All of the above are important to my role at the WEA.
I enjoy seeing learners change their mind set and go on, in many cases, to lead the life they deserve. I enjoy the interactions between learners and staff and I love the fact that I have learnt so much about myself during my time here. I believe totally with the idea that if you have 7 students and 1 facilitator in a group you have 8 learners.
I am passionate about the project for many reasons. My love for social justice and the belief that education is for all and that everyone, no matter where you are from or what you have done in your life, is entitled to the same chances as everyone else. The above reasons and factors motivates me in my role and without the passion I have.
The learners that come to the WEA Reach Out project have many different diagnoses including mental health, are going through the criminal justice system, have substance misuse issues or have a learning difficulty. Some learners have at least a dual diagnosis. I appreciate everything they teach me. Like I said above, I have learnt so much about myself, my attitude, and what I thought I knew through working for the WEA Reach Out project. The learners bring their own life experiences, their own knowledge and their ‘get up and go’ attitude to the learning environment. I like the fact that learners help and motivate each other and I love that they like to keep in touch after they have moved on to let us know how they are doing and what they are doing.
Reach Out changes lives constantly. The list would be endless. We help folk keep off of hard drugs, we keep them out of jail, we help them get employment, we help socially isolated learners to broaden social circles. All in all Reach Out not only helps to change lives but also saves lives. We have students who are quoted as saying without Reach Out and the staff they could well be dead.
I would like to see the project carrying on in the direction it is going with more emphasis on outdoor education. I believe that once we engage with those in society that are the hardest to reach through outdoor pursuits that we can then start to engage them with more traditional classroom based education. Reach Out changes lives and society by transforming individual mindsets. What they learn here leads onto learners finding their voice and realising that what they do and say matters, their actions affect those around them and being a positive role model can help their own families lead life to their full potential. Society can be changed by sharing new found knowledge, fighting for social justice and by putting forward a positive educational environment where all members of society are treated fairly without being judged or discriminated against because of past behaviour or what the class system leads us to believe we are and what we are capable of.
I hope that our learners realise their full potential, can move on from past ‘bad’ experiences, be that within education or in the wider world and take with them the WEA ethos, one that is non judgemental, anti-discriminatory and makes them realise that we are all the same regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, age and sexuality, that what we say does matter and how we behave not only affects those around us but also society as a whole.
Contact details
WEA Scotland, 163 King Street, Aberdeen, AB24 5AE, Tel: 01224 640 811, Email: [email protected]