Through the ‘Studying Modern Informal Learning Education systems’(SMILES) project and mobility we wanted to focus on the provision and exchange of relevant knowledge, skills and experience which would allow us to explore and therefore fully understand the characteristics and the broader concept of Lifelong Learning and training, non-formal and informal learning. This has already been seen as mutually valuable to the learners and the broader society and therefore proven successful. We saw this need also needed to be addressed among the disadvantaged communities as the current learning offer appears limited. Also to create new organisation partnerships. During the project in Istanbul we wanted the beneficiaries to explore the areas and tools directly relevant to their field of work. To join in with the delivery staff in the activities that are aimed at exploring models of Lifelong Learning. We wanted to compare how those are run at Beykoz Municipality and exchange good practice. We wanted to look at the teaching and learning methods that they used and understand how we can adapt, evaluate and tailor the contents and tools to be able to make the knowledge transfer and skills acquirable for use back in the UK and their our learners.
TLC College is an Adult Community Education and Training organisation based in Wolverhampton. As a Not for Profit Company, TLC has an excellent reputation for delivering a diverse range of Learning Activities as well as Support Services to the community including Adult and Community Lifelong Learning Programmes, Tuition, Formal and non-formal learning activities in various areas e.g. IT, Employment, English as a second /foreign language, Arabic, Employment and Career Information. As well as Volunteering and Work experience in the areas that include: IT, teaching, admin, Business Mentoring, Youth Activities: Scouts, Social Housing Support to Refugees and Migrants, Nursery, Interpreting and Translation and hospitability. As an organisation that prides itself in welcoming and celebrating people of different cultures and background, there was keen interest and also an increased demand to explore projects through Erasmus+ to discover the different teaching and learning methods adopted in European countries with similar communities and their organisations.