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Clare-Marie White MBA
Graphic Designer, Creative Art Director & Multimedia Designer
Clare-Marie White holds an MBA and is actively involved in various organizations as a volunteer, trustee, and governor. Her notable affiliations include:
- Never Again International: Aims to address issues related to social justice and community support.
- Haywood Academy: Engages in educational initiatives, likely focusing on student development and support.
- Breastfeeding Network: Works towards promoting breastfeeding and providing support to new mothers.
In addition to her roles in these organizations, Clare-Marie is recognized as a Social Reporter, Facilitator, Speaker, Trainer, and Tech Supporter. She participates in informal networks, community groups, events, conferences, and virtual gatherings, showcasing her commitment to community engagement and education.123
Highlights
It was a bittersweet time for me last week as I said goodbye to the WEA.
With my little buddy in tow, a few of us had a delicious lunch near our office in the heart of the Jewellery Quarter (Button Factory - one of many places I'd highly recommend). I said goodbye to others I couldn't see in person on video calls, such a natural part of our working life now. Finally, I packed away the trusty laptop that saw me through a global pandemic and beyond, a little temperamentally at times but then it has been put through a lot.
Like many people the first I heard of the WEA was through a job advert and, in the decade and a half since joining to manage the CHEST project, I've been on the most wonderful journey with the best colleagues, awe-inspiring students, fantastic partners and quite a few waifs and strays from various other institutions as well (you know who you are 😁).
My start coincided with the 100th anniversary of the first WEA seminars in Longton and I've taken every chance I can to talk about them. The seminars were a collaboration between a local committee and Oxford University. Encouraging the free exchange of ideas between students and tutors working together as equals, they marked an innovation in education for working class adults which had previously been largely self-study or lecture-based. From Longton and Rochdale they sparked a movement that spread around Midlands and Northern communities like wildfire. Although the WEA had started in London in 1903 as part of the melting pot of L/labour and Liberal activists, trade unionists, faith groups and the growing Cooperative movement, it was nationwide volunteers, a "Ministry of Enthusiasm", that really helped it to take off. A good book with this title was published for the WEA's centenary if anybody wants to read more.
Our heritage fired me up whenever times got tough. I had a quote from RH Tawney on the office wall at Port Vale: [our work] “is to catch wild students, not teach tricks to tame ones". I'd hope that the work of the different teams I was a part of added a little to the WEA's long story, including health education through a network of fitness classes and some of the first pilots in remote live learning for those otherwise least likely to access in-venue courses.
On Thursday I gently dipped my toe into the future with a networking event in Hanley, across the road from Cartwright House and the Mitchell Arts Centre on the site of Sir Barnett Stross's house where much of the campaign 'Lidice Shall Live' would have been plotted.
Passion for adult learning is like a bug that you can never really shake off. It stays in your blood. I will always carry the happiest of memories and the most life-changing learning from my time and I'd like to acknowledge everyone who has made me feel nurtured, challenged, supported, loved, tested and inspired along the way. The relationships we've built will carry on. Thank you ❤️
