Good things come in threes as new Community Education Whanganui manager prepares to launch courses and receives sponsorship

New Community Education Whanganui manager Mel Shaw says funding can be challenging, but sponsorships like the one they got from UCOL really help. Photo / Bevan Conley

When she moved to Whanganui from Auckland a couple of years ago, Mel Shaw was convinced that she would stop working in adult education.

Shaw worked for Adult Literacy Tamaki Auckland, but didn't think she would get a similar job in Whanganui. Also, obtaining funding was getting increasingly difficult.

Her work in Whanganui began at the Citizens Advice Bureau before she was approached by Community Education Whanganui (CEW) with an offer she couldn't resist.

"I was asked to help develop an education programme out at the prison, we started future directions where we would teach employment, law and job skills," Shaw says.

"We loved it, so we started growing the programme and now we do raranga traditional Māori weaving, creative writing, guitar lessons, sketching and more."

Shaw joined CEW as a tutor in June last year and today marks the beginning of her fourth week as manager of the educational institute following the departure of Sian MacGibbon.

Shaw took the role on because she believes in community education.

"We're the only organisation in New Zealand that are still offering traditional night classes without being affiliated to a college or other organisation.

"That really appealed to me, how unique we are."

Obtaining funding is an ongoing challenge.

"We'd really like to start a welding course, that would be awesome, it wouldn't take long to set up because we use the UCOL buildings," Shaw says.

"We're really lucky, we have a lot of support from UCOL, they gave us a $10,000 sponsorship which we will put towards running our programmes."

CEW has cooking and cheesemaking courses starting up soon, as well as new courses like raranga, bone carving, beginners' French and homebrewing and distilling.

Shaw would like to see more emphasis put into art courses.

"I think that Whanganui has an amazing, tight-knit art scene and I'd like to tap into that.

"I'd like to have more exhibitions at the Edith Gallery because I think that's an amazing space."

Shaw says Community Education Whanganui has an open door policy on Taupo Quay and they welcome all ideas and applicants for courses.