It is now almost a hundred years since the WEA has been active in community education in Wales, and thanks to the European Social Fund it has been able to initiate community projects that would otherwise struggle to find the necessary resources. The partnership between the WEA and the Stroke Association illustrates what can be achieved when two organisations, committed to democratic learning, work together to help build a learning community.
The Stroke Association Support Group in Maesteg was set up with money received from the Big Lottery Fund, its aim to broaden the scope of support already on offer.

In Bridgend County two services already existed: a stroke support group for all stroke people, and a dysphasia support group for people left speech and language affected following a stroke. Karyl Carter, group coordinator at Maesteg, explains the group’s vision “We wanted to set up what we call a Positive Action for Stroke Group …to give these people something they could use to go on and do other things”. For many stroke sufferers losing their confidence and self-esteem, means that returning to learning can prove daunting.

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