| Wealden
Home Educators Network originally sprung from two home educating families
needs to organise regular get togethers, with other Home Educating families,
in their area. From having been members of other groups or having visited/attended
activities, that had been organised in other areas, a loose network of friends
were formed, who were supportive in receiving information regarding activities
set up in our area. We went out to find supportive organisations, individuals,
and groups within the area who we could link up with as Home Educators.
All this activity was given a name - Wealden Home Educators Network or w.H.E.n.
for short. The families wishing to receive information regarding activities and various news increased and came from various geographical locations in Kent, Sussex and the surrounding areas. w.H.E.n produces regular free e.mailed Newsletters, with submissions from other groups or individuals about activities that have been organised for Home Educators and other Community Events in their areas. It is being used as a forum for communications such as requests for lifts to events; recommended websites; matters of National Home Ed. concern; Personal introduction and requests for like minded families etc.
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w.H.E.n. has organically grown from a small seed from some of the needs of two families. w.H.E.n.'s aims have not been completely formulated yet but it appears to be a resource for Home Educating Families in order to share information, give and receive support, reduce isolation, harness community resources (look out for Scrap Store Membership coming soon), educators, guides and enthusiasts etc. etc., reduce costs for activities, promote outdoor natural learning and a resource for natural healing. Recent research on children's mental health has declared that children's (and no doubt adults) mental health benefits greatly from being within or around an environment where there are plants, trees and natural images, sounds, smells, etc. For this instinctive reason, which is supported by research into children's mental health, Home Educators have been organising activities, events and playdays at Brickhurst Farm, who have been kind enough to open the land for use of Home Education, with regard to the sensitivity of the land and the wildlife. Could Home Education be considered 'people permaculture'? w.H.E.n. members got together with others to form SEASoN - South East Alternative Science Network and an event for National Science Week was organised. SEASoN are currently meeting in order to continue their aims.Talk of
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T. Shirts being produced to promote, publicise and show pride for Home Education - appeals for 'good slogans' are out and about - so please let us have a few. Offers of support in order to technically upgrade w.H.E.n. have come in which is brilliant! Other chat of doing this and that is out and about so we'll see what happens in the future. So, within all this networking, amongst each other and community supporters of Home Education, came an offer to build w.H.E.n. a website, as a project for a student who has experienced a number of years of Home Education and is a member of a Home Ed. family. Please use the information that has been put together within the website and don't be afraid to be active within the Network of Home Educators within the region in what-ever way inspires you and with respect to others. Do reach out for support and it is hoped that there will be some information, perhaps links to other sites, within these webpages which will help transport you to where you wish to be. If you are thinking of Home Education then please feel free to use the resources and please do persist on your quest to find answers to your many questions but above all have belief in yourself, your children and your culture - life provides much opportunity for learning, for all! Bon Voyage! |