BETA - Basic Education & Training for Adults

BETA is a Registered Charity No. 1070662. All help given at BETA has been free of charge. Students were encouraged to write their own illustrated books. skills.

BETA believes in the furtherance of education by improving literacy and the love of learning through a commitment to local history research to benefit all. In 1991 Eileen Bithell and Eileen Walsh had a dream of an Adult Basic Skills Project that would offer education to people regardless of age or ability and, most importantly, that we would never put personal gain before the students’ needs. For

the last twenty five years we have been through some very rough patches, always through lack of funding, but we have been very fortunate in having each other to lean on. ‘God Will Provide’ became our philosophy and even when we had to take a personal loan out to pay the rent, we never gave up on our dream. Sometimes we felt that raising money for the project was like getting blood out of a stone. We regard ourselves very fortunate as we never dread coming to work in the mornings even though we have had some worrying times, both in work and our personal life. We would like to thank our families for not only putting up with us, but for all the help and support they give us and BETA, every day. During the 25 years over 1,000 adults of all abilities have attended BETA Education Project. Abilitites ranged from non-readers to those who needed help towards further education/training. Eileen and Eileen wrote an Adult reading scheme with supporting resources. BETA students have successfully moved on and many gained employment thanks to us e.g.:
5 people who are now in the Police,
8 in the Prison Service,
3 people who are now in the Armed Services,
16 women returners who are now nurses
1 man who is now a doctor
3 Volunteers became teachers
5 volunteers gained a degree
During the last 25 years BETA has employed 10 people as Sessional Tutors. BETA has trained over 20 volunteers and still has 7 volunteers who help with residential training, days out, drama, exhibitions, fundraising etc. We set up the world’s first charity internet café, BETA Netc@fe, in 2000 and have helped many people with internet Job Search and I.T. Over 50,000 individuals were given free help, but unfortunately, due to lack of funds, we had to close the café in 2016. 12 disabled adults were employed in BETA Netc@fe.

Photos from BETA - Basic Education & Training for Adults's post

27/01/2026

04/05/2025

04/02/2025

It is with the greatest sadness that I have to tell you that my dearest friend Eileen Bithell (the other Eileen) has died. I have worked with Eileen since 1987. We set up our own very successful adult charity education project, BETA, in 1991 and in 2000 we opened the World’s first charity internet café alongside the BETA education project. We had to close the internet café and education project in 2016. Since then Eileen and I have concentrated on recording local history and have had many books printed and organised/put on many displays, plays and events in Wigan. This year, we decided that we would re-print our World War II book to include more local people’s memories that have been given to us. I promised Eileen I would ensure that this project and re-print will go ahead ready for VE/VJ 80th anniversary event in Wigan on Saturday 10th May 2025.
We have had some wonderful enjoyable times in our 34years of BETA and I am so very proud of having worked alongside such a wonderful person as Eileen Bithell. At the moment I am in a state of shock, but will keep my promise to Eileen. We couldn’t have run BETA without the support of our families and I would like to pay tribute to my family and Eileen’s children Sarah and Richard for all their help in keeping us going so successfully. My thoughts and prayers are with Eileen’s family. Photo 1, Eileen and I at the English Civil War event we organised. Photo 2 Eileen and I as the ugly sisters in a play we wrote and performed. Photo 3 Eileen and I making the counter for BETA Netcafe. Photo 4 Eileen and I celebrating BETA at a fundraiser.

24/04/2024

BETA is taking part in the Wigan History Festival at Wigan Parish church on Friday 26th April and Saturday 27th April between 10 am and 4pm, free entry. Lots of historical displays and presentations. We will be putting on a display of memorabilia from the last 8 decades as part of our research project "The Second Elizabethan Age". We will also be giving out copies of The BETA printed book(202 pages A4 size) containing all the research, facts and local people’s memories from 1950’s to 2022. Subjects covered in the book: Events; Education; Employment; Housing; Cost of Living; Shopping; Sport, Social and Cultural Changes; Technology; Health; Conflicts, National Service, Climate Change. “The Second Elizabethan Age” starts from Queen Elizabeth II accession through to her death in 2022. We will also be giving out copies of BETA’s five history walks around Wigan books.
We are also requesting local people’s personal and familial memories of D Day for our latest research book. The books will be available with our display at Wigan’s D Day commemoration at Mesnes Park on Saturday 8th June. We, Eileen and Eileen, hope to see you all at the Parish Church on Friday and Saturday.

Photos from British Normandy Memorial's post

17/04/2024

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http://www.betanetcafe.co.uk/

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Wigan
WN12BB

BETA - Basic Education & Training for Adults

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