"Beneath the noise, today’s Budget – and the forecasts underpinning it – laid bare the ongoing challenge of persistently low growth combined with rising demand for public services." ✍️ Dr Emily Andrews responds to the Chancellor's Autumn Budget.

Last week was Get The Nation Learning Week. Read WEA CEO @simonparkinson.bsky.social blog reflecting on the week gone by: bit.ly/4nDfRCk #getthenationlearning

It’s Get the Nation Learning Week, and what does the nation care about more than tea? WEA Volunteer, Jim and Lifelong Learning Advocate, Alfie take a minute to swap secrets to brewing the perfect cuppa. #getthenationlearning www.youtube.com/shorts/ZiUHx...

Broadcaster, Bard of Barnsley, and all-round word wizard Ian McMillan has penned a brand-new poem just for us. It’s a joyful ode to lifelong learning, created exclusively to celebrate Get the Nation Learning Week. What are you inspired to learn this week? #getthenationlearning

Still, when adults do learn, they thrive. 🚀 Nearly all (94%) of those engaging in learning identify at least one benefit, with self-confidence, personal development, the love of learning, and jobs and skills gains the most reported. (7/10)

Get The Nation Learning Week is here, and WEA is proud to be an official supporter of this national celebration of adult education and lifelong learning. Our latest blog tells you all you need to know about this special week: bit.ly/4hujg4U#GetT...

Adult learning deserves better: a Pre-24 not Post-16 Education White Paper. In a 38,910 word document, adults are mentioned just 0.13%. Read WEA CEO @SimonParkinson6 full response here: bit.ly/4oBgdKV

New @learnworkuk.bsky.social report out today. Thanks @feweek.bsky.social for great article on it. Full thread from me tomorrow, delayed by today’s L&W away day (there was truffle making).

he first fringe session of the day sees @andrewcities.bsky.social CEO of @centreforcities.bsky.social in conversation with Mayor Paul Bristow of Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority #CPC25

We're at the Centre for Policy Research fringe on men and boys, with @mimsdavies.bsky.social shadow minister for women and @drlukeevans.org.uk shadow health minister. @conservatives.bsky.social #CPC25

Now at the @smfthinktank.bsky.social livestream on health inequality: Professor Arpana Verma speaking on the importance of listening to communities and supporting hyper local organisations when tackling health inequalities. Dr @beckymontacute.bsky.social in the chair. #CPC25

New Statesman session on cross sector collaboration to address mental health crisis. Emphasis on strengthening communities and building the capacity of voluntary sector as trusted agencies. @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social @sojanjosephmp.bsky.social @newstatesman.bsky.social #Lab25

"We wholeheartedly welcome the Prime Minister’s remarks this afternoon calling out rising racism in the UK. And it’s exciting to see Further Education finally recognised as central to the UK’s economic growth and skills agenda." read more: bit.ly/4pPcYAQ #lab25

@local.gov.uk session about the importance of resetting relationship between central and local government. Key is breaking down departmental silos and increasing flexibility - local people shouldn't be constrained by administrative boundaries. @allymcgovern.bsky.social #LAB25

In case you missed it: "Adult education... is rooted in local communities and designed to build trust, openness and purpose... they’re meeting people they might not otherwise cross paths with." feweek.co.uk/adult-learni...

Read our response to @patmcfaddenmp.bsky.social writing in @feweek.bsky.social about adult skills moving to DWP. The WEA welcomes a more integrated approach, but fear many adult learners will still lose out Full response and a link to the FE Week in our bio. bit.ly/4msr8F4

To find out how to reform the levy and unlock opportunity & growth, read levying up here fabians.org.uk/publication/... Thanks to Youth Futures Foundation & @cipd.bsky.social for supporting the research.

A few thoughts from me on how adult education policy needs to get more local #lifelonglearning #local

A new report from the Communications & Digital Committee recognises the challenge of raising adult media literacy levels. Read our response to the report at wea.org.uk/news-views/n... and read the full report at publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ld...

Read our response to the British Future & Belong Network report, The State of Us, which includes evidence from the WEA to support the connection between adult learning and stronger communities bit.ly/3GPeCAD

Some thoughts from me on the perilous position adult education finds itself in after being overlooked in the Spending Review All eyes now on the post-16 strategy to recognise the real value of lifelong learning #spendingreview #adulteducation #lifelonglearning

The WEA Impact Report was published earlier this week showing how adult learning contributes to improved mental health & wellbeing, progression into work and more resilient communities. Adult learning was largely overlooked in the Spending Review but surely impact like this is worth investing in.

All looking good and preparing for start #lifelonglearning

⏰ Not long to go until our annual WEA conference✨ For those of you attending tomorrow, we look forward to welcoming you. If you aren't able to make it in person? You can still join us online, by following the link here: thewea.info/conferenceon...

Great to see Marmalade Trust tackling the stigma of loneliness for #LonelinessAwarenessWeek. It's not easy to make connections but we've been struck by the stat in the new WEA survey that 86% of learners made new friends. It's vital to create opportunities and safe spaces. #MeetingLonelinessTogether

WEA learners talk about improvements in mental health, progression into work and building resilient communities. Taken together it makes a powerful case for improving investment. #SpendingReview #LifelongLearning

"When you look to nations across the world, they're all putting more money into adult education. And we're not" Excellent contributions from Sue Pember of @holexpolicy.bsky.social and others at the Education Select Committee. Let's hope Parliamentarians are listening ahead of the #SpendingReview

Excellent new guest blog from Gavin McCann of UNISON on the WEA website. www.wea.org.uk/unions-adult...

UNISON has always been at the forefront of the campaign to support Lifelong Learning. Tomorrow afternoon, The Learning & Work Institute and the WEA will look at how UNISON can continue to support adult education. Join the free event tomorrow: thewea.info/4m90Ybr

Good to see @jonathandaviesmp.bsky.social calling a Westminster Hall debate on the future of public libraries. Libraries and community adult education go hand in hand and both need new investment. Looking forward to hearing more - debate starts at 9.30am on Wednesday 14 May. #LibrariesChangeLives

Ask your MP to take part in Wednesday's debate on public libraries - we can share a template letter for you, a briefing for them commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri... #LibrariesChangeLives

ICYMI - summary of the recent meeting of the APPG on the Future of Work at which WEA Chief Exec @simonparkinson.bsky.social spoke

Baroness Smith describes 6% cut to Adult Skills Fund as "relatively small" but will continue to "make the case". We know the dire impact it will have on adult learners so making the case feels especially urgent.

My last task ahead of the long weekend, submitting the WEA's evidence to this important inquiry. Deadline is not until 28 April so there's still time

Recording now available from the excellent Protect Adult Learning webinar with contributions from Lord Blunkett, Baroness Garden of Frognal, Professor Graeme Atherton and Stephen Evans (Learning & Work Institute). Also useful links to sign up to the campaign #lifelonglearning

Working on a few consultation responses and calls for evidence with deadlines coming up soon. Pleased to be able to share thoughts with the Independent Commission on Community & Cohesion on how adult learning brings people together and challenges division (deadline 7 April) 1/3

Still time to sign up - should be a lively discussion following the Spring Statement

Ahead of the Spring Statement, our Chief Executive and General Secretary, @simonparkinson.bsky.social, has written an open letter to Chancellor Rachel Reeves outlining the benefits of adult learning. Read letter online: thewea.info/chancellor_l... #adulteducation #budget #springstatement

💻 Join our webinar this Thursday where we'll be talking to Lord David Blunkett, Baroness Sue Garden and Stephen Evans about how we can work to protect adult education in light of planned budget cuts. Sign up to our webinar taking place from 5pm-6pm: thewea.info/openmeeting_

The Education Select Committee has published our written evidence to their Further Education inquiry. With the prospect of funding cuts to adult education budgets ahead there's never been a more crucial time to promote the positive impact of adult learning. Post-19 learning is a key part of FE.

The recording of the event is now available on the WEA website

📣 Reach out to your MP and help us protect adult education✍️ In light of the planned 6% budget cuts to adult education, we ask for your support in calling on the government to reverse these short-sighted cuts. See our link for a letter template and to find your local MP: thewea.info/contactmp

@simonparkinson.bsky.social, WEA CEO & General Secretary, responds to plans to cut Adult Skills Funding by 6%. #adulteducation #budget #cuts

Still time to sign up for this Thursday's webinar exploring the current policy landscape for adult learning. #lifelonglearning #adulteducation

We've posted some ideas to help raise the profile of adult learning and protect it for the future. Check them out here: #adulteducation #lifelonglearning

Good to be at this, clearly big challenges ahead on inequality across and within regions. A few mentions of improving skills to drive growth but could have been more on the wider impacts of adult learning (especially in the discussion around health). Looking forward to continuing the conversation

Can participation in adult learning grow to meet need? Where can the funding be found to invest in provision which benefits everyone? Join us on the 13 March as we host expert speakers exploring current practice and future challenges #lifelonglearning #adulteducation

New DfE report showing the net present value of different qualifications. Note the largest benefit cost ratios are for learning at & below level 2. Definitely wouldn't want to be cutting further education & adult skills based on this... assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67adc0...

Currently working on submitting evidence to Education Select Committee inquiry into Further Education (deadline 7 March) and W&P Select Committee inquiry into Reforming Jobcentres (deadline 3 March) Always happy to swap notes with anyone working on the same committees.parliament.uk/work/8858/ge...

Reminder that the latest Policy Insights from @prospectmagazine.co.uk includes a chapter from WEA's @simonparkinson.bsky.social . Essential skills in literacy, numeracy and digital are in urgent need of support in the Spending Review and need higher profile in regional growth strategies