Workers' Educational Association 120th anniversary

Motion Text

That this House congratulates the WEA on its 120th anniversary; recognises that the organisation was founded in 1903 as the Workers’ Educational Association; highlights that it provides community adult education and has supported hundreds of thousands of adult learners in England and Scotland; praises the WEA for bringing adult learning within reach for people of all backgrounds, with 42 per cent of WEA learners living in disadvantaged postcode areas; acknowledges that WEA courses support adult learners to gain qualifications and to progress into employment; further acknowledges that WEA learners also report improved mental health, better connections to their local communities and improved confidence to deal with life’s challenges; notes that, in 2023, the WEA stays true to its founders’ commitment to challenging educational inequality; and looks forward to WEA learners enjoying courses for many more years to come.