At the WEA, we think community learning is about taking back control. Learners choose what, where and when they learn, in a safe, comfortable space supported by tutors who are able to tailor the learning to meet you where you’re at.
Our 2025 Impact Report shows that 88% of WEA learners met people they wouldn’t normally meet through a course, and:
- 86% made new friends.
- 69% met people from different backgrounds.
- 29% felt a greater sense of community belonging.
Other benefits of community learning include:
- Reduced social isolation.
- Increased self-confidence.
- Mutual support networks that last far beyond the course.
- Improved mental wellbeing through active engagement.
- A shared sense of achievement when reaching goals together.
When we learn together, we build resilience, and we see this every day through our learners.
Learning with others allows you to grow a friendship circle that extends far beyond the classroom. For anyone feeling isolated, this community element is a lifeline.
The statistics are a call to action:
- In 2026, it is expected that two million people aged 50+ will struggle with loneliness, a 49% increase in just a decade. Source: Loneliness in Later Life
- Loneliness also affects 95% of young people, yet only 35% feel confident enough to talk about it. Source: Tackling Loneliness Hub
Community learning can bridge this gap.
Whether you’re improving cookery skills, diving into history, or trying your hand at gardening, community learning sparks connection; and connection changes lives.
Despite the clear benefits, adult learning faces a difficult road ahead. A decline in community learning has been fuelled by a persistent lack of government funding and a failure to recognise the true value of lifelong learning.
When we undervalue the social and health benefits of learning together, we risk losing the very spaces that keep our communities connected and resilient.
To learn more about how we’re advocating for change and how you can support us, visit WEA Lifelong Learning Labs.
Because adults deserve better.
