Dear [MP name]
From tackling skills shortages to supporting national priorities such as health, work progression, and community building, the reach of adult learning is wide.
However, I am concerned that unless the government reverses the trend of cuts to the Adult Education Budget, adult learning will be shut off from those who need it most.
Ahead of the government's Spending Review, the Department for Education has announced that next year's Adult Skills Fund will be cut. The Fund is split between the Mayoral Combined Authorities and the central agency, the ESFA. The ESFA’s budget will be reduced by 6%, whilst the Mayors’ skills budgets can expect a reduction of 2-3%. For the WEA, which is funded by the ESFA and the Mayoral Authorities, this can affect thousands of learners across the whole country.
As a [learner/member/volunteer with them/ a member of staff / delete as appropriate] with the WEA, I understand first-hand the positive impact adult education can have. It supports learners into work and into further education. It also has well-proven benefits for mental health & wellbeing, combating isolation, increasing community connections and building confidence to help people live full lives. In my own experience [add a few details here if you wish to make the letter more personal]
Adult learning can have a remarkable impact beyond educational attainment. The WEA’s most recent Impact Report found that:
- 83% of learners reported improved wellbeing
- 91% of learners made fewer visits to the GP compared to the national average
- 74% of learners said their course helped them keep their minds active
- 70% of learners said they met people they would not normally mix with on their course
However, funding for classroom-based adult learning has fallen by two-thirds, from £5.1 billion in the early 2000s to £1.7 billion in 2023–24.
To protect adult learning, ahead of this year's Spending Review, please contact the Chancellor to request these three necessary asks:
- Reverse the short-sighted cuts to the 2025/26 national and devolved Mayoral Adult Skills Fund
- Return the adult education budget to 2010 levels by the end of the Parliament. Funding for classroom-based adult learning has fallen by two-thirds, from £5.1 billion in the early 2000s to £1.7 billion in 2023–24
- Community adult education delivers across all the Plan for Change missions and milestones. Funding for community adult education should therefore be spread across multiple Government departments to achieve a wide range of outcomes across national and regionally devolved programmes
- The post-19 workforce has not seen the same funding uplifts as teachers and college lecturers. Any early uplift for the adult education budget should include an amount specifically for the post-19 workforce
Yours sincerely,
[your name and address/postcode]
