Adult Learning Pays – week of action
From 19 to 23 October, colleges across England are making the case that adult education is an investment, not a cost. At Mindful Education we’re proud to support the Association of Colleges‘ Adult Learning Pays week of action.
Every week, in colleges up and down the country, adults walk back into education. Some are returning after years away, many are retraining for a new career, most are fitting their study around work, caring responsibilities or family life. For many, it changes the direction of their lives.
That’s the message at the heart of Adult Learning Pays, the campaign led by the Association of Colleges (AoC). Launched at the AoC Annual Conference in November 2025, the campaign argues that adult learning supports personal growth, economic resilience and social cohesion, and that it deserves to be treated as a strategic investment.
From Monday 19 to Friday 23 October, AoC is running a national week of action to put that message in front of policymakers.
Why adult learning needs a louder voice
Adult education can tackle several challenges at once: skills gaps, inequality, social isolation and struggling communities. But a lot of ground has been lost. Public funding for classroom-based adult education and training has fallen by two thirds, from £5.1 billion in the early 2000s to £1.7 billion in 2023-24. The number of adults studying or training in English colleges has fallen by more than a third since 2017-18.
But the need hasn’t gone away. Polling for AoC found that over a third of working adults feel they don’t receive enough training to progress in their career, and over a quarter feel they don’t get enough to succeed in their current role. And the benefits are clear: almost two thirds of adults who took part in learning or training in 2024 reported at least one work-related benefit, while almost half reported health and wellbeing benefits. (Figures from AoC’s Adult Learning Pays resources.)
As AoC Chief Executive David Hughes puts it: “Adult education really does pay” – for individuals, for communities and for the economy.
The All Party Parliamentary Group
The week of action has been timed to coincide with the launch of a major report. On Wednesday 21 October, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for FE and Lifelong Learning will publish the findings of its inquiry into adult education in Westminster.
Launched in March 2026, the cross-party inquiry set out to examine the benefits of adult education and the impact of sustained underfunding. Through spring and summer, MPs and peers heard evidence across five sessions:
- Economic growth, skills and workforce needs
- Social mobility and inclusion
- Health, wellbeing and community resilience
- Policy, funding and the future of lifelong learning
- Learning from across the UK and beyond
Many colleges contributed through the written call for evidence, focus groups and evidence sessions. The report will set out practical recommendations to government on how to unlock the potential of adult education.
Our Managing Director, Mark McKenna, will be at the launch at Westminster on Wednesday.
Why we’re backing Adult Learning Pays
At Mindful Education, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to achieve new qualifications. That a busy family or work life, learning differences or a previous lack of opportunity shouldn’t be a barrier to a high-quality education.
Working in partnership with colleges and training providers across the country, we see every year how adult learners use professional qualifications to take the next step in their careers. We also see the dedication of the college leaders, curriculum managers and tutors who make that possible. Supporting this campaign is one small way of standing alongside them.
“Adult education changes lives. Every year we see adults return to learning and go on to new careers, promotions and greater confidence, often while juggling work and family. Colleges are at the heart of that, and they deserve a funding system that recognises the value they create. I'm looking forward to hearing the APPG's recommendations on Wednesday, and we stand with AoC and the whole sector in making the case that adult learning pays.”
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