WEA students, members, tutors and supporters joined our campaign, targeted at newly elected MPs, to raise awareness of, and protect adult education ahead of the Spending Review.
Many of our students and volunteers around the country wrote to their MPs, signed an online petition which had 6,500 signatures by the time of the Spending Review, or sent their MP one of our campaign postcards, shown right, which emphasises the range of positive outcomes that spring from modest funding for adult education.
MPs in turn wrote to a number of government ministers on the subject, and several meetings took place between WEA students and their MPs - including one with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in his Sheffield Hallam constituency.
On the day before the spending review announcement, Baroness Sharp of Guildford secured a ninety minute debate in the House of Lords on the benefits of adult education. The WEA received several positive mentions during the debate.
At the WEA we receive a large part of our funding from government. This allows us to run more courses and fees are lower than they might otherwise be. It's key to funding the valuable work we do all over the country, especially the courses in the most disadvantaged areas and for people taking their first steps back into learning.
John Hayes, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning acknowledged the volume of letters and cards received in a letter to our General Secretary, so we thank everyone for their support.