Castleford Community Learning Centre hasn’t looked back since joining forces with theWEA three years ago, and now plays a crucial role in the union movement and local community.

Three years ago, Castleford Community Learning Centre (CCLC) was threatened with closure, but is now facing a brighter future after joining
forces with the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA). In the aftermath of the miners’ strike, CCLC became one of the pioneers of community learning, establishing key partnerships with the University of Leeds and local education providers like the WEA. This led to a wide range of learning
opportunities being offered to the people of Castleford and the surrounding area. But by 2006 cuts in adult education funding meant CCLC was
facing the possibility of closure, while the WEA was at risk of losing its status as a TUC-approved provider in Yorkshire. The relocation of the WEA’s TUC activist provision to CCLC proved to be the perfect solution to a dire situation for both organisations, and there has been a dramatic turnaround over the last three years.
Thanks to the support of unionlearn, the centre has been totally transformed and as a consequence the WEA’s TUC activist provision is going from strength to strength.
The decision to accommodate U-Net has added further value to what is on offer at CCLC, providing an opportunity for WEA and U-Net to work closer together for the benefit of trade union learners. “CCLC provides a very friendly and supportive environment which has had a positive impact on the overall quality of teaching and learning,” says WEA/TUC Course Coordinator Brian Chadwick. “WEA tutors and trade union learners are very comfortable here: they are made to feel at home and look forward to coming back and doing another course.”
The WEA’s relocation to Castleford has helped it develop new union partnerships and a more diverse and interesting trade union curriculum. It has also opened up access to trade union education for new communities and the facilities and teaching resources have improved significantly. “Moving to CCLC was the best thing we could have done: it’s pleasing to see so many organisations pulling together in the same direction and sharing the same principles and values and providing a valuable service to
unions, union reps and wider sections of the community,”
says Brian.
“I’m just glad that I’m part of what can only be described as a success story: the new learning partnership has attracted substantial
investment and reinvigorated its whole purpose as a centre for adult
and community learning.” REO Trevor Sargison says the centre is vitally important in ensuring the delivery of a TUC Education programme in the old
mining towns of West Yorkshire. “CCLC is a safe and welcoming environment with wonderful resources and ever-helpful staff – and they do the best ham sandwiches in the county!” he says.