I am writing to you on behalf of the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) and all adult learners across the UK to ask you to support our campaign to help us save adult education.
The Government is currently preparing its Spending Review for the next 5 years and will announce its plans on 25^th November 2015.  The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, which funds the WEA and other adult learning institutions like ourselves, has been asked by the Chancellor to suggest cuts of 25% and 40%.

Less than 6% of Government spending on education and training is devoted to adult further education and skills. Further cuts, on top of the 24% and 3.9% per cent cuts to the Adult Skills Budget already announced this year, will have a devastating impact on a service that is life-changing for many people

Putting that in context, over the next 10 years there will be 13.5 million more jobs but only 7 million young people coming into the workforce. At the same time employer investment in skills and training has declined by 2.5 billion since 2011. Apprenticeships alone will not fill the gaps. In addition, the research shows that adult education improves health and wellbeing, develops confidence and builds better communities.

Over the next few weeks we are hoping to reach thousands of students, members and supporters of the WEA as well as a vast range of partners and friends who share our concerns. Our aim is to raise awareness, make the case for adult education and to give adult learners a voice.

We need you – the WEA’s greatest advocates – to help. Individual letters or emails to your local MP and the Chancellor will make all the difference and make sure that adults are not forgotten when cuts are being made.

Thank you for your support.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
 

1. Write to your local MP - the sooner the better

• Click here to find your MP's contact details
   
• Write to them by letter or email or contact them via social media. A template of what you might consider writing can be downloaded here.
   
• Write also to the Chancellor George Osborne at HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ or email: [email protected]
   
• Let us know you have written either by copying any emails to the WEA at [email protected]or by letting a member of WEA staff know you have contacted your MP

2. Spread the word on social media

• Use #saveadulteducation on twitter and tell the world about the impact adult education has had on your life, family and community
• Join our new Save Adult Education Facebook Campaign

3. Sign our campaign petition  asking the Government to stop further funding cuts to Adult Education.


Ruth Spellman (WEA General Secretary)