A celebration of achievement, creativity and community
On an autumnal Friday afternoon in Camden, I had the privilege of attending the WM College, London, Learner Awards 2025 – a celebration that left everyone in the room inspired.
Led by Principal Dipa Ganguli OBE, the event brought together learners, families, staff and civic partners to recognise adults who had overcome immense personal barriers to succeed. Awards such as Kindness in Learning, Inspirational Learner, and the Resilience Award captured the spirit of the day, showing that personal growth, wellbeing and courage are as important as qualifications.
Among the guests were alumni and patron Lisa Jewell, now an internationally bestselling author who credited WM College with giving her the foundation to start her writing career, and Councillor Eddie Hanson, the Mayor of Camden. Both joined Dipa to present awards and spoke warmly about the college’s vital role in strengthening community life across the borough.
The courage to begin again
The afternoon’s stories reflected the extraordinary diversity of WM College’s learners – refugees learning English for the first time, women rebuilding confidence after coercive or abusive relationships, retirees overcoming loneliness, and parents finally finding space to invest in themselves. Each learner’s journey was different, but all shared the same courage to begin again.
It was a powerful reminder of what adult and community education achieves at its best: restoring confidence, connection and belonging in people’s lives.
Standing up for adult education when it matters most
Adult and community learning has long been one of the most vital – and most undervalued – parts of our education system. In a world where social media can divide and isolate, WM College shows how learning can unite, building connections across languages, cultures and generations.
The college’s reflections on the future of the sector – shared through The Missing Link in England’s Skills Plan and its Open Letter on Funding for Adult Education – offer important perspectives for policymakers and sector colleagues. Both highlight how adult education underpins not just employability, but the wellbeing and resilience of communities across the country.
Learning with empathy, purpose and pride
At the heart of WM College’s offer are English, maths and ESOL, the gateway skills that open doors to work, study and fuller participation in society. In its Empathy in the Classroom story, tutors describe how their own language-learning journeys help them create safe, supportive spaces where adults can learn without fear of making mistakes. That same empathy shapes every aspect of teaching and learning, from creative arts and digital media to employability and skills for life.
The college’s path toward becoming a truly anti-racist organisation strengthens this inclusive ethos. Ensuring equity, belonging and respect are embedded in all aspects of college life.
Living their values every day
WM College’s culture is rooted in its values: being learner-centred, committed to continuous improvement and excellence, respectful, and collaborative. These principles guide every classroom interaction and decision. Staff clearly work tirelessly to remove barriers, adapt to learners’ lives, and celebrate diversity in all its forms. The result is a college where wellbeing, inclusion and achievement go hand in hand.
Gratitude to the sector that changes lives
As a proud member of HOLEX (a Company Member of the Education Training Foundation (ETF)), WM College is part of a national network dedicated to professional excellence. ETF stands alongside leaders and practitioners like Dipa and her team – providing the standards, evidence and development opportunities that sustain quality and innovation in adult learning.
Colleges like WM College remind us of the humanity at the heart of adult and community education. Behind every learner success are the dedicated tutors, support staff and leaders who make learning safe, welcoming and possible for people who might otherwise be left behind.
At ETF, we want to thank everyone working in this vital area. Those who give adults the confidence to try again, to learn, and to thrive. Your work transforms lives every day, often quietly, but with profound and lasting impact.