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Workers Educational Association

Website: www.wea.org.uk

The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) is the UK's largest voluntary provider of adult education. Ever since it was founded in 1903, in order to support the educational needs of working men and women, the WEA has maintained its commitment to provide access to education and learning for adults from all backgrounds, and in particular those who have previously missed out on education.

The WEA is one of the UK's biggest charities, and operates at local, regional and national levels. Nine Regions in England, a Scottish Association and over 650 local Branches make up the WEA's National Association.

Through these local and regional centres, today's WEA now runs over 10,000 courses each year, providing learning for more than 110,000 adults of all ages and drawn from all walks of life.

Courses are created and delivered in response to local need, often in partnership with local community groups and organisations.

There is a proud tradition of voluntary and democratic practice within the Association, which is, at heart, controlled by its members. At Branch, District and National levels, voluntary members are involved in the planning and provision of courses, as well as the governance of the Association itself.

The WEA in London

In the London Region our key strengths are:

• Workbased learning and courses run with our trade union partners and the TUC. In 2003 -2004 WEA London region put on nearly 200 of these courses for over 1500 learners
• Community education courses which includes basic skills, family learning and community interpreting courses. Last year the WEA put on over 200 of these courses and enrolled just over 2000 learners.
• An extensive range of general courses in areas like the arts, the sciences, performing arts, and humanities. These are run through local WEA branches. In 2003-2004 we put on 350 of these courses, enrolling over 4000 learners.

Information on the extensive range of WEA courses on offer in London is available from the WEA London region office - tel: 0207613 7550 email: london@wea.org.uk website: www.wea.org.uk