Coventry City Council is proud to announce that its Adult Education Service has been awarded additional grant funding from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) for academic year 2025/26.
The WMCA has recognised the important work of the Adult Education Service is carrying out in building strong, healthy and inclusive communities, particularly through local numeracy, literacy, English language and digital skills for communities facing disadvantage.
Coventry is one of only five local authorities within the West Midlands to receive additional funding. The investment will enable the Council’s Adult and Community Learning services to expand their reach, offering greater support to residents who are out of work, helping improve wellbeing, support inclusion and integration, and preparing individuals for employment, self-employment, or further study.
This funding will also support alignment with other strategic initiatives including the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Connect to Work, Youth Trailblazer, and WorkWell. It will further contribute to the development of the Get Britain Working Local Plan to support economic development within the region.
Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Coventry City Council said: "This funding is a fantastic endorsement of the work our Adult Education Service is doing to support people across Coventry. We know that improving skills – whether that’s in English, maths, digital literacy, or language – can be truly transformative, helping people gain confidence, improve wellbeing and access better opportunities.
“It’s about opening doors and making sure that every resident, no matter their background, has the chance to learn, grow and contribute to our city’s future.”
Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Making learning opportunities available to people close to their homes can change lives. Community learning can be a great steppingstone to further learning - preparing people for work and getting them on the path to a rewarding career.
“But the benefits are not just economic, it enables people to make meaningful connections that support their overall health and wellbeing. That’s why I have committed £10m to help provide skills training to marginalised communities as part of my Growth Plan.”
Coventry’s Adult Education Service has recently been recognised as a shining example of how education can change lives with an Adult Learning Award for Inclusive Learning earlier this year.
For more information about adult learning opportunities in Coventry, please visit the Adult Education section of the website.