Wellbeing & Work

Exploring what enables people to work

London often focuses on attracting talent. Yet much of the city’s potential already lives here, sometimes hidden in plain sight.

Migrants, carers, older workers and people returning after disruption carry valuable skills and experience.

The challenge is rarely talent itself but recognition – and the pathways that turn lived experience into visible capability and economic participation.

Interviews

The Art of Goal Keeping

Simon Parkinson, CEO, WEA

Simon Parkinson, CEO of the large adult learning charity, WEA, looks at the multiple pluses lifelong learning courses give adults – something that gets lost in translation by a government that still has no overall adult learning strategy. Interview by Nicola Baird.

Articles

Life-saving learning: Why learning providers are a key part of the public health system

We explore how lifelong learning addresses the social drivers of ill health – from isolation and low confidence to limited opportunity – and why the classroom may be one of the most powerful, and underused, tools in London’s public health...

Lived Experience

Learning how to make money go further in everyday life

Practical learning can have an immediate impact on people’s everyday lives. Building confidence with budgeting, spending and basic maths skills helps learners make informed decisions, reduce stress and improve financial stability.

Finding space to reconnect after loss through adult learning

During periods of grief or isolation, informal learning can provide structure, connection and a supportive space to rebuild confidence.

Gaining work skills through hands-on enterprise

For many learners with learning difficulties or disabilities, the pathway into work is not always accessible through traditional routes. Practical, hands-on learning can provide a more effective way to build skills, confidence and independence.

From learning English to finding work in a new country

For many people arriving in the UK, the journey into work begins with learning English and rebuilding confidence. Progression is rarely linear - it often involves moving through different types of learning over time.

Finding purpose again through creative learning

For some adults, learning provides a way to rebuild direction and identity after difficult life experiences. Creative courses can offer structure, purpose and a space to develop both skills and confidence.

Taking the first step from making to selling

For many learners, the step from developing a skill to using it in the real world can feel like the hardest part. Opportunities to test that transition in a supportive environment are key.