Nearly 600 events and courses were held across Wales during Adult Learners’ Week, which ran from 21 to 27 September.
Free in-person and online events and activities gave adults opportunities to discover their passion for learning, brush up their skills, improve their health and wellbeing, progress their career, or seek tailored advice and information on funding or specialised career pathways. Subjects on offer under the ‘Never Stop Learning’ campaign theme ranged from digital literacy, AI and essential skills to cookery, languages and calligraphy.
During the week adult learning was discussed in the Senedd, and learners were celebrated at the annual Inspire! Adult Learning Awards in Cardiff, which were attended by 200 guests.
Adult Learners’ Week is co-ordinated by Learning and Work Institute in partnership with Welsh Government, with support from The Open University in Wales, National Centre for Learning Welsh, ACT, Agored Cymru and Adult Learning Wales.
Deputy Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Cefin Campbell, who attended the Inspire! Awards, said: “Adult Learners’ Week celebrates the life-changing impact of learning and the achievements of adult learners across Wales.”
He added: “Through hundreds of free events and the Inspire! Adult Learning Awards, we have seen how learning helps people build confidence, develop new skills and create new opportunities.”
Learning and Work Institute attracted 365 people to its own policy events during the week, and a Learner Engagement Tool for Adult Community Learning was launched.
Five Inspire! Award winners joined Learning and Work Institute at an event at the Senedd, where they met their constituency MSs. Winners including Welsh learner Hannah Rowlatt from Cardiff, who is registered blind and works as RNIB policy and campaigns officer, were interviewed on BBC Radio Wales Breakfast show, and Hannah also appeared on S4C’s Prynhawn Da programme.
Speaking in the Senedd, Kiera Marshall, Plaid Cymru MS for Cardiff Penarth, paid tribute to Hannah and all adult learners across Wales. She said: “The impact of adult learning is life-changing and extends far beyond education.”
Michelle Matheron, Learning and Work Institute Director for Wales, said: “We were so pleased to see events, courses and taster sessions taking place right across Wales, informing and inspiring people to take on a new learning journey.”
Events took place in communities across the country. NPTC Group of Colleges held information events at Aberafan Shopping Centre, the Morrisons store in Neath, the Tesco store in Welshpool and Ystradgynlais Job Centre, as well as activities at its campuses.
Ebbw Vale Learning Action Centre held 16 taster courses at four centres, including a multicultural cooking class with 12 learners. Of the 50 learners who took part in the courses, 20 have signed up to continue part-time learning.
Monmouthshire Adult Community Learning organised taster sessions including guitar and ukulele, German for beginners, botanical illustration, willow weaving, English for Speakers of Other Languages, art, felting, cookery and bath bomb workshops, while Aberystwyth University held language taster sessions.
Museums across Wales also organised events and activities during the week, including beekeeping courses at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea and a peg loom weaving workshop at the National Wool Museum.
Loveday Williams, senior learning, participation and interpretation officer at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, said: “Through strong partnerships and diverse learning opportunities, our 2026 programme has engaged over 2,000 people across Wales, supporting wellbeing, inclusion, meaningful engagement with heritage and community connection.”
Repair Café Wales delivered a beginners sewing workshop in partnership with the University of South Wales for learners in Cardiff.
