A number of local events celebrating learning achievements and promoting adult learning took place across the London region during Adult Learners’ Week (9-15 May 2009).

The Regional Ceremony was held at the Museum of London in Docklands, where Adult Learners’ Week Award Winners were presented with their awards.

The City Lit celebrated its annual awards with a ceremony hosted by Esther Rantzen.  This year, City Lit had seven Adult Learners’ Week Award winners, more than any other college in the country, and its ceremony acknowledged the hard work and dedication of all nominees.

City and Islington College held an awards ceremony celebrating adults that had shown an outstanding commitment to learning at the college.  Over 100 students received a certificate and a voucher for their hard work and dedication. 

Westminster Kingsway College held its 12^th annual tea party and exhibition which was attended by over 100 adult learners at the Charlie Ratchford Community Centre in Camden. The event brought together adult learners from a range of over 60 classes run by Westminster Kingsway College in community centres in partnership with Camden Council. A design exhibition at the centre featured a wide range of works including painting and craftwork by the adult learners.      

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea celebrated adult learning at the V&A Museum’s 10^th annual “Inspired by” competition. Many learners had their work exhibited at the museum, and there were two winners.

Kensington and Chelsea College held its first ever Artist's Professional Development Summer Show at the Hortensia Gallery from 5 to 15 May, showcasing the work of nine artists from many different countries, all resident in Kensington and Chelsea.

South Thames College Adult Learners’ Awards ceremony was held at the Wandsworth Civic Suite on 12 May. The Adult Learner of the Year (sponsored by South East London Lifelong Learning Network) was Satvinder Bhalla. Satvinder is studying an Access to Law course at South Thames College and has obtained a place at Queen Mary University next year to read Law.

Twin Employment and Training recognised the dedication of their learners at an Achievement Awards ceremony at their Lewisham Centre on 14 May. The ceremony also celebrated the local students on job-focused skills training who have been empowered to change their own situations.

NOVA used an Open Day on the 14 May to present awards to learners and volunteers at Canalside House. There were also talks on NHS job opportunities, benefit advice, debt management, alternative therapy relaxation talk and demonstration with refreshments. Fifty people watched Don McBean, Head of Adult & Family Learning and Colville Ward Councillor Keith Cunningham present the awards. 

Wormwood Scrubs Prison organised a number of activities for inmates, and also held a ceremony on the 14May where the Prison governor addressed around 100 learners and the Principal of Kensington and Chelsea College handed out local Adult Learners’ Week recognition certificates. During the event, a play written by inmates was performed (Social & Life Skills Team), learners read poems from a creative writing group and even sang an opera aria and a Neapolitan song, as one of the learners is an ex-opera singer.

South East London Lifelong Learning Network (SELLLN) held a celebration day and exhibition of students’ work for an SELLN funded project which worked with 6 FE Colleges on the Young Design Programme