Picture: Misbah Ayub (WEA)

Misbah Ayub is the Senior Communications and Culture Manager at IFWEA affiliate the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) in the UK. She has been with the WEA for five years, explaining that education has played an important role in her own life: “I’ve always worked within the education charity sector because education has had a profound impact on my own life. It opened doors and created opportunities that my parents never had, as they were forced into work from a young age. For me, education was the key to choice and possibility,” she says.

“The WEA drew me in because I’ve seen the growing pressure for education to be viewed purely as a pathway to a career. While that’s important, I believe education is so much more – it’s about feeding our curiosity, helping us understand the world, and giving us the tools to live fuller, richer lives. That’s the vision that inspires me every day and I see mirrored at the WEA. “

We asked her about the recent WEA conference, challenges facing the organisation, highlights of the past few months, and what the WEA’s plans are for the new year:

Where was the conference, what was the theme, and who attended?

• Where: At the famous Etihad Stadium (Home of Manchester City football club) in Manchester (much to our Manchester United supporting CEO’s disappointment!)
• Purpose: Bringing our people together to understand our new organisational strategy.
• Who attended: Our colleagues across England and Scotland, so around 250 people.

What was the theme/topic of your conference, and why did you choose this?

• For the conference we focused on the five goals of our new strategy. These are:
  • Goal one: All learners are welcome at the WEA.
  • Goal two: We will deliver a responsive learning that meets contemporary needs.
  • Goal three: We will diversify our income in support of our mission.
  • Goal four: We will position lifelong learning at the centre of place-based community planning and delivery.
  • Goal five: We will fight for a broad and economically just lifelong learning offer that meets social needs.
• We did this through five workshops:
  • Goal One: We invited colleagues to step into a classroom where they were greeted in Arabic or Azerbaijani. This exercise mirrored the experience of refugees and asylum seekers who join our classes without knowing the language. It gave our team a glimpse into the challenges of navigating a world where communication feels out of reach – and highlighted the many ways we can act differently to make everyone feel welcome and included.
  • Goal Two: We took a journey through our history, from our founding days to the present. This walk-through showcased how we’ve championed adult education over the years, driving change and creating opportunities for learners across the UK.
  • Goal Three: Colleagues were given pretend money and a shopping list of courses our learners dream of. The challenge? Figure out how to make it all happen. This sparked conversations about why diversified funding matters and why we can’t rely solely on government support.
  • Goal Four: We explored the importance of shared learning spaces and how we can design our buildings to serve the diverse communities we work with. It was a chance to think creatively about inclusion in physical spaces.
  • Finally: Our CEO, Simon Parkinson, closed with a heartfelt speech on why lifelong learning matters- especially in a world that can feel fractured and uncertain. His words inspired reflection on the challenges ahead and reminded us that we’re not alone; we have partners like IFWEA standing with us.

What have been the main challenges this year, for WEA, building up to the conference?

Luckily there were not too many challenges, but organising 250 people across two countries (with parts that are very badly connected to transport) always proves a challenge!

What were the main outcomes of the conference?

Our colleagues now have a much deeper understanding of our strategy – not just the content, but the reasoning behind it. They’ve connected with the purpose that drives our work and rediscovered why it truly matters. This renewed sense of purpose is energising, reminding us that every choice we make and every action we take contributes to something far greater: creating opportunities, transforming lives, and shaping a future where learning empowers communities across the UK. They have also rediscovered or discovered the importance of global partners in fighting the challenges we face.

IFWEA sent the conference a short video clip from General Secretary Saliem Patel. How was this received? Did it stimulate interest in international workers’ education?

The video from IFWEA General Secretary Saliem Patel was shared at the close of the day, and it couldn’t have come at a better moment. The conversations leading up to it had touched on the growing divisions in the world and the sense that the odds can feel stacked against us. Seeing Saliem’s message reminded everyone that these challenges aren’t unique to the UK – and, importantly, that we have allies across the globe.

The mood in the room lifted immediately. Many colleagues described the video as moving and said it gave them renewed confidence and enthusiasm to keep fighting for workers’ rights. It sparked curiosity too – several people admitted they didn’t know much about our international history and wanted to learn more. Ending the day on that note felt powerful: it connected us to a bigger movement and reminded us that we’re not alone.

WEA and IFWEA go back a while – in fact, WEA was one of the co-founders of IFWEA. What are the commonalities between the organisations?

Yes, WEA was proud to be one of the co-founders of IFWEA. Our history stretches back to 1903 in London and like the IFWEA, our work has evolved, but its importance has never diminished. There is still so much to fight for and at times, we find ourselves needing to bring society back toward progress when it takes steps backward. Education remains our most powerful tool, just as it does for IFWEA. Both organisations are driven by the same values: a belief that education should be accessible to all and that it can transform lives and communities. We do this work with heart, with purpose, and with a commitment to equality – principles that unite us across borders and generations.

What major activities and events will WEA UK be undertaking in the coming six months/year?

• Five months into our new strategy, we’re finding our voice and taking a more active role in championing our learners. We’re speaking up, advocating for their needs, and ensuring that their stories and aspirations are heard loud and clear.
• We’re also looking ahead with ambition – developing a refreshed fundraising strategy and introducing new learning portfolios such as WEA Learn and WEA Works. These initiatives will allow us to reach learners who might otherwise miss out because they fall outside the scope of government funding. It’s about opening doors and creating opportunities for everyone, no matter their circumstances.
• Internally, we’re continuing to strengthen our foundations. By improving our processes and systems, we’re making sure we can support learners effectively while building an organisation that attracts and retains the very best talent. Because when we invest in our people, we invest in the future of lifelong learning.

Read more: Visit WEA here.