City Lit’s Centre for Deaf Education received the prestigious “Inclusive Provider of Adult Education” award at the Mayor of London Adult Learning Awards, held last night at City Hall in Royal Victoria.
Selected from 329 nominations across ten categories, this year’s ceremony was hosted by Tunde Olayinka, Executive Director of Communities and Skills at the Greater London Authority, to honour inspiring Londoners and organisations dedicated to adult education and accessibility. City Lit Fellow Bettany Hughes OBE, an acclaimed historian, author, and broadcaster specialising in classical history, joined as an honorary guest, adding to the evening’s celebrations of dedication and impact in lifelong learning.
City Lit’s Centre for Deaf Education, an internationally recognised institution supporting Deaf education since 1919, offers extensive programmes in British Sign Language (BSL), digital skills, and English and maths courses for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Serving over 600 Deaf students annually, the Centre also provides an essential learning sanctuary for nearly 100 Deaf refugees and asylum seekers predominantly from Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Iran.
“Winning the ‘Inclusive Provider of Adult Education’ award is an incredible honour and testament to our commitment to breaking down barriers to education for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students,” said Mark Hopkinson, Head of Centre for Deaf Education at City Lit. “At City Lit, we strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all our students, and this recognition from the Mayor of London Adult Learning Awards truly underscores the importance of accessible education in empowering individuals and strengthening our community.”
The award underscores the Centre’s commitment to inclusive education and aligns with Mayor Khan’s mission to empower Londoners with skills for success amidst the cost-of-living crisis. City Lit’s continued dedication to accessible adult learning strengthens pathways for success and community connection across London.
