Northern College students are raising awareness of the life changing impact of adult education as part of an ambassador role.

Rajinder Binji, Duane Gregersen and Elizabeth Rowan and have become Region of Learning Ambassadors for West Yorkshire Combined Authority based in Leeds.

This voluntary role sees the learners being invited to different activities and events, such as a roundtable with West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, providing them with the opportunity to share their learning stories.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority wants to showcase the impact of learning for adults and how it can support people from a wide range of backgrounds to progress personally and within their career.

The students attended a roundtable event with the Mayor’s in April 2025 joining other adult learners from across the West Yorkshire region.

They spoke passionately about how learning has changed their lives for the better and how it has informed their future plans.

The Mayor heard how their courses in areas such as substance misuse counselling and peer mentoring have supported them to choose a new career path and improved their lives.

Adult learner Rajinder Binji, 52, has enjoyed a new lease of life and sense of purpose after joining Northern College.

“Finding Northern College was a revelation. You meet people from different walks of life and levels of education.

“It’s a phenomenal resource because it opens up the world to you and gives you direction and the confidence to believe in yourself.

To anyone considering returning to education as an adult, Rajinder added: “You’ve got nothing to lose and the world to gain.

“Not everyone is given the same chances and opportunities in life and there can be a myriad of hurdles put in front of us. However, Northern College helps to level the playing field.”

Award-winning Northern College is the only adult residential college in the North of England and provides short community courses as well as academic and vocational qualifications. 

Students can study residentially or non-residentially. Short community courses provide a stepping-stone to gain the confidence to progress to the next level qualification.

Some classes are taught during the evenings and weekends to fit around learners’ other commitments. The college is also growing its online course offer.

Most students at Northern College are from South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.

The college receives funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Emma Beal, Principal and Chief Executive, Northern College, said: “It is immensely rewarding to see our students develop the confidence to learn and achieve.

“We provide a supportive environment that inspires adults to achieve more than they thought possible enabling them to gain qualifications, secure employment and progress in careers.”

West Yorkshire Combined Authority has devolved funding responsibility for adults skills.

It has pledged to build a region of learning and creativity by delivering a wide variety of courses for both school leavers and adult learners of all ages from across the region.

This includes supporting people with basic skills like English and Maths as well as more advanced technical education, helping them secure well-paid jobs in growing industries such as the green, digital and creative sectors.

Apply now for courses starting in September.

Pictured: Northern College adult learners were amongst a group of students who met West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin earlier this year.