One of the Oldest Adult Education Centres in the UK Threatened with Imminent Closure

The adult education centre based at Bethnal Green Road is being threatened with closure by Tower Hamlets Council. We, i.e. the students organised in "The Association of Dirty Classes" such as woodwork, pottery, upholstery etc., as well as members of staff and the public using Bethnal Green Centre, understand that the council wants to sell the property to change it into luxury apartments. We are protesting against abandoning the building and, with it, many existing courses which have been housed at this centre for over 40 years.

Some students still have memories of the courses offered after World War II, although the beginnings go back to the years after World War I, when the Bethnal Green Centre was used to re-educate and integrate returning soldiers with their local community. The centre is still to this date dedicated to adult learning. For example, many students use the service to re-establish links with their local community in addition to furthering their education. The service is utilised by adults with specific needs, young mothers embarking on training, older members of the community, adults learning English as an additional language (ESOL) or wishing to improve their literacy and numeracy skills, in addition to professionals who wish to take up an interesting hobby.

Among its more illustrious former occupants and students, Bethnal Green Centre can count a number of championship weight lifters, the Repton Boxing Club with its history of consistently producing local, national, international and Olympic level boxers, actor Jimmi Harkishin, better known as "Dev" from Coronation Street, and celebrity photographer David Bailey.

Some of the courses which are at risk now require specialist equipment and premises: woodwork, upholstery, silver jewellery, stained glass and pottery, all in addition to ESOL, literacy and numeracy offered by Tower Hamlets College. These are essential courses in our multicultural society and the people who will suffer are from impoverished communities, disadvantaged backgrounds, and are simply trying to improve their education and involvement in a vibrant society.

Some classes and students have been told they have only ten weeks left and then the future of their service is unsure. Immediate action to save Bethnal Green Centre is therefore required, and we call on Tower Hamlets Council to maintain Bethnal Green Centre as an adult education centre in recognition of its value to the community and outstanding historical record as being the first Adult Education Centre in the country.

The Bethnal Green Adult Education Centre is located at 229 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 6AB, behind the post office.