Lambeth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Morley College London secures £5.8M Department of Education grant to refurbish its Waterloo centre for Adult Education in Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth.
Morley College, which has campuses in North Kensington, Chelsea, and Waterloo, provides over 2,000 courses ranging from painting and visual arts to art history, music education, and music production.
Founded in 1889 by activist Emma Cons, the Waterloo Centre for Adult Education is one of the biggest and oldest specialized adult education providers in the nation.
Principal Bushra Iqbal said: “The Waterloo Centre has been home to adult learners for more than one hundred years.
This capital investment will make exciting improvements to our performance space and facilities which will enhance the architecture and art that already make the Waterloo Centre so special for our community of adult learners, visitors and partners.”
How will Morley College’s £5.8M refurbishment benefit adult learners?
This week, work will begin, with completion anticipated in the fall of 2025.
As part of the college-wide effort to reach net zero by 2040, the project will insulate and renovate the roof to improve the center’s energy efficiency.
The Emma Cons Hall, the center’s primary concert venue, will also undergo renovations that include new heating systems, acoustics, infrastructure, and enhanced accessibility.
The Emma Cons Hall, which debuted in 1958, is renowned for two murals painted by Martin Froy that run the length of the space.
This year, the 555-by-8-foot murals, titled “Sun Up” and “Sun Down,” will be cleaned and restored.
Dr Andrew Gower, chief executive officer and Principal of Morley College London, said: “Learning changes lives, and Morley is all about creating the opportunities through which our students can pursue their passions.
This investment is much-needed and will create a lasting legacy for future generations of adult learners in London.”
Morley College receives the government cash via the DfE’s Further Education Capital Improvement Fund.
A spokesperson from the DfE said:
“Morley College London Waterloo Centre is an iconic building offering essential education for generations of adult learners, especially serving the local communities in Southwark and Lambeth.
This government is mission-driven to break down the barriers to opportunity and this investment will have lasting impact. Morley College London is providing an excellent adult educational service to the communities of London.”
