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Centre that transforms lives celebrates 25th anniversary

Posted on 3 November 2010

For a quarter of a century, the University of York's Centre for Lifelong Learning has opened door to education for thousands of people.

During its 25 years of existence, the Centre which celebrates its Silver Jubilee this week, has helped more than 15,000 citizens of York and the surrounding area to study anything from Crime and Scandal in the 19th Century Novel and Newspaper to Caribbean music; from Relativity and Quantum Theory to Medieval Fashion.

In the last 25 years, there have been wonderful stories of York people whose lives have been transformed simply by signing on for a course at the Centre for Lifelong Learning

Lesley Booth

Through its courses, learners can gain credits towards achieving a placed in Higher Education or learn just for fun – and all for less than £10 a week.

The Centre's Director, Lesley Booth, said: "In the last 25 years, there have been wonderful stories of York people whose lives have been transformed simply by signing on for a course at the Centre for Lifelong Learning.

"But it is not only people in the York area that benefit. Three years ago, the Centre went global by offering online courses and we now have learners as far afield as Ghana, Kenya, Switzerland and Thailand."

This year the Centre's courses are more popular than ever with more than 800 applications already for courses starting this autumn. The numbers registering for accredited courses have shown a significant rise as people increasingly use course credits to help them seek employment.

The anniversary will be marked by a gathering of friends of the Centre at the King's Manor in York on 4 November, and guests will include the Leader of City of York Council Councillor Andrew Waller.

Councillor Waller said: "The quality of education in York is very high and means that we have a high skill base. The support for people to learn at all points in life is important to help people achieve their full potential, whatever their background, helping to widen horizons and raise ambition amongst people in York and surrounding areas."

Notes to editors:

Contact details

David Garner
Senior Press Officer

Tel: +44 (0)1904 322153

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