AoC is the national voice for further education, sixth form, tertiary, and specialist colleges

At the Association of Colleges, we have taken the government’s mission-led approach seriously by shining a light on the role colleges play in tackling some of the knottiest and longstanding challenges for our country. Our approach is to describe what colleges do already, to better understand how that might be scaled up and how more impact can be achieved with the right engagement with Whitehall and other partners.

We explored this initially through our Mission Accepted report last year – where we shared examples of the work colleges play across all five missions - and now publish this report to dive more deeply into the preventative health ambition.

Our Adult Learning Pays campaign is shifting the narrative on adult education: it isn’t a cost, but a strategic investment in our collective future. By helping policymakers recognise its value and commit the resources it deserves, we can unlock its full potential to transform lives, empower communities, and drive sustainable growth. When we prioritise adult learning, we create opportunities that benefit individuals, employers, and society alike.

We are publishing case studies from colleges across the country who are transforming lives through adult education.