Lifelong learning changes lives. Inspire us and share your story.

Nominations have opened for the 2026 Inspire! Adult Learning Awards.

The annual awards are organised by Learning and Work Institute in partnership with the Welsh Government, and they celebrate the exceptional achievements of individuals and community projects in Wales that demonstrate outstanding passion, commitment, and drive to improve themselves and their community through lifelong learning. The awards ceremony will be a key highlight of the annual Adult Learners’ Week campaign.

Successful nominations will clearly highlight the benefits of lifelong learning for individuals and communities and the value of investing in life-changing opportunities, providing powerful examples for future learners across Wales.

Please submit your entries by the closing date: Friday 17 April 2026.

2026 Award Categories

• Skills for Work Award
• Young Adult Learner Award
• Life Change Award
• Essential Skills for Life Award
• Learning for Better Health Award
• Ageing Well Award
• New Welsh Speaker Award
• Shared Futures Award
• Hywel Francis Award for Community Impact
• Learner Voice Award

Inspire! Awards criteria:

• Entries are free and open to individuals and organisations living and working in Wales
• Learning can be accredited or non-accredited and can take place in a variety of settings, including workplaces, higher education institutions, further education colleges, online platforms, in the home, and local communities
• At Learning and Work we are dedicated to supporting equality and diversity and to improving access to education for all groups. We welcome nominations from all backgrounds and with all different kinds of life experiences and abilities
• Anyone aged 16 or over can nominate / be nominated for an Inspire! Award, please refer to the guidance on each category
• Entrants for the individual categories must be nominated by another person – this could be a friend, mentor, a colleague, family member, or employer who is well known to the individual nominated
• Entries for the project categories should be written by a team or project leader and endorsed by a senior manager or referee who knows the provision well. We also welcome statements from learners and employees involved in the project to support the nomination.

If you have any questions about the Inspire! Awards or require assistance, please contact inspire@learningandwork.org.uk   

Start your nomination

Download our Guidance document and Nomination form

Online nomination form

Alternatively, you may complete our online nomination form – you can save your progress at any time using the save button at the bottom of each page of the online form.

Meet our 2025 award winners

Discover their inspiring journeys as they share how education has changed their lives, boosted their confidence, and opened doors to new opportunities.

Go to stories

Go to Adult Learners’ Week platform

Find out more