Experiencing abuse and neglect in care settings can have a profound impact on being able to progress in education. This, in turn, can create lasting impact in adulthood – people may feel judged about their abilities, lack confidence or feel embarrassed about seeking support for learning.
As part of marking 10 Years of Future Pathways, we look at how we can support people in their right to education. Here, we talk to WEA, one of Future Pathways’ Delivery Partners, about how they support people to build confidence, develop skills, recognise their own abilities and progress learning.
Restoring confidence through lifelong learning
Ray McCowan, WEA Director of Scotland
Learning isn’t just about gaining skills for work. For many, it’s an important first step to building confidence and communication skills. These foundations can help people rediscover their own abilities, allowing them to progress into further education, work and to navigate everyday life.
The WEA (Workers’ Educational Association) is a national education charity dedicated to bringing lifelong learning within reach of everyone who needs it. We deliver local, accessible learning to those furthest from opportunity to help adults build skills for work, life and to shape the communities they live in.
WEA works with Future Pathways to provide literacy, numeracy and digital skills to people who have had difficult life experiences. Some are living with complex mental and physical health conditions and many left school without the grades they needed. Our tutors work closely with learners, tailoring the learning to meet them where they’re at. Some attend to improve their literacy skills while others use the learning for everyday life to support themselves and their families.
WEA tutor Marie said:
“For many Future Pathways learners, trusting another person can be one of the greatest challenges they face. Being entrusted with the most personal parts of their lives is a responsibility I never take for granted, and it’s a privilege to support them as they discover their voice, recognise their strengths, and realise their potential.”
One learner that Marie recently worked with joined the course with a goal to write a memoir about his experiences growing up in the care system. With little formal education, he spent two and a half years with WEA improving his literacy skills, which led to him successfully publishing his memoir. He said:
“Writing this book has given me some form of history and identity, which I felt I never really had and I believe it has also given a voice to the voiceless.”
He recently applied to the Scottish Drug’s Forums National Traineeship where he hopes to use his own experiences to help others.
Disrupted education can have a lasting impact into adulthood. Negative experiences of school can affect confidence, self-esteem and a person’s belief in their ability to learn altogether. Gaps in essential skills create barriers to accessing opportunities and lead people to avoid applying for jobs, returning to education or taking part in everyday activities because they worry about making mistakes or being judged. Some feel embarrassed and go to great lengths to hide their lack of literacy and numeracy skills. These feelings can stop people from seeking support, even when they’re eager to learn and develop new skills later in life.
For many, there’s a stigma around returning to traditional learning.
Almost half of WEA learners left school with low or no qualifications and to many adult learners, the idea of stepping into a formal education setting such as a school or college is overwhelming. That’s why the WEA deliver learning in small, welcoming environments. Our classes, typically made up of eight to ten learners, help people to find connection, share experiences, and develop new skills in a safe, supportive setting. This can lead to learners feeling ready to take that next step into further education, volunteering, or work opportunities.
Essential skills help people to become independent by empowering them to navigate support systems, understand their rights at work, manage finances and access digital services.
That’s why WEA are campaigning for accessible lifelong learning for adults and communities everywhere no matter your postcode. Launched in February 2026, the WEA Lifelong Learning Labs campaign has brought together people from across and beyond the adult education sector to explore the social, economic and democratic value of lifelong learning. Together we’re gathering evidence, listening and challenging assumptions to ultimately build a stronger case for a national lifelong learning strategy. Our interim report is now available, with the final report to be launched in December 2026.
Discover more
Working together
At Future Pathways, our tailored approach to support is made possible by working with our dedicated Delivery Partners. As we mark 10 years of our service, we say a big thank you to all the organisations and professionals we have worked with over the past decade.
Meet our Partners
Future Pathways commissions a range of services to support people. We work with a network of Delivery Partners across Scotland, the UK and beyond. Here, we have interviews with organisations and practitioners across counselling, coaching, creative support and more.
Who we are and what we do
Check out our guide for organisations and professionals. This is for anyone who works in the wider sector, including those with people who have experienced abuse and neglect in the Scottish care system, as well as services and individual practitioners interested in becoming a Delivery Partner.
