The news that Aspire Sussex has gone into administration is a concern, its sudden bankruptcy has led to courses closing with learners potentially out of pocket and tutors left without a job. The precarious financial situation of Aspire has been known for some years and giving up Marle Place was itself an indicator of the problems it faced, but the cost of living crisis was the final straw. It is a predictable consequence of adult and community learning services being cut to the bone and unfortunately a sign of things to come as the Conservative Government rolls out cuts in funding for other service at a time when inflation is causing havoc not just to individual budgets but to those of businesses, charities and local authorities.

Aspire was the main provider of adult education in the county and it is particularly a concern that services for basic living skills for vulnerable people have been suspended. Liberal Democrats on the County Council are pressing for full scrutiny of the re-provision of the service which was in any cases due to be re-tendered in 2023 and it is important courses that provide a springboard for adults without formal qualifications are re-provided as soon as possible.

Liberal Democrat leader on West Sussex County Council, Kirsty Lord said: “The closure of any organisation providing a much a much-needed public service, like adult education, is always of great concern but it is deeply worrying against the current landscape of chronic labour and skills shortages in West Sussex. Many public service organisations, dependent on public funding, operate on a financial knife-edge. We urgently need to see the outcome of that review and understand how West Sussex County Council intends to replace the provision now lost following Aspire Sussex’s closure.”