UCU: Addressing funding inequality between FE provider

Motion

Motion text: Conference notes UCU's recognition at the 2026 Adult and Community Education Annual Meeting of an emerging two-tier funding situation in Further Education, whereby providers with predominantly 16-19 provision receive significantly greater funding than those with mixed 16-19 and adult education provision.
Conference further notes that this disparity disproportionately impacts Institutes of Adult Learning (IALs), threatening the sustainability of provision, student experience, and member job security.
Conference resolves to:
1. raise the funding disparity in upcoming and all subsequent national negotiations until it is resolved
2. secure a published commitment naming Adult Education funding parity as a UCU national FE bargaining priority
3. commission a report within twelve months quantifying the funding gap between provider types
4. report measurable progress against a funding equity benchmark annually to Congress
5. campaign for ring-fenced Adult Education funding in the next government spending review.