A surprise invitation has seen two members of Kirklees Council Adult Learning Service attend an Education and Skills Garden Party at Buckingham Palace.
Suzanne Copley (Business Support Officer) and Emma Bolton (Employment & Skills Lead Project Officer) have together spent 50 years supporting adult learners as part of the Kirklees Adult Learning team.
The invitation recognised their outstanding contributions to supporting adults who return to education later in life. Both Suzanne and Emma were surprised and shocked when told of the invitations and had to be convinced that it was not a practical joke.
Suzanne said:
“I always thought I was just doing my job, so receiving the invite was a complete shock. Once I came back to earth, I was excited and curious about the event. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and to share it with Emma just made the day even more special.”
Emma added:
“I felt privileged to be invited to this education focused Royal Garden Party and somehow it still doesn’t feel real. The gardens are beautiful, the food was wonderful and the sun came out as well. We had the chance to see King Charles III, it all seems incredible to be in the Palace Gardens with the King and Queen in attendance, I still have to pinch myself.”
Suzanne plays a crucial role in coordinating business support functions that enable the smooth running of Adult Learning programmes, ensuring that learners have access to the courses and supporting senior managers.
Emma Bolton leads on Adult Learning, Skills Bootcamps, ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) and Digital Hub programmes for the Employment and Skills Service. These programmes are instrumental in delivering employment-related projects, helping learners gain the skills and confidence to transition into meaningful careers.
Cllr Amanda Pinnock, Cabinet Member for Education and Communities, praised the achievement, saying:
“We are proud of Suzanne and Emma who deserve this invitation to Buckingham Palace. It is deserved recognition for their hard work and dedication to supporting hundreds of adult learners over the years.
“Education has the power to transform lives and their years of commitment have provided countless individuals in Kirklees with the skills, confidence and opportunities to build brighter futures. I am incredibly proud to see them enjoy the day at such a prestigious event.”
The Buckingham Palace Education and Skills Garden Party is an annual event that celebrates individuals who have made remarkable contributions to their communities through education and skills.
The presence of staff from Kirklees Council underscores the invaluable role that adult education professionals play in transforming lives through learning and development.
A recent Ofsted report highlighted the service’s high-quality courses and strong support for learners
For more information about Kirklees Council Adult Learning Service and its programmes, please visit our skills support webpage. You can also contact the team by emailing adult.learning@kirklees.gov.uk or by calling 01484 225016.
Employment and Skills and Our Kirklees Futures plans
Our Kirklees Futures brings together the full range of education providers, plus wider partners, with the shared aim that learners of all ages are equipped with vital skills for life as set out in our Employment and Skills Plan 2022-2025.