Morley College London invites the local community to mark the official launch of its North Kensington Centre

We are celebrating the official opening of our refurbished North Kensington Centre for Skills by inviting local residents to share stories of what brought them to North Kensington, as part of a community artwork installation.

Created through a merger of Kensington and Chelsea College with Morley College London in February 2020 the Centre will be officially re-opened in May, following a £13.5m refurbishment. Sitting at the heart of one of the most diverse communities in London, it offers a wide range of qualifications for 16 to 18-year-olds, short courses and adult education classes designed in partnership with local employers to create opportunities for local people to improve their lives through academic, technical and vocational education and skills development.

Design a postcard competition

A three-day programme of events to mark the official re-opening of the College will culminate with a Community Open Day on Saturday 13 May, with residents invited to join staff and students for a series of events, workshops and activities at the Wornington Road site. As part of these celebrations, residents living in W10 postcodes are also being invited to design a postcard answering the question, “What brought you to North Kensington?”, which will then be displayed as part of a wider installation during the Open Day.

Craig Hanlon-Smith, Centre Principal at the North Kensington Centre for Skills, commented:

“We’re thrilled to officially open our North Kensington Centre and welcome the local community into these inspiring new facilities. Our focus is on making Morley College London the best place to learn, and we are delighted that this renovation will help us deliver an ambitious programme inspired by the diversity and resilience of our local communities.”

“Morley is the only Further Education college in the borough. We are the local college centre in North Kensington, saved as a learning space by community activism after the tragedy of Grenfell. The building has been fully refurbished with new-build extensions to offer all in the area the very best environment and student experience available in London”.

“With a wide range of courses on offer, from 16-18 qualifications to ceramics and glassmaking, essential skills, ESOL, digital skills, health and social care, psychology, humanities and more, we’re excited for the future. I am looking forward to working closely with our students, staff and partners to create a truly unique centre of education where local people can access the tailored support and skills they need to make positive changes in their lives and the wider community.”

Situated on Wornington Road, W10, the refurbished Centre offers a raft of new facilities, including:

• New multi-use community and performance hall to develop performing arts opportunities
• Refurbished crèche (free to students), supporting inclusive study for all
• Accessible entrance and reception area
• State-of-the-art classrooms and studios to support creative courses in glassmaking, jewellery, design, ceramics and Esports
• Bright, glass-fronted café for staff, students and the community
• Music studios and radio production suite
• Re-instatement of Morley Heart Gardens and landscaping
• Additional secure bicycle storage

The Community Open day begins at 10am on Saturday 13 May with an inspiring programme including theatre workshops delivered by the National Theatre; family activities and tour of the creche; ceramics, jewellery and glass-making workshops; live science experiments; app development classes; music and DJ sessions; free ice creams for visitors and more. Everyone is welcome to attend. For latest listings, visit our North Kensington Community Open Day activities page.