HRH The Princess Royal to receive charity’s ‘Centenary Award’ for commitment to adult education

London-based adult education charity, City Lit, is to present HRH The Princess Royal with a prestigious Centenary Award when it welcomes Her Royal Highness on Tuesday 2nd April to present the City Lit Centenary Awards.

City Lit, which is entering its second century this year, is hosting the awards to celebrate 100 years of delivering outstanding education. During this time it estimates that it has supported more than a million Londoners to learn a new skill, follow a passion, and find a community and their cultural expression.

The awards will also celebrate the dedicated tutors who share their expertise, knowledge and passion across a range of 5,000 courses, from anthropology to film making to British Sign Language. The Princess Royal will meet both students and tutors at the awards ceremony in April.

The Princess Royal, who has been a strong advocate and supporter of lifelong learning for many years, said: “I have had the pleasure of visiting City Lit a number of times to meet its inspirational learners and tutors, as well as welcoming City Lit students to Buckingham Palace as National Learning Ambassadors.

“It is particularly encouraging to see how people of all ages and backgrounds come together at City Lit to challenge themselves and transform their lives.

“If education can be defined as ‘training for life’, then lifelong learning and its ability to unlock potential throughout people’s lives should be accepted as part of life. I am honoured to receive the City Lit Centenary Fellowship.”

City Lit’s Percussion Orchestra will perform at the reception following the awards ceremony. The Percussion Orchestra is a collaboration between City Lit’s Courses for People With Learning Difficulties and students of the Open Academy Programme at the Royal Academy of Music. Further details of arrangements for the day will be circulated closer to the time.

Mark Malcomson, City Lit CBE said: “I am delighted that as part of our Centenary celebrations, Her Royal Highness will be the guest of honour at our Centenary Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 2nd April here at City Lit.  

‘The celebration will bring together a number of former City Lit award winners, who exemplify the very best of City Lit. The Princess Royal will also receive her Centenary Fellowship in recognition of her ongoing commitment to lifelong learning.’

City Lit has always been highly encouraged by the support of The Princess Royal and we are very excited to have the opportunity to introduce her to the Londoners attending the event.”