Ed Balls

During his time in cabinet, Ed began attending City Lit, an adult learning college in central London, in order to develop strategies to cope with his stammer. He worked with City Lit tutor Jan Logan over a number of years to develop a range of techniques. Becoming increasingly open about his stammer, Ed is Vice President of Action for Stammering Children and a Patron of the British Stammering Association. He has also run the London Marathon three times since 2011, raising over £160,000 for WhizzKidz and Action for Stammering Children. Ed is now a City Lit Fellow, proving his continuing commitment to lifelong learning.

Ed was chosen for Learning and Work Institute’s Lifelong Learning Ambassador Award for proving the transformational effects that learning can have and collected his award from Maggie Galliers CBE, President of Learning and Work Institute. The awards sit within Get the Nation Learning Week, the highpoint of the Get the Nation Learning campaign, led by Learning and Work Institute and supported by over 100 organisations, including BFI, Channel 4 and Make UK. These organisations have signed the Get the Nation Learning Charter, promoting their commitment to lifelong learning and recognising its benefits on the economy and society.

Having launched in May 2025, the Get the Nation Learning campaign seeks to spotlight the benefits of lifelong learning on society and the economy. The awards are an important part of this, shining a light on people and organisations getting the nation learning and recognising examples of adult learning that support healthier futures, stronger communities, more opportunities, regional growth, and richer lives.

Ed Balls said:
“I’ve seen first-hand how lifelong learning can change lives, not just in my professional work as an MP and Education Secretary but also in my own life. Many of the things I do now every day on Good Morning Britain and in my academic work would not have been possible without Jan Logan and the amazing team at City Lit who do such brilliant work to support adults like me to be themselves and manage their stammer.  Action for Stammering Children and the Michael Palin centre do the same for children who need advice and therapy. It’s never too early or too late to ask for and get help and I am honoured that this award will help me to spread that message more widely.”

Maggie Galliers CBE, President of Learning and Work Institute, said:
“I am delighted to present Ed with this award. Ed is an inspiring example of the positive impact that lifelong learning can have and has become an outstanding ambassador for people who stammer. Learning throughout life can have all kinds of benefits. Ed is proof of this and his story shows why opportunities to access learning must be open to all.”

Stephen Evans, Chief Executive of Learning and Work Institute, said:
“No matter who you are taking up learning later in life can be life-changing in a variety of ways. Ed is testament to that and we are thrilled to make him our lifelong learning ambassador at the Get the Nation Learning Awards this year. Ed shows that through learning there can be no limit on what you can achieve.”