On 8 December, Labour MP for Brentford & Isleworth and Chair of the UK Parliament’s Transport Select Committee, Ruth Cadbury, visited West Thames College to meet the first students of its newly opened Independence Hub and to tour the purpose-built facilities.
The Independence Hub, launched on 7 October 2025 at West Thames College’s Isleworth campus in partnership with London Borough of Hounslow, was created to support young people with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD) and Severe Learning Disabilities (SLD). Its mission is to provide highly personalised support built around the Preparing for Adulthood framework, helping students develop skills in education, independence, community participation and health as they prepare for adulthood.
Cadbury, who last visited the College before the Hub opened to students, said the visit was important because too often the wider public is unaware of what happens to young people with additional needs after they leave school.
Offering her reflections on the visit, she said: “Understanding what the provision is, and whether there’s enough of it, is quite important. Too many young people with additional needs have limited opportunities once they leave school, so seeing the Hub and hearing about both the challenges and the opportunities for these students really mattered to me.”
During her visit she met West Thames College’s CEO & Principal, Marta Gajewska, and Curriculum Quality and Training Manager in Supported Learning, Jane Pendrey. She spent time with students and staff, observed life-skills and supported-learning activities, and discussed future pathways for young people with additional needs, including internships, supported employment and transition planning. She emphasised that the Hub is already becoming a vital local resource and expressed hope that more families would come to see it as a trusted place for young people with significant needs to learn independence.
Gajewska highlighted the collaborative approach behind the Hub and its impact on students: “Ruth Cadbury’s visit was a real boost for our staff and students. At West Thames College, we believe that every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, no matter their starting point. Working together with the London Borough of Hounslow to co-create the Independence Hub, we are providing a safe and nurturing environment where learners with the most complex needs can build confidence, develop independence, and experience success in ways that are meaningful to them. Together, we are helping families and the wider community access the high-quality education, expertise, and opportunities that make a lasting difference in young people’s lives.”
Cadbury also noted that demand for placements at the Hub is likely to grow in the coming years and highlighted the importance of ensuring that students have appropriate “move-on” options once they have completed their time in the programme.
Her visit reinforces the value of inclusive, community-based education and the need for continued investment in opportunities that allow young people with complex needs to thrive, contribute and lead fulfilling adult lives close to home.
If you would like to find out more about more about the Independence Hub, visit this link: https://west-thames.ac.uk/help-and-support/independence-hub
