Red Balloon Learner Centre - Cambridge

11/10/2026

Did you miss our birthday party? Or did you make it to the party and now you want more Balloonacy? Either way, FEAR NOT, for a Pop-Up Cafe is happening on Saturday 24th October, 9:30-12:30. It will include (according to our publicity materials) happy customers, radioactive tea, and cheese on a surfboard. Hurrah!

07/10/2026

We were delighted to welcome Keira, a Physician Associate from a GP surgery in Bury St Edmunds, who spoke with the students about her own pathway into her role, and about careers in the NHS. She talked them through making GP appointments and explained about chaperones and advocating for themselves if they don’t feel heard, and then got out a box of medical test equipment for them to explore. Lots of fun! You’ll be relieved to know that everyone tested has a healthy blood pressure, even the teachers.
Many thanks again, Keira!

07/10/2026

Only two sleeps to go till our 30th birthday party! Come and join us from 5pm till 8pm at our fab building in Milton. Meet the staff and students, explore our building, enjoy (free) sandwiches and homemade cakes, and bring some money for a Jack's Gelato!

05/10/2026

Is there anything more fun than fire safety training? We think not.

30/09/2026

We’re all very sad to hear the news that Dame Esther Rantzen has passed away. She came to visit us many years ago and was a very kind yet purposeful presence in our centre - the students warmed to her immediately, which doesn’t always happen! At the time we had fifteen students on roll - now we have forty - while Childline continues to give an outlet to thousands of young people including many of our young people. Thank you, Dame Esther!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cq2dwn5z7n1lt

Rantzen, who fronted the BBC's That's Life for two decades, went on to found Childline, and in recent years had been a campaigner for assisted dying.

25/09/2026

Red Balloon is turning 30 this year (I know, right, it doesn’t look a day over 21), and so we are having a party to celebrate!

Come and join us on Friday 9th October from 5pm till 8pm at our fab building (now with extra stairs) in Milton.

Meet some of our staff and students, have a look at some of their work on display, explore our building, share some buffet food and homemade cakes, and ask all those questions you’ve always wanted to ask. Most things will be outside so wrap up warm just in case!

Hope to see you there!

24/09/2026

We joined a schools’ webinar with Aris Chrysikopoulos, a 3D artist working on computer games. He talked about how he got into his career, and demonstrated how to use the open source software Blender to create a model. His message was very much about how you don’t need to know what you want to do right now - keep your options open, explore what you enjoy, and don’t be afraid to make changes in your life.
https://arischrys.artstation.com/

23/09/2026

Our students have many things that make them different to “the norm” (whatever that means), often including their gender identity or sexuality. Today we explored bisexuality for , and it was well worth it: one student thanked me for laying on the activities just for her, not realising that several other students also identify as bi.
Among other things we looked at what the bi flag symbolises (pink for gay, blue for straight, purple where they overlap), and debunked some myths about people who identify as bi. We also explored the different colours of the Progress Pride flag.
I learn so much from our students. They are so much better informed than I ever was, and they teach me as I teach them!