The Institute was founded in 1909 as a provider of educational, cultural and social activities for people of all ages, cultures and income levels in north London and beyond. Our founder, Dame Henrietta Barnett placed great emphasis on providing educational and cultural opportunities for the poor and disadvantaged members of society. Throughout its long and successful history, the Institute has been characterised by people from different backgrounds coming together to share a common interest and benefit from the acquisition of knowledge and skills.

Today, Dame Henrietta’s vision remains our guiding principle: opportunities for all irrespective of age, ability, income, nationality or culture. However, most of our courses receive no funding from either central or local government.

The Institute’s Fundraising activities, along with a group of volunteers, raise money for students with learning disabilities and for the bursary fund to assist students who need financial support to enrol on or complete their course. We organise different events which appeal to a wide range of different interest groups.