× ADULT learners will be hit by a charity’s near-£2m drop in funding from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority - leading to dozens of job losses. As part of its devolution deal, the authority has been given £36m to spend on adult education in Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield - recently tendering for providers to bid against a set of criteria. Previously funded, WEA has had its bid for a contract rejected and as a result groups such as Local Mencap Barnsley - which works in tandem with the charity - are likely to be left in the lurch. WEA said it stands to lose £1.7m and more than 100 jobs from the decision and that ‘time is running short’ ahead of new courses and qualifications starting next month.