There is so much to be proud of about colleges and the impact they have on our society and our economy, and so continuing to say that and promoting that fact comes naturally. But optimism is hard because of the way colleges have been disregarded, pushed around and underfunded. But despite all of that, my optimism is growing.

Last week was the inaugural Colleges Week (#LoveOurColleges), in which the college sector excelled itself in promoting the work it does for millions of students every year and in helping to make the world a better place in which to live, work and play.

Thousands marched in Westminster - despite the rain - and heard impassioned speeches about the importance of colleges that reflected the enthusiasm, pride and the passion palpable in the crowd. After a decade of cuts that are, by now, widely understood and accepted, it was thrilling to be part of a collective action that made us all feel just a bit stronger and more potent.

What Colleges Week showed, more than anything else, is that students are still being helped to transform their lives, achieve their ambitions and fulfil their talents. My social media was awash with inspiring stories of people for whom their college experience was truly life-changing and shaping. That alone is food for the optimism we will need over the next couple of years, during which the severe funding pressures look set to worsen before they improve.

My optimism is fuelled not only by those stories; it also comes from the creeping realisation that the success of our economy depends on - yes, depends on - colleges having a more central role and greater investment. It is the lifeline colleges need to remain optimistic.

My job is to remain optimistic, infect colleges with that hope and make sure that we build on our #LoveOurColleges campaign. The unity of voice we achieved last week was fantastic. Let’s not lose that over the next year or two as the need to make our case becomes more and more acute.

David Hughes is chief executive of the Association of Colleges