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John Denham discusses the Government's new White Paper, The learning revolution,and what local authorities can achieve for their communities by signing up for it. In recent years, we have witnessed a groundswell of people and communities learning for pleasure in different ways – from book-clubs, to online language resources, and visits to art galleries, now free to all. As we set out in The learning revolution White Paper, launched in March 2009, we want to support this movement by encouraging innovative collaborations between different sectors and partners, to improve the offer and widen access to this kind of learning for communities across England. But this can't be achieved overnight. It will need a concerted effort from all quarters, and local authorities can play a crucial role. We want to raise the profile and take-up of learning for pleasure – or informal adult learning – wherever it happens, so that all adults can benefit, whatever their circumstances. We are asking local authorities to provide the leadership and infrastructure to underpin the offer, working with LSC-funded providers, third sector organisations and other key players to deliver informal adult learning. Such partnerships play a critical role in developing learning opportunities for a diverse range of people, from different social and ethnic groups. During our consultation which informed the White Paper, different kinds of learning organisations attended events and round table discussions, finding common ground and developing creative partnerships as a result. Many said they wanted to continue exchanging ideas and working together after the consultation ended. So, an important work strand in the new strategy, building on the momentum developed during the consultation, is to create widely-shared commitment to informal learning through the learning revolution pledge and autumn festival of learning. The campaign and pledge are already backed by more than 65 national organisations, ranging from the City Lit, the Church of England and The National Trust, to Microsoft and BUPA. These organisations and their work with partners – including local authorities – will be key drivers for change and innovation in adult learning. On behalf of their communities, local authorities can attract potential funding for projects and, by seizing this opportunity, can make their support for adult learning visible to local people, helping communities feel part of a wider movement across the country. Local authorities can also develop better local awareness about the opportunities offered for self-organised learning, such as reading, knitting and U3A groups – all of which are happening, but often with very little local recognition. We are asking a whole range of organisations to sign up to a pledge to support adult learning in the best way they can. For local authorities, this would mean joining government and a whole range of third sector and private sector organisations in backing the core principles of the White Paper. Each organisation will decide for itself what their own particular commitment will be, whether it is opening up additional local authority spaces for learning for pleasure, or allowing a local choir to practice in the council's offices. While it is right that the majority of government investment goes towards helping people get in to work, or to get on in work, particularly in current circumstances, it is also vital that help fosters learning for pleasure. This is why the Government has ring-fenced £210m for informal adult learning, and why we are setting up a transformation fund to help support new ideas and initiatives. Partnerships, such as those between community groups, charities and adult education providers which have signed the pledge, will be able to bid for part of the new £20m transformation fund, set up to support innovative informal learning partnerships and projects. Local authorities can back these local partnerships in submitting their bid. The learning revolution describes how, by working in co-operation, government and a multitude of partner organisations can create a new movement for informal learning. At the start of the consultation process, many people said such co-operation would be impossible to achieve. but we proved between us that it was possible. The White Paper has sown the seeds of the movement, and the Government will support as much as it can. But it will take the continued and combined efforts of many more partners to grow these seeds into strong trees, and bring about the long-term learning revolution that will enable every adult to discover his or her interests and fulfil them. This is the challenge we have before us, and there is no time like the present to get involved. Get on board and join the other organisations which have committed to the learning revolution. John Denham is secretary of state for innovation, universities and skills

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The learning revolution

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