Home > News > March 2009 > 25 March 2009

Government publishes 'Learning Revolution' White Paper

People who want to organise their own groups and classes will be supported by a new national campaign for learning, the government has announced.

The government published its White Paper, 'The Learning Revolution', on Monday. The White Paper sets out the government's strategy for informal learning and includes plans for public and private buildings all over the country to throw open their doors to learners in the evening and weekends.

The buildings, from pubs, shops, cafes and churches to workplaces, libraries and galleries, will be identified by the new 'Learning Revolution' logo and the government says at least 7,000 rooms will be available, with the number expected to grow.

The campaign is backed by organisations ranging from the Women's Institute, the Church of England and the National Trust to Microsoft and BUPA. They have all pledged to support this movement and where possible, to open their doors so that groups of adults can engage in learning.

The main points in the White Paper include:

* A £20m transformation fund that aims to support the development of new adult learning partnerships and innovative ideas. This could mean helping local people breathe new life into empty shop premises by setting up artists' studios or theatre workshop spaces, or issuing learning vouchers to people who are unemployed;

* Working across Government departments and local authorities to get all kinds of new spaces opened up for self-organised learning activities. These shared spaces will include libraries, museums, arts galleries, faith spaces and local UK Online centres, as well as schools and colleges.

* A competition to design a new web directory of learning spaces and places that are available at free or low cost, working with umbrella organisations like NAVCA (National Association of Voluntary and Community Action).

Skills Secretary John Denham said: "Learning in all its many forms improves our quality of life, happiness and personal well-being. While improving people's skills is one of the most powerful things they can do to realise their career aspirations, we recognise the importance of learning for pleasure and the enormous contribution it makes to the well-being of individuals, neighbourhoods and wider society.

"Over the past few years, there has been a quiet learning revolution, but the government wants to ignite this, raising the profile and take-up of learning wherever it happens, so that all adults and communities can benefit from high-quality, innovative learning that is accessible to all. This is ever more important during a downturn.

"The informal learning picture has always been bigger than just publicly funded learning delivered through traditional adult education classes in colleges. This form of learning will continue and does suit some people. But the world has changed considerably. We need to go beyond this narrow vision and make sure such learning is not left behind in the technology stakes. And we need better links between different kinds of learning - public, private, voluntary and self-organised - to create a rich mix of opportunities for people at local level."

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council aims to help open up 3,000 spaces and will set up a new £100k challenge fund offering small grants designed to enable museums, libraries and archives to develop capacity and encourage innovation in supporting self-organised learning.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham said: "Learning shouldn't stop when you leave school or college. It should be a natural part of everyone's life, throughout their whole life. Public libraries are ideally placed to play a big part in promoting it and I challenge the 149 services across England to get behind the campaign, and display their 'Learning Revolution' logo with pride."

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said: "Informal learning often goes unnoticed and unrecognised when it deserves to be acknowledged, celebrated and supported.

"Whether through book groups in the local library, cookery lessons in the village hall, or language clubs in the cafe, informal learning creates a sense of community. It brings people together from different backgrounds. It lets them learn new skills and build social networks, both of which are doubly important in these difficult times. Above all, of course, it's fun!

"The White Paper includes a new challenge to, and new support for, local authorities to play their part. Together we can help make sure that informal learning isn't a privilege reserved for the few, but an opportunity enjoyed by many."

The Campaign for Learning, the organisation behind the annual National Family Learning Festival, welcomed the launch of the Learning Revolution White Paper. Tricia Hartley, the Campaign for Learning's chief executive, said: "As an organisation established to champion access to learning, particularly for those who traditional providers find 'hard to reach', we are especially pleased that the strategy embraces a wide variety of types and contexts of learning and makes an explicit commitment to improving access to learning for disadvantaged groups."

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