DEPARTMENT FOR
INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS News Release (032/009) issued by
COI News Distribution Service. 23 March 2009
* White Paper
launched to inspire and increase opportunities for learning for pleasure
People who want to organise their own groups and classes will be
supported by a new national campaign for learning, Government
announced today. Public and private buildings all over the country
will throw open their doors to learners in the evening and
weekends, from pubs, shops, cafes and churches to workplaces,
libraries and galleries. The buildings will be identified by the
new "Learning Revolution" logo and 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 engage in learning to expand their horizons.
The Government today publishes its White Paper, The Learning
Revolution, which aims to bring to life a new 21st century vision
to help adults learn for pleasure and personal and community
development. The White Paper outlines what the whole of Government
can do to support learning for pleasure, including funding
innovative new ideas and projects, helping to broker access to
learning, especially for disadvantaged groups and older people,
and building a culture of learning across society.
Key elements include:
* A £20m transformation fund which will 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. Learners say not finding a low-cost,
accessible place to learn can be a significant barrier to learning;
* Making it easier to find a space by setting up 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 wellbeing. 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 last few years have seen an explosion of online access to
education resources, the establishment of book groups, huge growth
in the University of the Third Age and the introduction of free
access to museums. Many of these developments are supported in one
way or another by Government. Free access to museums costs £28m a
year, while Government funding for UK online centres in libraries
and children's centres stands at £10m a year, as well as
£21.5 million a year to fund union learning reps.
On top of this, DIUS has ring-fenced £210m to support adult
learning and will continue to protect funding for specialist adult
education colleges and institutions, such as City Lit.
And to support the growing importance of digital skills at home
and in work, we have asked Baroness Estelle Morris to chair an
independent review of ICT Skills for Adults.
A host of organisations, including five Government departments
and several local authorities, will today show support for the
campaign by signing the learning revolution pledge. By signing the
pledge, these organisations will:
* Support the core principles of the learning revolution and
encourage others to sign up;
* Advocate wider participation, especially by those who have
benefited least from learning;
* Find flexible ways of using our existing spaces, or opening up
new spaces, for learning;
* Encourage and support learning activities organised by people
for themselves;
* Embrace new ways of learning, including the use of information
technology and broadcasting;
* Find and work with new partners to increase adult learning
opportunities; and
* Celebrate successes.
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, who signed the
Learning Revolution pledge today, aim to help open up 3,000 spaces
and will set up a new £100k challenge fund offering small grants
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."
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Learning Revolution was published today as a command
paper. Please see http://www.dius.gov.uk to read
the full document.
2. For a full list of organisations make the Learning Revolution
pledge today, see below: BECTA, British Library, BT, BUPA,
Business in the Community, Campaign for Learning, Channel 4,
Church of England, Citizens Advice Bureau, City Lit, Civil Service
Pensioners Association, Communities and Local Government ,
Community Media Association, Department for Children Schools and
Families, Department for Culture Media and Sport, Sport England,
English Heritage, Museums Libraries and Archives Council,
Voluntary Arts Network, Department for Innovation, Universities
and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions, Digital Unite,
Engage, First Bus, First Taste, Ginsters, Global Digital
Broadcast, HOLEX, Homeless Link, Kew Gardens, Local Government
Association, LEAFEA, Croydon Council, Westminster City Council,
Dudley Metropolitan Council, Gloucester County Council, Kent
County Council, Derbyshire County Council, Cheshire County
Council, Stockton Borough Council, Norfolk County Council, Life
Academy, Mars, Merseytravel, Microsoft, Museums Association,
National Association of Voluntary & Community Action, National
Federation of Women's Institutes, National Literacy Trust,
National Trust, NIACE, Open University, Royal Horticultural
Society, RSPB, RWE nPower, Scottish & Southern Energy,
Southern Railway, SS Great Britain, The Age and Employment
Network, The Association of Science and Discovery Centres, U3A, UK
online, Unionlearn, UNISON, UNITE, Workers Educational Association.
3. A full public consultation was held from January to May 2008,
as well as a six month deliberative consultation featuring
roundtables and events with stakeholders. DIUS received 5, 500
responses to the consultation from individual learners and from a
wide variety of different organisations. For further details see
http://www.dius.gov.uk/consultations/~/media/publications/Response_to_IALC
4. The Foresight Report into Mental Capital and Wellbeing,
published in October 2008, was sponsored by DIUS. The two-year
study concluded that there is a clear case for action across
society to boost both mental capital and wellbeing to reap very
high economic and social benefits for the future. For further
information, see: http://www.foresight.gov.uk/OurWork/ActiveProjects/Mental%20Capital/Welcome.asp.
5. For further information and pictures, please contact the DIUS
press office on 020 3300 8928 or 020 3300 8927.