The rapidly changing picture on localism and the government's focus on local economic growth have significant implications for adult learning and skills providers in England. Government now sees a sense of place as key to economic growth and recognises the need for a renewed debate on how business and state interact with localities. There is a…

In July 2011, the Welsh Government published the first data on adult literacy and numeracy in Wales since 2004. The summary information from the National Survey of Adult Skills in Wales shows that there has been an improvement in literacy levels (though challenges still remain), but little improvement in numeracy. Discussions are ongoing with…

In this article, the author talks about UK Government's informal learning consultation by considering the role of the workplace. As John Denham set out at the launch of this consultation process in January, trade unions have been at the heart of such learning throughout their history; campaigning for education for all and for public libraries,…

New research shows that adults with the lowest literacy and numeracy skills are likely to have experienced substantial disadvantage from early childhood. As the journeys of many adult learners attest, education can transform opportunity. What is more likely to motivate them to take up an educational offer is a life course transition or a new…

This article features Crisis Skylight, a learning and activity centre, which opened in Spitalfields, East London, in 2002. Crisis Skylight was developed by Crisis, a national charity for single homeless people. It gives homeless people a chance to learn alongside other, non-homeless, members of their communities. Skylight's remit was…

This article describes a project to improve the health and quality of life of minority ethnic communities in the West Midlands. The project demonstrates the difference adult learning can make to agendas such as health and community cohesion. "Tandrusti" is a Punjabi word meaning a sound condition of the body or mind. It's also the name…

This article highlights a five-year project known as Enhancing "Skills for Life": Adult Basic Skills and Workplace Learning which focuses on what workplace basic skills programmes "do" work, when and by what means. A research team headed by Alison Wolf will assess the impact of workplace basic skills programmes on employers and…