Summary of the Event This event clearly affirmed the important part that Learning Partnerships are expected to play in developing post-16 and lifelong learning opportunities. Letters from Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Lifelong Learning, and John Harwood, Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council, made plain their suport; and the value of Partnerships' work to date was amply displayed in both workshops and presentations. Letters Malcolm Wicks reaffirmed his view of the vital role that Learning Partnerships had to play alongside the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and the Connexions Service. Partnerships were necessary to ensure that local people and businesses had a genuine say in shaping future learning provision. In his letter to delegates, John Harwood acknowledged the unique and important contribution that Learning Partnerships would bring to the Learning and Skills Council nationally and locally. Learning Partnerships would play their part by: maximising learning opportunities and bringing greater coherence to the learning offered by colleges and other learning providers articulating the needs of local learners andhelping the LSC to respond effectively helping to reach those communities and estates where learning is seen as part of the problem and not an escape from poverty and social disadvantages helping to produce innovative local solutions to meet individual needs working to remove barriers to learning. He emphasised that changing individual attitudes to learning was at the heart of the LSC's vision and believed that Learning Partnerships would spearhead efforts to reach out local people and communities. Main Themes Jim Morning, the Conference Chair, summed up the main themes that emerged from the event. Partnerships should: build and continuously update good relations with the LSC both nationally and locally take a leadership/innovation role be confident in what they have achieved and in achievements yet to come work to develop and refine their ability to be "voices of the learner" develop collaborative networks beyond the usual ones maintain firm and lively community links establish links with all aspects of skills regeneration. Jim also re-affirmed that whilst Learning Partnership managers/co-ordinators had a critical guiding role, they are not the Partnership.