Workshops Engaging the Voluntary and Community Sector Kevin Brady, DfEE (Alyson Malach, NIACE, was prevented from attending by bad weather) Key Issues: The sector is too diverse for one representative voice on the Learning Partnership Board. However, it is possible to have a person on the board who would act as a 'reminding face', ensuring that the sector was considered in all decisions. Partnerships should also consider more practical ways of involving the sector in informal networks, task/working groups for example, rather than on the Board itself. The process of developing the relationship between Learning Partnerships and the Voluntary and Community Sector is complex and time consuming. There are funding and resource implications, and difficulties of language and communication. Organisations in the sector usually want to know why they should be involved and what benefits they can expect. Other points emerging: The sector is hard to define, complex and not cohesive, with autonomous organisations. For these organisations, learning is not their main aganda. It is important to recognise work that they are already doing (through SRB for example) and to understand their mistrust of involvement. There are some tensions (for example between providers and non-providers). It is important to address the training needs of the sector.