2.14 All of these changes, and those in the economy, have also contributed to a raft of changes in community life. Shifts in traditional structures of employment have often removed many of the old sinews of community and frequently been the occasion of increased social exclusion and other problems for people living in them. New social patterns have also resulted in changed forms and styles of community initiative and unleashed many different kinds of energetic and imaginative community self-activity. Here, too, lifelong learning can do more than merely help people to respond to change. It can lend its support to innovative community projects and creative examples of community development.

2.15 For people living in relatively isolated, rural communities, especially where the provision of public services is limited, engagement in locally based educational activity or distance learning can constitute an important dimension of sociability and connection with the rest of society. We know too that learning can play its part in social and economic regeneration, in building community capacity and in restoring a sense of self-worth and optimism to localities hit by sudden economic change, industrial collapse, restructuring and redundancy. Imaginative educational programmes can, with the skilful deployment of money and other resources, play a major part in regeneration partnerships between community-based initiatives, local business, TECs, local authorities and learning providers. Those responsible for determining priorities and allocating resources, such as the major Funding Councils and TECs, need to be sure that they have the mechanisms in place to support such initiatives and ensure its quality.

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