3.12 One especially frustrating obstacle is the sudden withdrawal of small, but crucial, amounts of funding or support for projects which have begun to draw people in, build up their enthusiasm and produce positive results. The loss of support might come because of the end of short-term funding, because so-called 'matched' funding cannot be raised or because the marginal costs of continuing funding are deemed to be too great for the college or local authority which previously gave support. It might simply that the project fell within a group of activities cut at a time of spending restrictions.

3.13 Whatever the cause, the consequences are often disastrous for the learners involved and for their morale. At best, it confirms the suspicions of those who already believe their interests are not a prime concern of those in authority. At worst, it reinforces hostility to education and cynicism towards those who advocate it as one aspect of enhanced citizenship. Such sudden and damaging cessations of support need to be avoided, as far as possible. For example, steps should be taken to embed promising new provision and planning should provide continuity for successful new initiatives.

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