6.10 Perhaps most heartening of all has been the recent profusion of policy documents, conferences and meetings designed specifically to address the challenges of lifelong learning. We have already referred to some of these. There is the promotional and development work of Campaign for Learning and the Lifelong Learning Foundation. Organisations as diverse as the CBI, TUC, EEF, Scottish Skills Forum, Local Government Association and the Arts Council have all produced their own vision statements and their own proposals for development. This last year has also witnessed the publication of two major reviews of further and higher education, led respectively by Helena Kennedy and Sir Ron Dearing, each of which has made a raft of important recommendations for lifelong learning, which need to be acted upon.

6.11 Unfortunately, far too many people remain outside these encouraging developments. They are untouched by them, or there is currently too little support for their efforts. Opportunities for all need to be expanded.

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