Working Together

There clearly needs to be in place a funding stream which addresses all the costs of ICT as the third Skill for Life.

It needs to be realistic, sustainable and creative. It needs to endorse the recommendations of the LSC's 'Working Together' paper on the role of the voluntary and community sector (VCS):

"VCS expertise can support the LSC's strategic planning, particularly in relation to widening participation in learning."

Working Together a strategy for the Voluntary and Community Sector and the Learning and Skills Council LSC (May 2004).

It needs to take into account all those non-traditional providers, especially from the voluntary and community sector. It needs to place value on the fact that they are in a unique position to reach the most disadvantaged groups in society.

Missed opportunity

What a pity that the ICT Skill for Life announcement wasn't synchronised with the launch of UK Online a few years ago. After all, the ministers at the time said they wanted many thousands of people online by 2005.

So, millions of pounds were invested in centres all over the country, including refurbishment, computer equipment and broadband connections.

Sadly, in some parts, it was a bit like buying every home a car and then realising that very few people knew how to drive! Now you all know what happens to a car after several years - it needs continued maintenance, occasional repair and eventual replacement.

There are some great UK Online centres around the country that have been delivering the said third Skill for Life in the most innovative ways, by maximising ICT as a teaching tool.

As with the other Skills for Life, their community base is ideal for engaging non-traditional learners by addressing their skills needs in informal, non-threatening settings, with the support of familiar volunteers.

New Opportunities

Up to the present, New Opportunities funding has made this possible for many UK Online centres in deprived areas.

The future looks rosy for some because many local authorities have recognised their community-based value and have embraced them into either mainstream council provision or by providing financial support.

UK Online regional and national offices have also been tremendously supportive and have recently made available development funding to help sustain some centres to continue their valuable work.

But what happens after it runs out? Will the drive and objectives to push
e-government services cease?

UK Online

Some UK Online centres are joining forces and fighting hard for survival.

By becoming a consortium of voluntary and community sector organisations, they are adopting the true essence of the Working Together paper. But they are still unable to break through the monopoly of the established mainstream adult and community education providers.

Sadly, many UK Online centres will have to close their doors soon and in others the expensive kit will atrophy.

The learners in the community, who didn't go to college, will still not go to college.

The learners who cannot use computers will still not go to LearnDirect centres.

And sometime in the future, a government paper will tell us that there are still millions of people in the country with ICT skills below level 2, whilst employers are still demanding these skills as standard.

May 2005