Building sustainable community voices: Lifelong learning in Rochdale

This paper seeks to explore the potential for supporting the presence of 'community voices' in a local government-led initiative for lifelong learning (LLL). The initiative in Rochdale (UK) was a partnership between the local authority and a university. The paper seeks to situate the initiative and the lessons learnt in the context of the potential value to all participants in a collaborative approach to lifelong learning. The paper argues that whilst it is not necessary for all participants to have a shared definition of LLL, there are clear and tangible benefits for the partners which suggest that it is the focus on mutual gain that is critical in any shared initiative. The Rochdale-based initiative can offer some key lessons and it reinforces the lesson that long-term place-based work is not straightforward and has to navigate competing interests; securing respect for community voices requires accountability and a genuine commitment from all participants (academics, active citizens and professionals) that change can be achieved.