Taking part? Tensions and challenges posed by promoting publicly sponsored learning for active citizenship

This article discusses the tensions and challenges posed through the involvement with government sponsored education programmes to develop adult active citizenship and community organising in England. These programmes have spanned two different governments (2004 to date), and as a result different priorities and social policy imperatives. The dilemmas and opportunities of the involvement in state sponsored programmes are discussed, and the development of a University led participatory research programme to evaluate, and now research, the impact of the programmes. The research approach has reflected the underlying ethos of the learning programmes, that of participation and active learning. Initially the research measured the impact and outcomes of the programmes and currently, through collaborative research with community and voluntary sector partners, is exploring the role of such organisations to enable ‘Taking part?’ that is, enabling active citizenship education. The research highlights the dilemmas posed as a result of changing interpretations and emphasis on citizenship education, particularly at a time of changing social policy priorities and economic restrictions, particularly within the sector that has been carrying out most of these educational practices