The Ashburton Learning Centre (ALC) has evolved from a small organisation established in 1979 providing a highly confidential literacy service to a few people in their own homes, to a very visible learning centre, proactively meeting a wide range of individual and community learning needs. Last year about 400 people used their services.

“We are still confidential,” says Mary Philip, the manager of the centre, “but we want to be visible, we want to be a place where people call in off the street if they need help.”