ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the changes taking place in society affecting the relationship between work, leisure and non-work. Leisure and the assumption of full employment stereotyped ideas about recreation go far to define for governments how people are expected to use their leisure time, and how public resources should be deployed in this field. At first, plans for leisure and recreation in the Glasgow Eastern Area Renewal (GEAR) area were given a high priority and were expressed in terms of compensation for the other problems of the area. Participation was said to be limited by apathy, low incomes, limited local leadership and a fear of anti-social behaviour. Its potential role was that it could harness the energies of young people and ease the burden on the elderly, the disabled and the unemployed. The new concern with promoting the use of leisure facilities in the countryside was also consistent with certain features of the area.
