ABSTRACT
The story told in this chapter is a remarkable one, whereby a community in extremis faced with the collapse of opportunities for old, middle-aged and young alike came together to forge a new identity and future for itself. With financial assistance from the Manpower Services Commission (as the Training Agency was then called), a network of community leaders was formed by the Church of England which had been actively involved through such groups as ‘Church Action with the Unemployed’. The main participants were representatives from the voluntary services, the main local authority departments like Education, Social Services and Planning, local companies (who seconded staff), trade unions and individual volunteers.
