The Forum Trust is celebrating securing £95,000 from the Government as part of a 'learning for pleasure' innovation spearheaded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

'What Next?' is one of 213 winning projects and will be running a scheme to provide a range of different types of informal learning opportunities in The Forum.

The Forum Trust will lead the project in partnership with other public, voluntary and private organisations from across Norwich and Norfolk.

'What Next?' will complement what people see and hear in Fusion, The Forum's giant digital screen gallery. Measuring an incredible 24m, Fusion is Europe's largest permenant facility of this kind and shows a programme of work by students, artists, historians, filmmakers and community groups.

If what people see and hear in Fusion sparks an interest, 'What Next' will offer a variety of different ways to find out more about the subject.

Friendly, informal and completely FREE, anyone who visits Fusion can stay and chat to the 'What Next?' team. This can be as simple as having a question about the show or that they need help in finding ways to develop their interest further; which could even lead to a new hobby, a new qualification or even a new career!

The Forum is an ideal centre for an informal project of this kind, housing an abundance of free community resources which can support 'What Next?' These include the Uk's most popular library, the Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, the Learning Shop and BBC Voices.

'What Next?' sessions will be open from 10am to 2pm and staff will be recognisable by their 'What Next?' badge. The sessions will be connected to what's on in Fusion and programme details can be obtained by visiting The Forum event calandar at www.theforumnorwich.co.uk, telephoning 01603 727950 or picking up a copy of The Forum Event Guide inside the Forum, which lists all the Fusion shows.

John Smith, Manager of Strategic Development at The Forum says "The 'What Next?' partnership will be the first time such a diverse range of organsations have worked so closely together in a single initiative and in a single space in Norwich. Effectively, The Forum will become one huge informal learning venue that draws on its own resources and on the expertise of partners to help develop people's interests and encourage more people in to learning, especially those who would not usually paticipate."

Across the nation, a diverse array of informal adult learners will be getting underway, ranging from creative music master classes for people out of work or education, learning adventures for isolated older people and reading opportunities for the over 60s.

This grant is from the £20million Transformation Fund, launched by the Government to offer funding for innovative informal adult learning projects in England. This brings to life The Learning Revolution , a White Paper presented to Parliament in March 2009.