I would just like to congratulate DOSTI for their innovation and hard work in this field. I have lived in Dudley for forty years now and although my wife and I are not from the Black Country, we have made our home here and really value the rich and diverse community that we live and work within. I am proud to say that I live and work in Dudley and feel totally part of a community that values people and knows what is important. Good luck with your consultation and I hope that you use what people say to make things even better.

Many years ago I was studying Community Education at university as long and varied discussions took place around the topic. I was also fortunate enough to travel extensively around the country looking at community education in other areas. Whatever I found on returning to Dudley I was often gratified to find that it already existed here or was under discussion. The one thing often missing was some form of organisation to pull all the strands together. Dosti in Dudley does just this and I am constantly meeting people dedicated to improving life for the people of Dudley, many of them volunteers. When you have had the chance to look round like I have you really appreciate what you have at home and how good it is. Dosti deserves the total support of us all as they fulfill a vital role in the borough inwhich we live and work. There are so many areas of the country who wish they had the same sort of quality work as is in progress in Dudley.