This document discusses the past, present, and future challenges facing the adult education sector in the UK. It traces the development of the sector from the late 1990s/early 2000s focus on lifelong learning, to the mid-2000s when quality standards were established and e-learning began to be adopted. By the late 2000s, the sector faced austerity measures and a push for more innovative approaches using new technologies. Today, the sector focuses on community learning and developing the skills of teachers, while grappling with doing more with less resources. Going forward, questions remain around curriculum, the role of teachers, quality evaluation, and how to best serve and define learners in this changing environment.