Over the past few decades social policy in the UK and other major developed countries, has emphasised the provision of social care programmes to deal with vulnerable, deprived groups and communities. This reflects the increase in social problems such as addictions, homelessness and poverty which have occurred in that period. It also illustrates a heightened concern with issues such as poor health, diet and lifestyle. Collectively, considerable sums, amounting to probably billions of pounds of public money, have been expended on social care programmes, projects and initiatives all aimed at tackling deprivation in some of the poorest communities. Yet, despite this, these communities remain stubbornly at the bottom of the table when it comes to bad health, atrocious diet, and prevalence levels for drugs and alcohol. The persistence of inequality and deprivation in some parts of the country suggests that a new approach to dealing with social problems such as addiction and low aspiration is needed. The author contends that greater integration between social care programmes and learning would be a big step in the right direction.