AbstractA survey of the organisation and activities offered by all adult training centres (ATCs) in Wales was carried out in 1990. Activities were categorised under 10 headings, and the total number of ‘person hours’ allocated to each was calculated. The location of activities, within the ATC or elsewhere, was also noted. Over a third operated small satellite units, but the pattern of activity in these was similar to that of main centres. Only 11% of registered attenders had all their activities in the ATC, while the activities of 15% occurred elsewhere. The remainder (74%) experienced a mixture of centre based and external activities. However, across the timetable, 70% of person hours were spent inside the ATC. The vast majority of ATCs (88%) said they carried out formal reviews of client progress. The most common activity was arts and crafts, accounting for 25.3% of all person hours. Just over half (53%) of ATCs offered centre based contract work, and this represented 20.2% of all person hours. The proportion of person hours spent in the three other categories relating to work was 15.5%, the largest being work experience at 9.8%. Comments of managers suggested that increased activity in the community and work related activity were positive developments yielding significant benefits for those involved. Over £7 million of expenditure was identified, the largest elements being staff salaries (71%), and transport (15%). The mean cost per person across all reporting ATCs was £3,252 p.a. Variations in the balance of activity were found across ATCs. A cluster analysis identified four models of ATC operation, characterised as Recreation, Recreation and Personal Development, Occupation, and Employment. The models identified could not be fully attributed to such organisational factors as county of origin (implying local day service policy) or size of ATC. The paper suggests that not all activities hold the same benefits for people with a mental handicap, points to a lack of consensus on what activities should take place, and calls for an informed debate between consumers and prov