This study will be a randomised controlled trial looking for equivalence; the investigators' central hypothesis is that lay-led education will be at least equivalent to professional-led education in terms of patient outcomes. Patients will be randomised to receive either lay-led or professional led self-management education. Patients will be followed up longitudinally for 12 months from initial intervention. Two sites were studied; Manchester and London. It is anticipated that 16 sites will be recruited in each of the two geographical areas; all sites will have an asthma register. Individuals will be eligible for inclusion if they are adults; have clinician diagnosed asthma; have persistent disease and require regular therapy, with some evidence of variability in their disease, such that a self management plan would be appropriate. Both genders will be eligible, as will those unable to see or read. Individuals will be excluded if they have severe cognitive impairment; they decline to be randomised; they decline to receive asthma education and follow-up solely from the designated educator, other than in an emergency situation, or their condition does not show variability.