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Scottish Executive Guidance for Community Learning and Development
INTRODUCTION
1 In June 2002, the Scottish Executive issued Community Learning and Development: The Way Forward1 which set out how we intend to embed community learning and development more firmly within our priorities such as the improvement of public services, community regeneration, social inclusion, lifelong learning and active citizenship. This policy statement identified a range of activities being undertaken to achieve this, including measures to support professional training, establish clearer management information systems, link community learning strategies with community plans and streamline the management of community learning and development (CLD) across Scottish Executive portfolios. 2 As part of this process, Ministers announced that guidance for Community Learning and Development would be prepared to replace the existing Scottish Office Community Education Circular 4/99. Ministers recognised that the policy context affecting community learning and development had moved on and that Scottish Executive guidance needed to change to reflect this. The Executive's priorities in areas such as social justice and lifelong learning and the growing recognition of how CLD could boost social capital meant that existing guidance needed to be expanded and updated. 3 Following discussion with a range of key partners, Working Draft Guidance 2 was prepared in consultation with the Scottish Executive and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities' (COSLA) Community Learning and Development Group. 4 Consultation on the Working Draft Guidance ran until 25th April 2003 and consisted of a series of seminars and an invitation to submit written comments. Seminars involving over 250 people from local authority, voluntary and community sector organisations took place across Scotland. Invitations for written comments were sent to all local authorities, Health Boards, Social Inclusion Partnerships, Councils for Voluntary Service, Volunteer Centres, New Community Schools, Further Education Colleges, Local Enterprise Companies and Racial Equality Councils. Ninety three written responses were received 3. Both the discussion at the seminars and the content of the written responses have played a key role in shaping this guidance. |
5 This guidance sets out a long term framework for the promotion and development of CLD. It is set out in four parts.
6 Part one - sets out our national priorities for, and definition of, community learning and development
Part two - explains the role of CLD in the context of community planning
Part three - advises on our requirements for CLD partnerships, strategies and plans
Part four - explains how measures such as training and evaluation can help to ensure the provision of consistently high quality CLD services
7 Threaded through the guidance are extracts from a statement prepared by the Scottish Executive/COSLA CLD Group that provides an overview of the contribution that CLD makes in building stronger communities. (This statement is set out in full in Annex 1).
8 Brief descriptions of examples of current CLD practice which embody the principles set out in the guidance are also included. These examples show how the new national priorities are already being addressed. A list of these examples is given in Annex 2. The Scottish Community Development Centre is preparing more detailed case studies of these examples and these will be published to accompany the guidance. We are grateful to the communities and agencies whose co-operation has been essential in providing these practical examples.
9 Annex 3 is a glossary of the main terms used in the guidance.
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