Latest news and updates –

Scottish Government – Working together to respond to COVID-19

Last week, Mr Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, wrote to all CLD organisations and employers with an update on the Scottish Government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis across the CLD, college and university sectors.

The letter included information about the high level leadership group that has been that has been established. Our chair, Alan Sherry OBE is a member of this group, representing the interests of the CLD sector. To inform this work, Alan also chairs the national CLD stakeholder reference group. The CLD Standards Council is represented on the group by Alan and Dr Marion Allison.
View the full letter from Mr Lochhead.

The CLD Response to COVID-19: report on survey results from wave 1 available

The CLD Standards Council asked practitioners to complete a short survey to gather information and examples on the CLD Response to COVID-19. The results from the first wave of the survey to the 19 April 2020 have been collected and you can find the survey report on the CLDSC website.

It highlights that “the workforce has been resilient, agile and quick to respond to young people, learners and community needs with practitioners being an essential link between people and Council, College, Community and Government, and delivering, enabling or co-ordinating services such as digital skills, health advice, utilities access, community resources, welfare / employment rights, governance, befriending, food / medicine distribution, mental health support, community cohesion, education and learning. Key to this role has been CLD practitioners’ access and knowledge of local communities and networks. Data showed that services are being directed towards at risk and / or vulnerable young people, families and community members with examples of people working with addictions, homeless, BAME, refugees / asylum seekers and disabled communities”. It recommends actions for CLD partnerships to support the essential role being undertaken by CLD practitioners.

….And please respond to Wave 2 of the survey

The survey is open to collect a second wave of information to build the picture over time. Whether you responded to wave 1 or not, please take the time to contribute to wave 2.
Please complete the survey online.
Please also pass this link on to any CLD colleagues. We really appreciate your support with this task at this busy time.

Could you be a CLD Buddy or PL Mentor?

Linked to proposals for informal CLD Meet Ups and the Virtual Meet Up referred to last week is an offer from some of our experienced/retired members to provide informal support to colleagues at an earlier stage in their CLD practice. They would become CLD Buddies available for a chat or meet-up to those looking to talk through a situation or a challenge and to bounce ideas off someone.
Running alongside this, the Professional Learning and Registration Committees have identified the need for mentors to provide guidance and, particularly for those who practice in more isolated contexts, to verify a member’s PL for re-registration purposes.
Are you that experienced, retired, approaching retirement CLDSC member who could be a CLD Buddy, PL Mentor or both? Please get in touch with us through contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk for more information.

College Development Network free webinars

CDN have partnered up with Jisc to deliver the Virtual Bridge sessions, a series of daily (Tuesday – Friday) webinars that bring together the EdTech-enthused communities in Scotland and Northern Ireland to share stories and expertise during these challenging times. The sessions cover a wide variety of topics and last half an hour. All of the webinars will be delivered online and the recordings will be made available afterwards so you can watch any you were unable to take part in.
View the Further information on the virtual bridge webinars and Programme of future sessions
The webinar recordings can be watched back on CDN’s YouTube channel.

Skills Development Scotland helpline and support

The PACE helpline 0800 917 8000 is being made available for people worried about the short-term impact of COVID-19 on their employment. This includes employees, those facing redundancy, under furlough, unemployed, pupils and parents.
There is new support including a jobs portal and links to free on line learning

Evaluating at a distance

We were bowled over by the response to “wave 1” of our survey that aims to bring together information on how CLD is meeting the COVID19 challenge. It was great that so many of you made the time to record and share what you are doing – hopefully even more of you will do this in wave 2 in May! Evaluation Support Scotland have developed resources for “evaluating at a distance”. The message is:
“In these tough times, remember to:
• Keep your evaluation simple
• Celebrate your success
• Record your learning“

It’s never been more important to record and evaluate, and to do it in a way that fits into and supports your work.

Best wishes
CLD Standards Council

The CLD Standards Council asked practitioners to complete a short survey to gather information and examples on the CLD Response to COVID-19. The results from the first wave of the survey to the 19 April 2020 have now been collected.

The report highlights that “the workforce has been resilient, agile and quick to respond to young people, learners and community needs with practitioners being an essential link between people and Council, College, Community and Government, and delivering, enabling or co-ordinating services such as digital skills, health advice, utilities access, community resources, welfare / employment rights, governance, befriending, food / medicine distribution, mental health support, community cohesion, education and learning. Key to this role has been CLD practitioners’ access and knowledge of local communities and networks. Data showed that services are being directed towards at risk and / or vulnerable young people, families and community members with examples of people working with addictions, homeless, BAME, refugees / asylum seekers and disabled communities”. It recommends actions for CLD partnerships to support the essential role being undertaken by CLD practitioners.

Subsequent wave results

• Results from Wave 2
• Results from Wave 3

The fourth wave of the survey

Wave 4 was closed on the 31 July. We are now analysing the data and considering how to best present the findings form the survey so far and to capture CLD practitioners’ experiences and impact in the next stages of recovery.

Last week, Mr Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, wrote to all CLD organisations and employers with an update on the Scottish Government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis across the CLD, college and university sectors.

The letter included information about the high level leadership group that has been established. Our chair, Alan Sherry OBE is a member of this group, representing the interests of the CLD sector. To inform this work, Alan also chairs the national CLD stakeholder reference group. The CLD Standards Council is represented on the group by Alan and Dr Marion Allison.

Welcome to this weeks Members’ bulletin. We hope you’re all safe and well. Thank you for your continued support and we hope you’re finding these weekly updates useful at this time. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dave Beck at the University of Glasgow who successfully defended his doctoral thesis via Zoom this week. Well done to Dr Beck.
Please keep in touch and let us know if you have any articles you would wish to highlight.

The CLD Response to COVID-19 – Seeking your views

Please remember to complete the second wave of the survey, whether you responded to wave 1 or not. We would like to encourage third sector practitioners to respond if they can so we have a fully balanced view across the sector. The information you are providing will be important for the healthy future of CLD.
Please complete the survey here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/6R65JN/
Please also pass this link on to any CLD colleagues. We really appreciate your support with this task at this busy time. The results and analysis of Wave 1 data will be available shortly.

CLD Virtual Meet Ups

The CLDSC is keen to progress a proposal from members to establish ‘CLD Meet Ups’ for CLD practitioners to come together informally to share experiences and challenges. Now seems like the right time to get this up and running using digital platforms, to put in place additional member support.
As well as identifying the amazing achievements of CLD practitioners, the CLDSC Covid-19 survey has identified a number of challenges facing us. Each week we will set up virtual meetings focusing on one of these issues. The first CLD Virtual Meet Up will be on Friday 15 May at 12 – 1 pm.
Please put this in your diary. The topic for discussion and joining instructions will be included in next week’s newsletter.

Learning Link Scotland virtual network meeting to talk about Adult Learning and COVID-19

Learning Link Scotland are inviting adult learning practitioners to share information on how everyone is responding to the crisis and look at ways we can all support each other and find the right support from elsewhere.
The virtual meeting is on Wednesday 6th May from 11.00 – 12.00 by Zoom.
Full details and registration link can be found on the Learning Links Scotland website – http://www.learninglinkscotland.org.uk/2020/04/27/join-us-to-talk-about-adult-learning-and-covid-19/

Equalities, Homelessness and Covid-19

The Homeless Network Scotland have published a new framework document considering the impacts of Covid-19 on homelessness in Scotland. They hope that the framework can assist and signpost local authority, housing, health and third sector partners, and act as a useful guide to help direct local policy, activity and resource during the pandemic and in its aftermath.
Find out more and view the framework on the Homeless networks website – https://homelessnetwork.scot/2020/04/26/inequality-homelessness-covid-19/

Zoom fatigue

If you are finding yourself worn out from Video conferencing while working from home you may find this article interesting –
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/04/coronavirus-zoom-fatigue-is-taxing-the-brain-here-is-why-that-happens/

TES Professional Learning Opportunity

If you are looking for useful reading material, remember that your CLD Standards Council Membership gives you free online access to TES magazine. Details are available in the Members benefit page on i-develop. But you will need to login to access this.
Email us at contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk if you have lost your username or password and are having difficulty resetting.

Work continues for the CLD Standards Council and we have a virtual Committee meeting planned for next week. We are also still processing registrations and registration renewals online and by email, so this might be an ideal time to look out that certificate from the attic or get some Professional Learning done online – see the free classes item below.

CLD practitioners rise to the COVID 19 challenge

The 163 replies to “wave 1” of the CLDSC survey of the CLD response to COVID19 provide a fantastic demonstration of how CLD practitioners across the country are rising to the challenge. A huge thank you to everyone who took part.

From working with communities to coordinate the work of volunteers, to hands-on roles, CLD practitioners are playing a vital role in ensuring supplies of food and other essentials to people who are isolated or at risk of harm; they are providing learning opportunities for young people, adults and families; they are keeping people of all ages in touch and connected, online, by phone and in person where appropriate and possible; they are ensuring that ESOL learners have access to COVID19 related information while continuing to support their learning. CLD practitioners across all roles – adult learning, youth work and community development – are supporting community, family and individual resilience in a multitude of ways.

Some responses also suggest that not all employers are deploying their CLD practitioners to the best advantage. Some practitioners may be taking on duties where there is additional risk. These are issues that the CLDSC will explore further.

Many thanks to CLDSC members and others for responding to the survey and providing a wealth of information. We will be feeding back to you in detail, and using the information to highlight to decision-makers the essential role that CLD practitioners are playing – and the support that you deserve.

We will be launching wave 2 of the survey early in May. We are seeking to reach as many CLD practitioners as possible, both members of the CLDSC and non-members. Whether you responded to wave 1 or not, please take the time to contribute to wave 2, and pass the survey on to colleagues: the information you are providing will be important for the healthy future of CLD that is needed.

EPALE Interviews with adult education providers and professionals from across the UK.

During their Upskilling Pathways: Implications for the Adult Learning Workforce 2019 conference EPALE recorded interviews with a range of adult learning professionals, including our own Dr Marion Allison. The interviews are now available to watch online –
https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/blog/upskilling-pathways-epale-uk-2019-conference-interviews

Free classes in online safety

Lead Scotland are hosting classes on Zoom over the next few months to help people to use the internet confidently and safely during COVID-19. Everyone is welcome to attend.
In these webinars, you’ll cover ways you can help support others to be safe online during the Coronavirus. Each webinar will give the same advice so you only need to attend one.
For more info: https://www.lead.org.uk/covid-19-information/

Informing funders about the needs of community organisations

The Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) is exploring what funders can do to assist community organisations as they cope with the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. Initial results of their of the views of community groups are here:
https://www.scdc.org.uk/news/article/2020/3/23/what-community-organisations-are-telling-us-about-their-covid-19-responses

The only ways is Ethics …

We are currently refreshing the Ethical Practice Competent Practitioners Learning Resource and are looking for additional materials to complement it, such as case studies/examples of the ethics being used in practice. It doesn’t have to be in the form of a poem like the one below which makes reference to the CLD competences, values and ethics but it could be!
Please send anything you think might be relevant to contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk

Courtesy of John Harkins and the University of the West of Scotland –

News and updates

The CLD Response to COVID-19 – Seeking your views

Last week we launched what will be a monthly survey recording the contribution of CLD practitioners to the COVID-19 challenge with a long term aim of securing CLD services that are properly resourced to rebuild learning communities.
Please help by completing the short survey about the successes, challenges and well-being of CLD practitioners.
Please complete this instance of the survey by the end of 17th April. This will give us our first snapshot of activity and allow us to track changes for CLD practitioners over time.

Please complete the survey here:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/6R65JN/

Please also pass this link on to any CLD colleagues. We really appreciate your support with this task at this busy time.

Other news for the sector –

Fees suspended for urgent disclosures for COVID-19 response workers.

Disclosure Scotland is suspending all fees for key workers and volunteers who are being drafted to help Scotland fight against coronavirus.
This is a temporary measure which will be in place initially till the 11th May, before being reviewed and extended further, if needed.
Disclosure Scotland is also prioritising checks for the workers Scotland needs to deal with the coronavirus.
Further information: https://www.mygov.scot/disclosure-types/

Extra Hardship payments for students

A £5 million package of emergency financial support is being put in place by the Scottish Government to help university and college students in Scotland facing hardship as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Richard Lochhead Minister for Further and Higher Education said –
“We are ensuring students studying in Scotland should have access to emergency support should they be facing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 or the social distancing and isolation measures that have been introduced.”
Further information on the Scottish Government website- https://www.gov.scot/news/extra-hardship-payments-for-students/

Covid-19 – the impact on disabled people in Scotland

Inclusion Scotland want policy and decision-makers to know what is really happening to disabled people on the ground, and what changes are needed. They are carrying out a survey and are looking for information particularly from disabled people, or those who support a disabled person. To share and promote the survey, you can use this link: www.bit.ly/covid19disabledpeople

COVID-19 – the impact on community organisations

The Poverty Alliance have gathered views from community organisations involved in their network on the impacts of COVID-19. They conclude: “It is clear that community organisations across Scotland are stepping up to protect people living on low incomes from the worst impacts of the Coronavirus crisis. But despite their efforts, the social and economic impact is already being felt by people living in the grip of poverty across our communities…It is essential not only to ensure that community organisations are fully-supported to carry out their vital work, but also to…ensure that their voices help to inform all local and national responses.”
Read the report here: https://www.povertyalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Community-organisations-and-COVID19-PA-briefing-6-April-2020.pdf

The CLD Standards Council would like to ask CLD practitioners to complete a short survey to gather information and examples on how CLD practice is being utilised to support individuals and communities in meeting the challenges that we all currently face.

Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus, the UK and Scottish Government have responded by issuing guidance that has drastically altered the way we live our lives in order to keep people safe. Workplaces, schools and shops have closed, and movement is severely restricted. Individuals and organisations are seeking ways to deliver services to the most vulnerable under new and difficult circumstances.

For many CLD practitioners this has meant assuming a key worker role. From working in learning hubs and supporting communities to deliver vital services, to developing and delivering online learning resources for young people, adults and community groups; CLD is playing an important part.

Our Chair, Alan Sherry OBE, representing the CLD sector, is working alongside colleagues from tertiary education, the Scottish Funding Council and a range of Trade Unions, on a Leadership Group chaired by Mr Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, which will be co-ordinating responses to COVID-19. We want to make sure that the contribution of CLD practitioners to the COVID-19 challenge is clearly demonstrated with a long term aim of securing CLD services that are properly resourced to rebuild learning communities.

In order to do this we need CLD practitioners’ help. We will be running a short survey over four months to find out about the successes, challenges and well-being of CLD practitioners.
We are asking colleagues to complete the survey once a month (deadline the 17th of each month) which will allow us to track changes for CLD practitioners over the coming months.

Survey results so far

• Analysis and results of Wave 1
• Results of Wave 2
• Results of Wave 3

The fourth wave of the survey

Wave 4 was closed on the 31 July. We are now analysing the data and considering how to best present the findings form the survey so far and to capture CLD practitioners’ experiences and impact in the next stages of recovery.

“The only thing that is constant is change.”

Heraclitus (535-475BC)

Yet frequently change comes as a surprise to us, a shock even. Whether it’s the depth, the range or its very existence, change never ceases to cause ripples to our perceived normality. Few of us, however, would have ever anticipated the impact created by the COVID-19 pandemic. As we begin to settle into the new normal, we have had, both as individuals and organisations, to respond to a wide variety of issues generated by the outbreak.

As your professional body, in our responses to these issues, concerns and quandaries, we have put our CLD Values and Ethics at the core. The health and wellbeing of CLD practitioners is central (Ethics: Duty of Care, Self-Care), yet we also must ensure, now more than ever, that the quality, professionalism and value of practice delivered by CLD practitioners is not weakened. As the professional body for Community Learning and Development, it is not only our mission, but also an obligation to our learners and communities, to drive high standards of professional practice in the sector through our approvals, registration and professional learning objectives.

As CLD Standards Council, we will, no doubt, need to respond to other issues which come to light as our society reacts to a fast-evolving situation. Maintaining standards is critical, but we will be open as to how this is achieved. To paraphrase Victor Hugo, we will change our leaves, but keep intact our roots.

News and updates

Latest Approvals News

CLD Approved Courses Practice Placement Guidelines

CLD Standards Council has developed guidance around how to manage practice placements during this current situation. This guidance relates to both Higher Education and Further Education courses which have been approved by CLDSC either through our Professional Approval Route or our Developmental Approval Route. In addition to the guidance, we have produced a list of Frequently Asked Questions. Both documents can be found on the CLD Standards Council website.

For CLD Students undertaking Practice Placements as part of approved CLDSC qualifications, some things will change – it may be the amount of practice placement hours required to complete the course, the type of work carried out and evidenced as practice, or the setting in which practice takes place. However, it’s important to recognise that some things won’t change; not least the quality of support CLD students can expect from both educational providers and CLDSC, and the standard of practice communities can expect from CLD practitioners.

New CLD approved course from the University of Edinburgh

From 2021, the University of Edinburgh will be offering a new course. Students studying for the new Bachelor of Arts (Ordinary) Learning in Communities can progress to a Master of Arts (Honours) Learning in Communities. The 3 year BA programme has been awarded Professional Approval by the CLD Standards Council. Whilst the MA (Hons) element is not an approved programme it will be recognised for Registration purposes with CLD Standards Council Scotland. The Approvals Review Panel were excited and positive about the programme whilst acknowledging that the course is still in the developmental stage. The CLD Standards Council are keen to support this process where they can. For further information about the course contact Stuart Moir at the University of Edinburgh.

Youth Highland awarded CLD Standards Mark

The CLD Standards Mark has been awarded to Youth Highland and will be valid from 2019 to 2022. The panel wished to thank Youth Highland for the quality of their submission. The detailed evidence submitted clearly demonstrated the strength of the organisation’s professional learning practice. The panel also commented that Youth Highlands approaches and processes show a clear commitment to the CLD profession.

Disclosure Scotland PVG Processing

Disclosure Scotland have announced that they are making a temporary change to the processing of applications.
Checks for those who have the most vital roles supporting the country during this time will be prioritised, and paper applications will no longer be accepted.
For further advice see the Disclosure Scotland web pages

Professional Learning Opportunity

If you are looking for useful reading material, remember that your CLD Standards Council Membership gives you online access to TES magazine. Details are available in the Members benefit page of i-develop. But you will need to login to access this.
Email us at contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk if you have lost your username or password and are having difficulty resetting.

This guidance has been updated – please see UPDATED Guidance as of March 2021

The following guidance and Frequently Asked Questions has been prepared by CLD Standards Council in relation to the impact of COVID-19 on practice placements for CLD students at Higher Education Institutes or Further Education Institutes. Due to the evolving nature of the current situation, these documents may be updated, so please check back regularly to ensure you are referring to the latest version.

View previous Guidance versions

Message from Dr Marion Allison

In an alternative world I am in Edinburgh. At the John McIntyre conference centre to be precise. I am with 200 members of the CLD Standards Council Scotland, sharing in our professional pride. I am inspired by Gavin Oattes, Director of the Tree of Knowledge, sharing his enthusiasm for youth and community work. I am reminded of the power of Paulo Friere’s works on community empowerment by Andy Turner from Goldsmiths, University of London; and I am revelling in the excellent work of Members whose every day professional practice supports learners, communities and young people to transform their lives through collaborative educational programmes, learning opportunities and action for change.

Instead, I am part of the matrix, connected to society via the computers and ‘phones that have become our lifelines. For years we’ve talked about Digital CLD. What system best meets our needs? Are we confident in using it? Are the young people or our learners ahead of us? What about ethics and safeguarding whilst online? In the space of one week our sector is responding rapidly to these questions and many more. No longer can we rely on our teams’ digital champions. Now we are all digital champions. Whilst conquering our fears and developing our technical skills and knowledge, we are managing a deluge of online information and mastering a multitude of digital platforms to provide community information, online learning programmes, drop in chat rooms and coffee breaks for Scotland’s young people, learners and communities. This support by our Members is crucial to so many at this time.

Never before has CLD leadership been so visible. Leading and contributing to board and executive meetings to ensure service continuity across the third and local authority sectors, driving partnerships to ensure CLD students meet their assessment requirements and engaging with people face to face to bring local solutions with, and for, learners and communities facing the consequences of social distancing and self-isolation. As our Chair Alan Sherry OBE writes in his current article for TES, “the ongoing role of CLD workers has been essential in developing the capacity of groups and in the creation of such local network structures across Scotland.”

By maintaining CLD competences and ethics, members are responding to these and other professional demands whilst juggling personal, family and neighbourhood circumstances. Working from home, home schooling, house-work, shopping for food and medical supplies, helping parents and neighbours is challenging on many levels. Central to CLD practice, now more than ever, Ethic number 12 guides us to “ensure CLD practice is consistent with the safety, health and wellbeing of CLD practitioners.” So, with that in mind I hope you all go well, keep safe and thank you for your dedication.

Dr Marion Allison

#BecauseOfCLD