There are so many wonderful CLD stories in Scotland. On this page, we share some of those stories from CLD Standards Council members working across the country. We hope you’ll agree that these stories reflect the broad spectrum of work being undertaken by CLD practitioners, and the vital role their efforts play in leading change in the communities they work in.
Abigail is now 20 and studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Community Education at the University of the West of Scotland. Her direction is clear – she has her vision set on building a flourishing career in community learning and development (CLD).
Beth works with young people who have disengaged from mainstream schooling, giving them opportunities to try some of her favourite things, like paddle boarding, skiing, abseiling, archery, map reading and walking.
Colin has now been a youth worker for 27 years and has received awards recognising his outstanding efforts helping young people in Perth and Kinross to work through their own life challenges.
Ewan Aiken was an 18 year old student at Forth Valley College in Falkirk when one of the lecturers on his Working with Communities HNC course first introduced the idea of membership of the CLD Standards Council.
George was one of the first cohort of students in Scotland to complete a university degree in Community Education – up until that point the profession was only deemed worthy of diploma status.
Karen Doherty spent 34 years helping shape the lives of young people as a primary school teacher and head teacher before very recently shifting her career into the field of adult education.
Kirsty has been working in community, learning and development (CLD) for more than 20 years. However, she really found her calling when she ventured into the field of language and heritage as Fife Council’s Gaelic development officer back in 2016.
Laura’s is an inspiring story. She’s ambitious to create change for communities and is naturally curious, always searching for how communities can be enhanced through her work in CLD.
For 17 years, Paddy’s been working with communities, everything from charities supporting children in poverty and people with disabilities, to advocacy work and managing teams within the housing sector.
Paul’s story is like many others’ in the youth work field. His own experience of what it’s like to grow up in an area of deprivation, seeing first-hand the struggles disadvantaged communities face, helps him understand and support the young people he works with.
Sarah has a passion for people, and working meaningfully with communities to help them achieve their own ambitions is one of the core pillars of her work, always supported by best practice gleaned from the community, learning and development (CLD) profession.
Stuart has countless stories about people that he has helped over his career, even one young person that told him a programme had saved his life, after years of suffering from a severe gambling addiction.
Thomas is now a 3rd year university student completing a degree in Community Development at Glasgow University. He’s also a recipient of the new Santander University Scholars Programme, which is providing financial support to help focus on his studies.