CLDSC Member Bulletin – 16 March 2022

DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal

Ukraine Flag

We know that many CLDSC Members will be supporting communities and individuals in organising events and fundraising activities.  We are grateful to everyone who is giving, organising events and helping to spread the word.

One such CLDSC Member is Darren Burns who volunteers as South West Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Coordinator and has asked us to highlight the DEC appeal.

The DEC has urged people to donate money rather than goods to help those affected by the conflict. We are seeing an absolutely incredible response from the public to this appeal, which has now raised over £150 million, including £25 million UK aid match.

  • Intense conflict in Ukraine is threatening the lives and livelihoods of civilians across the country, causing hundreds of thousands to flee.
  • Homes have been destroyed
  • Essential services have been hit
  • Families have been separated
  • People have been injured
  • Lives have been lost
  • Heavy fighting, shelling and air strikes across Ukraine have had devastating consequences for civilians
  • 2.3 million people have fled the country in recent days, with millions more projected, and many more have had to leave their homes to escape the fighting

The DEC brings together 15 leading aid charities to raise funds quickly and efficiently at times of crisis overseas. In these times of crisis, people in life-and-death situations need our help and our mission is to save, protect and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian response.

Pooling our resources to work as one, DEC is pivotal in co-ordinating the UK public’s response to overseas disasters. In collaboration with the Rapid Response Network of national media and corporate partners, DEC raises the alarm to the UK public and sets up easy ways for them to donate.  It has immediate impact, getting aid to people who need it, fast.

Donations can be made on the DEC website and you can follow them on Twitter @DECScotland


Education Reform – A Message from Dr Marion Allison, Director, CLD Standards Council

Last week the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Ms Shirley-Anne Somerville set out her vision for a reformed education system for Scotland, in response to Professor Ken Muir’s education consultation, Putting Learners at the Centre: Towards a Future Vision for Scottish Education.

The Cabinet Secretary’s vision includes a new national agency for Scottish education that will take forward some of the current remit of Education Scotland. There was a clear recommendation that the CLDSC should remain part of the proposed national agency for Scottish education. Given that feedback from CLD practitioners has been positive about our work, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your support for the CLDSC and offer assurance that our focus continues to be on supporting our members across the sector as we work towards a reformed education system.

Dr Marion Allison
Director, CLD Standards Council


Don’t Forget! CLD Digital Competence Review – Focus Group registration

There are still places available at the focus groups to discuss how digital should be embedded in our Competent Practitioner Framework, how you use it in practice and what support you need from CLDSC.

There are 5 sessions to choose from and you can register for all sessions on Eventbrite and choose one of the dates and times below. 

  • Friday 18 March 2022        2-3.30pm
  • Monday 21 March 2022     1-2.30pm
  • Monday 21 March 2022     4-5.30pm       
  • Thursday 24 March 2022   6-7.30pm
  • Monday 28 March 2022     1-2.30pm

Virtual Member Meet-up – 1 April 2022, 1-2pm

This is not an April Fool. Repeat, this is NOT an April Fool! Our next virtual meet-up takes place on Friday, 1 April 2022 at 1pm. Come along to hear the key messages coming out of the Digital Competence Focus Groups and share your views on what should be included in the next stage of the consultation process, the online survey, which will go live in April. 

Register for the April Virtual Member Meet-Up on Eventbrite.


Adult Learning Strategy Launch

Save the Date! The new Scottish Government Adult Learning Strategy will be launched by Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, on Tuesday, 10 May 2022 at Newbattle Abbey College. A virtual event will also be held on Wednesday, 11 May 2022 hosted by College Development Network. More details will follow.


TES Magazine – Member Benefit

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.

You will need to login to access this, so if you have lost your username or password and are having difficulty resetting, email us at contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk.


The Community Development Journal – special issue on environmental community development in the climate emergency

Community Development Journal Volume 57 Number 1 2022 Cover

The Community Development Journal (CDJ) has been published by Oxford University Press since 1966. The journal publishes “critically focused articles which challenge received wisdom, report and discuss innovative practices, and relate issues of community development to questions of social justice, diversity and environmental sustainability.” 

This month’s issue focuses on environmental community development and features an editorial by Callum McGregor and Eurig Scandrett on community development, populism, and just transition.

In addition to the quarterly publications of the CDJ, there are also special issues, advance articles, and abstracts translated into French, Spanish, and Chinese – they are completely free to access online.


The SCQF at 21 Online Conference – 24 March 2022 – Recognising Skills in a Changing Landscape

SCQF have an exciting line up of speakers and presenters for the SCQF at 21 Online Conference, as well as a range of workshops to attend. The event will highlight the important part that the SCQF plays in supporting learner journeys in these rapidly changing times as well as showcasing best practice in the use of the framework. Delegates will also have the opportunity to hear about SCQFP’s latest projects and developments.  

Read the agenda and register for the conference.


College Development Network Awards 2022

The CDN College Awards are now open for entries!

The Awards recognise the talent, skills and achievements of colleges, their staff and their learners and we’re delighted to say that one of the categories is the College Community Learning Award, so please do enter and highlight the fabulous CLD work done in partnership with colleges. 

The deadline for entries is Friday, 1 July at 5pm, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in November.


Dyslexia Scotland – New Strategy 2022-2025

National charity Dyslexia Scotland has launched its new strategy for 2022-2025, setting out the journey to a dyslexia-friendly Scotland. 

The charity aspires to make Scotland the best place for people with dyslexia to live, learn, work, play and grow up in, through engagement with the dyslexic community and the change makers who can make a positive difference. 

Whilst Scotland’s dyslexic community equates to around 545,500 people, the charity recognises that many of those feel alone, excluded and marginalised with their learning difference.  

The organisation produced their plan as a full strategy document, two-page summary and for the first time, as a video version, in order to be as engaging and inclusive for their diverse audience as possible. 

The charity calls on all people in Scotland, dyslexic or not, to be part of the journey to creating a dyslexia-friendly Scotland. 

Watch their strategy video on Youtube and view the summary and full document.


CLDSC Face Masks

Our CLDSC branded face masks have proved popular with members and we still have a few left.  

If you would like one, email us at contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk.