CLDSC Member Bulletin – 26 May 2021

New Ministerial Appointments

Last week, the First Minister for Scotland, Ms Nicola Sturgeon MSP announced her new cabinet for this parliamentary term.  Ms Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP has been appointed the Cabinet Secretary for Education & Skills with Mr Jamie Hepburn MSP being appointed as the Minister for HE & FE, Youth Employment & Training with responsibility for CLD.  Our Chair, Mr Alan Sherry has already written letters of welcome to both Ministers and we look forward to sharing the work and contributions of the CLD Standards Council and its Members.


Improving Career Pathways for CLD Practitioners – Member Survey

As we continue our CLD Career Pathways work, we have created a Member Survey which will help 

  • to identify demand for training and qualifications to help us to work with providers and funding bodies to secure the opportunities needed by CLD Practitioners.
  • in the development of a nationally agreed and endorsed framework to guide employers regarding the recruitment of appropriately qualified CLD staff 
  • create a Workforce Strategy for CLD practitioners in discussion with key stakeholders.

Please complete the Career Pathways Survey by Friday 11 June 2021.


Volunteers’ Week – CLD Virtual Wave

We’re saying THANK YOU to all the CLD Volunteers across Scotland during Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2021).  To help us achieve this we ask that you include the #CLDVolunteers2021 to any social media posts during Volunteers’ Week as well as the usual #BecauseOfCLD.  

In addition, to highlight what’s happening where, we’re working in partnership with Education Scotland’s CLD Team and the wider CLD sector to create a #CLDVolunteers2021 Virtual Wave across Scotland. We’re keen to promote any events, activities or resources during the week and have created a Virtual Wave Padlet where you can ‘pin’ what’s happening in your own areas.  You can add photos, links or even sound/video clips.  Click on Padlet to add yours and we’ll create a CLD Volunteer Virtual Wave!  Check out Education Scotland CLD Team’s blog for more information and a handy ‘how to’ guide for using Padlet.

An amazing amount of CLD volunteers have contributed to and supported their communities and we’d like to highlight some of the fabulous work they’ve done.  If you know a volunteer you’d like to showcase, please email contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk so we can do a CLD Volunteer Practitioner Spotlight feature on our website.

Next week’s CLDSC Member Bulletin will be a Volunteers’ Week special edition, so please get in touch with stories or articles you’d like us to feature


CLD Planning Webinar Links 

Following on from the CLD Planning Webinars held throughout May, you can now access all webinar recordings on this Wakelet. The five topics covered are: CONSUL digital participation tool; Place Standard; Embedding Youth Awards in CLD Plans; Digital Skills; and Workforce Development


CLDSC Public Register of Members

If you need to check whether someone is registered with CLDSC, for example, to find out if someone applying for a CLD post is a Registered or Associate member, we have a public register that you can check online.   

The member enquiry function is located on i-develop – CLDSC Member Search (i-develop-cld.org.uk) You enter the first and last names to search, and the registration category and geographic area that the member works in will be shown.  But remember that a member might have used a shortened or full first name to register with.

If you are a member and the area you work in is not correct, or you cannot find your own entry when you search, please let us know by  emailing contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk.


HE/FE meeting update

Our regular meeting with representatives from Higher and Further Education took place this week and key areas discussed included:

  • Terms of Reference for this group were agreed
  • Development of a blog to promote CLD research
  • Encouragement of student CLD practitioners’ involvement in workforce development sections of Adult Learning and Youth Work Strategies.

If you’re interested in finding out more about any of these areas, please contact Susie: susan.bisset@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk.


IACD WCDC Conference places available

CLDSC has purchased 9 places at the World Community Development Conference for CLDSC members. The event takes place from 21-23 June 2021 and is fully online. The theme is ‘Our Connectedness, Resilience and Empowerment’.  No programme is available as of yet, but check the website and twitter for updates. If you’re interested in attending, please email contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk by 11 June 2021.  Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.


Tayside & Fife Professional Learning Alliance Conference presentations

On 22nd and 29th April, Tayside and Fife Professional Learning Alliance held a successful online conference, with around 80 participants attending. The aim of the conference was to energise and refocus their CLD workforce after a difficult year. 

Day 1 was about looking back over the past year, featuring a moving and inspirational keynote speech from Margaret Ledwith, as well as a focus on research undertaken in Dundee and Fife communities during Covid with Karen McArdle and Sheila Allan. 

Day 2 was about looking forwards, and highlighted important national work being undertaken on behalf of the sector by CLD Standards Council and a focus on CLD plans with input from Sheila Brown of HMIe. 

You can watch back the videos and slides from these inspirational speakers, as well as seeing some of the insightful comments from the fabulous participants.


Scottish Government – Survey on Volunteering and the Third Sector Response to COVID-19 

There is still time to complete the Scottish Government’s Volunteering Survey.  This survey aims to gather information about: 

  • how volunteering has contributed to the Third Sector response to the pandemic; 
  • the challenges that the sector has faced in continuing to support volunteering during this time; 
  • and – crucially – organisational perspectives on what is needed to support volunteering during the recovery period and beyond. 

Complete the Scottish Government Survey On Role Of Volunteering And The Third Sector Response To Covid-19 survey.

The survey is split into two routes: 

  • one targeted at TSIs, Local Authorities and intermediary organisations; 
  • the other aimed at organisations working directly with volunteers (volunteer-involving organisations). 

Deadline for completion extended to Tuesday 1 June.