Welcome to the weekly CLDSC bulletin from Chair, Alan Sherry O.B.E.
Throughout the lockdown I have been humbled, awestruck and inspired by our Members’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the CLD practice areas of Adult Learning, Community Development and Youth Work, Members have been working days, evenings and weekends to deliver a wide range of services, including, digital learning services whilst addressing community needs. Equally impressive has been the dedication of volunteers across aspects of CLD devoting time to supporting individuals and communities.
At the National CLD Stakeholders Group and the Tertiary Sector group Chaired by Mr Richard Lochhead, Minister for FE, HE, Science and CLD, I am pleased to sit alongside colleagues from the further and higher education sectors where the data drawn from the current CLD Workforce Survey is supporting my input to these meetings. I would like to thank everyone for continuing to share your experiences with us.
The multi-faceted challenges facing young people, adult learners and communities also impact upon us as a workforce of practitioners, volunteers and leaders. It is very obvious that CLD practice and services are needed now more than ever to support the communities which we serve. Equally, it is important CLD Standards are maintained and applied to allow flex for different individual and organisational circumstances.
An expert short life working group has been established, led by Avril Nicol, Chair of CLD Managers’ Scotland, to work with the Scottish Government to produce guidance to the CLD sector as we move through the phases to reduce the current restrictions on face to face working. It is anticipated that this guidance will be available later this month.
Over the coming months we will continue to issue weekly bulletins, deliver on-line CLD Chats, support organisational professional learning, address registration needs and issue relevant guidance and support aids. Our aim is to continue to provide you with professional support as you respond so effectively to the pandemic.
Finally I would wish to take this opportunity to thank you all for your considerable contribution to ensuring that individuals and communities are supported during this challenging period.
This week’s articles specifically focus on Volunteers Week Scotland and the difference CLD volunteers make.
CLDSC Registration – We Welcome Volunteers!
Do you know anyone who volunteers in a youth group, as an adult literacy tutor, as an ESOL Buddy, as a peer mentor, in a community action group (and so many more areas!)? If so, did you know that Volunteers can register with CLDSC too? As long as they are delivering in a CLD context, they can join us to access all the member benefits e.g. learning and development opportunities, connecting with peers, borrow books/journals from university/college libraries across Scotland and much more!
Registration is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
- Go to the Registration page on i-develop
- Download and complete the Application form.
- Submit your form on i-develop.
Want to find out more about how your organisation’s volunteers can register? Email kirsty.gemmell@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk to arrange a chat.
i-develop
There are lots of resources available on i-develop for CLD volunteers and those supporting them.
In the Themes area, you’ll find the Volunteering in Community Learning and Development space. There’s information on the different types of volunteering people are doing, resources to help volunteers link to the CLDSC Ethics & Competences and a space for research reports on the deployment and impact of CLD volunteers.
And over on the ESOL Themes page, you’ll find the Volunteering in ESOL space. This space is very new, so doesn’t have lots of content yet. But if you have information you’d like to share, let us know and we’ll get it added to the space.
Both spaces have Discussion Forums for volunteers or coordinators where you can connect with others across Scotland.
Working with Scotland’s Communities – Messages about CLD volunteers
As part of this week’s spotlight on volunteers CLDSC have reviewed the 2018 CLD workforce survey focussing on what it tells us about CLD volunteers. One of the key findings of this report is that ‘Volunteers are a hugely valued part of the CLD workforce’. Volunteers are seen by practitioners and employers as a vital part of supporting communities and bring important skills and an understanding of communities. Have a look at the Messages about Volunteers report (PDF) to see what the report says about –
• How many CLD volunteers are there?
• How much time do CLD volunteers contribute to organisations?
• What do volunteers do?
• Are volunteers expected to have qualifications?
• Recruitment and development needs for volunteers
• Impact of reduction in size of paid CLD workforce
• Understanding the role of volunteers in the CLD sector
A community of volunteers?
This article in the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/26/uk-volunteering-coronavirus-crisis-community-lockdown highlights that “ten million UK adults have been volunteering in their community during the coronavirus crisis”. Will this growth in response to very immediate needs be sustained into longer-term change? CLD practitioners enable volunteers to develop themselves and work with others to develop their communities – now is the ideal time to demonstrate and promote this role!
Good practice documents – Volunteer Scotland website:
Volunteering for All: Our National Outcomes Framework – the Framework was developed by Scottish Government jointly with partners from the volunteer and community sector, local government and NHS, with academics social researcher, and with volunteers. It sets out a coherent and compelling narrative for volunteering and defines the key outcomes desired for volunteering in Scotland over the next 10 years.
A Volunteer Charter – sets out the 10 key principles for assuring legitimacy and preventing exploitation of workers and volunteers
Web and Social Media Links
A few useful webpages…..
www.volunteersweek.scot
www.volunteerscotland.net
www.scvo.org
Why not follow these folks on Twitter…..
@VolunteersWeek
@volunteerscot
@VolScotland
@volunteer_scot
@befriendingnet
@SCVOtweet
@TSIScotNet
Or check out the discussions on these Twitter hashtags…
#VolunteersWeekScot
#VolunteersWeek
#NeverMoreNeeded
#VolunteerAppreciation
#VolunteeringIs
#ThankYouVolunteers
#BecauseOfCLD