Adult Learning Strategy Launch

Thanks to everyone who came along this morning to celebrate the launch of Scotland’s first Adult Learning Strategy today, led by Jamie Hepburn MSP – Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training. We were especially pleased to hear the importance that workforce development is playing, both in the strategy itself and in its implementation. 

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Virtual Members Meet Up Reminder – Social Security Scotland

Do you work with people who might be eligible for claiming benefits from Social Security Scotland? If you answered “yes!” this workshop is for you. 

Our next Virtual Members Meet Up is on Tuesday, 5 July – 1pm to 2pm and this month it’s all about Social Security Scotland’s new benefit – Adult Disability Payment, soon to replace Personal Independence Payments and Disability Living Allowance in Scotland. 

Come along to hear about Adult Disability Payments, how you can support any CLD learners you work with to apply, how you can prepare your own services, and have any questions you might have answered. The session will provide an overview of the new benefit, outline special rules for terminal illness, how to apply for the benefit, how decisions are made and information collected, and how appeals can be made. 

This session is for anyone who might support clients or service users to access benefits, or who works regularly with people who may be eligible to apply. It will give you the knowledge needed to make sure your CLD learners get the support they need.

Join the July Virtual Members Meet Up by registering on Eventbrite.

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Free workshops for guiding blind and visually impaired people

This one-hour, free virtual training is ideal for people who work or volunteer with members of the public and teaches sighted guiding. It is available to anyone over the age of 18 and is delivered in a live, online session by one of Guide Dogs’ expert staff. It will cover: 

• How to start a conversation when you meet someone who is blind or partially sighted
• The confidence to ask someone if they need assistance
• Basic guiding techniques for crossing roads, getting around obstacles and getting in and out of cars
• An introduction to common eye conditions and their impact
• Awareness of access rights and barriers to independence

Sessions are limited to 15 people and you can sign up for the sighted guiding training sessions on the Guide Dogs’ website.

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LGBTQ+ Health Needs Assessment Report

The Health Needs Assessment (HNA) was commissioned by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), NHS Lothian and Public Health Scotland from 2020 who recognised that there are gaps in knowledge about the health and wellbeing of LGBT+ groups.

The comprehensive HNA sought to better inform approaches to public health for LGBT+ people, differentiated for each of seven groups: lesbian and gay women, gay men, bisexual women, bisexual men, trans women, trans men (trans masculine) and non-binary people across the Greater Glasgow & Clyde and Lothian areas.

The HNA Report brings together the findings from all aspects of the HNA including the presentation of the survey findings.

Find out more and read the full HNA report.

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International Association of Community Development (IACD) AGM – Save the date!

The International Association of Community Development’s (IACD) AGM takes place on Wednesday, 13 July 2022 at 1pm and members and friends of IACD are welcome to attend.

You can register for the IACD AGM on Eventbrite.

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Local Funding Streams

Local Recovery is a non-political group which works to give communities a louder voice. They advocate for local priorities and believe that the policies of local authorities and national governments should deliver for local communities

Local Recovery can provide advice and support to local groups who are looking to access funding from schemes such as the Place Based Investment Programme Fund, the Investing In Communities Fund and the Aspiring Communities Fund.

Find out more about resources available for local areas on the Local Recovery website. 

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Open University in Scotland Graduation – Congratulations

Marion Allison (left) and Ruth Washbrook (right)

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Adult Learning Strategy Launch

The official launch of Scotland’s first Adult Learning Strategy is taking place virtually on Wednesday, 29 June 2022. Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Further Education, Higher Education, Youth Employment and Training, will officially launch the strategy and a series of workshops centred around each of the strategy’s key themes.

Places are still available to attend and the closing date for registration is this Friday, 24 June. Please email SGCLDPolicy@gov.scot if you’d like to attend and you’ll be sent registration details as soon as possible. 

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Launch of Scotland’s new Volunteering Action Plan

Last week saw the launch of Scottish Government’s new Volunteering Action Plan. The plan aims to create a Scotland where everyone can volunteer, more often, and throughout their lives. It is designed to provide actions over a 10‐year period as a living plan and it seeks to raise the profile of volunteering and its impact on society.

We were pleased to be invited to be part of the working group for the plan’s creation and hope it will serve as a useful tool to the CLD sector as a whole. 

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July Virtual Members Meet-up – Scotland’s New Benefits System

Our next Virtual Members Meet Up is on Tuesday, 5 July – 13.00-14.00 and this month it’s all about Social Security Scotland and the new benefits system coming to people in Scotland.

Come along and hear what Adult Disability Payments are, how you can support any CLD learners you work with to apply, how you can prepare your own services, and have any questions you might have answered. The session will provide an overview of the new benefit, outline special rules for terminal illness, how to apply for the benefit, how decisions are made and information collected, and how appeals can be made.

This session is for anyone who might support clients or service users to access benefits, or who works regularly with people who may be eligible to apply. It will give you the knowledge needed to make sure your CLD learners get the support they need.

Join the July Virtual Member Meet Up by registering on Eventbrite.

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Building Racial Literacy and Education Leadership Programmes

Don’t forget, CLD colleagues can submit applications for these two programmes until 23:45 on Monday 27th June. 

• Building Racial Literacy – The national Building Racial Literacy programme promotes anti-racism as a baseline professional value, empowering educators to identify and implement anti-racist behaviours and processes in their everyday practice. To find out more about the programme, please watch the Story of the Building Racial Literacy Programme video and visit the Education Scotland website and select the section on ‘Applying for the programme’. 
• Educator Leadership Programme – Growing from the success of the Teacher Leadership Programme (TLP); the new Educator Leadership Programme (ELP) welcomes applications from Early Learning and Childcare practitioners, Community Learning and Development practitioners and classroom teachers. To find out more please watch the Educator Leadership Programme video and visit the Education Scotland website and select the section on ‘Applying for this programme and further information’ section.

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CashBack for Communities Fund – phase 6 open for applications

Cashback for Communities is a Scottish Government fund that uses funds recovered from criminals to expand young people’s horizons and increase the opportunities they have to develop their interests and skills. Phase 6 of the fund is now open for applications and closes at noon, Friday 12 August. £20-million is available in this round of funding and successful applicants will commence from April 2023 to March 2026.

Organisations must have a proven track record of delivering activities which support the Scottish Government’s Justice Vision and the criteria for CashBack Phase 6 as set out below. 

Phase 6 will fund projects which deliver a range of trauma informed and person-centred services & activities for young people between the ages of 10-25 that:

• Support young people most at risk of being involved in antisocial behaviour, offending or reoffending towards or into positive destinations
• Provide person-centred support for young people, parents and families impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma
• Support young people to improve their health, mental health and wellbeing
• Support people, families and communities most affected by crime

Further information on the criteria for the fund and how to apply can be found on the CashBack for Communities website. 

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Congratulations to the winners of the Scottish Charity Awards

As always, the Scottish Charity Awards event was an evening of inspiration and CLD practice was at the forefront! All 44 finalists deserve to be recognised and the first in-person Awards ceremony for 3 years was the only place to be last Wednesday evening. You can read more about the winners on the night on the SCVO website. 

CLD Standards Council was delighted to sponsor the Community Action Award at this year’s Scottish Charity Awards. Warm wishes go to the finalists and huge congratulations to the winners Feldy-Roo! Feldy-Roo was set up at the beginning of the pandemic to provide daily hot meals, free newspapers and a friendly chat for isolating residents in Highland Perthshire during both lockdowns. Feldy-Roo created a social experience for both volunteers and residents, and continues to work within the community, seeking to improve social and health opportunities for all ages.

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CLD Standards Council Professional Induction Programme Launch

We were delighted to launch our new Professional Induction Programme at The Gathering today! Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Higher Education, Further Education, Youth Employment and Training officially launched the programme and highlighted its importance in developing a professional CLD workforce and making sure practitioners at all levels feel supported to deliver high quality learning opportunities for all.

The Professional Induction Programme is available on i-develop and has been created by a group of committed CLD Standards Council Members who volunteered their time and also piloted the first programme. Thank you to everyone who participated, and special thanks to Mike Naulty, Graham Hewitson and John Galt from the CLDSC Professional Learning Committee for driving its development forward. 

Whether you’ve been a CLDSC member for years or have recently joined, we encourage you to complete the Induction programme. Email contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk to register. And look out for a Virtual Member Meet up later in the year where we will talk through the Induction Programme in more detail. 

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Scottish Education Awards 2022 Winners

Huge congratulations to Mobilize Music Project at East Kilbride Universal Connections, South Lanarkshire Council on winning the CLD Award.

Big shout out to other nominees, Neil Young at St Paul’s Youth Forum, Glasgow and FARE Scotland, Glasgow. 

Delighted to see such high quality CLD youth work recognised and applauded.

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July Virtual Members Meet Up – Tuesday, 5 July 2022 – 1pm-2pm – Social Security Scotland

It’s not too late to sign up to the July virtual members meet up!

Following the successful pilot of Adult Disability Payment in Scotland, Social Security Scotland will begin accepting new applications for Adult Disability Payment from clients living in all local authorities in Scotland as part of the national roll out of this form of assistance on 29 August 2022.

Come along on Tuesday, 5 July at 1pm to hear what Adult Disability Payments are, how you can support any CLD learners you work with to apply, how you can prepare your own services, and have any questions you might have answered. The session will provide an overview of the new benefit, outline special rules for terminal illness, how to apply for the benefit, how decisions are made and information collected, and how appeals can be made.

This session is for anyone who might support clients or service users to access benefits, or who works regularly with people who may be eligible to apply. You can join the virtual members meet up by signing up on Eventbrite.

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UK Pride Month & LGBT Youth Scotland

Happy Pride Month to all our LGBTQI+ members, allies, friends and family.

It is 50 years since the first UK Pride. Despite a lot of progress, young people say that it is still tough to be LGBTQI+ in Scotland in 2022. Our friends at LGBT Youth Scotland need your help to change that story.

The dream is for Scotland to become the most inclusive place in the world for LGBTQI+ young people to reach their full, fabulous potential.

This summer for Pride, they are asking for your help to make that dream a reality by supporting their life changing work and becoming part of their story.

There are lots of ways you can help: 

• Donate and be #partofthestory
• Organise your own Pride event
• Share how proud you are to be #partofthestory by sharing the appeal across your social media. Follow @LGBTYS on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

And if your organisation wants to proactively include LGBTQI+ people in every aspect of its work, why not check out the LGBT Charter for Organisations?  

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Building Racial Literacy and Education Leadership Programme – extended deadline!

Education Scotland’s Professional Learning and Leadership team are extending the application deadline for Building Racial Literacy and Educator Leadership Programmes for our CLD colleagues. Applications will remain open until 23:45 on Monday 27th June. 

• Building Racial Literacy – The national Building Racial Literacy programme promotes anti-racism as a baseline professional value, empowering educators to identify and implement anti-racist behaviours and processes in their everyday practice. To find out more about the programme, please watch the Story of the Building Racial Literacy Programme video and visit the Education Scotland website and select the section on ‘Applying for the programme’. 
• Educator Leadership Programme – Growing from the success of the Teacher Leadership Programme (TLP); the new Educator Leadership Programme (ELP) welcomes applications from Early Learning and Childcare practitioners, Community Learning and Development practitioners and classroom teachers. To find out more please watch the Educator Leadership Programme video and visit the Education Scotland website and select the section on ‘Applying for this programme and further information’ section.

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Have your say on how technology is used in maths education in Scotland

Education Scotland is supporting this survey and is keen to encourage contributions from the CLD sector. The survey is collecting information on how technology is being used by teachers and learners of mathematics and numeracy in UK schools, colleges, early years and community learning settings. It is being conducted by the Joint Mathematical Council, which represents all of the mathematics organisations across the four nations, to inform our advice to policy makers. There is an option to say you don’t use technology much, or at all. 

Find out more and complete the Maths and Technology survey. 

All responses are anonymous and you are not required to give personal data or contact details. The survey should take between 5-10 minutes to complete and closes on 30th June 2022. 

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Digital Accessibility and Online Security Webinars

Less than 10% of the internet is fully accessible and many organisations are now committing to making their online spaces easy to use by disabled people and people with impairments. Lead Scotland is here to help with free webinars looking at different aspects of digital accessibility. Many people are also worried about the rise in online scams – check out one of their ‘Stay Safe Online Over the Summer’ webinars! 

Everyone is welcome to attend and you can find out a full list of the webinars at the Lead Scotland website.  The dates of the webinars are listed below:

• Mon 20 June – Creating Accessible Layouts 
• Tues 21 June – Accessible Colours and Contrast 
• Wed 22 June – Accessibility and Cyber Security 
• Thurs 23 June – Using Alt Text 
• Fri 24 June – Creating Captions and Transcripts 
• Mon 27 June – Stay Safe Online Over the Summer 
• Fri 1 July – Stay Safe Online Over the Summer (with BSL interpreter) 

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Welcome to Ross Martin

Ross was the lead for the CLD Regulations and Planning, CLD Workforce Development, CLD Performance & Improvement, Public Protection and Equalities.  Part of his remit was managing a team in the areas of ESOL, Literacies, Digital Youth Work, Volunteering, Performance & Workforce Development, Food Insecurity, Gaelic Community Development and Youth Research.

We’re delighted to have Ross join the team and know he is looking forward to meeting CLDSC members across Scotland in his new role.

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Standards Mark Approval – Aberdeenshire CLD Service

The standard of this submission was very much appreciated by the approval panel who stated that they had enjoyed reading another Gold Star submission as it was clear and easy to find the evidence. The panel are keen to see some of the approaches to professional learning shared with other organisations. The hard work and commitment to CLD professional learning from the Aberdeenshire CLD Service is to be commended. 

The panel also wished to share some of the areas that had impressed them within the submission: 

• Great to see a high level of CLD Workforce Registered with CLDSC
• Excellent video demonstrating their Professional Learning SharePoint site navigation
• Good to see a clear commitment to the CLD values and principles 
• Professional learning record used by Workforce to capture 35 hours of PL incorporates the competences and this will make it easier for the workforce to provide evidence for re-registration. 

Well done!  

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The Gathering is back for 2022!

Come join us at the Gathering on Wednesday, 15 June (next Wednesday!) for the official launch of our newly created Professional Induction Programme, a CLD Standards Council e-learning course for new and existing members of the CLDSC!
 
As well as hearing about the benefits of the professional induction, you’ll also hear from us about the benefits of CLDSC membership and why CLD is important. Jamie Hepburn MSP – Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training – will also be joining us.
 
Sign up for our event, on Wednesday, 15 June 2022, 9.30-10.30am at the Gathering website.

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July Virtual Members’ Meet-up – Tuesday 5 July 1-2pm – Social Security Scotland

Following the successful pilot of Adult Disability Payment in Scotland, Social Security Scotland will begin accepting new applications for Adult Disability Payment from clients living in all local authorities in Scotland as part of the national roll out of this form of assistance on 29 August 2022.

Many CLD practitioners support adults who will be entitled to this benefit. Come along on Tuesday, 5 July at 1pm to hear what Adult Disability Payments are, how you can support any CLD learners you work with to apply, how you can prepare your own services, and have any questions you might have answered. The session will provide an overview of the new benefit, outline special rules for terminal illness, how to apply for the benefit, how decisions are made and information collected, and how appeals can be made. 

You can find out more and register for the session on Eventbrite.

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National Young People’s Advisory Group

Children in Scotland are supporting the new national young people’s advisory group, recently launched under the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group. The group has been set up to make sure young people’s views are heard directly by decision-makers, to influence government policy. More information on this work can be found on the National Suicide Prevention Leadership Group page. 
 
The group will be aimed at young people (16-25) who have tried to take their own life or have suicidal thoughts. It is also for people who have experienced suicide (please note that two years must have passed if they have sadly lost someone through suicide for them to get involved) and those who suffer from poor mental health. Due to the nature of the group, it is expected that all young people will have a worker involved who can provide support before and after meetings.  
  
The group sessions will be relaxed and fun, they should also give people the opportunity to meet new people and share their views.  
  
If any young people you work with are interested, please get in touch with Chris Ross from Children in Scotland at cross@childreninscotland.org.uk. Chris would be delighted to speak to anyone interested and is happy to arrange sessions to meet with young people to provide more information and the chance to meet the team behind this project. 

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ESOL Aficionados

Do you know an exceptional, energetic, enthusiastic ESOL practitioner? Of course you do!  Why not nominate a CLD ESOL colleague, volunteer, tutor or manager to be part of the NATECLA ESOL Aficionados page where the work of ESOL practitioners is celebrated and showcased.  Or why not have your own profile on show?

If you’d like to nominate yourself or a colleague, contact the NATECLA team.

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College Development Network – Board Member Vacancies

Two independent Board Member vacancies with College Development Network (CDN) are available.  These are voluntary positions with expenses paid for meetings and events.

This year, CDN will begin building its next multi-year strategy and be growing its commercial activities, range of core services to the education system, and partnerships with many other organisations and agencies.

CDN is headquartered in Stirling’s historic Airthrey Castle but with colleagues and partners across Scotland and beyond. The Board of Directors would like to welcome two new independent members as it take the next steps in our growth and development.

Prior board level experience is not a pre-requisite for the role – enthusiasm, creativity, and an interest in skills education are.

Although applicants from all backgrounds will be considered equally, CDN is particularly looking for individuals who have professional or non-executive experience in the fields of:

• Digital learning and communications
• Commercial training and personal professional development
• Working across and between the four nations of the UK

Please submit a CV and covering letter to recruitment@cdn.ac.uk  if you are interested in these roles. You can also request a confidential conversation with CDN’s Chief Executive or Chair, prior to formal application, by emailing this address. 

Please note that the closing date for applications is Friday 24 June at 5pm, with initial sifting of applications during w/c 27 June. Interviews will take place in July and August. 

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Welcome to Vikki Carpenter

Vikki is enthusiastic about raising the profile of the profession in Scotland through improving policies and practice, as well as growing, developing and supporting all practitioners within CLD.

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Last chance to sign up – Virtual Members’ Meet-up – 6 June 2022, 1-2pm – Keep Scotland Beautiful

Don’t forget that Keep Scotland Beautiful will be hosting our monthly virtual members’ meet up session for us in June.

The event will introduce the community engagement and learning programmes that support Keep Scotland Beautiful’s vision for a clean, green sustainable Scotland; and will demonstrate the Climate Emergency Toolkit for Youth Workers, discussing effective methods of communicating the climate emergency to a youth audience, and considering ways in which the toolkit can be adapted for a range of CLD learners and communities.

You can find out more information and sign up for the meet-up on Eventbrite.

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Standards Mark Approval – West Dunbartonshire Council

CLDSC is delighted to announce the re-approval of West Dunbartonshire Council’s (WDC) Standard Mark approval. The Approval Panel commented that the submission for approval was ‘Gold Standard’ and have been granted permission from WDC to use the submission for training purposes. 

The submission provided lots of clear, strong evidence of West Dunbartonshire’s commitment to CLD and the values, principles, code of ethics and competences. Evidence provided illustrated how the code of ethics is a foundation of CLD practice. Examples provided in the submission were as a result of ethical consultation, practice and statements of intent, as demonstrated in the WDC three year CLD plan. The Approval Panel also highlighted that a good range of digital support is available and particularly appreciated the use of Padlet to share information.   

It is heartening to see that WDC recognise the value of providing CLD Practice Placement opportunities.  And, great to see the importance placed on CLD qualifications as a requirement on job specifications. 

Well done!  And a final message from the Approval Panel – ‘Congratulations and thanks for making our decision so much easier’.  

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Buddies needed!

This programme is aimed at old and new members and can either be an opportunity to learn all about the CLDSC and what we do, as well as CLD as a whole, or it can be used as a refresher for long-serving members. Participants in the Induction Course are allocated a buddy to guide them through and ask any questions.  You can find out more about our Supporting Professional Learning Together offer and how to be a buddy on i-develop.

If you’re a fountain of knowledge on all things CLDSC and CLD, or you could be with a bit of coaching, then we’d love to hear from you if you’d be interested in being a buddy. Please contact us at contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk for more information. 

And if you’re interested in attending The Gathering, you can see the programme and register on The Gathering website.

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Volunteers Week, 1-7 June 2022

Volunteers’ Week is a UK wide campaign that takes place from 1-7 June every year. It’s a time when volunteering involving organisations are encouraged to thank and celebrate their volunteers, past and present. 

There are thousands of CLD volunteers across Scotland helping adult learners get back into work, supporting new Scots to learn English, building the confidence of community members to make a difference in their neighbourhoods, changing the lives of young people through youth work activities and much more.  

Here at the CLD Standards Council, we want to say…..

If you are a CLD volunteer, or if you support CLD volunteers, why not pop along to our dedicated CLD Volunteer page on i-develop where you’ll find resources and information on how to register with CLD Standards Council.

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Healthy Eating Week, 13-17 June 2022

The British Nutrition Foundation’s (BNF) Healthy Eating Week is an annual event that highlights what we can all do to have healthier lifestyles. Taking place on 13-17 June 2022, you are invited to get involved! 

Resources have been created in support of the Healthy Eating Week and these are now online for primary schools, secondary schools and workplaces.  The resources are freely available online, but BNF are encouraging anyone/organisations to register in order that they receive updates about the week as well as some free support resources and BNF can track participation levels around the country and across sectors.  

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National Occupational Standards – contract award

We are delighted to announce that CLD Standards Council Scotland has been granted a contract from Skills Development Scotland to carry out a review of the Community Development and Family Learning National Occupational Standards (NOS). We have also been awarded the contract to create a new suite of NOS for Adult Learning.

National Occupational Standards (NOS) specify the standard of performance an individual must achieve when carrying out a function in the workplace, together with the knowledge and understanding they need to meet that standard consistently. Essentially NOS are benchmarks of good practice. Each NOS defines one key function in a job role.

These Standards are applicable across the United Kingdom and we will work with a range of national and local organisations from Scotland, England, Northern Ireland and Wales during the review and creation process. This work will be completed by 31 March 2023.

Watch this space for more information on how to get involved!

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CLD Digital Competence Review survey – last few days to share your views!

As you may know, CLD Standards Council is undertaking a review to ensure that digital skills, knowledge and competence is embedded and visible across our Competent Practitioner Framework.

We’ve had 96 responses so far, but would love some more. Most of the responses so far are from people who have worked or volunteered in the sector for a long time, so we’re keen to hear from practitioners with fewer than 10 year’s experience in CLD. You don’t need to have a digital focus in your role to respond –
CLD Digital Competence Survey should take around 10-20 mins to complete and will be open until Friday 27 May 2022.

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Last few days for microcredentials free places!

Time is running out to apply for a fully funded place on The Open University in Scotland’s (OUiS) online learning Microcredentials for those working in the CLD sector.
The courses on offer are:

• Online Teaching: Creating Courses for Adult Learners
• Online Teaching: Evaluating and Improving Courses
• Online Teaching: Accessibility and Inclusive Learning
• Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum
• Online Teaching: Embedding Social, Race and Gender-Related Equity

These courses are at postgraduate level and will start in June 2022 and run for 12 weeks. For more information and to apply, please visit OUiS Microcredentials for CLD.
Make sure you submit your application before the end of May 2022.

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HNC Working with Communities

Now more than ever CLD career pathways are important. As part of CLDSC ongoing work to support, promote, create and recognise career pathways we have held various meetings with Colleges who currently offer or would intend to offer the HNC Working with Communities programme. As part of those discussions Dumfries and Galloway College have committed to working with CLDSC to seek approval and we are happy to share and support the events as detailed below. For those Colleges who find themselves in a similar situation if you have not already been in touch please email ApprovalCLD@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk

Dumfries and Galloway College are delivering two exciting new free courses in Working with Communities.
There are options for individuals who are currently working, volunteering or interested in working in the community:

• HNC- Working with Communities level 7 – (August)
• Introduction to Communities PDA level 6 – (January)

To find out more about the courses, Dumfries and Galloway College are offering two information sessions on Tuesday 7th June, you can choose from either 3pm-4pm or 4:30pm-5:30pm.

This is a fantastic opportunity to meet current students, ask any questions and get some guidance on applying for these courses.
If you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact Laura Morgan – morganl@dumgal.ac.uk

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Virtual members’ Meet-up 6 June 1-2pm

Don’t forget that Keep Scotland Beautiful will be hosting our monthly virtual members’ meet up session for us in June. The event will introduce the community engagement and learning programmes that support Keep Scotland Beautiful’s vision for a clean, green sustainable Scotland; and will demonstrate the Climate Emergency Toolkit for Youth Workers, discussing effective methods of communicating the climate emergency to a youth audience, and considering ways in which the toolkit can be adapted for a range of CLD learners and communities.

You can find out more information and sign up for the meet-up on Eventbrite.

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College Expo 22 – new date

In light of the ongoing industrial action, and following consultation with partners across the college sector, the College Development Network is rescheduling the Virtual College Expo22. It will move from Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 June to Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 August.
The new dates are intended to offer the best possible experience for all those involved in College Expo 2022.

The theme for Virtual College Expo22 is:
Rewrite the College Story:
Learning Experiences, Skills Development, Anchoring Communities

Virtual College Expo22 is the most exciting professional learning event for the college sector in Scotland, offering inspirational keynotes, workshops, seminars, and panel debates.

Book your FREE place for the Expo.

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The Gathering – 15 and 16 June 2022 – SEC Glasgow

The programme for this year’s The Gathering is now live! It’s a packed 2 days with inputs from a wide range of speakers including Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland; Jack Monroe, poverty campaigner and food writer; Sir Geoffrey Palmer, human rights and race equity activist; the launch of the Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan and much more. You can view the Programme and book on the SCVO website.

It’s free to attend the Gathering as a delegate and everyone’s welcome- voluntary sector staff, volunteers, board members and trustees from charities, social enterprises and community groups, politicians, academics and journalists, students and members of the public.

And don’t forget, we’ll be launching the CLD Standards Council Professional Induction Programme at The Gathering too! We’re delighted to have Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training speaking at our launch, as well as inputs from our programme developers and pilot participants. Join us for the launch to find out more!

If you can’t make it along, you can follow on Twitter using the #SCVOGathering hashtag.

CLD Digital Competence Review – share your views!

Our online survey aimed at gathering your views on how best to ensure that digital skills, knowledge and competence is embedded and visible across our Competent Practitioner Framework is now open.

This is one of the priorities highlighted by Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, in the CLD Digital Investment funding announcement made in December 2021 where we were asked to

• develop national guidance that sets out clear principles for digital delivery, and how to support improved infrastructure for digital approaches.
• develop a set of digital competences for CLD mapped within the CLDSC’s Competence Framework

We held a series of focus groups in March and based on feedback from those, we are now asking CLD practitioners in all settings, including adult learning, community development and youth work, to participate in an online survey. Tell us how you currently use digital or how you’d like to use it, as well as what support CLDSC can offer to help implement digital into your practice.

You don’t have to be a member of CLDSC to complete the survey, so please tell your colleagues and networks. And you don’t need to have a digital focus in your role either – we want to hear from everyone!

CLD Digital Competence Survey should take around 10-20 mins to complete and will be open until Friday 27 May 2022.

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Virtual members’ Meet-up 6 June 1-2pm

Keep Scotland Beautiful (KSB) will be hosting our monthly virtual members’ meet up session for us in June. KSB will introduce their community engagement and learning programmes that support their vision for a clean, green sustainable Scotland. They will demonstrate the Climate Emergency Toolkit for Youth Workers, discussing effective methods of communicating the climate emergency to a youth audience, and considering ways in which the toolkit can be adapted for a range of CLD learners and communities.

Find out more and sign up for the Meet-up on EventBrite.

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Educator Leadership Programme

Growing from the success of the Teacher Leadership Programme (TLP); the new Educator Leadership Programme (ELP) welcomes applications from Early Learning and Childcare practitioners, Community Learning and Development practitioners and classroom teachers. By bringing together educators skills and experience from across sectors the Educator Leadership Programme creates space to collaborate and share practice, while keeping the learner experience at the centre through a focus on practitioner enquiry. Why not have a look at some of the Enquiry Posters on flickr from previous TLP participants?

The programme is designed to offer participants more flexibility and choice with two cycles of enquiry over the course of the year. Participants may choose to complete both enquiry cycles or only the first cycle.

Applications open on MONDAY 16th MAY at 09:00 and close at 23:45 on MONDAY 13th JUNE 2022. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by the end of June 2022.

You can find out more about the programme on the Educator Leadership Programme website This recruitment video tells you a bit about the programme and there is also a slightly longer video with more explanation and details about the structure.

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Building Racial Literacy (BRL)

Applications for the national anti-racist professional learning programme, Building Racial Literacy, are also now open. There will be two cohorts, starting in August and December respectively, made up of 40% system leaders (members of staff from Education Scotland, GTCS, SQA, ITE, local authority officers, RIC leads and headteachers) and 60% educators (middle leaders, class teachers, ELC & CLD practitioners). Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants and applicants from local authorities not previously involved will be prioritised.

To find out more about the programme, please watch this video on Youtube and visit the Building Racial Literacy Programme website.

And for more BRL professional learning opportunities, read on …

BRL+ Webinar Series

Starting in June, the BRL+ webinar series explores anti-racism in Scottish education and is an extension of the Building Racial Literacy professional learning programme. BRL+ will bring together some new collaborators as well as showcase innovative ideas and good practice from previous participants on the Building Racial Literacy programme. There are 3 webinars planned in June:

• Anti-Racist Clubs on Monday 13th June
• Anti-Racist Critical Thinking and Curriculum Design on Monday 20th June
• Journey of an Anti-Racist Educator on Wednesday 22nd June

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OU Microcredentials – Last chance for a free place!

There’s still time to apply for a fully funded place on The Open University in Scotland’s (OUiS) online learning Microcredentials for those working in the CLD sector.
The courses on offer are:

• Online Teaching: Creating Courses for Adult Learners
• Online Teaching: Evaluating and Improving Courses
• Online Teaching: Accessibility and Inclusive Learning
• Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum
• Online Teaching: Embedding Social, Race and Gender-Related Equity

These courses are at postgraduate level and will start in June 2022 and run for 12 weeks. For more information and to apply, please visit OUiS Microcredentials for CLD.
Make sure you submit your application before the end of May 2022.

Thanks! CLDSC Members Short Survey – Planning for 2022

We would like to say a huge thanks to every one of our members who participated in completing the CLDSC Members Short Survey that closed for response on Friday 29th of April. We received approximately 200 completed responses to the survey.
The survey results are crucial for us to understand the views of our members on activities that took place across 2021, and to inform forward planning into 2022 and onwards – so that our work continues to reflect the needs of our members.

Here are a few examples of positive comments that were noted already from the free textbox areas:

Question: What additional CLDSC members services (if any) do you feel would be of benefit to your professional development?

Responses
‘Promotion of the Professional Induction Programme and Professional Review Process’
‘Local area CLDSC meetings’
‘Continued aware raising and importance of being a CLDSC member, also the benefits of membership’

General Feedback

Responses
‘The CLDSC offer an invaluable service and continued support to CLD practitioners across Scotland’
‘Wellbeing activities were much appreciated at the time of most stress but actually I also felt more connection to the CLDSC and CLD colleagues as a result’
‘I can’t wait to get back to some in person events!’

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Scotland’s new Adult Learning Strategy

This week sees the much anticipated launch of Scotland’s first Adult Learning Strategy by the Scottish Government. The strategy delivers on a 2019 Programme for Government and sets out Scottish Government’s ambitions for Adult Learning over the next five years. A launch event (in person and virtual) will be held on 29 June. An Easy Read version of the strategy is available and alternative formats are available upon request.

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Virtual College Expo22 – Speakers Announced

The Virtual College Expo22 will take place on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 June 2022 with the theme: Rewrite the College Story: Learning Experiences, Skills Development, Anchoring Communities.

Keynote speakers include well-known Scottish actor Danielle Jam; Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training; Fiona Robertson, Chief Executive of SQA; and Dr Mike Cantlay OBE, Chair of the Scottish Funding Council.

Follow on Twitter @ColDevNet using #CollegeExpo22

View the programme and book your free place.

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Scottish Charity Awards – finalists announced!

The Scottish Charity Awards recognise and celebrate the best that Scotland’s voluntary sector has to offer and CLD Standards Council is proud to be sponsoring the Community Action Award at this year’s #ScotCharityAwards. The Awards Ceremony will be held on Wednesday 15 June 2022 with the winners being announced on the night. View all 44 finalists and learn about the positive impact they have been making !
Meantime, members of the public can vote for their favourite overall entry in the People’s Choice Award. You only have one vote – so make it count, and vote for your favourite today!

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SCQF Online Workshops

Two SCQF workshops taking place online in June are open to CLD practitioners:

Would You Credit It? Thurs 9th June 2022, 10:00am – 4:00pm

This online workshop (split into 2 x 2 hour sessions) is designed to support individuals and organisations who are developing, or who already have, a learning programme which they are considering having Credit Rated for the SCQF. This workshop is aimed at organisations who are in the process of developing a learning programme and are considering having it Credit Rated for the SCQF.

My Skills, My Future Thurs 16th June 2022, 10:00am – 3:00pm

An interactive online workshop (split over a morning and afternoon session) for those wishing to use the ‘My Skills, My Future’ suite of resources to support individuals in identifying the skills they have gained from other experiences outwith formal qualifications. This workshop is aimed at those involved with Community Learning, Developing the Young Workforce, or who provide careers advice and guidance. It helps advisers become familiar with, and understand the benefits of, the ‘My Skills, My Future’ resources in order to use them to help and guide a wide range of individuals.

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Neurodiversity Training Programme: Summer 2022

Salvesen Mindroom Centre are delighted to announce the launch of their 2022 summer training programme. Details are provided below:

Course name: It Takes All Kinds of Minds: Supporting neurodivergent children and young people
Date: 26th May 2022 at 10.00 am – 16.00 pm

Course name: It Takes All Kinds of Minds: Supporting neurodivergent children and young people
Date(s): 8th, 9th & 15th of June 2022 at 15.00 pm – 17.00 pm
Notes: This course will be delivered over three sessions and participants will be required to attend all sessions.

Course name: Neurodiversity and why it matters
Date: 31st of May 2022 10.30 am – 12.00 pm

Course name: A very brief history of neurodiversity (Free webinar)
Date: 7th of June 2022 at 14.00 pm – 14.30 pm

Course name: Hidden in plain sight: Neurodiversity, Women & Girls
Date: 9th of June 2022 at 10.00 am – 13.30 pm

Course name: Introduction to supporting neurodivergent employees
Date: 23rd of June 2022 at 10.00 am – 12.30 pm

Course name: Introduction to Universal Design for Learning
Date: 29th of June 2022 at 10.00 am – 13.30 pm

Coming soon
Introduction to supporting disclosure
Challenging stereotypes: Alternative presentations of autism

Please note – there are fees for some of this training.
For further information or to book a place please visit the Salvesen Mindroom Eventbrite page.

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Mental Health Awareness Week 9-15 May 2022

Mental Health Awareness Week is an annual event with an opportunity to focus on achieving good mental health.

The theme this year is loneliness and the aim of the week is to raise awareness of the impact of loneliness on our mental wellbeing and the practical steps we can take to address it. During Mental Health Week use the hashtag #IveBeenThere to share experiences of loneliness to support others.

Please make the most of our member offers to link with colleagues from across Scotland.

• connect on i-develop
• participate in our Buddy/Mentor programme through the Supporting PL Together offer.
• join our Slack space (email contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk for the joining link)
• don’t forget to save the dates for our in-person CLDSC Member Conference on 1 and 2 December 2022!

You can also sign up to walk, run or jog as part of the 80 miles in May challenge and share your photos using #80MilesinMay and #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek.

• NHS Inform – Healthy Living has information on what you can do to look after your mental and physical wellbeing.
• Breathing Space has a helpline which is open Monday-Thursday from 6pm-2am and Friday-Monday from 6pm-6am. Call free on 0800 83 85 87.
• The Mind mental health charity helpline is open Monday-Friday 9am-6pm. Call 0800 123 3393.

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STOP PRESS Digital Competence Survey – We need your views!

As you may know, CLD Standards Council is undertaking a review to ensure that digital skills, knowledge and competence is embedded and visible across our Competent Practitioner Framework. This is one of the priorities highlighted by Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, in the CLD Digital Investment funding announcement made in December 2021.
We held a series of focus groups in March and based on feedback from those, we now want to offer an opportunity for CLD practitioners in adult learning, community development and youth work settings to participate in an online survey.
We want to hear your views and all CLD practitioners (staff and volunteers across all areas of delivery) are encouraged to participate.
The CLD Digital Competence Survey should take around 10-20 mins to complete and will be open until Friday 27 May 2022.

CLDSC Member Benefits

As members of the CLD Standards Council, there are benefits available to all of you that we wanted to remind you of. Whether you’re an Associate or Registered member, you have the following benefits at your fingertips.

Top Ten Member Benefits:

• monthly virtual member meet-ups (see below article for the next meet up)
• a members’ slack space
• an annual members’ conference
• buddying and mentoring
• free online access to Times Educational Supplement Scotland Magazine (requires you to be logged in to i-Develop)
• membership of Scotland-wide University and College Libraries
• access to Scottish Council of Development and Industry (SCDI) development & industry materials and events
• access to funded places at professional learning events and programmes
• opportunities to join CLD Standards Council committees and / or working groups
• i-develop access to member only areas

We’d really encourage all of you to take advantage of the above and to get in touch with us at contact@cldstandardscouncil.org.uk if you have any questions about any of the CLD Standards Council member benefits or if you are having difficulty logging into your i-develop account. 

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Virtual Member Meet-up – 5 May 2022, 1-2pm

Last chance to register for our May Member Meet Up.

Join us to hear about how CLD practitioners in North Lanarkshire Council implemented the Youth Guarantee Programme to support CLD employment. For the past year, North Lanarkshire Council’s CLD team employed 19 CLD Assistant Support Workers (ASW’s) aged between 16 and 24 years for one year’s paid employment under the Youth Guarantee Programme. Each employee worked in all areas of CLD and had a robust training schedule. All but one ASW has continued onto a positive destination.

This session will showcase the ASW’s learning journey and what the evaluation has shown. Join us to find out more.  

Register for the May Virtual Member Meet Up on Eventbrite.

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University of Dundee – Community Education Symposium

The University of Dundee, School of Education and Social Work’s Annual Community Education Symposium took place on Tuesday 3rd of May. 

This event showcased community-based research and innovative practice, with final year undergraduate students presenting their research projects alongside Community Education academics. Furthermore, a number of Masters’ students at the University led on lightening talks to discuss their experiences of undertaking impactful Community Education Practice. Key note speakers included Alison Urie, Community Development Practitioner of Vox Liminis and Dr Alan Mackie, lecturer within the Community Education team at the University of Dundee.

These inspiring presentation and discussion sessions included topics ranging from stigma and recovery, men’s perspectives on violence against women, adult learning and social inequalities, innovative community-based pedagogies, the impact of community-based ESOL classes, youth-led community arts, care-experienced young people moving to accommodation, global community perspectives on climate change, and many more.

A selection of photos from a CLD focussed storyboard shared at the event can be found below!

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SCDC Participation / Appeals Process Event – 11 May 2022 An appealing prospect – appeals process for participation requests exploratory event

The Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) is inviting community organisations, public bodies and other interested organisations and individuals an online event on 11 May 2022, 9:30am-2:30pm. This will explore how participation requests – a way that communities can request to work with public bodies to improve outcomes or services – could be supported by reviews or appeals.

The purpose of this online event is to share findings so far, based on the deliberations of a working group. This group met twice in February 2022 and consisted of both community organisations with experience of making participation requests and public agencies who deal with participation requests. Draft findings have focused on principles behind an appeals mechanism and proposals for both local reviews and appeals to Ministers. There have also been draft proposals around improved practice guidance for participation requests and discussion regarding other forms of scrutiny. This event will offer the chance to discuss these findings and also to further shape them before they are brought together and fed back to the Scottish Government. 

Find out more and sign up at SCDC website.

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Communities Channel Scotland

The Communities Channel Scotland was developed by Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC) with funding from the Scottish Government.  It was launched in 2014 as a place where community groups could find information, ideas and inspiration to help them achieve their aims. The website was refreshed recently, with the aim of making it even easier for you to find and share useful content. There’s plenty of new stuff too, including a series of hot topic sections focused on covid-19, climate change, human rights and other pressing issues. You’ll also find useful resources, accessible guides to relevant policy and great examples of community groups in action.

The website also hosts the Social Impact Pledge, a Scottish Government initiative which asks public sector organisations across Scotland to commit to increasing their social impact by committing to changing three aspects of their current operations or policies.

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Scotland’s Census 2022

The census collection period will now continue until the end of May 2022 to ensure everyone is included.  

Households can complete their questionnaire online, but they still have the opportunity to request paper forms to complete through the contact centre (0800 030 8308). Other support such as being able to complete over the telephone, and language support and accessibility assistance is also available. Updated assets have been added to the stakeholder promotional materials such as the toolkit, advertising campaign, social media assets (@ScotCensus2022, using #ScotlandsCensus2022) and the latest TV advert.

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CLDSC Members Survey – Planning for 2022 – last few days!

Only a few more days to tell us your views on the work undertaken by the CLDSC over 2021, and to help us shape future planning for 2022. 

The survey will only take around 5 minutes to complete and will close on Friday, 29th April 2022. Please share your thoughts!

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Virtual Member Meet-up – 5 May 2022, 1-2pm

Sign up to hear about how CLD practitioners in North Lanarkshire Council implemented the Youth Guarantee Programme to support CLD employment. For the past year, North Lanarkshire Council’s CLD team employed 19 CLD Assistant Support Workers (ASW’s) aged between 16 and 24 years for one year’s paid employment under the Youth Guarantee Programme. Each employee worked in all areas of CLD and had a robust training schedule. All but one ASW has continued onto a positive destination.

This session will showcase the ASW’s learning journey and what the evaluation has shown. Join us to find out more.  

Register for the May Virtual Member Meet Up on Eventbrite.

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Adult Learning Strategy Launch events – postponed

Unfortunately, both launches of the Adult Learning Strategy, due to be held on 10th and 11th May 2022, will be postponed. Those who have booked places will be contacted by the organisers.

The date and information about a new event will follow.  

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SCQF – Changes to Higher Education Tariff Tables

In July 2021, UCAS launched a consultation into a number of proposals relating to the information made available about qualifications and their use in progression to Higher Education (HE). Based on feedback received through the consultation and additional engagement with UCAS’ Qualifications Advisory Group, UCAS will be implementing a range of changes.

Significant to  the CLD sector is the recognition that all SCQF level 6 qualifications are to be included from May 2022 for HE applicants starting courses in summer 2023. This will support widening access and participation, giving learners from a wider range of backgrounds the opportunity to consider HE. You can find out more on the SCQF blog.

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OU Microcredentials – Free Places available now!

There’s still time to apply for a fully funded place on The Open University in Scotland’s (OUiS) online learning Microcredentials for those working in the CLD sector.

The courses on offer are:

• Online Teaching: Creating Courses for Adult Learners
• Online Teaching: Evaluating and Improving Courses
• Online Teaching: Accessibility and Inclusive Learning
• Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum
• Online Teaching: Embedding Social, Race and Gender-Related Equity

These courses are at postgraduate level and will start in June 2022 and run for 12 weeks. For more information and to apply, please visit OUiS Microcredentials for CLD.

The deadline for applications is Sunday, 15 May 2022.

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Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS) Conference

Save the Date! The DTAS Conference is back in person on 4th and 5th September 2022 at The Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld. The theme is Gather, Connect and Thrive. Check out the DTAS website for updates on the programme and registration. 

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LinkedIn Free Professional Learning

The Scottish Digital Academy, through its partnership with Skills Development Scotland is delighted to provide free access to LinkedIn Learning until the end of July 2022.

This professional learning opportunity is funded by the Scottish Government.

• You’ll have unlimited access to more than 16,000 expert-led videos
• With videos starting at a few minutes long, you can learn on the move
• You’ll have access to course collections we’ve built to help you get started
• You’ll be able to download exercise files, assessments and video transcripts to support your learning
• You can even download videos to view offline

Courses include (but are not limited to): Leadership, Agile, Design Thinking, Educational Technology, Instructional Design, Visual Communication, Building Design, Power BI.

If you’re 25 or over and live in Scotland, working in the public or third sector, you’re eligible for unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning until 31 July 2022.

To access the resource, register on the LinkedIn Learning – Scottish Digital Academy website.

Free access is being run as a pilot to gauge interest and to measure the value and impact, before considering a longer term arrangement.

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