Directors' Statement

Director's statement

This past year has been a busy, challenging, and hopeful one for both the CLD Standards Council and the wider sector.

Following the publication of Learning for All, For Life, the national CLD Strategic Leadership Group was established and quickly began its work. As part of this, the CLD Standards Council was invited to lead the Workforce and Standards Sub-Group, with responsibility for considering workforce demand, supply, and future needs across the sector. A significant outcome of this work was the first national CLD Workforce Survey since 2018. Alongside the survey, stakeholders from across the CLD sector participated in a series of focus groups that examined qualification pathways, professional learning opportunities, career progression routes, and the future aspirations and needs of CLD workers and volunteers. The findings from this important work will be published soon and will help inform the future development of the profession.

The year also marked the completion of Alan Sherry OBE's tenure as Chair of the CLD Standards Council. I would like to pay tribute to Alan for his outstanding commitment, leadership, and dedication throughout his two terms of office. His contribution has helped to strengthen both the organisation and the CLD profession.

There could be no better way to recognise this achievement than by celebrating another significant milestone: the highest membership in the history of the CLD Standards Council. We now have more than 3,500 members, with an average of 20 new members joining each month.

It has also been a particularly active year for member engagement. Members have participated in and led a wide range of activities, including Member Meet Ups, focus groups, learner events, questionnaires, and consultations. As a peer-led organisation, the voice of our membership is central to raising professional standards and shaping our future direction. I would like to thank everyone who continues to engage with our work and contribute to policy consultations and professional discussions.

As ever, I am grateful to the members of our committees who work tirelessly alongside the staff team to uphold and enhance professional standards. The vital work of the Approvals, Professional Learning, and Registration and Membership Committees ensures that we continue to fulfil our responsibilities as the professional standards and registration body for CLD in Scotland.

I commend this report to you and hope that you, too, will be proud of what we have collectively achieved over the past twelve months.

Dr Marion Allison 
Director