The CLD Standards Council charter

Community Learning and Development

Published
10/09/2018
Last updated
19/08/2026

Community Learning & Development (CLD) is delivered in diverse settings and sectors, by practitioners with a wide variety of job titles and volunteer roles, working with people of all ages. This includes (but is not necessarily limited to): 

  • Community Development (building the capacity of communities to meet their 
    own needs participating, engaging with and influencing decision makers);
  • Youth Work, family learning and other early intervention work with children, 
    young people and families;
  • Community-based Adult Learning, including adult literacies and English for 
    speakers of other languages (ESOL);
  • Learning for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the community, for 
    example, people with disabilities, care leavers or offenders;
  • Working with individuals and communities to improve their health and 
    wellbeing;
  • Volunteer development;
  • Learning support and guidance in the community. 

The Statutory Basis

The statutory basis for CLD is provided by The Requirements for Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013, and the primary legislation to which it relates, The Education (Scotland) Act, 1980. The explanatory note for this Scottish Statutory Instrument states that the Regulations “place requirements on education authorities that they are to meet in discharging their duties under Section 1 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 to secure adequate and efficient provision of further education”. 

Other relevant legislation includes the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act, 2015.