The Scottish Government

Community learning and development reports and research

Links to research and policy papers, reports and other documents.

Scotland

Awareness of the SCQF in the Community Learning and Development Sector: An Interim Evaluation

Communities Scotland (February 2007)

The aim of this interim evaluation is to examine the promotion and implementation of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) within the Community Learning and Development (CLD) sector. The objectives are to monitor the impact of SCQF awareness raising activity, and to ascertain future CLD training requirements in this area.

Better Community Engagement - a framework for learning

Communities Scotland (January 2007). This report aims to help in building the skills and competences needed for effective community engagement. The core of the report is a "curriculum framework for community engagement practice": not a set curriculum, but a framework of competences to enable development of purposeful learning in and for a wide variety of contexts. Better Community Engagement provides guidance on the use of the curriculum framework, and outlines a strategy for developing learning for effective community engagement.

Building Connections, Getting Involved: Measuring Social Capital Outcomes of CLD
This report was undertaken by the University of Edinburgh to identify and quantify retrospectively CLD outcomes linked specifically to social capital. The main findings were that CLD increased the range, and changed the nature of, relationships for many participants; there was a strong causal link between involvement in CLD and changes to the extent and nature of civic engagement of participants; involvement in CLD increased the ability and confidence of many participants to deal with people in positions of authority and CLD enabled some participants to make connections to people from different backgrounds and was to an extent a factor in changing attitudes and beliefs. There is also a summary of the report.

Critical understanding of Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework within adult education in the voluntary sector

Communities Scotland (February 2007)

This report aimed to raise awareness, create discussion and gather knowledge and views within and amongst adult education organisations in the voluntary sector regarding the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework.

Community Capacity Building - a review of current issues for CLD

Learning Connections is working closely with partners to enhance the role of community learning and development in building community strengths - click here for details. A summary of the report's recommendations, and Learning Connections' response is also available.

Communities: Change Through Learning

Report of a working group on the future of community education (1998). The remit of the working group was: "To consider a national strategy for community based adult education, youth work and educational support for community development in the light of Government priorities in relation to social exclusion and lifelong learning and advise Ministers on future arrangements."

CLD training for professionals involved in community regeneration and community planning

This research study Summary and report explores the learning needs of a wide range of professionals as they seek to develop more participatory ways of planning and delivering services. The conclusions of the study link closely with Creating a learning landscape: A skills framework for community regeneration developed by the Scottish Centre for Regeneration and currently being piloted. Learning Connections is working closely with them in taking the conclusions of the study forward.

Delivering outcomes in CLD: Current issues for outcome-focussed practice in Community Capacity Building

One of three reports written as part of the Scottish Government's outcome-focussed practice support programme delivered to Community Learning and Development Partnerships November 2007 to May 2008. It focuses on current issues for outcome-focussed practice in community capacity building. It is intended to be used by strategic managers in CLD to reflect on practice, facilitate continued dialogue at local level and to develop a strategic approach to supporting outcome-focussed practice in CLD. A Summary Report is also available.

Delivering outcomes in CLD: Current issues for outcome-focussed practice in adult learning

One of three reports written as part of the Scottish Government's outcome-focussed practice support programme delivered to Community Learning and Development Partnerships November 2007 to May 2008. It focuses on the current issues for outcome-focussed practice in adult learning and is intended to be used by strategic managers in CLD to reflect on practice, facilitate continued dialogue at local level and develop a strategic approach to supporting outcome-focussed practice in CLD. A Summary Report is also available.

Delivering outcomes in CLD: Current issues for outcome-focussed practice in youth work

One of three reports written as part of the Scottish Government's outcome-focussed practice support programme delivered to Community Learning and Development Partnerships from November 2007 to May 2008. This report focuses on the current issues for outcome-focussed practice in youth work. It is intended to be used by strategic managers in CLD to reflect on practice, facilitate continued dialogue at local level and to develop a strategic approach to supporting outcome-focussed practice in CLD. A Summary Report is also available.

Empowered to Practice

Scottish Executive (February 2003). The report is the Scottish Executive response to the Community Education Training Review and also makes recommendations about the future of community learning and development training in Scotland.

How Good is Our Community Learning and Development 2?

HM Inspectorate of Schools. Guidance (published May 2006) to help practitioners and managers from a wide range of interests in their self-evaluation of community learning and development activities. It includes quality indicators suitable for use by providers of community learning and development as well as in external evaluation by HM Inspectors.

A report on developing and piloting an instrument that could test whether it is possible to identify and quantify retrospectively the outcomes of CLD for individuals and communities in Scotland. The research found that there was a positive distance travelled toward the defined outcomes by the respondents. This means that CLD is supporting people to become more confident individuals, more effective contributors, responsible citizens and successful learners. There is also a summary of the report.

Illuminating Practice - case studies in community learning and development

Communities Scotland (November 2004). This complements the Scottish Executive's Working and Learning Together guidance by providing examples of good practice in CLD and its positive impact in communities. Case studies identify key features of practice that led to success and aim to help all those involved in CLD to reflect on the lessons for their own work. There is an introductory section, the individual case studies and the appendices. Appendix 1 (Word version)

Implementing the SCQF: Development of assessment methods for selected short courses

Communities Scotland (February 2007)

The specific focus of the project was to develop and pilot assessment techniques appropriate to the SCQF and appropriate to the nature of learning which takes place in vocational, workbased or Community Learning and Development learning situations.

Inside Policy, a guide to Scottish Executive policy for people working in CLD

Communities Scotland (January 2007). A Learning Connections report which summarises a range of policies that are significant for CLD and examines their implications.

LEAP: Learning Evaluation and Planning

Scottish Community Development Centre. A toolkit for integrating the planning and evaluation of community learning, community health, voluntary work and other community activities.

Life through Learning through Life - The Lifelong Learniing Strategy for Scotland

Scottish Executive (February 2003). This document sets out the Executive's five-year strategy for lifelong learning. It tackles issues surrounding the opportunity gap between those who achieve their full potential and those who do not, the skills gap between those who are in work and those who are not, and the productivity gap between those in Scotland and other leading economies.

Recognising Prior Learning in Community Learning and Development using the SCQF

Communities Scotland (February 2007)

The aims of this pilot project were:

• to develop a user friendly process of formative recognition
• to accelerate the process of RPL for credit within the CLD sector
• to provide sector specific RPL promotional material.

In order to meet these aims the project centred on the development of an RPL profiling tool.

SOEID Circular 4/99: Community Education

Scottish Office Education and Industry Department (1999). The report 'Communities: Change Through Learning' (published in November 1998) made recommendations on the future of community education which have been accepted by the Executive. This circular sets out guidance to local authorities on future arrangements and was produced following consultation with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the voluntary sector. It is relevant to a range of local authority directorates.

Strengthening Standards: Improving the Quality Of Community Learning and Development Service Delivery

Published (January 2006.)This is the report of the short life task group set up by Scottish Ministers to advise them on establishing a professional body for those delivering community learning and development. Professor Ted Milburn CBE, chaired the group. The report sets out its recommendations on the purpose, functions and governance of such a body.

Towards Community Learning Plans: Progress with the development and implementation of Community Learning Plans in Scotland

HM Inspectorate of Schools (May 2002). This report measures the progress that local authorities and their partners have made since 1999 in formulating and implementing community learning plans. It describes the good practice of some local authorities and community learning partnerships.

Working and learning together to build stronger communities

Scottish Executive (January 2003). Guidance for local authorities and their community planning partners on community learning and development. It provides advice on local strategies for community learning and development, specifically in relationship to other planning processes.

The rest of the UK

Engaging faith communities in urban regeneration, Joseph Rowntree Foundation - April 2003

This study, by a team from the Universities of Bradford, Coventry, East London and Sheffield Hallam, explores the commitments, interests, organisations and social networks that relate to people's religious identities. It looks at the present and potential contribution of faith communities to regeneration and their relationship to official programmes of neighbourhood renewal.