The COVID-19 pandemic led to the sudden closure of community venues, schools and other learning sites across Scotland. CLD practitioners responded by developing new and flexible ways to deliver key services with, by, and for vulnerable and marginalised learners in schools, colleges and communities. The Scottish Government recognises not only the role of the CLD sector across public and third sector in providing invaluable support to Scotland’s learners and communities during the pandemic, they also recognise that CLD approaches will be key to planning for a full recovery and renewal to active civil society across Scotland.
“The rapid shift in ways of working brought about new and strengthened relationships between school and local authority staff, CLD practitioners and allied professionals. The common goal and shared commitment to identify and target support to the more vulnerable children, young people and families in our communities ensured vital services were available to those who needed them most.”
John Swinney, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills
During the early days of the pandemic, there were many examples of the extraordinary work of CLD practitioners to support learners and communities. Practitioners and volunteers responded in a variety of creative and stimulating ways and What Scotland Learned aims to capture, and celebrate, some of the stories of lockdown learning between March and August 2020.
This post highlights the stories of CLD Practitioners in the South West of Scotland (Dumfries & Galloway, North, South and East Ayrshire). The stories highlighted below have been curated from a selection submitted from practitioners, local authorities, establishments, leaders, parents, learners, partners, volunteers and others. The words are their own and unedited.
Find out how CLD, South Ayrshire changed their methodology to support learning and sustain learner engagement during lockdown.
Follow the team on Twitter to find out more @CLDSouthAyr
Find out how CLD, South Ayrshire, delivered literacies support for learners during lockdown.
Follow the team on Twitter to find out more @CLDSouthAyr
Community Learning and Adult Education, North Ayrshire Council
Community Learning and Adult Education delivered 7 Gaelic Language Classes, a Clarsach and a Fiddle class for adult learners during lockdown.
Follow North Ayrshire’s Adult Learning Team on Twitter to find out more @NAAdultLearning
North Ayrshire Council’s Youth Work Team
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, North Ayrshire Councils Youth Work Team were fast in creating a full interactive digital programme under the branding of #DigiDReam. The programme gave the team and partners a platform to engage and work with young people and families throughout lockdown.
Follow them on Twitter to find out more @NAYouthServices
Redburn Community Centre, North Ayrshire
Redburn Community Centre encouraged many of Irvine’s older residents to learn how to use video-meeting technology to help address loneliness and social isolation.
Follow North Ayrshire’s Adult Learning Team on Twitter to find out more @NAAdultLearning
The Usual Place, Dumfries and Galloway
The Usual Place in Dumfries and Galloway enabled trainees to develop their I.T. literacy skills to reduce individual digital exclusion, promote competency and confidence in online learning and reduce social isolation.
Follow them on Twitter to find out more @TheUsual_Place
Vibrant Communities, East Ayrshire
Vibrant Communities engaged learners in weekly music performance sessions on Zoom.
Follow them on Twitter to find out more @VibrantEAC
Vibrant Communities, East Ayrshire
Vibrant Communities distributed learning resources and made weekly phone calls to ensure learning continued throughout lockdown.
Follow them on Twitter to find out more @VibrantEAC
Vibrant Communities, Lifeskills & Inclusion Team, East Ayrshire
Vibrant Communities, Lifeskills & Inclusion Team continued teaching and learning digitally, which has allowed Community ESOL learners to go for their accreditation assessments.
Follow them on Twitter to find out more @VibrantEAC
Youth Work Dumfries and Galloway
Find out how the youth work team in Dumfries and Galloway developed a wide-ranging, creative response to meet the diverse needs of young people through lockdown and the summer.
Follow them on Twitter to find out more @YOUTHWORKDG
Do you have a story to share from the South West Region? Please contact Dehra Macdonald if you do – Dehra.Macdonald@educationscotland.gov.scot
