Category: Youth Work

Dyslexia Scotland Update

Dyslexia Scotland is a national charity dedicated to enabling people with dyslexia in Scotland to realise their potential.  They have been very busy, working away developing events that support and inspire learners, volunteers and staff.  They have a range of activities and opportunities on offer at the moment:

Dyslexia Scotland’s website is changing. Here’s how we’re improving it:

Dyslexia Scotland’s website is changing | Dyslexia Scotland

Dyslexia Education Conference – bookings now open

ONLINE Dyslexia Education Conference 2022 Registration, Sat 1 Oct 2022 at 09:30 | Eventbrite

Dyslexia Scotland Helpline:

Helpline | Dyslexia Scotland

You will find more information on all upcoming events here:

Dyslexia Scotland |   

https://twitter.com/DyslexiaScotlan?s=20&t=AQ3tqOymqy1cKPTW1b0tLg

Digital CLD Programme Investment

Announcement from Jamie Hepburn MSP on the new Scottish Government funded Digital CLD Programme being rolled out over the next few months

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When Scottish Government has been engaging with Community Learning & Development (CLD) stakeholders, the issue of digital upskilling for CLD practitioners has been a consistent topic on everyone’s mind. Indeed, Working with Scotland’s Communities 2018, a workforce analysis of CLD in Scotland, reported that digital skills were one of the most common development needs of the workforce and are the skills that employers most often struggle to find when recruiting staff.

Even though this was a topic at the forefront of our minds before the pandemic, stakeholders have told us that COVID-19 has only exacerbated the need for digital upskilling. The message has been clear: CLD practitioners need investment to help them build their digital capabilities in order to better support CLD learners.

With the need for skills development in mind, I was only too pleased that – earlier this year – the Scottish Government committed £500,000 to support the development of CLD practitioners. This funding sought to develop digital skills and capacity among CLD practitioners, ultimately ensuring that better CLD provision is delivered to those who need it most.

Three great projects have been awarded over £400.000 so far and I wanted to take this opportunity to share information on those projects with you.

 

The Open University in Scotland

The Open University in Scotland (OU) has been funded to develop a workforce offer for the CLD sector. With more than 50 years’ experience of widening access, the OU understands the adult learner journey and the barriers people face in accessing higher education, and are committed to the vision that ‘Adult learning in Scotland will develop better skilled, educated, confident and empowered people contributing to connected and inclusive communities.’

The OU’s project will work with partners to develop an online portal with free, online learning resources for the CLD workforce and it will offer CLD practitioners at least 200 funded places on Open University micro-credentials (short courses) through its FutureLearn platform. To help roll out learning workshops to local authorities and third sector providers all over Scotland, they are creating a network of Regional Champions to roll out learning workshops to every region of Scotland. These champions will also facilitate learning clubs for practitioners undertaking workshops,  courses and other learning opportunities.

With a social mission is to make education accessible to all, and a commitment to partnership working to enhance the offer, Scottish Government believes that partnering with the OU is a good opportunity to offer a range of development opportunities to the CLD workforce.

 

CLD Standards Council

The Community Learning and Development Standards Council (CLDSC) is supporting the development of a CLD digital framework for the sector. As the professional body for CLD – including adult learning, community development and youth work – they are supporting the development as part of their responsibility to support the professional learning of its members and to quality assure CLD related learning programmes.  Funding from Scottish Government will allow the CLDSC to appoint a new member of staff to support the creation of a coherent space for CLD digital support.

The CLDSC will work closely with CLD sector leaders to develop new and relevant digital competences in line with the professional CLD competences, ethics and values.

 

Digital Schools Award

A new Digital Award programme for CLD is now under development through an education-industry collaboration led by tech companies working closely with various partners, including national CLD partner organisations and learners themselves.  The Digital CLD Award will be shaped by these partners to highlight the ways digital technologies are stimulating innovation and improving learning opportunities.  As a national Award, it will promote and build capacity in effective uses of digital technologies by organisations.

The Award will recognise the many planned and ongoing improvements that organisations are making in developing the skills of their staff to improve the ways they can reach and support learners through digital technologies. It will have a key focus on sharing practice and strengthening skills in using digital technologies across the CLD sector. That will include through the important promotion of strong cyber resilience and internet safety practices, and digital wellbeing.

The CLD Award will also highlight how well these increasing uses of digital approaches are impacting on the experiences and skills of learners themselves.  Together, CLD practitioners and learners are helping to build the digitally literate and inclusive young people, adults and communities of the future.  This national Digital CLD Award, backed by the education-industry partnership, will play a significant role in acknowledging and celebrating these important digital achievements of our CLD workforce and learners.

 

The remaining funding

I hope you’ll agree that the projects funded to-date will help begin to advance the digital skills of CLD practitioners all over Scotland, and I hope you’ll engage with them when given the opportunity. I’m delighted that Scottish Government is supporting this work and I look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have.

Officials in the CLD policy team at Scottish Government are currently working on plans to invest the further c.£100,000 remaining in the investment and are scoping projects that will help get digital devices direct into the hands of CLD practitioners all over Scotland.

 

Jamie Hepburn MSP

Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training

What Scotland Learned – Inspiring Stories from the South West Region CLD Sector

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.

CLD ESOL, South Ayrshire

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

 

CLD Literacy, South Ayrshire

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

Community Learning and Development (CLD) COVID-19 recovery guidance webinar series 

Community Learning and Development (CLD) COVID-19 recovery guidance webinar series

  • In partnership with the Scottish Government, leaders from key national CLD organisations are collaborating to provide a series of webinars focussed on the recently updated CLD COVID-19 recovery guidance, and other relevant government guidance and related third sector advice on assessing risk and planning for re-opening safely.
  • The series is designed to address a range of audiences in the CLD sector, both generic and practice specific. The webinars will be of most interest to managers and practitioners in the public, and third sector including community representatives planning the recovery of services, or adjusting recovery plans in light of ongoing changes in local circumstances.
  • The webinars will offer a walkthrough the latest Scottish Government CLD guidance, highlight other related guidance, and provide an opportunity to learn from others’ experiences of interpreting and applying guidance in their context. Insights to the webinars will inform ongoing Scottish Government monitoring and review of the guidance.
  • Delegates are invited to contribute a question in advance of the session, and we will aim to respond to as many of the emerging themes as we can.
  • Please sign up  to the event of most relevance to your area of focus at the link below.

 

20th November, 3-4pm – CLD COVID-19 recovery guidance webinar for universal CLD audience  [additional places now available]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cld-covid-19-recovery-guidance-for-universal-cld-audience-registration-128243396451

 

24th November, 5.30 – 6.30 pm – CLD COVID-19  recovery guidance webinar for youth work

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cld-covid-19-recovery-guidance-webinar-youth-work-24-nov-530-630pm-registration-128597016137

 

25th November, 3-4pm – CLD COVID-19  recovery guidance webinar for adult learning

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cld-covid-19-recovery-guidance-webinar-adult-learning-25th-november-tickets-128616895597

 

26th November, 10-11:30am – CLD COVID-19  recovery guidance webinar for Community development [Session full – waiting list in operation]

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/covid-19-recovery-guidance-webinar-for-community-development-tickets-128838239643

***New additional date for adult learning added***:
27th November, 10-11am – CLD COVID-19  recovery guidance webinar for adult learning

 

Lunchtime ‘Blethers’ for CLD practitioners in the West of Scotland

West CLD Blethers Flyer

Education Scotland & The West CLD Alliance are hosting a short series of 4 lunchtime ‘Blethers’ for community learning and development (CLD) practitioners in the West of Scotland.

The CLD Blethers will be at 1pm on November 4th, 18th, December 2nd and 9th. They are open to all CLD practitioners across all sectors. They will be an opportunity to connect with colleagues and share experiences around some of the big issues for CLD practice during the Covid-19 pandemic. Please sign up here and join us if you can!

Big CLD Blether

John Galt, CLD Education Officer reflects on the Big CLD Blether

Note: This is a post from back in the summer which we have transferred from our old CLD blog.

I’ve been absolutely blown away by the amazing response of the community learning and development (CLD) sector to the Covid-19 crisis. While the lockdown obviously led to the abrupt suspension of most face to face CLD activities, from the start we’ve been hearing examples of how community workers, youth workers, adult educators and family learning workers in both the public and third sectors have continued to support learners and communities with dedication, creativity and kindness. Across Scotland, CLD practitioners have been supporting community initiatives to deliver food, medicine or provide vital social contact to vulnerable families and isolated people; engaging with young people through imaginative digital youth work; adapting learning activities to be accessible online, by phone or through resources to use at home; and helping to extend the reach of school and community hubs for children of key workers and vulnerable families. Many CLD providers are now playing a key role in helping to develop local and national recovery plans.

So I was delighted to help to facilitate The Big CLD Blether  – a virtual discussion with over 90 CLD practitioners and managers across Scotland which was jointly hosted by Education Scotland and The CLD Standards Council for Scotland on 28th May. The session was one of a series held throughout May to support practitioners from across the education system. (#ESBigBlether)

One of the challenges in our diverse sector is finding common digital platforms to use. We went for Google Meet for The Big CLD Blether which seemed to work well for most people.

The discussions were based around four themes and participants chose which ones to take part in. We were lucky to have 3 or 4 experienced practitioners in each themed discussion who shared their experiences and addressed questions from other participants. There were a lot of issues raised in each of the four discussions. Notes from the session will be available on iDevelop but here are some of the points raised:

Theme one: Operational challenges for CLD providers

Participants recognised the good work being done to support the changing needs of learners and communities. CLD organisations are also dealing with significant challenges though. Many 3rd sector organisations are facing extreme financial pressures and some staff had been furloughed. In some areas, local authority CLD staff had been redeployed. Many have been realigning what they do to engage learners and communities remotely while trying to address the clear digital inequalities that exist in our communities. The move to digital is a steep learning curve for many and so effective professional learning for staff is key. There is a strong recognition of the need to support the health and wellbeing of learners and staff.

Theme two: Engagement and learning – what’s working well?

Examples of what is working well were threaded through each of the discussion groups.  We heard about the wide range of digital platforms being used by CLD providers to engage young people, adult learners and community groups. We heard lots of examples of practitioners being flexible and endeavouring to start where learners are at online and we were reminded of the Digitally Agile CLD principles and the great resources out there, such as those on digital youth work from YouthLink. There were frustrations at the limitations that some organisations placed on using some platforms, although there was a recognition of the increased importance of digital safety. We heard that Youth Awards like Hi-5 and Saltire are being widely used to recognise young people’s volunteering during the crisis and that as lockdown eases, there is an increasing focus on supporting young people through street work.

 Theme 3: Supporting the health and wellbeing of CLD participants and staff

CLD practitioners can help participants to address the impacts of staying at home and feelings of grief, worry, stress or loneliness. We heard some of the feedback from the Lockdown Lowdown study which led to discussions on how can we best support the mental wellbeing of young people now and as lockdown continues to ease. Meanwhile feedback from the CLD Standards Council practitioner survey highlighted that many workers were dealing with stress themselves. Effective CPD and peer support are increasingly important priorities for practitioners.

Theme 4: Looking forward – the role of CLD in the recovery phase.

CLD practitioners have important roles to play – in education recovery plans and in wider community renewal. There are many opportunities for CLD to contribute including outdoor learning, blended learning with schools, supporting parents and families, youth awards etc. broad range of services, showcase ourselves. CLD workers will also have key roles to support community groups and organisations to rebuild and help to rebuild partnership working and collaboration to ensure that resources are deployed to best effect. Much of the focus for recovery planning will be at the local level and it is important that CLD partners are involved. There will also be an increasing need for CLD to support wider regional and national collaboration to support ‘building back better’ efforts. Participants were keen to maintain some of the new processes that have been put in place during lockdown.

Feedback about The Big CLD Blether was positive. Participants told us that they enjoyed re-connecting with CLD colleagues and discussing experiences and  pieces of work going well.

Both Education Scotland and the CLD Standards Council are keen to keep the discussions going with further CLD ‘blethers’ so please watch this space!

 

CLD Response to Covid-19: South Lanarkshire Council

Community Learning and Development (CLD) response during COVID -19 lockdown

South Lanarkshire Council – CLD Youthwork – Vertigo Theatre for Young People

Continuing our series of case studies for the West Region on the amazing response of CLD during COVID-19 lockdown we now want to highlight work from South Lanarkshire Council CLD Youth work.

Vertigo Theatre for Youth, a group based at East Kilbride Universal Connections and supported by South Lanarkshire’s Youth, Family and Community Service, have been undertaking a range of initiatives over the lockdown period. One of these initiatives takes place every Thursday evening, where young people from  the senior group come together online to talk about how they are feeling and take part in an interactive drama session. The young people discuss and plan projects that they can undertake to keep themselves creatively engaged whilst entertaining other families and young people within South Lanarkshire. On average 22 young people have taken part every day.

These projects have included story-telling videos for children and families, including stories told in British Sign Language (BSL) and Makaton, that are published weekly. The young people have also been producing videos of themselves performing music from their homes. During one week alone the videos by the young people reached over 1,200 members of the public and had 395 engagements.

The Vertigo Committee of young people have been meeting online regularly and are making contact with the younger members of the group who do not use social media. Members of Vertigo are also currently working on writing poetry and monologues that represent their experience of lockdown, often concentrating on the positive aspects of the experience. These initiatives all aim to encourage young people to help support each other’s mental health, and to create a support network for young people during the current crisis.

Facebook link   https://www.facebook.com/Vertigo360TY/ or search Vertigo 360 on Facebook to see the stories and music videos.

CLD Response to Covid-19: Dumfries & Galloway

Dumfries & Galloway Youth Work Service

Continuing our case studies on the amazing response of CLD during COVID-19 lockdown, we now want to highlight work from Dumfries & Galloway’s Youth Work Service.

Dumfries and Galloway (D&G) council youth work service identified several challenges as lockdown was introduced. These included the need to: provide young people with the latest information; establish a way to maintain contact with more vulnerable young people (previously engaged through the ‘youth work in secondary schools mental health initiative’); develop a new method of delivering youth engagement through digital platforms; and, consider a method of engaging young people with little or no access to the internet.

Youth workers responded swiftly to these challenges and: created digital information clips, and introduced a youth information line available 6 days a week, 12 hours a day; contacted vulnerable young people on an individual basis to provide on-going support; worked with young people to secure grant funding and co-produce 1000 ‘isolation packs’ containing activities and access to the ‘Hi5 STEM award’ for young people with no digital access; and, developed #HomeFest, a 4 day programme (10am-9pm) during the Easter holidays with a new activity available every hour.

Further to this, examples of targeted support include: provision of activity books for young parents to support their learning and care for their children; and assist young people to access funding for essentials like food, heating, and ‘top-ups’.

Local authority officers advise the geography in Dumfries and Galloway is recognised to cause a sense of isolation and disconnect for some young people. Therefore, youth work services and education staff are now jointly hosting a weekly webinar (also supported by the D&G youth council and school captains) where young people can ask questions of hosts with a collective range of expertise.

Local authority officers shared insight to some of the impacts to date. Examples of positive impacts include; 35 young people supported to gain their Hi5 STEM award since lockdown began; young people and parents seeking support from the youth work service for the first time, maintaining contact with young people previously registered with youth services to support them with challenges they’ve encountered in lockdown; youth workers temporarily deployed to social services experiencing strengthened relationships with social work colleagues; and, the opportunity to shift some service delivery online – with the success of #HomeFest influencing current service delivery

However it is important to note online engagement methods are viewed as most effective in the current circumstances – but not a replacement for face to face practice.

Negative impacts are reported to include: evidence of increased numbers of young people struggling with mental health issues, to be considered as part of any post-covid response; and, the digital deficit experienced by young people with a lack of access to technology at home.

D&G council youth work service identify a number of areas for consideration looking forward: Investment in staff training to facilitate delivery of high quality youth work online; Investment in local broadband infrastructure to ensure equal access for all young people; Funding for local authority youth work to support young people in the recovery from COVID such as managing loss, and reintroduction to social situations; and finally, reinstating youth work staff teams temporarily diminished in size (due to deployment of staff to other business critical council services), once restrictions are lifted.

For more information check out @YOUTHWORKDG on twitter and this short video: https://twitter.com/YOUTHWORKDG/status/1298307452446924801?s=20

 

Online Learning Opportunities

Education Scotland CLD officers have collated a range of websites and specific online courses that may be relevant to those working in the Community Learning and Development sector. We hope you find these useful – please get in touch with Susan.Epsworth@educationscotland.gov.scot if you know of an opportunity worth sharing

Thinking Digitally Course Lead Scotland will be delivering the Thinking Digitally course, free for disabled people, carers, and those who provide services for disabled people and carers. This course provides a supportive environment for learners to improve their digital skills, earn a qualification (12 credits at SCQF level 6), and create an accessible ‘digital artefact’, such as a website or blog. You may benefit from this course if you are looking to: improve your digital confidence and competence, learn about different online tools for communication and collaboration, and discover how to produce accessible online content.

The course will involve 13 one-hour tutor-led sessions delivered over Zoom, with 10 weeks of supported group learning and 3 weeks to finalise your digital artefact and e-portfolio. To take part, learners will need to have basic digital skills, access to a computer that supports videoconferencing, and a stable internet connection. Learners will also need to be able to complete a course at SCQF level 6. This requires learners to have the time and capability to study independently for a few hours a week, and to reflect upon their learning, with support.

Please visit Lead Scotland’s website for more information about the course or email BuildBackDigital@Lead.org.uk for enquiries or further information.

Dumfries & Galloway College is offering an Introduction to Working with Communities. This course is specifically designed for those who are already working or volunteering in the community.  Successful completion will see you gain a Professional Development Award in Community Involvement as well as a range of units, contextualised to your role, in working in the wider community. The programme is designed to introduce you to Community Learning and Development (CLD) theory and practice, with particular focus on involvement in community capacity building, which is one of the three main strands of CLD. This level 6 award will prepare learners for possible progression to other programmes at an equal or increased SCQF level in the field of Community Learning and Development.    The award is suitable for learners who may have some understanding and experience of Community Learning and Development -but have no formal qualifications in the field. Those employed in the field of CLD, and who achieve a recognised qualification such as this award, may qualify for membership of the Scottish CLD Standards Council. This course will start on the 24th January 2022 and finish on the 17th June 2022. https://bit.ly/3lKGOqT

Scottish Centre Conflict Resolution are offering a free programme of sessions ‘Untangling the knots’ The course is aimed at practitioners who have a role working directly with young
people and their families within the Third, Health, Criminal Justice, Parenting, Family, Education, Social and Housing, Mediation or Conflict Resolution sectors, either as a practitioner/volunteer. You must be able to attend all 4 online sessions. Details: https://bit.ly/3epjB93

#CLDTalks Podcast Have you caught up with the new CLD Podcast yet?  Created by CLDSC Registered Member Conor Maxwell, CLD Worker in South Lanarkshire, the podcasts have been established to raise the profile of CLD across Scotland.  You can find the podcasts on all the usual podcast sites like Anchor.fm or Spotify and follow @CLDTalks on Twitter – make sure you use the #CLDTalks hashtag! There are two podcasts to listen to so far: Jim Sweeney MBE and Adele Martin.  You’re guaranteed insights, information, learning and laughs!

You can also see more podcasts relevant for CLD collated in this wakelet: https://wakelet.com/wake/v7TUKzcIiOzMo5GDRA-xO

ASH Scotland has produced a range of e-learning courses including Understanding Tobacco and Smoking and money advice. https://www.ashscotland.org.uk/training-and-services/

College Development Network Virtual Bridge webinars run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday’s 11 – 11.30am. All previous webinars available to view on CDN’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSLdC4tqYFWpsSAwTQTa5zQ details for 2021: Virtual Bridge Webinars – Choose Registration (cdn.ac.uk)

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) Digishift series: We have been hosting big Zoom calls called DigiShift, in collaboration with Third Sector Lab, attended by hundred of charities.  These calls began as a space for everyone to discuss the challenges of moving quickly to digital service delivery.  They have become a collaborative networking space where we work together, with experts in their field, to formulate best practice. Past sessions are available on their YouTube channel and details of future sessions here: DigiShift – SCVO

Promoting Children and Young People’s Mental Health and preventing Self Harm and Suicide Animations have been co-produced by NHS Education for Scotland and Public Health Scotland to support the implementation of Scotland’s Public Health Priorities for Mental Health, Scotland’s Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027; and Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan – Every Life Matters
These new resources will help workers to understand the factors that influence mental health and resilience
in children and young people; engage proactively with children and young people about mental health, self-harm and suicide; and recognise when to seek help to support those in their care: https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/17099/mental-health-improvement-and-prevention-of-self-harm-and-suicide

LEAD Scotland collected together websites, apps and information about how you can continue to learn online during this time. These are suitable for everyone, with lots of different options, from improving your English and Maths skills, to specialist courses designed by leading universities. https://www.lead.org.uk/free-online-learning-options-during-the-coronavirus/

LEAD Scotland have designed a new, free course in partnership with the Open University: Everyday computer skills: a beginner’s guide to computers, tablets, mobile phones and accessibility https://www.open.edu/openlearncreate/course/view.php?id=5538

YouthLink Scotland have compiled all their digital youth work online sessions on their YouTube channel for you to watch when it suits – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqXvZw9UDJQtUFQaf1O6O2QoiGDhVKqWl

Education Scotland’s DYW officers have put together a programme of ‘end of the day blethers‘ over the next few months covering a range of subjects including ‘personal learning & achievement’, post-16 transitions’ and ‘equalities & inclusion’  https://www.youthlinkscotland.org/media/4866/dyw-end-of-day-dyw-blether-2020.pdf

Learn 100% online with world-class universities and industry experts – Browse Future Learn’s free online courses in subjects ranging from Psychology and Mental Health to Creative Arts and Media https://www.futurelearn.com/courses

Black Lives Matter – Explore resources from petitions to books and courses – to help you get involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, and educated about the history of black oppression https://www.futurelearn.com/info/blog/black-lives-matter-resources

SALTO-YOUTH training opportunities: including ‘An intro on how to use Erasmus+ for international youth work, Erasmus+ opportunities for youth https://www.salto-youth.net/

Abertay University has four free credit-bearing courses to help individuals develop their digital marketing abilities, and support businesses. They are delivered online and include live teaching sessions. https://www.abertay.ac.uk/courses/digital-marketing-micro-courses

Professional Development Resources for College Staff  on CDN LearnOnline https://professionallearning.collegedevelopmentnetwork.ac.uk/

Free online learning in a range of subjects from the Open University    https://www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses

Find training, tutorials, templates, quick starts, and cheat sheets for Microsoft 365, including Excel, Outlook, Word, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, OneNote and more https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/training

The Microsoft Certified Educator Program is a professional development program that bridges the gap between technology skills and innovative teaching, learn more: https://education.microsoft.com/en-us

Trend Micro https://internetsafety.trendmicro.com/webinars

Digi Learn Scot – a range of pre-recorded webinars to learn online at a time that suits you https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzFsp7PF70TMlqVM4nCsxSg?view_as=subscriber

Free courses from Volunteer Scotland exploring everything you need to know about involving, supporting and leading volunteers. Working with the Open University (Centre for Voluntary Sector Leadership at The Open University Business School) this is a space for you to learn at your own pace, at a venue of your choice and with time built in for you to reflection https://www.volunteerscotland.net/for-organisations/training-courses/volunteer-practice-training/online-learning/

Generations Working Together provides information, delivers support and encourages involvement to benefit all of Scotland’s generations, by working, learning, volunteering and living together. Membership is free for anyone living in Scotland and some of the training courses are free too https://generationsworkingtogether.org/

Supporting Learning Outdoors This course is for anyone who has a role in supporting the delivery of curricular based outdoor learning. The course is aimed at instructors, third sector and private organisations, classroom assistants, volunteers, or indeed anyone who wants to work in partnerships with schools to deliver meaningful outdoor learning experiences.   The course will help participants to gain an understanding of the Curriculum for Excellence, and the framework for delivering this to pupils, as well as providing resources and ideas to assist good partnership working https://www.sapoe.org.uk/courses/supporting-learning-outdoors/

EIS PACT programme offers research-based professional learning opportunities for all teachers and schools focused on policy, practice and pedagogy.  PACT is rooted in social justice principles, takes a human rights approach to poverty, and is designed to further support and deepen the development of a whole-school anti-poverty culture. We also recognise that this PL opportunity may also of interest/ benefit to others within the education sector, so while the PACT online programme has been designed with a clear focus on teachers and schools, we welcome the involvement of other education professionals such as college lecturers who work with school-aged children and QIOs, who are happy to participate on that basis, and with that definite focus. It is also not necessary to be an EIS member to sign up – this offer is for all in the profession https://www.eis.org.uk/PACT/AboutPACT

Public Health Scotland provides free online course in a wide range of subjects including Challenging Poverty Stigma: Course: Challenging poverty stigma – learning hub (publichealthscotland.scot)

Upcoming webinars and professional learning opportunities for CLD

The Education Scotland team have collated a number of webinars and online opportunities hosted by ourselves and others that may be of relevance to CLD practitioners and managers. See details of dates, times, platform where available and link for signing up below.

Tuesday 2nd August: 12.30 – 1pm, Scottish Community Safety Network: Climate change and community safety zine, https://tinyurl.com/ypuxf6h8

Thursday 4th August: 2 – 4pm, Volunteer Scotland: Volunteer induction,  https://bit.ly/37dC4Fy

Friday 5th August: 2 – 3.30pm, Youthlink Scotland: Careers by design: Youth voice workshops, https://tinyurl.com/3beu57cy

Monday 8th August: 12.30 – 1pm, Scottish Community Safety Network: Home Safety Map, https://tinyurl.com/y8dbjacj

Tuesday 9th August: 10am – 4pm, Volunteer Scotland: PVG & signatory training, https://tinyurl.com/ycktrwpx

Tuesday 9th August: 2 – 4pm, Volunteer Scotland: Managing difficult situations, https://bit.ly/3x34TiP

Thursday 11th August: 4.30 – 6pm, Youthlink Scotland: Careers by design: Youth voice workshops, https://tinyurl.com/ys63a46w

Wednesday 17th August: 10am – 12noon, Volunteer Scotland: Volunteer change management, https://bit.ly/3x3e5nr

Wednesday 17th August: 2 – 4pm, Volunteer Scotland: Supporting volunteers,  https://bit.ly/3DEFg9x

Monday 29th August: 6 – 8pm, Youth Scotland: Arts Toolkit Training, https://tinyurl.com/yrvmfzfs

Tuesday 30th August: Volunteer Scotland: Involving and matching volunteers to roles & tasks, https://bit.ly/3uW9bG8

Tuesday 30th August: 10am – 4pm, Volunteer Scotland: PVG & signatory training, https://tinyurl.com/ycktrwpx

Wednesday 31st August: 2 – 3.30pm, Children in Scotland: Mindfulness for your wellbeing and creativity, https://bit.ly/3wIGugR

Monday 5th September: 4 – 5.30pm, Education Scotland: How does gender inequality affect attainment, wellbeing and participation? https://tinyurl.com/4z7y5hwf

Wednesday 7th September: 10am – 12noon, Volunteer Scotland: Planning for Volunteering, https://www.volunteerscotland.net/for-organisations/training-courses/volunteer-practice-training/interactive-learning-bites/

Thursday 8th September: 10am – 4pm, Volunteer Scotland: PVG & signatory training, https://tinyurl.com/ycktrwpx

Tuesday 13th September: 2 – 4pm, Volunteer Scotland: Volunteer change management, https://www.volunteerscotland.net/for-organisations/training-courses/volunteer-practice-training/interactive-learning-bites/

Tuesday 20th September: CDAS Annual National Conference, Edinburgh Training & Conference Venue and live streaming online, email cdascotland@gmail.com to register

Wednesday 21st/Thursday 22nd September: Education Scotland: Scottish Learning Festival, Registration – SLF2022

Thursday 22nd September: 2 – 4pm, Volunteer Scotland: Developing volunteer roles, https://www.volunteerscotland.net/for-organisations/training-courses/volunteer-practice-training/interactive-learning-bites/

Also check out https://bit.ly/3fN7Fgi and https://bit.ly/2V4g5Iw for a range of pre-recorded webinars from the Education Scotland Digital Skills team. These were created for formal education setting, but the content will be a just as relevant to CLD practitioners. For example, learn how to use Microsoft Forms for quizzes and surveys or watch the session on online gaming and gambling.

Please contact Susan.Epsworth@educationscotland.gov.scot if you would like us to promote something on your behalf