Tag: Learning for Sustainability

CLD Projects recognised in the Learning for Sustainability Awards

It’s a few months now since the eyes of the world were on Glasgow for COP26. The hubbub of hosting the global climate conference may be over but the challenge to stay engaged with the issues around climate justice and sustainable futures remains clear for all of us. If you’re looking for some ideas on how to build these issues into your CLD practice, then please have a look at these new films on Education Scotland’s YouTube channel.

In November (before the onset of Omicron variant) we were able to visit some of the CLD projects recognised in the National Learning for Sustainability (LfS) Awards and make some short films (5-10 mins). It was a privilege for us to meet some of the young people and adults involved in the projects as well as the dedicated and inspirational practitioners who were supporting the work.

Learning for Sustainability (LfS) is a theme across learning in Scotland which aims to enable learners, educators and communities to build more socially-just, sustainable and equitable futures. It weaves together global citizenship, sustainable development education and outdoor learning to create transformative learning experiences. Community learning and development has a vital role to play in supporting individuals and groups of all ages to equip themselves with the skills and knowledge needed to respond to sustainability issues.

The winning projects in the CLD category were:

• The Intergenerational Forget Me Not Gardening Group   Learning for Sustainability Awards 2021. Forget Me Not Intergenerational Gardening group – YouTube
• Glasgow Science Centre’s CLD Programme Learning for Sustainability Awards 2021: Glasgow Science Centre (Nov 2021) – YouTube

Three other projects were highly commended in the CLD category:

The Forget Me Not Gardening Group brings together families and older residents from a day centre to take part in gardening activities at the Kildrum Family Learning Centre in Cumbernauld. During the pandemic the group has grown its own vegetables and undertaken online cookery sessions. The relationships formed have provided great opportunities for intergenerational learning to develop in a fun and friendly environment.

Glasgow Science Centre’s exciting CLD programme continues to go from strength to strength, engaging individuals and community groups in a range of workshops and learning activities around sustainability and climate action. The Science Centre was of course heavily involved in COP26, hosting the conference’s public realm – known as the Green Zone .

We weren’t able to make it out to film with Dyslexia Scotland but their commendation was richly deserved. It recognised their work with children, young people, adults, professionals and communities, to create a more inclusive Scotland where people with dyslexia are able to reach their potential in life, learning and work. Learning for sustainability is embedded through their volunteer development, empowerment and drive to create equity and inclusion. They deliver parent masterclasses and adult learning, literacies and networks, youth work and Young Ambassadors as well as offering support and training for CLD practitioners, employers and the wider education sector.

The Youth Climate Ambassadors are an inspirational group of young people from across North Lanarkshire who share an interest in climate change and environmental issues. The groups’ first project was to produce a short film ‘‘Dear World Leaders’ as part of Keep Scotland Beautiful’ s Youth Climate Film Project. Since then they have been collaborating and learning together both online and face-to-face (as restrictions have allowed) to participate in interactive learning and discussion activities on climate related topics, from food to fashion, children’s rights, the UN sustainable development goals, weather systems, global impacts, CO2 emissions and much more. The group are supported by youth workers from the Council’s CLD Team and you can see some of their activities here.

The Minecraft project at St Philomena’s Primary School was a joint initiative with St Paul’s Youth Forum which engaged a team of pupils in developing proposals to improve their local community in the East End of Glasgow. Using a faithful realisation of the school and the local area within Minecraft, they were able to collaborate in a realistic virtual setting to design their ideas for their local community. Pupils have developed their skills for learning, life and work in the real world and in a virtual setting. The project has contributed to “Flourishing Molendinar”, a large-scale community project to create healthier and greener neighbourhoods in the area, supported by Sustrans Scotland.

Learning for Sustainability and Community Learning and Development (CLD)

 

Emerging out of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is no doubt that we face accelerated challenges to our society, environment and economy. There are increasing concerns about local and global inequalities,  how we generate energy, produce and consume food, travel, and manage waste. Learning for Sustainability, is a Scottish Government and international priority for every type of learning.

Learning for Sustainability is learning to live within the environmental limits of our planet and to build a just, equitable and peaceful society. It is essential for the well-being of all and is an international priority. (UNESCO, 2013)

CLD practice makes a significant contribution to Learning for Sustainability, and we are seeking nominations to recognise and celebrate this through the new Learning for Sustainability Awards. The deadline for nominations is 12th September 2021.

Find out more and nominate here: https://www.learningforsustainabilityawards.co.uk/

How Good is Our School 4? (2015) explains that Learning for Sustainability (LfS) is an approach to life and learning which enables learners, educators, schools and their wider communities to build a socially-just, sustainable and equitable society. An effective whole school and community approach to LfS weaves together global citizenship, sustainable development education, outdoor learning and children’s rights to create coherent, rewarding and transformative learning experiences. CLD has significant experience in supporting learners and communities to engage in these areas.

Whilst it is crucial to acknowledge that part of Learning for Sustainability is about climate change and protecting the environment, it’s also about building communities we are happy to live in, ensuring our children grow up to be responsible citizens in a fair and equitable society and working to ensure the wellbeing of all.

Consistent with the principles of Community Learning and Development, Learning for Sustainability is involved with every level and type of learning and the provision of quality education for all. This encompasses a wide range of themes and approaches across all forms of education, demonstrated on the word cloud below:

 

Learning for Sustainability has a key role in building the values, attitudes, knowledge, skills and confidence that people need to live more sustainable lives and contribute to sustainability – locally, nationally and globally. This means learning through taking collective action on socially relevant social and environmental issues in ways that are inclusive, participative and build strong values and relationships within communities – offering clear links to the principles, ethics and values of community learning and development. As highlighted in the

Code of Ethics for Community Learning and Development (CLD) Clause 2: ‘Our work is not limited to facilitating change within individuals, but extends to their social context and environment. It recognises the impact of ecological and structural forces on people’.

Professional Learning opportunities and resources to support practice can be found at the following link:

A summary of learning for sustainability resources | Learning resources | National Improvement Hub (education.gov.scot)

Countdown to COP26 – Information and resources for the CLD Sector | Learning resources | National Improvement Hub (education.gov.scot)