Category: Health & Wellbeing

CLD Adult Literacy – International Projects! Inspiration for Erasmus……

Education Scotland recently hosted a webinar highlighting two projects funded through the Scottish Education Exchange Programme. Both projects were delivered by CLD adult literacy teams and the session was recorded on Youtube. Link is here.

These projects exemplify the opportunity of applying for funding to link up with partners internationally to share learning and highlight the longer term outcomes that can be achieved through inspiring and learning from practice outwith Scotland, to improve learning for communities in Scotland.

Details of the two projects are here:

The Aberdeenshire CLD Kenya Literacies Learning Exchange builds on an international partnership between Aberdeenshire Council’s Community Learning and Development Service and Inspire Nyeri, a community based literacies organisation in Kenya. Through virtual collaboration and an exchange visit, the project enabled staff to learn from innovative, community led literacy approaches used in Nyeri. Insights inform the co-development of inclusive, sustainable and outcome focused literacies models for use in Aberdeenshire. The project has strengthened professional learning, enhanced local literacies provision, reduce stigma around literacies learning, and create a framework for future international exchange, benefitting learners, families, and communities in both regions.

Aberdeenshire Kenya Literacies Exchange Programme | Engage Aberdeenshire

Strengthening CLD Adult Literacy and Numeracy in North Lanarkshire: Learning from Ireland’s Best Practice

This project is a professional knowledge exchange visit to Ireland involving eight North Lanarkshire participants—staff, volunteers and learners. The visit learned from Ireland’s successful adult literacy approaches, particularly their innovative awareness raising campaigns, helping to address declining participation in Scotland. Insights gained will support the recommendations of the Independent Review of CLD, strengthening system-wide learning and partnership working. Resources shared so far are here:

Adult Literacy For Life – Ireland 10 year strategy

National Adult Literacy Agency – Ireland

Ireland – Community Education Framework

An article about the North Lanarkshire CLD team and learners was earlier published here: ‘I was 49 before I could write my own address’ – BBC News

News from Scottish Men’s Sheds Association

The Scottish Men’s Shed Association (SMSA) charity was constitutionally formed on the 30th September 2014 and officially launched in November 2015 with the aim of helping new and existing groups to set up and run a Men’s Shed in their local community across Scotland.

The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) charity recently visited Mintlaw & District Men’s Shed to showcase their inspiring intergenerational project in partnership with Mintlaw Academy and Police Scotland. This Bridging Generations video captures how Shed members and local young people are coming together to share skills, stories, and support, breaking down barriers and building stronger, healthier communities. From woodworking and practical projects to conversations that span the years, the initiative proves that learning is truly ageless. Find out more about the Scottish Men’s Sheds movement and join the SMSA for free at: www.scottishmsa.org.uk

You can also read here an article on attracting younger people to the Men’s Shed movement.

In 2022 we held a webinar with the SMSA to look at the benefits and links to CLD. You can watch a recording of this here SMSA Education Scotland webinar