Who we are

Across Scotland it is agreed that the purpose of Community Learning and Development (CLD) is ‘to empower people, individually & collectively, to make positive changes in their lives and in their communities, through learning’, and that CLD should focus on establishing:

• Improved life chances for people of all ages, through learning, personal development and active citizenship.
• Stronger, more resilient, supportive, influential and inclusive communities.

The work of CLD is also guided by local and national policies.

About our service

The main activities of the Community Learning and Development Service:

• Community Based Adult Learning – Supporting opportunities for learning and personal development skills including computing, early years parenting, employability and healthy lifestyles, building confidence and resilience. Includes accredited learning.
• Adult learning
  • Adult Literacies – improving skills in reading, writing and counting, through one-to-one help or learning in small groups.
  • English for Speakers of Other Languages – improving language skills to gain confidence to make new friends, get jobs and accommodation and generally settle in.
• Youth Work – In schools and community based activity. Young people build relationships, learn new skills, gain confidence and achieve awards by getting involved in positive activity and having a voice through youth forums, clubs, groups and projects.
• Work with Primary Schools to deliver confidence and resilience programmes and nurture programmes such as Roots of Empathy.
• The Young Scot website and Young Scot Card provides information and services for young people 12-25 years.
• Capacity building
  • Support to community groups – increasing skills, confidence, networks and resources to meet the needs of local communities.
  • Community centres – support to volunteer committees who manage these facilities on behalf of the local community.