Building on “Working and Learning Together to Build Stronger Communities”

1. Building on “Working and Learning Together to Build Stronger Communities” A joint statement on community learning and development, including adult literacy and numeracy, by the Scottish Government and COSLA

2. Overview The joint statement: • Builds on Working and Learning Together (WALT) • Focuses on joint working at both local and national levels based on the Concordat • Sets its messages within the context of the National Performance Framework (NPF) and Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs) • Is addressed to chairs of Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) • Includes Adult Literacy and Numeracy

3. “Our Shared Vision” Community Learning and Development (CLD): • plays a vital role in relation to a range of national and local outcomes • can offer routes into and through lifelong learning • offers individuals and communities the opportunities they need to reach their full potential • can contribute to community empowerment by building community capacity

4. Building on WALT The Joint statement: • Reaffirms the three national priorities for CLD: • achievement through learning for young people • achievement through learning for adults • achievement through building community capacity • Recognises the wide range of contexts in which CLD can deliver support to individuals and communities • Emphasises that Adult literacy and numeracy is an integral part of CLD WALT is complemented by the Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland Strategy and other national strategies

5. The challenges for CLD “The Scottish Government and COSLA will work in Partnership with local authorities and their community planning partners, and with all organisations with an interest in CLD, to rise to the following challenges…”

6. The challenges for CLD 1. Recognising the contribution of CLD to national outcomes “We urge local decision makers to consider the potential contribution of CLD, including ALN, delivery to achieving nationally and locally agreed outcomes, particularly for those who can benefit most.”

7. The challenges for CLD 2. Embedding the links to Community Planning COSLA and the Scottish Government want to engage in a dialogue with CPPs about: • Developing effective and inclusive partnerships • Reviewing and refreshing community planning structures • Working towards community empowerment

8. The challenges for CLD 3. Ensuring that partners are skilled up to deliver COSLA and the Scottish Government urge organisations, individually and working in partnership to: • evaluate their investment in training and development • maximise its value by co-ordinating resources with others

9. Actions at national level The joint statement identifies a number of organisations that have a role to play in taking forward these challenges at national level: • The Scottish Government • COSLA • HMIE • Local authority CLD Managers Scotland • The Standards Council for CLD in Scotland • National 3rd. Sector Intermediaries

10. Actions at national level 1. Building capacity to influence policy and improve delivery 2. Supporting developments of the Standards Council 3. Sharing models of planning and delivery 4. Exploring future roles in gathering performance information 5. Developing training and development infrastructure

11. From a joint statement to joint action… • What opportunities does the joint statement offer? • What are the barriers to progress? • How can we work together to overcome these? • What sources of support can we make use of? • What are the next steps? • How can we all contribute to this agenda and what are our individual roles within this?

12. Contact and website details Contact Learning Connections at: learningconnections@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Find the joint statement at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Life-LongLearning/LearningConnections/cldjointstatement