Key national stakeholders

Scottish Government

CLD contributes to many Scottish Government strategies and policies. Some of the most important policies can be seen on the policy documents page.

Government responsibility for supporting the development of Community Learning and Development lies with the Learning Communities Team within the Further and Adult Education Division of the Lifelong Learning Directorate. Headed by Peter Beaumont, the team is responsible for policies in:

• Community Learning and Development (CLD)
• Adult Literacy and Numeracy (ALN)
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
• College learning, teaching and qualifications

You can find out more about the team here.

Local Government

Scotland's 32 local authorities continue to deliver significant levels of community learning and development activity in their area. They also have responsibility for leading local community learning partnerships.

In recent years as local authorities have embarked on a series of structural re-organisations, CLD has found itself located in services with titles such as Community Services, Community Learning and Development, Community and Leisure Services. In some authorities the functions of youth work, adult learning and capacity building have been disaggregated as services have been re-aligned to have a greater client focus.

Find contact details for partnerships here.

Community Learning and Development Managers Scotland (CLDMS)

Community Learning and Development Managers Scotland (CLDMS) is a group of local authority managers with responsibility for community learning and development in their area. Its aim is to provide a national focus on professional issues and standards and to improve the quality and extent for local authority CLD.

Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS)

The LTS Communities Team (formerly the Learning Connections team in Scottish Government) lead policy implementation and practice development across Community Learning and Development in Scotland. The core strands of work supported by the team are:

• community-based lifelong learning, with a particular focus on adult literacy and numeracy and ESOL
• youth work
• community capacity building

You can find out more about the Communities Team here.

YouthLink Scotland

YouthLink is the national youth work agency for Scotland. It is a membership organisation that works with government, youth organisations and other stakeholders to develop policy, promote good practice and champion the sector.

Learning Link Scotland

Learning Link Scotland is the national intermediary for voluntary adult learning organisations in Scotland. It works to support and represent a membership of around 100 voluntary adult learning groups and organisations based in 24 local authority areas.

Community Development Alliance Scotland (CDAS)

Community Development Alliance Scotland (CDAS) is an independent network of national organisations that have the promotion of community development as part of their goals.

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO)

Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the national body representing the voluntary sector. SCVO seeks to advance the values and shared interests of the voluntary sector. SCVO also provides support for the network of 58 local councils for voluntary service who actively represent the voluntary sector on local CLD partnerships.

Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK)

LLUK represents employers, stakeholders and staff working in community based settings across the UK. The Standards Council for CLD in Scotland works with LLUK to develop models and standards for the delivery of continuing professional development and training, and to ensure high quality workforce development strategies.

Scottish Further Education

Scotland's Further Education Colleges play a significant role in the work of local CLD partnerships, contributing to literacy and numeracy programmes, programmes for young people and adult learning.

NHS Scotland

The Community Health Exchange is supported by NHS Scotland to provide a resource in supporting community development approaches to health improvement and challenging health inequalities. It also facilitates a network of community health initiatives and works to support them in developing good practice and influencing health and social policies.

NHS practitioners and managers are active members on local CLD partnerships.

Careers Scotland

Careers Scotland is part of Skills Development Scotland and provides information, advice and guidance, including guidance relating to career and learning advice to people of all ages. Local Careers managers and practitioners are active members on local CLD partnerships.

Black and Ethnic Minorities in Scotland (BEMIS)

Black and Ethnic Minorities in Scotland (BEMIS) supports organisations or individuals who:

• Are defined as being discriminated on grounds of race, culture, colour, language, and faith.
• Have a history of being excluded.
• Have difficulty in accessing mainstream services and the decision-making processes.

The core activities of BEMIS include capacity building, co-ordination and strategic influence, identifying and addressing areas for targeted support and development and partnership working.