PO84.1 (5) Community Learning & Development - Report on progress in relation to community learning and development activity
North Lanarkshire Council · 22 August 2022
Back to People and Communities Committee — 22 August 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
North Lanarkshire Council Report People and Communities Committee Does this report require to be approved? ☒ Yes ☐ No Ref LF/AG/MF Date 22/08/22 PO84.1 (5) Community Learning & Development – Report on progress in relation to community learning and development activity From Alison Gordon, Head of Children Families & Justice Social Work/Chief Social Work Officer E-mail Gordonal@northlan.gov.uk Telephone 01698 332001 1. Background 1.1 In the report on The Plan for North Lanarkshire: Programme of Work for 2022/23 (Policy and Strategy Committee, 17 March 2022) PO84.1(5),the requirement was set out to report on progress in relation to community learning and development activity, including both universal and targeted work with an emphasis on engagement with vulnerable people living in the lowest 20% data zones and other vulnerable groups as reflected within the revised national self-evaluation framework for community learning and development (CLD). Executive Summary This report provides an overview on progress in relation to community learning and development activity for the year 2021/22. This includes both universal and targeted work with an emphasis on engagement with vulnerable people living in the lowest 20% data zones and other vulnerable groups as reflected within the revised national self- evaluation framework for community learning and development. Recommendations It is recommended that the People & Communities Committee: (1) Endorse the contents of this report. The Plan for North Lanarkshire Priority Enhance participation, capacity, and empowerment across our communities Ambition statement (10) Engage with children, young people, parents, carers, and families to help all children and young people reach their full potential
Page 2
1.2 This report highlights the outcomes for the year 2021/22 against the following community learning and development reportable indicators: • % of young people enrolled in CLD programmes from the 20% most deprived data zones; • % of adult learners enrolled in CLD programmes from the 20% most deprived data zones; • number of National Qualifications gained by adult learners participating in CLD programmes (SQA Certificates); • number of distinct adult learners attaining national qualifications (SQA Certificates); • number of distinct participants on family learning programmes; • number of adult literacy and numeracy learning outcomes achieved; • number of ESOL learning outcomes achieved; • number of Duke of Edinburgh's Awards presented and • number of young people achieving Youth Accredited Learning Awards 2. Report 2.1 COVID Recovery 2.1.1 As reported over the past two years, COVID-19 had a significant impact on individuals, families, communities and local services across North Lanarkshire. Community Learning & Development staff responded to these issues quickly by targeting resources at those most in need and developing alternative personalised support where traditional centre-based provision was affected by COVID restrictions. 2.1.2 Due to the gradual relaxing of some COVID regulations during this reporting year (2021/22), many of the CLD programmes directly affected by restrictions were re- established alongside the continuation of alternative opportunities developed over the past two years (such as virtual group sessions, online learning and outdoor activities). These developments have seen an increase in the number of unique learners engaging with CLD between April 2021 and March 2022, as detailed below, and will hopefully be further strengthened as we move into 2022-23 due to the removal of most remaining COVID restrictions as of April 2022. As new and returning learners continue to develop their confidence and skills, this will be reflected in due course by the achievement of individual learning outcomes and formal accreditation. 2.2 Engagement in CLD Programmes 2.2.1 In 2021/22, 5504 individuals engaged with Community Learning and Development. This is a 72% rise on the previous year and more than in 2019/20. This figure records the number of unique learners on CLD programmes (i.e. learners counted once per year regardless of how many times they engage) 2.2.2 The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) is used to identify datazones in North Lanarkshire where the highest deprivation occurs. Around 34% of the datazones in North Lanarkshire are classed as being in the most deprived 20% of datazones in Scotland, accounting for just under 33% of the local population (SIMD 2020). Although CLD provision is targeted using SIMD data, it is not confined solely to those datazones as deprivation and a lack of life chances can affect people wherever they live.
Page 3
2.2.3 Over the past year 2271 adults, aged 16 and over, enrolled in CLD programmes (up from 1851 adults in 2020/21). Of those learners, 41% lived within the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland. This is a decrease of 5% points on last year. This is partly due to the reintroduction of our universal learning offers within Community Learning and Development due to the relaxing of COVID 19 prevention measures. A total of 2744 young people aged between 8 and 15 engaged in CLD provision (up from 1141 young people in previous year), with 42% living within the 20% most deprived national datazones. This is down 3% points from 45% in the previous year. On average, this meant that 41.9% of all CLD participants (young people and adults) were from the most deprived datazones in North Lanarkshire. As 33% of North Lanarkshire’s population is in the lowest 20% of Scottish datazones, this shows that CLD provision is effectively targeting those who may face the most barriers. 2.2.4 CLD’s social media accounts have been streamlined over the past year to help engage target communities by age group and learning theme. Separate social media channels are now in place for Adult Learning, Family Learning and Youth Work, in addition to accounts dedicated to Gaelic and the Young Person’s Guarantee programme. The Youth Work Twitter account has 3964 followers and can have up to 90,000 engagements per month. The Youth Work Facebook page has 1708 followers and Instagram has 574 followers. The Adult Learning Twitter account has 492 followers and Facebook page has 326 followers. The Family Learning Twitter account has 728 followers and Facebook page has 615 followers. 2.2.5 The next section of the report provides an outline of some of the particular programmes and learning opportunities provided during 2021/22. 2.3 Adult Learning 2.3.1 CLD staff continue to provide a range of Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) accredited learning programmes including core skills in areas such as literacy, numeracy, IT, communications, working with others and problem solving. During 2021/22, 64 unique learners achieved a total of 84 SQA certificates. This is down from 100 learners and 193 SQA certificates in the previous year, although many of the qualifications completed in 2021/22 had been started prior to COVID restrictions. 2.3.2 During 2021/22, the service responded to the needs of 296 learners whose first language is not English and supported them to achieve 799 learning outcomes. This is a 60% increase on the number of individuals taking part but a decrease of 7% in the number of learning outcomes achieved. Learning outcomes can vary depending on the learning stage of individual participants. 2.3.3 Community Learning and Development provides support to adults aged over 16 to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. In 2021/22, 201 participants engaged with adult literacy and numeracy programmes where they achieved 221 learning outcomes. This is an increase from 147 and 140 respectively on last year and indicates that CLD continues to address this need within the community 2.4 Family Learning 2.4.1 Community Learning and Development plays a key role in supporting raising the attainment of children and young people in North Lanarkshire. CLD teams are directly involved in school-based family learning, through Homelink Workers (Nursery), CLD Worker Schools (Primary) and Home School Partnership Officers (Secondary). Parents benefit from being upskilled in how to maximise family
Page 4
learning at home and their children directly benefit from increased parental skills, confidence and ambition. 2.4.2 During 2021/22, 1208 parents (up from 367 in 2020/21) engaged in family learning programmes. This increase demonstrates that the easing of access restrictions in schools and other educational establishments is enabling more parents to take part in learning programmes. 2.4.3 Parents and children benefit from a range of family learning and parenting programmes with progress measured through thematic learning outcomes. In 2021/22 participants achieved 1203 learning outcomes, an increase of 328 from the previous year. 2.4.4 A new system to deal with Requests for Assistance (RFAs) from schools, for specific families requiring intensive support, was set up in the final half of 2020/21 as part of CLD’s response to the new local Empowering Clusters model. During 2021/22 195 individuals requiring intensive family support were referred to the CLD Family Learning team from schools and other council services. 2.4.5 CLD also contributes to the Council's Gaelic Language Plan through a range of programmes, classes and support to communities. 44 people attended Gaelic programmes during 2021/22. This is down from the previous year’s figure of 65. 2.4.6 The Discovery Award continues to provide learning opportunities for people aged 50 and over. 169 people participated in the Discovery Award programme during 2021/22, up from 21 the previous year. 14 Discovery Awards were successfully achieved, up from 9 the previous year. The resumption of face-to-face meetings is enabling more people to benefit from participation in the Discovery Awards programme. 2.4.7 The Adult Achievement Award (AAA) has given adult learners the opportunity to gain a nationally recognised award at SCQF Levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 for learning undertaken in the community, at work, in the home, or in volunteering programmes. During 2021/22, a total of 120 learners were working towards an AAA. This is an increase from 36 in the previous year when the programme was launched. Nine people successfully completed their Adult Achievement Awards this year with others continuing to work towards the completion of the awards. 2.5 Youth Work 2.5.1 The delivery of youth work services is based on a hybrid model of universal and targeted provision. This provision includes community-based youth groups, work with schools and diversionary work. 2.5.2 Community Learning and Development teams have continued to target their work with young people based on need, including young carers, young people with additional support needs, those with health issues and those who are experiencing, or have experience of care. Support is carried out by CLD staff within schools, geographic communities and communities of common interest across North Lanarkshire. Staff work directly with young people and, where appropriate, their families in addition to providing general information about wider youth services and support available through partnership working, signposting of provision and communication through social media.
Page 5
2.5.3 CLD has continued to ensure that the voices of young people CLD has continued to ensure that the voices of young people are heard by supporting local youth forums, the North Lanarkshire Youth Council and Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYPs). The views of young people have been fed into Council and local partnership discussions such as Community Board meetings, and national consultations through Scottish Youth Parliament Members’ motions. In November 2021 North Lanarkshire registered the highest number of votes in the Scottish Youth Parliament elections with 8,506 votes. 2.5.4 Young people have continued to gain skills and knowledge throughout 2021/22 by participating in a range of wider achievement awards including Youth Achievement, Dynamic Youth, North Lanarkshire Challenge, Saltire, Hi5, and John Muir Awards. In total, 780 young people achieved 952 youth accredited learning awards (not including Duke of Edinburgh Awards) during the year 2021/22. This is 107 more young people and 258 more awards than last year. Some accredited learning awards for young people have seen a significant increase in 2021/22 when compared with 2020/21. For example, • 154 Dynamic Youth Awards were achieved compared with 84 the previous year • 160 Outdoor Discovery Awards were achieved in the first year of its delivery in NL • 56 Saltire Awards were achieved compared with 25 the previous year . 2.5.5 In addition to the wider achievement awards noted above, young people gained 307 Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards over the past year (245 Bronze, 36 Silver and 26 Gold Awards). This is an increase from 277 awards achieved last year 2.5.6 A range of CLD learning opportunities are also designed to improve health and well- being, including mental health and coping with stress. 115 individuals attended Living Life to the Full programmes and, in total, 1815 people attended CLD health- related courses and workshops over the past year with a focus on topics such as reducing the impact of smoking, addressing substance misuse and promoting healthy diet and weight. 2.5.7 Community Learning & Development continues to be part of the strategic diversionary steering group that delivers Friday Night and Saturday Night Projects for young people across nine venues, including the popular Street Soccer programme. Approximately 800 young people attend diversionary activities each weekend, participating in free physical activity and youth work programmes leading to improved health and wellbeing outcomes. 3. Measures of success 3.1 Meeting performance framework outcomes and indicators in 2022/23.
Page 6
4. Supporting documentation None Alison Gordon Head of Children Families & Justice Services/Chief Social Work Officer
Page 7
5. Impacts ( http://connect/report-template-guidance ) 5.1 Public Sector Equality Duty and Fairer Scotland Duty Does the report contain information that has an impact as a result of the Public Sector Equality Duty and/or Fairer Scotland Duty? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? If Yes, has an assessment been carried out and published on the council’s website? https://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/your-community/equalities/equality-and-fairer- scotland-duty-impact-assessments Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.2 Financial impact Does the report contain any financial impacts? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant financial impacts have been discussed and agreed with Financial Solutions? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.3 HR policy impact Does the report contain any HR policy or procedure impacts? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant HR impacts have been discussed and agreed with People and Organisational Development? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.4 Legal impact Does the report contain any legal impacts (such as general legal matters, statutory considerations (including employment law considerations), or new legislation)? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, have all relevant legal impacts have been discussed and agreed with Legal and Democratic Solutions? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.5 Data protection impact Does the report / project / practice contain or involve the processing of personal data? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, is the processing of this personal data likely to result in a high risk to the data subject? Yes ☐ No ☐ If Yes, has a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) been carried out and e- mailed to dataprotection@northlan.gov.uk Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.6 Technology / Digital impact Does the report contain information that has an impact on either technology, digital transformation, service redesign / business change processes, data management, or connectivity / broadband / Wi-Fi? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact?
Page 8
Where the impact identifies a requirement for technology, has an assessment been carried out (or scheduled) by the Enterprise Architecture Governance Group (EAGG)? Yes ☐ No ☐ 5.7 Environmental / Carbon impact Does the report / project / practice contain information that has an impact on any environmental or carbon matters? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.8 Communications impact Does the report contain any information that has an impact on the council’s communications activities? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the impact? 5.9 Risk impact Is there a risk impact? Yes ☐ No ☒ If Yes, please provide a brief summary of the key risks and potential impacts, highlighting where the risk(s) are assessed and recorded (e.g. Corporate or Service or Project Risk Registers), and how they are managed?