Community Learning and Development Strategy - Final Report + Appendix
Renfrewshire Council · 31 October 2023
Back to Communities and Housing Policy Board — 31 October 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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_________________________________________________________________________ To: Communities and Housing Policy Board On: 31 October 2023 _________________________________________________________________________ Report by: Head of Policy and Partnerships - Chief Executive’s Service _________________________________________________________________________ Heading: Community Learning and Development Strategy (2021-2024) - Year 2 Progress update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development Strategy 2021-2024 was approved by the Communities, Housing and Planning Policy Board on 17 August 2021. This report represents the second annual update to be provided to the board in terms of the delivery of the strategy, and specifically provides a summary of the key activities undertaken during 2022/23. 1.2 A wide range of statutory, voluntary and community groups and partners have actively contributed during 2023/23 to the delivery of the action plan, which is aligned to Renfrewshire’s Community Plan and underpinned by the shared values identified by the Community Learning and Development Standards Council: Self Determination, Inclusion, Empowerment, Working Collaboratively and Promotion of learning as a lifelong activity. 1.3 The vision for Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development Strategy is: “Working together to ensure our communities, people and families living in Renfrewshire have the capacity, support, resilience and opportunities they need to survive”. 1.4 This report provides members with a summary update on the progress achieved during 2022-2023 with more detail provided within the full annual report attached as Appendix 1. Information is provided under the following three themes which the Strategy has adopted: • Universal Provision • Targeted Provision • Community Capacity / Connecting Communities 1.5 The Community Learning and Development Service continually monitors, reviews, and evaluates progress against the agreed actions to ensure there is a strong focus on achieving positive outcomes with service users and communities across the whole of Renfrewshire. Key actions from the strategy are incorporated within our Council Plan and Community Plan and progress is also reported through Council and community planning governance structures.
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1.6 In order to further enhance scrutiny and oversight of local community learning and development activities, it is proposed that six monthly updates are provided to the board going forward. 1.7 Elected members are asked to note that Education Scotland are currently undertaking a programme of inspection visits across all 32 local authority areas, and local services in Renfrewshire will also receive an inspection visit over the coming months. It is anticipated that 4 weeks' notice will be given by Education Scotland prior to any visit taking place, with the focus being on the progress that is being made locally in terms of the delivery of the Community Learning and Development Strategy. Officers will provide further updates to elected members to update on the outcome of this inspection visit. ____________________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that members of the Communities and Housing Policy Board note: (i) the progress achieved against the Community Learning and Development Strategy in 2022/23 by local services, partners and communities as outlined in appendix 1 of this report (ii) That six monthly progress updates will be provided on the delivery of the strategy going forward (iii) That the service is anticipating an inspection visit from Education Scotland during 2023/24 to review local progress on the implementation of the strategy and will report back any inspection findings to the board once these become available. ____________________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 In line with the Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013, the Council has a statutory duty to develop and publish a Community Learning and Development Plan. Renfrewshire’s current 3-year plan was approved by the Communities, Housing and Planning Board on 17 August 2021, following an extensive programme on consultation and engagement with partners and communities. 3.2 The CLD Strategy is aligned with Renfrewshire’s Community Plan which puts Renfrewshire communities and community wellbeing at the heart of shaping all of the work of community learning and development partners. 3.3 Our local vision as outlined in the Community Learning and Development Strategy is: “Working together to ensure our communities, people and families living in Renfrewshire have the capacity, support, resilience and opportunities they need to survive”. 3.4 During 2022/2023 our focus has continued to be on collaborating with a wide range of delivery partners to ensure capacity and availability of resources targeted to support individuals and communities to access and engage with Community Learning and Development services. The Appendix to this report provides full details of the progress achieved which includes:
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Universal Provision • Adult and family learning service have continued to actively reconnect with learners and partners which has resulted in 600 people engaging in community-based learning provision.175 community-based adult and family learning activities being delivered across Renfrewshire in 6 Community Learning and Development learning centres, 5 primary school campuses and in community partner venues. • 6,014 young people engaged with Youth Services, with 744 young people attending regularly as part of structured informal learning youth work projects over the year. • 28,282 young people under 22 years old now have access to free bus travel scheme by using the Young Scot National Entitlement Card. • 359 young people from Renfrewshire are participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award with young people gaining the Disadvantaged and Duke of Edinburgh Award. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme has delivered: • 2,366 Community Volunteering hours by DofE participants with an estimated social value of over £11,000 • Supported DofE Mary Russell – Volunteering Opportunities with Glen Park countryside rangers and Forest and Land Scotland. Funding partnership with school • 7 Bronze and 3 Silver passes and 17 DofE Achievement Awards • 75 volunteer DofE leaders and helpers in Renfrewshire supporting participants on their DofE journey. • Youth Services has continued to actively deliver a range of programmes to support young people to achieve accredited awards. 174 awards have been achieved in the following Award categories; Hi5, Hi5 Climate Action, John Muir, Dynamic Youth, Lowland Leaders Outdoor First Aid Training, DofE Sectional Awards, Food Hygiene course and Climate Change Training. • Street Stuff continued to deliver their core programme of activities as well as additional activities during the school holiday period including the provision of a healthy meal, • 16,000 attendances have been recorded for both core activities including additional activities during October, Festive and Spring breaks. (Summer holiday provision is recorded separately. • 70 young people per week are engaging with Street Stuff as part of the new Street to School programme. • Over 2000 pupils have been involved in the programme organised by Street Stuff as part of their St Mirren Football Club role Targeted provision • We continued to support the implementation of the Promise and Future Paisley strategic programmes with care experienced young carers and vulnerable young people to participate in various arts and cultural activities. This included supporting 65 care experienced, young carers or vulnerable young people who participated in various arts and cultural activities delivered by The Promise Arts and Cultural Programme. • 10 young people are involved in Creative Young Producers Group Art Boss delivered in partnership with Youth Services and One Ren. • ESOL has been a huge focus for Adult and Family Learning in Renfrewshire with the increase of Ukrainians and refugees forming part of our communities. Partnership working has been key to the delivery of sessions. • Over 300 people have engaged with the Adult and Family ESOL team delivering sessions for Beginner's in person and online • 24 ESOL learners engaged with arts project delivered in partnership with The Art Department and funded by Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership. • 3 ESOL learners completed 6-month Invest traineeships with the ESOL team.
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Community Capacity and Connected Communities • 2000 P6 children had the opportunity to attend the Safe Kids events and participate in workshops delivered by Fire & Rescue, Transport Police, Police Scotland, The Wardens, Youth Team, Civil Contingencies, Drugs & Alcohol Service. Workshops included water safety, railway safety, antisocial behaviour in the community and what do to in an emergency. • The Team Up to Clean Up campaign continues to make significant progress highlighting the impact of actions on climate and successfully raising awareness through educational inputs to schools as well as physical improvements. • 48 schools have received an input on Environment impact focussing on litter and the negative impact on local environmental quality including animal, marine harm and the negative effect on neighbourhoods and green spaces. • 120 school bins to be wrapped leading to favourite lunchtime takeaway vendors and using stencils in waste gullies e.g., ‘the sea starts here’ to raise awareness of the impact of dropping litter. • Open spaces are being improved through Team Up to Clean Up which has provided resources to volunteers to support their community efforts. • To address community concerns of fly tipping and littering under the banner of Team Up to Clean Up the following measures are in place: • The Environmental Task Force was created with a focus on fly tipping. • Good results are being produced indicating an increase in Fixed Penalty Notices, building new relations with housing associations, private landowners and communities. • Work has been undertaken with local businesses to support the Sustainable Business Scheme progress includes: • 300 hot food vendors in Renfrewshire have been visited by Environmental Taskforce and Building Communities Team in partnership with SWECO. • 140 businesses were issued with letters regarding Single Use Plastics legislation fully implemented in August 2022 • Bio-diversity workshops have been delivered with Jenny’s Well, Inchinnan Development Trust and Bee Happy Houston • Support continued to be provided for the Celebrating Renfrewshire youth participatory budgeting fund programme with 1683 young people participating in the voting process for their favourite projects to receive funding. In total 71 projects received funding and All members of the Steering Group gained a Saltire Award for their volunteering hours. ____________________________________________________________________________ 4. Priorities for 23/24 4.1 As we move into the final year of the delivery of the current plan, it will be important to continue to focus on the key priorities that have been identified within the Strategy, whilst also beginning to look ahead to inform the development of the next plan. 4.2 The current context in which community learning and development activities are delivered continues to develop and evolve, and services and partners need to continue to be flexible in order to respond to emerging needs and also opportunities. Not withstanding these challenges, a number of priority actions have been identified for progression with partners during the next 12 months. These include:
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• Responding to the findings of a recent youth survey which has sought to identify current need, connection to community and issues and barriers faced by young people • Identifying opportunities to develop and enhance youth empowerment by supporting and promoting young people’s learning around democratic processes, voting, participating in budgetary decision-making process, and an enhanced ability to influence positive changes in schools and communities to achieve better outcomes. This includes successful coordination of the Scottish Youth Parliament elections in Renfrewshire in November 2023. • Continuing to progress and support the delivery of the Mentors against Violence Programme in Renfrewshire and UNCRC agendas to promote rights, equalities and opportunities and reduce violence and discrimination. • Undertaking consultation and outreach with in under-represented areas to develop the youth voice in the community. Youth Services will work in partnership with Renfrewshire Youth Voice and MSYP’s to deliver workshops and events in communities to encourage young people to share their views on what they would like to see happening and changes they want to effect in their neighbourhoods. Results and outcomes will inform and shape the local Youth Action Plans to target funding and resources to put ideas into action to address priority needs. • Efforts and focus for the future on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme will include identifying and developing ideas to support young people in completing the award. This will include strengthening the links to volunteering opportunities within youth and community settings. An inaugural DofE in Renfrewshire Celebration Event will be held in February 2024 to showcase the Award Programme, achievements and contributions of young people and adults across the authority. • Street Stuff will work with schools to develop and deliver the new Street to School programme delivering multi-sports, field trips, educational activities, healthy eating and explore new opportunities for accreditation. They will also continue to support the childcare and holiday provision agenda during school holiday periods with the provision of a healthy meal. Targeted provision – key priorities • Adult and Family Learning Services will continue to actively reconnect with learners and partners continuing to offer blended options of ESOL and Adult Literacies. As well as develop learning programmes that enhance engagement in formal and non-formal learning in community-based settings. • New Digital Skills courses will be delivered for people with little or no experience of using digital devices in each of the learning centres across Renfrewshire, encouraging safe and practical digital participation using laptops and tablets. • Weekly Work Clubs will be reintroduced into CLD learning centres to support jobseekers by providing access to online job searches and help with form completion and updating Claimant Commitments. • A new family learning programme will be developed encouraging families to be more environmentally conscious and to take positive action in their communities. • The family learning maths programme will be refreshed in response to Multiply, the 3-year UK-wide numeracy initiative and piloted with families in selected primary schools. (Multiply) Community capacity • Action is being undertaken to develop a Locality Model: Community Learning and Development Services, which will ensure regular attendance at local partnerships meetings creating close links with key community members and local concerns.
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• Work will continue with schools, exploring ideas around personal responsibility, civic pride and the power of working as a community to provide young people with a greater understanding of the consequences of positive and negative actions. • The Team Up to Clean Up campaign will work to boost increased engagement with schools, increasing bin provision and subtle nudge techniques around schools encouraging the use of bins. Presentations and discussions to raise awareness of the impact of decisions on the community and highlight the impact of actions on the climate will be developed. • Volunteering opportunities will be increased through Team Up to Clean Up providing volunteers with continued opportunities to achieve their aspirations including issuing tools to clear leaves and weeds, waterproof clothing/footwear or benches, planters, and plants to increase the appeal of a community. • A training needs analysis for staff and volunteer development is underway and relevant training opportunities to address skills gaps sourced to refresh and up-skill current and new staff across CLD. ____________________________________________________________________________ 5. Update on inspection 5.1 Elected members are asked to note that Education Scotland are currently undertaking a programme of inspection visits across all 32 local authority areas, and local services in Renfrewshire will also receive an inspection visit over the coming months. It is anticipated that 4 weeks' notice will be given by Education Scotland prior to any visit taking place, with the focus being on the progress that is being made locally in terms of the delivery of the Community Learning and Development Strategy. 5.2 Specifically, Education Scotland will be seeking to identify evidence in relation to two key questions: 1. How effective is the leadership of the local authority and their CLD partners in improving outcomes? 2. How well does the performance of the local authority and their CLD partners demonstrate positive impact? 5.3 As part of the inspection visit, the Education Scotland team will meet with learners, young people, staff, partners and wider stakeholders. Officers will provide further updates to elected members to update on the outcome of this inspection visit once this is available. ____________________________________________________________________________ 6. Next steps 6.1 In order to strengthen oversight and scrutiny of the strategy, it is proposed that 6 monthly progress updates are provided to the board going forward. ____________________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial - None 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – Community learning and development activities are key to the delivery of the Community Plan. 4. Legal - None
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5. Property/Assets - None 6. Information Technology - None 7. Equality & Human Rights (a) The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement - None 10. Risk - None 11. Privacy Impact - None. 12. COSLA Policy Position – Not Applicable 13. Climate Risk – None _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers _________________________________________________________________ Author: Laura McIntyre, Head of Policy, and Partnership. Email: laura.mcintyre@renfrewshire.gov.uk
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Community Learning and Development Strategy 2021-2024 Year 2 progress 2022-2023
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Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................... 3 Governance and Monitoring ........................................................................... 3 Background .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Partnership Approach .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Year 2 Progress 2022-2023 ............................................................................. 3 Universal Provision ......................................................................................... 4 Targeted Provision .......................................................................................... 9 Community Capacity / Connected Communities ........................................ 13 Year 3 – Priorities for 2023-2024 ................................................................... 16 Universal Provision ....................................................................................... 16 Targeted Provision ........................................................................................ 17 Community Capacity/ Connected Communities ......................................... 19 Appendix 1 ..................................................................................................... 21
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Introduction Local authorities are required to produce a three-year plan in relation to the delivery of community learning and development activities, in line with the provisions of the Community Learning and Development (Scotland) regulations 2013. Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development Strategy 2021-24 was approved in August 2021, and this report provides detail on the progress that has been achieved during Year 2 (2022/23) of the delivery of the strategy. The report specifically highlights examples and provides evidence of how the support, assistance and opportunities provided by Community Learning and Development (CLD) service and with our wider partners, continues to support better outcomes for individuals, families and across a wide range of communities in Renfrewshire. Governance and Monitoring Partnership is key to the delivery of our local strategy and the priorities and actions identified within the strategy are embedded within partnership plans and the overarching Community Plan for Renfrewshire. The range of partners who contributed towards achievements and progress of the CLD Strategy is attached as Appendix 1. The vision outlined in our local strategy is underpinned by the shared values identified by the Community Learning Development Standards Council: • Self Determination • Inclusion • Empowerment • Working Collaboratively • Promotion of learning as a lifelong activity Progress reports on activities undertaken are provided on an annual basis to the Council’s Communities and Housing Board, and to ensure enhanced scrutiny and oversight this will now take place on a 6 monthly basis from 2023. Year 2 Progress 2022-2023 Local partners have worked proactively over the period to progress the strategy, and to respond to some emerging needs and challenges across our communities, including the cost of living crisis, support for refugees and asylum seekers and strategic priorities such as the Promise, Fairer Renfrewshire and Future Paisley. There has been a need for us to work more flexibly than ever to meet these challenges together as partners. Despite these challenges, excellent progress has been achieved during this second year of the delivery of our local strategy. Detailed commentary on activities and achievements over the period- August 2022 to August 2023 is reported within this report under the following headings: • Universal Provision - ensuring no-one is left behind promoting and providing opportunities for all. • Targeted Provision– targeting specialist resource and support towards those most vulnerable or with restricted capacity. • Community Capacity/ Connecting Communities- working with individuals, families and groups that have capacity, to support them in shaping community aspirations and to develop, deliver and maintain the services and facilities they want locally.
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Universal Provision Youth Work activities continued to be developed and delivered through proactive partnership engagement and by actively consulting with children, young people, and families to shape provision and activities. A key priority identified has been to support to young people to engage and meet their peers in age-appropriate groups and activities, junior (8-12yrs) Teen (12-16yrs) Senior (16-18yrs). Key activities to highlight include: • 286 attendees consisting of young people and families from 9 Renfrewshire Community venues participated in a Youth Voice Summer Road Show, “Fantastic Truth or Fayre” delivered by Youth Services in partnership with Renfrewshire Youth Voice. The event also provided an opportunity to promote a wide range of forthcoming youth campaigns on Climate Change, Gender Based Violence, and the SYP elections. • 6,014 young people engaged with Youth Services, with 744 young people attending regularly as part of structured informal learning youth work projects over the year. • Youth Services has continued to actively identify opportunities to develop and enhance youth empowerment. Following the February Love2Lead event all Youth Voice members actively participated in Youth Leadership Training to build on key skills, networking, confidence building, influencing positive changes, understanding decision making process and achieve better outcomes by leading and progressing chosen campaigns. • Young people’s participation in a range of local and national campaigns continues to improve for example an average of 7 young people attended the Climate Change Champions twice a week. Young People of Renfrewshire as young leaders delivered workshops for younger children working on the climate emergency, contributing to the design of a young people friendly version of the Renfrewshire Council Net Zero strategy and created a campaign to promote responsible choices regarding their own consumption and pressured governments and businesses for real change. • New ideas are being explored to support care experienced young people by the Promise Champions (“Champs”) which resulted in a peer-led summer activity programme as an ongoing opportunity on connecting with care experienced young peoples as well as planning monthly trips/experiences, family/sibling events and workshops. • A “Welcome to your Vote” youth event was held on 30th March in partnership with Renfrewshire Youth Voice (RYV), Renfrewshire Members of Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP), Young Scot, the Electoral Commission, and the Renfrewshire Joint Valuation Board. This event promoted youth democracy opportunities in Renfrewshire, registering to vote for young people fourteen and over in age. • Scottish Youth Parliament elections will take place during 16 to 19 November 2023. There are 5 seats in Renfrewshire and preparations for candidate training and support for the campaign is underway. The current MSYP’s attended a national sitting in Orkney as part of their national working on motions, debates, and committees, and linking to local plans as part of Renfrewshire Youth Voice. Next siting is in October 2023 in Aberdeen, this will be the last of the term before Elections. • A total of 105 young people attended the "Welcome to Your Vote” event in Coats Paisley to participate in workshops developed to engage young people in a Campaign Toolkit produced by Youth Services to plan out their social action project. This event also provided an opportunity for young people to vote and decide the 6 key priorities for this Years Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund. Young people also focussed on ideas for action projects in their school with an opportunity to apply to Celebrating Renfrewshire
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fund and enabling access to a £200 grant from the Scottish Government facilitated by Young Scot and the Electoral Commission to promote democracy and voting. • The event is being followed up by Youth Services linking to each school through modern studies classes, pupil voice and the Rights Respecting leads to consolidate some of the ideas generated and to support young people to deliver their proposals in 2023. Links to school and Further Education campuses to offer a further “Welcome to Your Vote - Pop Up” to promote voter registration, Young Scot National Entitlement Card, advertising Scottish Youth Parliament candidate nominations, and the Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund, and the forthcoming SYP Elections have also been established. Mentoring in Violence Prevention • 250 participants attended the two Youth Assemblies organised by Equally Safe in Renfrewshire. The first assembly provided the opportunity to engage with young people in high schools to identify and prioritise the issues within their own community in Renfrewshire for the Youth Led Campaign. 44 Young people from six secondary schools attended the second assembly. This event provided the opportunity for young people trained in Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) together to explore further issue around Gender Based Violence, attending a series of workshop on campaign branding, podcasting, creating ice breaker resources and social media) and to begin building the campaign. • Young people who formed part of the Young and Equally Safe programme worked in partnership with Soundplay and YMCA Paisley participating in animation/projection workshops to mark the 16 Days of Action – Against Gender Based Violence Campaign running from 25 November to 10 December. The event was an opportunity for MVP to enhance and connect with a wide range of partners and individuals involved in the Gender Based Violence Strategy Group, youth work partners, and other funded projects. It is estimated that over 200 people in Renfrewshire marched together to ‘Reclaim the Night’. • 200 people have been trained in Mentoring in Violence Prevention (MVP) from funding secured from Education Scotland enabling us to build the largest training team of any authority across Scotland represented by Education, One Ren, Youth Services and 3rd sector. The funding secured has enabled the MVP message to be extended across Renfrewshire communities and meet funding required for trainers and offer flexible bespoke training which includes monthly awareness raising sessions, full day training, training over three evening sessions. • Capacity building continues in schools with two (one day) training sessions offered per year. Community training has taken place with a range of partners from 3rd Sector Organisations, Sport’s Clubs, Active Schools, Social Work, Sports’ Scotland, School Nursing Team and Health. • Young Equally Safe have been present in Secondary and Primary schools. Feedback received from class teachers has been positive, increasing the awareness of young people on various ‘taboo’ subjects including consent, misogyny, gaslighting. A Primary Edition of the Young and Equally Safe Icebreaker ‘Up in the Air’ was used to engage young people in Primary School. An event was held in October 2022 providing several workshops in marketing and branding campaign work and podcast training. Consultation using discussion groups took place on how the young people would like their views and opinions heard as well as creatively designing and deciding their campaign goals.
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Youth voice and leadership • A successful ‘Leadership’ workshop at the Your Vote event on the 30th of March was presented by Renfrewshire Youth Voice, empowering young people to recognise the importance of their vote and voice and actively registering. The event also generated an interest amongst young people in Youth Voice opportunities and future Leadership Training. • 31 young people expressed an interest in volunteering, being more involved in organising youth voice and activities, supporting the organisation of youth voice. The young people’s interest is the result of the Youth Leadership consultation days held to co-design summer Roadshow during February to July. • Young people of Renfrewshire Youth Voice successfully planned and delivered the10th Positive About Youth Awards to combat negative stereotypes of young people, celebrating the achievements and determination of young people aged 12-25 years who demonstrate outstanding work within their community. • Summer Roadshow across various locations in Renfrewshire was delivered in partnership with Youth Services and Renfrewshire Youth Voice. The aim of the programme was to raise awareness for example, LGBTI+, relationship safety, Environmental Awareness. The event was also used an opportunity to engage and consult to establish the type of activities in local areas are of interest to young people. Accessing information and entitlements • 28,282 young people under 22 years old now have access to free bus travel scheme by using the National Entitlement Card. Youth Services continue to support young people and families with the process to apply and work with organisations and services such as Blue Triangle Housing Association, Renfrewshire Council Social Work, Young Carers, Refugee Resettlement Team, Invest, residential units and flexible learning services and Mary Russell ASN school. • 12 active organisations known as Trusted Verifiers vetted by Youth Services are supporting young people to access a range of benefits such as free bus travel, voluntary proof of age, discounts, the ability to participate in democratic voting or rewards for doing positive things in their community. • 105 young carers in Renfrewshire have signed up for the Young Carers Package and have claimed/entered to win Carer-entitlement 1,999 times. This has been achieved because of sharing promotional materials across the schools and the Youth Work Network and the Young Carers Package. • 5,975 visits recorded from Renfrewshire Young People to access information on handling the Cost Crisis on the newly relaunched Young Scot site this year. 3,015 direct visits and 1,238 visits to the Activate Your Rights information campaign. Young Scot voting platform continues to be used to support participatory budgeting and voting based projects including Celebrating Renfrewshire. • A pilot project is in progress enabling better use of GLOW Teams to maintain the Young Scot School Partnership. Teaching Staff have welcomed the initiative as an improved method of communication. Duke of Edinburgh
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• The Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme has been enhanced and modified to strengthen links to volunteering opportunities within youth and community settings. The changes have reinvigorated and increased enthusiasm of young people in Renfrewshire to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) programme including those with additional support needs (ASN). ➢ 2,366 Community Volunteering hours by DofE participants with an estimated social value of over £11,000 ➢ Supported DofE for ASN volunteers at Mary Russell – Volunteering Opportunities with Glen Park ➢ Countryside Rangers and Forest and Land Scotland. Funding partnership with school, ➢ 7 Bronze and 3 Silver passes. ➢ 17 DofE Achievement Awards ➢ 75 volunteer DofE leaders and helpers in Renfrewshire supporting participants on their DofE journey • 359 young people from Renfrewshire are participating in the Duke of Edinburgh Award with support from Renfrewshire Youth Services this has resulted in young people gaining the Disadvantaged and Duke of Edinburgh Award at all three levels details below, Duke of Edinburgh Awards achieved ➢ 128 young people achieved bronze award with 267 actively participating. ➢ 11 young people achieved silver award with 84 actively participating. ➢ 2 young people achieved gold award with 8 actively participating. Disadvantaged Awards achieved. ➢ 27 young people achieved bronze award with 78 actively participating. ➢ 4 young people achieved silver award with 16 actively participating. ➢ 1 young person achieved gold award • Youth Services has successfully continued to actively deliver a range of accreditation including Hi5, Dynamic Youth Award, Participatory Democracy Award, the Participatory Budgeting Award, Community Empowerment Award, and the Arts Award achieved by young people as follows, ➢ 87 young people have completed/achieved Hi5 Award ➢ 36 young people have completed/achieved Hi5 Climate Action Award ➢ 20 young people have achieved the John Muir Award ➢ 9 young people have completed/achieved Dynamic Youth Award ➢ 5 Young people have completed the Lowland Leaders Award ➢ 5 Young people have completed Outdoor First Aid Training ➢ 4 Young people have completed/achieved DofE Sectional Awards ➢ 4 Young people have completed Food Hygiene course. ➢ 4 Young people have completed the Climate Change Training Street Stuff • Street Stuff has enhanced and extended its core provision, providing daytime activities in partnership with 8 high schools in Renfrewshire. The new Street to School programme includes educational awareness on behaviour within the school setting and the impact on the wider community and includes educational field trips to a range of historical locations as well as physical activity such as hill walks and other multi-sport activities.
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• Holiday programmes have continued with the delivery of activities including the provision of a healthy meal. Food has also been introduced as part of the core evening programme as part of the Fairer Renfrewshire programme. Achievements include; • 16,000 attendances recorded for both core activities including additional activities during October, Festive and Spring breaks. • 70 young people per week engaging with Street Stuff as part of the new Street to School programme. • Over 2000 pupils involved in a programme organised by Street Stuff as part of the St Mirren Football Club role delivering coaching sessions in primary schools and supporting families with free tickets to St Mirren Football Club home games and fun and interactive activities for 7 pre match home games at St Mirren Football Club including football, games bus and shoot4goal with hundreds of families participating at each game. • Volunteering opportunities as part of the match day experience and participating as Ball attendants on match days at St Mirren continues to be enhanced as part of the core Street Stuff programme. • A significant number of young people and families participated in the fun and interactive activities provided by Street Stuff during major events including the Gala days held at Barshaw, Elderslie and Renfrew and at the Renfrew Pipe Band competition. • 1200 hours of volunteering has been achieved by 25 young people participating in a range of activities at Street Stuff. • 750 hours achieved at St Mirren FC Match Day Ball attendants. • 200 hours achieved at Holiday camps. • 250 hours achieved at Street Stuff Core activities. • 4 school pupils gained work experience and 4 young people employed from the Street to School programmed by St Mirren Football Club • Street Stuff have delivered activities where required in partnership with Ukrainian refugees and continue to work with settled Ukrainians within Renfrewshire. Street Stuff continued to support the Refugee Resettlement Football Festival in July 2023. Community capacity • Communities and Public Protection have continued to work with schools, communities, local and national partners developing and delivering sessions around specific emerging trends to raise awareness of community safety issues impacting on individuals and communities, progress includes • 48 presentations delivered to Renfrewshire educational establishments encouraging proactive behaviours to improve environmental quality within local neighbourhoods. • 4930 posts on the Team Up to Clean Up Facebook platform indicating growth in member number and engagement. • 2,000 litter-picks undertaken since September 2022. • 65 Fixed Penalty Notices issued for fly tipping by Environmental Taskforce since 1 December 2022
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• 35 community groups have received Green Spaces, Parks and Play Areas and Villages Fund to deliver projects which enhances and improves areas in their communities. Targeted Provision • Adult and family Learning Services have continued to actively reconnect with learners and partners to develop learning programmes that enhance engagement in non-formal learning in community settings. This has resulted in, • 600 people engaged with Adult and Family Learning Services, during September 2022 to August 2023 actively participating in non-formal community-based settings, • 175 community-based adult and family learning activities have been delivered across Renfrewshire in 6 Community Learning and Development learning centres, 5 primary school campuses and in community partner venues. • As part of the commitment to continuous improvement and meet the learning needs of adults an online survey is in progress and results will help to shape future provision as well as update the Local Partnerships. • Flexible and wide range of learning opportunities continue to be developed offering a range of activities and delivering a learning programme to raise and reinforce sustainable options and healthy choices which includes, • “Helping Your Community Grow” award offered by Dobbie’s Braehead store has been won by Southend Action Centre groups who are growing fruit, vegetables, and herbs, and have created an outdoor space for family learning activities • One Personal Social Development Learner has been awarded Scotland’s Learning Partnership Adult Learner’s Award, from Southend Action Centre and is now an active volunteer with Adult and Family Learning Service • More Mend, Less Spend group in Johnstone and Crafting and Mending in Erskine enabling and encouraging people to learn and share skills which reduce impact on the environment and save money. • Personal and social development groups in Erskine and Ferguslie continue to make a positive difference and focus on making positive choices and self-care to promote wellbeing. • A digital recipe book was produced by learners at Johnstone Castle demonstrating how skills can be gained for basic of home • A discreet learning group for jobseekers in partnership with Enable Works continuous to support confidence building programme and progression to access wider community-based adult learning progress. Achievement of learners from Enable Works includes, • Successfully completing 2 learning programmes consisting of 10 ‘Lessons for Life’ and ‘Exploring Equalities’ • 2 Learners have progressed into work and one learner is attending college course • 20 new digital skills courses have been delivered for people with little or no experience of using digital devices across Renfrewshire in the following venues: West Johnstone; Southend; Moorpark; Foxlea; Erskine and Johnstone Castle learning centres. • Weekly Work Clubs have been reintroduced to support jobseekers by providing access to online job searches and help with completing forms and updating Claimant Commitments. The Work Clubs are fully established in
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West Johnstone, Southend, Bargarran, Glenburn and Moorpark learning centres. • A new family learning programme “Gab ‘n Grub” has been successfully piloted in Glencoats PS and St David’s Primary School working with Primary 1 and Primary 3 families. The course encourages positive family relationships by reinforcing mealtimes as an opportunity for dialogue and supports parents with cooking on a budget and making healthy choices. • Ault Literacies have developed 5 adult literacies groups currently held in West Johnstone, Southend, Foxlea, Bargarran and University of West of Scotland, a weekly online evening session is also offered. • 60 BA Education Students from University of West of Scotland received an input on the issues facing parents with low literacy levels. • Families of Primary 4 and Primary 5 successfully completed the Pilot of “Fun with Numbers” exploring mathematical concepts though a variety of games and creative activities. 4-session “Quick Hits” everyday maths inputs have been successfully delivered to 3 groups. During April to June 3 homework groups were trialled to support parents, further maths homework groups will be delivered. • ESOL classes continue to be delivered in the community for people with little or no English, and who want to improve language skills to access support and services or participate in cultural and leisure opportunities in their communities, progress achieved, • 300 people engaged with Adult and Family ESOL team. • 8 ESOL for Beginners delivered in the community in Renfrew, West Johnstone, and Southend • ESOL for Beginners Online, 1 session per week. • Culture and Conversation, 1 session per week for language practice. • A weekly ESOL guidance and support session is delivered weekly at the Welcome Hub near Glasgow Airport • 2 groups have been established in Bargarran and West Johnstone providing opportunities for people to practice their English in a groupwork setting and out • All Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children over 16 years referred to the service continue to be allocated a place in and ESOL class in Southend or Moorpark learning centres. • 24 ESOL learners engaged with arts project delivered in partnership with The Art Department and funded by Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership to develop language skills and promote wellbeing though arts and crafts activities. • To meet the demand and relocation of learners ESOL sessions have moved to Ferguslie Library and West Johnstone providing wider access. ESOL support for Work Club, ESOL Digital group and ESOL support for PSD are held in Moorpark • A picture book has been produced illustrating the work undertaken by a group of Syrian learners supported by ESOL staff working with Museums to showcase Paisley’s Syrian glass collection • New Scots funding has been secured from Scottish Refugee Council and Scottish Government to provide additional language support for social integration using a "Sharing Lives, Sharing Languages” approach, enabling the establishment and development of a further two groups.
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• 65, care experienced, young carers or vulnerable young people who may require care participated in various arts and cultural activities offered by The Promise Arts and Cultural Programme, the range of creative projects, workshops and cultural events and trips, included the following: • The Gallowhill Mural Project: delivered in partnership with St Catherine’s Primary, Paisley Grammar School, and artist Ursula Cheng. • Dinosaur Graffiti project: with West Primary School and Graffiti artist Tragic O’Hara. • Moving Relationships: An animation project in partnership with Who Cares? Scotland and animation studio Toad’s Caravan. • It’s A Stick Up! A sticker making project in partnership with Renfrewshire Carers Centre and artist Ursula Cheng. • T-shirt design and printing project delivered in partnership with artists from Reload, for young people from the Ukrainian Refugee Community in Renfrewshire. • The Mary Russell Mural: Mary Russell School designed and painted by pupils with artist Ursula Cheng • Ceramics project in partnerships with Renfrewshire Carers Centre and artists from Sculpture House Collective based in Ferguslie Park. • The programme continues to work with care experienced young people across the four Children’s Houses in Renfrewshire and recently, a group of young people from the houses visited the Banksy exhibition at GOMA followed by a practical Graffiti workshop at a centre of excellence for Graffiti Art: SWG3. The young people had the opportunity to work with a Graffiti Artist to explore the tools and techniques of Street Art to make their own Graffiti pieces. • 10 young people are involved in Creative Young Producers Group Art Boss, which isdelivered in partnership with Youth Services and One Ren. A further 8 young people are YO Producers meeting weekly. There has been an increase in membership as young people are referred from Social Work and HomeLink Services to work with arts professionals to produce music, literature, gain new skills, enhance knowledge, and explore arts and culture projects which includes, • My world in a box art project • Comic illustration sessions with Meta Phrog artists • Interactive map project for the new Paisley Museum • My arts inspiration presentation using Canva • The museum Youth Ambassadors pilot project • Edinburgh Cultural trip attending the Playhouse theatre to see Charlie and the Chocolate factory the music, enjoy a meal out together and explore Edinburgh city the following day through a camera lens • The EVOLVE Personal and Social Development programme continues to offer targeted learning programme to groups identified in primary, secondary and post school age young people. 92 young people have participated in the programme which aims to promote health and wellbeing, negotiating their learning programme, building on inter-personal skills, and supporting connections with school and community through voluntary social action. • Most high school young people received free gym passes as part of the Personal and Social Development enabling attending at a time that suits their
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lifestyle to improve health and wellbeing. This initiative is part of the 3-year pilot programme funded through Cashback for Communities and continued with Pupil Equity Fund in 2022-2023 • Activities also included accredited food & hygiene certificate, shopping and cooking on a budget, educational awareness around vaping, gender-based violence and positive relationships, art, and intergenerational activities with care homes and veterans, Young Person’s Place Standard Toolkit, and wider achievement awards (, Hi5, Hi5 Climate Action Award., Duke of Edinburgh’s Award • The schools-youth work partnership model was shared as good practice with West Partnership RIC as part of a Collaborative Enquiry with Youthlink Scotland. It was also shared at a national Youthlink Conference as part of spotlight and supported by Education Scotland. The programme was shortlisted for a national Youthlink Youth Work Award in the category of “Recognising Skills and Achievement”. • Continued support for LGBTI young people continued to be supported meeting are held in the Foxbar Youth Drop to organise a National Calendar of events throughout the year. The LGBTI has 50 members with an average attendance of 15 per week. • Youth Services celebrated the National Youth Work Week using social media to promote and highlight youth work across the local authority and how youth work can ‘change lives. • Youth Services continued to support the development of Ren10, and the collaborative work across Renfrewshire Council and the Health and Social Partnership to develop services to support Children and Young People’s Mental Health. Some of this work included supporting the development and signposting to the “Together-all” on-line support, promotion of the Exchange Counselling Service, and the “Shout” 24/7 text based support. In addition, Youth Services has also contributed to the work of the Mental Health Action Group in producing a Policy that reaches across schools, Third Sector and communities. Part of this on-going work is to promote joined up approaches to sharing training resources, and culture of learning and training across sectors to achieve better impact and outcomes. • In order to enhance skills of staff, volunteers, and trainees relevant to Community Learning and Development practices, Youth Services have provided 4 Kickstart traineeships resulting in, • 3 progressing to part-time sessional youth work posts • 1 securing temporary full-time employment on a grant funded youth project, • 1 Adult Trainee was able to successfully complete a 6-month workplace placement. • The Adult and Family Learning team also delivered a weekly programme of fun, games and lunch in Moorpark Leaning Centre, Southend Action Centre, West Johnstone Shared Campus, and the Tannahill Centre throughout July, • 47 families were involved in the activities with 49 adults and 93 children participating • Youth Services provided a targeted summer programme including Print Screen Painting, General Arts and Crafts and youth work activities for 14 young people from Mary Russell school 1 day per week throughout July.
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• Youth Services work in partnership with Mary Russell and Riverbrae schools to provide junior and senior youth clubs for their pupils who have ASN. 105 young people have attended 40 weeks of youth work activities after school including arts and crafts, games, and groupwork activities to promote confidence building, social skills and youth voice. Community Capacity / Connected Communities • Senior Development Officers have been identified for each local partnership area and are regularly attending the meetings and networking with key community members to establish local concerns and provide support to find solutions. • Community Learning and Development are investing in training on the national community database namely ALISS.ORG. The database will signpost and enable individuals/groups to carry out post code searches to find out what’s going on in their areas. • Work with schools continues to explore ideas around personal responsibility, civic pride and the power of working as a community to provide young people with a greater understanding of the consequences of positive and negative actions • 2000 P6 children had the opportunity to attend the Safe Kids events and participate in workshops delivered by Fire & Rescue, Transport Police, Police Scotland, The Wardens, Youth Team, Civil Contingencies, Drugs & Alcohol Service. Workshops included water safety, railway safety, antisocial behaviour in the community and what do to in an emergency. • Work has been undertaken to ensure that aspirations of the communities is being achieved from the allocation of Funding from the Green Spaces and Villages Improvement Fund. Since September 2022 fourteen community projects have secured the funding namely, • Bee Happy Houston – Local Community Gardening Club • Bishopton Christmas Lights • Cross Road Community Planting Group • Elderslie Community Council – Dog Fouling Bag Dispensers • Howwood Parent Council – MUGA • Howwood Wildlife Group – Improvements to Green Spaces • Inchinnan Community Council – Village Planters • Improvements to Glencorse Woodland • Langbank Bowling Green – Improvements • Lochwinnoch Arts Festival • Jenny’s Well Mural and Nature Trail • Pachedu & RAMH Community Garden • Robertson Bowling Club – Irrigation System • St Mirren Youth Team – Secure Perimeter Fencing on Inchinnan Playing Field • Team Up to Clean Up campaign continues to make significant progress by boosting increased engagement with schools, increasing bin provision and subtle nudge techniques around schools encouraging the use of bins. Highlighting the impact of actions on climate and successfully raising awareness which includes • 48 schools have received an input on Environment impact focussing on litter and the negative impact on local environmental quality including animal, marine harm and the negative effect on neighbourhoods and green spaces.
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• 120 school bins to be wrapped leading to favourite lunchtime takeaway vendors. • Using stencils in waste gullies e.g., ‘the sea starts here’ to raise awareness of the impact of dropping litter • To enhance and improve open spaces, and to increase and generate new interest during 20222 Team Up to Clean Up has provided, • 15 handy carts to volunteers to aide litter picking. • 8 volunteers have been provided with PPE, waterproof trousers, and boots. • 3 volunteers supplied with tools to aid with leaf blowing, strimming and hedge cutting. • 3 Volunteers secured funding to develop and improve the appearance of their communities to improve flowerbeds, install planters and vegetation. • To address community concerns of fly tipping and littering with support and assistance of the Environmental Taskforce introduced under the banner of Team Up to Clean Up the following measures are in place, • The Environmental Task Force was created with a focus on fly tipping. • Good results are being produced indicating an increase in Fixed Penalty Notices, building new relations with housing associations, private landowners and communities. • Work has been undertaken with local businesses to support the Sustainable Business Scheme encouraging businesses to be more environmentally conscious, reducing their impact on the surrounding community and becoming more active to present a cleaner, more appealing premises for their customers, progress includes, • 300 hot food vendors in Renfrewshire have been visited by Environmental Taskforce and Building Communities Team in partnership with SWECO The Environmental Taskforce along with the Building Communities team, in partnership with SWECO, to conduct a survey measuring sustainability and launch a Sustainable Food Business Scheme. • 140 businesses were issued with letters regarding Single Use Plastics legislation fully implemented in August 2022. Further visit will be undertaken by SEWCO to identify businesses still not complying with the legislation. • Opportunities continue to be identified working actively with key partners and Local Partnerships. Officers have been allocated to Local Partnerships and attend meetings. Continuing to work actively on mapping of areas which enables better input into Local Partnerships discussions. • Team Up to Clean Up (TU2CU) are actively enhancing and increasing volunteering opportunities as well as providing volunteers with continued opportunities to achieve their aspirations. The TU2CU is continuing to grow with good community movement and engagement in the picking up of litter across Renfrewshire. • 3 Bio-diversity workshops have been delivered with Jenny’s Well, Inchinnan Development Trust and Bee Happy Houston. • Support continued to be provided with Celebrating Renfrewshire participatory budgeting funding programmes including: • 200 young people participated in the voting process for their favourite projects to receive funding. In total 58 projects received funding • Members of the Steering Group will each gain a Saltire Award for their volunteering hours • Celebrating Renfrewshire was one of the nominees for this year’s Scottish Youth Link Awards. Renfrewshire Youth Voice in partnership with Street Stuff supported
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and managed the Celebrating Renfrewshire Fund including training a new group of young people to manage funding. Steering Group members will deliver a short presentation to each Local Partnership with what organisations were successful in gaining funding. • Training needs analysis for staff and volunteer developments continues to be undertaken to address any skills gaps progress to date includes, • 8 volunteers completed the ESOL training and adult literacies volunteer training • Community Capacity has now had its Community Learning Officers registered with the CLD Standards Council in recognition of their skills • Attendance at all relevant training on the social work calendar • One to One to meetings with staff to support Training Needs Analysis • 3 Adult and Family Learning sessional staff are currently studying for their Personal Development Award: Supporting Adult Literacy Learners with colleagues from East Renfrewshire and Aberdeenshire, delivered online by Glasgow Clyde College
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Year 3 – Priorities for 2023-2024 Community and Learning and Development will continue to make progress and achieve high level service delivery outcomes against the ongoing Actions listed below across the three priorities. • Universal Provision, • Targeted Provision and • Community Capacity/Connected Communities The priorities and actions will be reviewed during 2023-2024 and informed by the feedback from the upcoming Education Scotland Inspectors visit which includes review of the Renfrewshire’s Community Learning and Development Strategy 2021-2024. Universal Provision • During April – August 2023 an online Youth Survey was launched targeted at young people in Primary 6 and 7, Secondary SI-S6 including 16- to 25-year-olds. The online survey is complimented by focus group discussions. The aim of the survey is to identify current need, connection to community and issues and barriers faced by young people. Analysis of the responses will be used to inform CLD provision. The Regional Improvement Plan will also be informed by young people from the results of the research that is currently being undertaken by young people. Renfrewshire Youth Services continue to lead initiatives working across the West Partnership promoting youth participation through the recruitment and training of West partnership Ambassadors. • Continue to develop and enhance joined up approaches with a range of partners to deliver Community Learning in community bases. • Identify opportunities to develop and enhance youth empowerment by supporting and promoting young people’s learning around democratic processes, voting, participating in budgetary decision-making process, and an enhanced ability to influence positive changes in schools and communities to achieve better outcomes. • Continue to develop approaches to challenge stereotypes and promote gender equality, reduce incidents of bullying, and hate crime, the promotion of antidiscrimination and prevention of violence against women. • Work will be carried out with schools to develop the Mentors against Violence programme beyond schools and into the community, fostering wider peer led educational and groupwork approaches. Support young people to design and lead on a public campaign across Renfrewshire to raise awareness of the issue and canvass support to challenge and reduce gender-based violence. • Continue to work in partnership with schools around the UNCRC agenda. Actively support young people in designing and delivering workshops and campaigns to raise awareness and have wider impact to promote rights, equalities and opportunities and reduce violence and discrimination. • Undertake consultation and outreach in under-represented areas to develop youth voice in the community. Youth Services will work in partnership with Renfrewshire Youth Voice and MSYP’s to deliver workshops and events in communities to encourage young people to share their views on what they would like to see happening and changes they want to effect in their neighbourhoods. Results and outcomes will inform and shape the local Youth Action Plans to target funding and resources to put ideas into action to address priority needs. • Renfrewshire Youth Voice will plan their 11th year of the Positive About Youth Awards to combat negative stereotypes of young people, celebrating the achievements and determination of young people and their role to change things for
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other young people and their communities. The event will be held in the Normandy Hotel. • Youth Services will continue to support the Young Scot NEC Card services, including the national roll-out of free travel for Under-22s in Scotland, promote the Young Scot Young Carers package, and encourage the growing number of cardholders to carry and use their NEC card to utilise the additional benefits and discounts it offers. • The Renfrewshire Young Scot Portal will continue to be developed and enhanced with youth led content on local opportunities and support services. Contributing to Renfrewshire’s Digital Strategy and developing the Renfrewshire Young Scot Steering Group with key service/partner representatives and young people. • Focus for the future on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Programme will include developing ideas to support young people in completing the award. We will also strengthen the links to volunteering opportunities within youth and community settings. An inaugural DofE in Renfrewshire Celebration Event will be held in February 2024 to showcase the Award Programme, achievements and contributions of young people and adults across the authority. • Youth Services will continue to deliver a range of accreditation including Hi5, Dynamic Youth Award, Participatory Democracy Award, the Participatory Budgeting Award, Community Empowerment Award, and the Arts Award. • Street Stuff will continue to deliver a core programme of activities in communities maximising opportunities for volunteering and employment for Renfrewshire residents. • Street Stuff work with schools to further develop the new Street to School programme delivering multi-sports, field trips, educational activities, healthy eating and explore new opportunities for accreditation. They will also continue to support the childcare and holiday provision agenda during school holiday periods with the provision of a healthy meal. • Street Stuff will work with Ukrainian refugees and asylum seekers to support integration into the wider community through the delivery of activities and assessing volunteer, employment opportunities. • Communities and Public protection will continue to work with schools, communities, local and national partners to develop and deliver sessions around particular emerging trends to raise awareness of community safety issues that impact on individuals and communities. Targeted Provision • Adult and Family Learning Services will continue to actively reconnect with learners and partners continuing to offer blended options of ESOL and Adult Literacies. As well as develop learning programmes that enhance engagement in formal and non- formal learning in community-based settings. • There will be continued recognition and focus on Mental Health because of the continuing/ longer term impact of the pandemic on learners. A flexible and wide range of learning opportunities will be developed. • Personal and Social Development learning will focus on wellbeing, offering a range of activities and delivering a learning programme that raises awareness and reinforces healthy choices. • The service will continue to work in partnership with Barnardo’s and Citizens Advice Bureau targeting parents and carers who have taken part in family learning programmes to progress into courses that build on their existing skills and experience and foster positive networks.
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• A discreet learning group for jobseekers will be developed in partnership with Enable Works offering a confidence building programme and progression to access wider community-based adult learning. • New Digital Skills courses will be delivered for people with little or no experience of using digital devices in each of the learning centres across Renfrewshire, encouraging safe and practical digital participation using laptops and tablets. • Weekly Work Clubs will be reintroduced into CLD learning centres to support jobseekers by providing access to online job searches and help with form completion and updating Claimant Commitments. • A new family learning programme will be developed encouraging families to be more environmentally conscious and to take positive action in their communities. • The family learning maths programme will be refreshed in response to Multiply, the 3-year • UK-wide numeracy initiative and piloted with families in selected primary schools. (Multiply) • Numeracy will be embedded across the full range of learning programmes including ESOL, family learning, personal and social development, and digital learning in response to Multiply, the 3-year UK-wide adult numeracy initiative. • A literacy programme will be developed providing a progression route into wider community-based adult learning opportunities for learners who are ready to move on to new challenges. • ESOL classes will be delivered in the community for people with little or no English, and informal conversational groups for basic/elementary ESOL learners who want to improve language skills to access support and services or participate in cultural and leisure opportunities in their new communities. This includes, but is not exclusive to, targeted groups of New Scots such as Ukrainian, Syrian, Iraqi and Afghani refugees and asylum seekers being accommodated in Renfrewshire. • ESOL support will be provided to Ukrainian refugees in temporary accommodation awaiting resettlement at Glasgow Airport and for Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children over 16 years in partnership with the UASC/ Throughcare team • ESOL will be delivered on campus at Glencoats PS for adults and families seeking asylum and being supported by Renfrewshire’s Resettlement Team and Mears Housing belonging to the school community. • Youth work programmes will be targeted at vulnerable young people. The EVOLVE programme will continue to offer informal learning and achievement to groups identified in primary, secondary and post-school age young people. • Support and safe spaces for LGBTI young people to meet and decide on a programme of activities will continue to be provided across Renfrewshire. • The Young and Equally Safe Project will reconvene with new staff to support the MVP Leaders in designing their community-based workshops and public campaign and to embark on a youth leadership training programme. • The ArtBoss, Yo-Producers, the Arts and Cultural Engagement Programme and Promise Champions, will continue to offer avenues for expression and activity for care experienced young people and young carers. • Renfrewshire Youth Work Network will continue to meet and develop partnerships working across the communities, sharing good practice, ideas and delivering on key priorities for children and young people. • Youth Services will facilitate a Renfrewshire celebration and spotlight events during the National Youth Work week, demonstrating how ‘youth work changes lives’, and support the publishing of the new National Youth Work Strategy, encouraging local conversations with young people, and decisionmakers on how national can meet local action.
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• Ren Ten will be supported with mapping community mental health to identify gaps which need to be addressed and to encourage creative approaches to building community resilience and health and wellbeing. Training will be delivered to enhance skills of staff, volunteers and trainees relating to CLD practice and awareness raising of issues-based work. Community Capacity/ Connected Communities • Action is being undertaken to develop a Locality Model: Community Learning and Development Services, which will ensure regular attendance at local partnerships meetings creating close links with key community members and local concerns. • Work will continue with schools, exploring ideas around personal responsibility, civic pride and the power of working as a community to provide young people with a greater understanding of the consequences of positive and negative actions. • The work of the Green Spaces and Villages Improvement Fund will continue while funding remains available. Applicants (community groups, individual volunteers, and schools) will be guided and supported to meet the criteria and ensure their community’s aspirations are delivered. • The Team Up to Clean Up campaign will work to boost increased engagement with schools, increasing bin provision and subtle nudge techniques around schools encouraging the use of bins. Presentations and discussions to raise awareness of the impact of decisions on the community and highlight the impact of actions on the climate will be developed. • The release of £40,000 of Green Spaces Funding for volunteers, will be used to enhance and improve open spaces, and generate new interest in the Campaign and the benefits it can deliver for communities. • Community concerns of fly tipping, littering and dog fouling will be addressed with the support and assistance of the Environmental Taskforce. • Developing Communities will continue to work with local businesses to support the Sustainable Business Scheme which will encourage businesses to be more environmentally conscious, reducing their impact on the surrounding community and becoming more active to present a cleaner, more appealing premises for their customers. • Volunteering opportunities will be increased through Team Up to Clean Up providing volunteers with continued opportunities to achieve their aspirations including issuing tools to clear leaves and weeds, waterproof clothing/footwear or benches, planters, and plants to increase the appeal of a community. • Biodiversity workshops will continue for volunteers in Renfrewshire’s three towns. The workshops educate and prepare volunteers to creating a wildflower area. Increasing volunteers’ knowledge as well as improving biodiversity in Renfrewshire. • Support will continue for the process of application to the Celebrating Renfrewshire participatory budgeting fund. The process will empower applicants, raising awareness of the positive changes that can be made and deliver invaluable experience and an insight into the mechanics of funding. • Community Capacity in conjunction with Youth Services will continue to support the Celebrating Renfrewshire steering group who set the funding criteria each year to ensure the funding is aimed at delivering relevant activities for young people. • Adult Literacies will continue to be developed using the Multiply funding initiative offering a wide range of non-accredited numeracy activities that build confidence with everyday use of numbers integrated into current provision and/or delivered as stand- alone programmes.
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• The potential to broaden non-formal ESOL learning to meet the increasing demand from resettled and asylum-seeking people (including, but not exclusively, people from Ukraine, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan) will be investigated. • The new beginners digital learning programme will be rolled out across all learning centres alongside the reintroduction of 3 community Work Clubs, supporting local jobseekers with access to IT. • A training needs analysis for staff and volunteer development is underway and relevant training opportunities to address skills gaps sourced to refresh and up-skill current and new staff across CLD.
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Appendix 1 Examples of Partner Organisations listed below supporting the delivery, progress and achievement of Community Learning Development Strategy 2021-2024: • Art BossCommunities • Create Paisley • Duke of Edinburgh Scotland • Enable • Engage Renfrewshire • English as and Additional Language (EAL) Team • Ferguslie Park Housing Association • Foxlea ELCC • I Am Me • Kairos Women+ • LGBT Scotland • Mears Housing • Moorpark ELCC • ONEREN Arts and Museums – Libraries and Leisure • Open Aye • Paisley FM • Police Scotland • RAMH • Ren Ten • Renfrewshire Affordable Credit Alliance • Renfrewshire Council • Renfrewshire’s Resettlement Team • Renfrewshire Youth Work Network • Right To Dance • ROAR • St Mirren Football Club • Star Project • Throughcare team • UASC • University of the West of Scotland • West College Scotland • West Johnstone ELCC • Woodlands PS • Yo- Producers • Young Scot
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• Youth Work Network