Live Argyll - Community Learning Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 12 November 2025
Back to Oban Lorn & the Isles Area Community Planning Group — 12 November 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Community Learning Services update November 2025 Adult Learning Provision Oban We are currently delivering the majority of our Adult Learning Provision from Oban Library. Adult Achievement Awards – We are delighted to have been accepted by Newbattle Abbey College as an accredited centre for the delivery of Adult Achievement Awards. These awards are SQA accredited and are flexible to reflect almost any learning undertaken by participants. Available to adults aged 16, in award levels 2 to 6, with no entry level requirements. Adult Achievement Awards - Newbattle Abbey College Employability Drop-In – Every Tuesday from 10am-12pm at Oban Library. We provide help with CV’s, job searches and applications. Free Tea/coffee/biscuits. IT Drop-in – Every Tuesday afternoon from 2-4pm. We provide help with getting online, using devices and applications. Free Tea/Coffee/Biscuits. National Databank – Vodafone and O2 sim cards available with free calls, texts and data for up to 6 months. Available by arrangement with Scott Douglas. SQA – We can offer a wide range of SQA accredited qualifications including Employability, Wellbeing, Volunteering, Communication and Leadership. Please contact Scott Douglas for more information. Managing Your Money – We have a new budgeting short course. Sessions can be run throughout the year. Please contact Scott Douglas for more information. Adult Literacy and Numeracy support – A range of support for adults requiring help with reading, writing or numbers, including the innovative Citizen Literacy website. Flash Fiction 500 – Monthly Creative Writing Challenge. Open to residents of Argyll & Bute aged 18 and over. Winner and runners-up published at https://liveargyll.co.uk/flash-fiction/ Music group in partnership with Hope Kitchen – Group guitar lessons from 12-1pm and an informal sing-song session from 2-3.30pm at the Undercroft, Church Centre, Glencruitten Road, Oban. Contact: Scott Douglas scott.douglas@liveargyll.co.uk Tel 01631 567977 / 0791755 7279 (17.5 hours per week). Monday & Tuesday 9-5 and Friday 12-4
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Update for Youth Work in Oban Summer Activities: The GIVE programme this Summer had 18 young people signed up. They completed a number of volunteering activities including, beach/woodland cleans, volunteering at Greenshoots and Dunollie and learning CPR at the Fire Station. The rewards included a Scavenger Hunt, Inflatable at Atlantis and a trip to the Cinema in Fort William. Summer Sensations – 231 P6 & P7 children signed up this summer making it the most attended in our 21 years. Children from the OHS catchment area (including Lismore & Tiree) attended the two day event where they took part in a huge range of activities at Atlantis Leisure and OHS. Youth Action Groups: Oban YAG meet on a Monday from 4.00 – 5.00 in the Oban Youth Café building at the top of George Street. They recently attended the Planet Youth Event in the Corran Halls where they got young people attending to complete a survey about the activities they do out with school and will publish the results of that shortly. There are currently 8 members ranging from S2 – S5. At present they are working on setting up a Youth Action Council and attending the Showcase event (see below). New members are always welcome. Dalmally also have a Youth Action Group who work on local projects. Oban, Lorn & the Isles Youth Action Council: OLI Youth Action Council will bring together young people from different youth organisations in the area and will meet on a regular basis. They are proposing that every third meeting, local councillors will be invited to attend to hear what the youth council have been up to and to discuss potential issues and challenges that the young people in their area have. This will also give the young people an opportunity to take a key role in the local community decision making process ensuring that Article 12 of the UNCRC is being adhered to (Young People have the right to have their views heard). The group hope to hold their first meeting in January 2026. Showcase Event Linking in with the above, a pilot YAC has been running in Campbeltown and Rothesay and there is an event in Dunoon on Monday 24th November to highlight this and showcase all the Youth Work that Community Learning has been involved in, throughout Argyll and Bute. Fire Skills Course 8 S3 pupils recently took part in a 4 Day Fire Skills Course at Oban Fire Station. This is a partnership between SFR, Community Learning, DYW and OHS. Young people had the opportunity the learn Fire Skills, First Aid, Team Building and many other things. They finished with a demonstration of what they had learned and a presentation of their certificates with parents, school staff etc attending. Oban High School Currently completing Dynamic Youth Awards with the young people that took part in the Fires Skills Course. Work with various groups to achieve Dynamic Youth Awards and Saltire Awards is ongoing.
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Planet Youth Event – Growing up in Oban The aim of this event was to encourage families to come along to see all the brilliant local clubs, sports, and activities available for children and young people in Oban. This was held on Sunday 21st September and was attended by over 200 people of all ages. Lock-In The annual Lock-in at Atlantis, organised by H2O, took place on 24th November. S1 pupils get the opportunity to spend the whole night at Atlantis where they can take part in a whole range of activities and try and stay awake until the morning. 134 young people attended. Contact: Maureen Evans, Youth Work Lead Maureen.evans@liveargyll.co.uk (21 hours per week, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday)