Item 8 - CPWD CLD Progress Report
West Dunbartonshire Council · 14 August 2025
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 14 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Report by Chief Officer Roads and Neighbourhood CPWD Management Board: 14th August 2025 ______________________________________________________________ Subject: Community Learning and Development (CLD) Progress Report 1. Purpose 1.1 CLD Regulations place statutory duties on local authorities to work with partners and communities to co-produce and secure the delivery of CLD in their area and publish a three-yearly CLD Plan. 1.2 This report provides a progress update on the CLD Three Year Plan 2024- 2027. 2. Recommendations 2.1 CPWD Management Board is asked to: Note and support the actions set within the plan. Partners are asked to commit support, and representation where appropriate, to the CLD Strategic Partnership, its associated themed groups and its aims. 3. Background 3.1 CLD is ‘a distinctive process of engagement and support, with a learning content that is negotiated with learners.’ ‘Community learning and development plays a central part in ensuring individuals, families and communities reach their potential through lifelong learning’. 3.2 The components of CLD consist of targeted support for disadvantaged individuals and groups centred around: Youth Work, Adult Learning and Community Development. 3.3 CLD is delivered by competent practitioners that know and understand the community they work in; provide learning and development opportunities, facilitate community empowerment; and develop and support collaborative and partnership working to evaluate and inform practice. ITEM 8
Page 2
3.4 This activity is set within a dynamic context with significant challenges around the availability of funding at a time when demand is increasing. This challenge may be offset with the emergence of opportunities that include, for example: Review of CLD Adult Learning Youth Strategy. Community Empowerment. Scottish Attainment Challenge. No One Left Behind. UK Shared Prosperity. 4. Main Issues 4.1 The CLD National guidance requires CLD activity to connect with Community Planning Objectives, aligning CLD with Scotland’s goals for jobs, growth and public service reform; emphasising improved life chances and adopting an evidence-based approach. 4.2 West Dunbartonshire Community Planning aims to achieve its vision: A great Place to live, work learn and visit through five Delivery Improvement Groups. (Nurtured, Flourishing, Safe, Independent, Empowered) 4.3 Community Learning and Development activity can contribute to the vision by addressing barriers to opportunity; improving life chances; promoting active citizenship; delivering community-led approaches and supporting local regeneration. 4.4 HIMe return visit (May 25) found ‘Strategic leaders have strengthened the governance of CLD and formalised partnership groups which is helping to bring clarity of focus to CLD. There are now clearer reporting arrangements and strengthened links with the West Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership (CPP) in place. These improvements have increased the visibility and understanding of CLD priorities and impacts, including with senior leaders. CLD Strategic partners have agreed strategic priorities in the CLD plan. They are proactive in gathering the views of learners and community members. The associated subgroups have developed action plans, which include measures of success.’ 4.5 HMIe urged the CLD Strategic Partnership to ‘work, as planned and at pace to continue to strengthen their collective decision making’. The structure of the CLD Strategic Partnership is illustrated below:
Page 3
5. Resource Implications 5.1 The CLD Strategic Partnership chaired by Working 4U has developed and published the 3 Year Plan for CLD. The Strategic Partnership will be undertaking self evaluation using the How Good Is Our CLD quality framework to measure progress against the shared outcomes agreed within year one of the 3 Year CLD Plan and reviewing and refining the actions for year two of the Plan. Education Scotland are supporting this work. 5.2 Each of the thematic groups supporting the CLD Strategic Partnership (Adult Learning Partnership chaired by W4U, Youth Alliance chaired by W4U and Community Empowerment chaired by West Dunbartonshire Council for Voluntary Services) have specific priorities that have been developed through experience of delivery, research, consultation with key stakeholders, learning providers and learners. Evaluation against agreed outcomes and actions is planned for September 25 in line with the end of the first year of the 3 Year Plan. We have captured the CLD Three Year plan aims, objectives and approaches in a ‘one-page plan’ to summarise the complexity of the task and breadth of input. Community Learning and Development Strategic Partnership Lead Group Adult Learning Partnership Youth Alliance Community Empowerment Delivery Improvement Group Community Planning Partnership - West Dunbartonshire Board Flourishing, Nurtured, Empowered, Safe, Independent
Page 4
CLD Plan Objectives and Approach West Dunbartonshire Community Planning Partnership (WDCPP) Vision: A Great Place to Live, Work and Visit. Flourishing, Independent, Nurtured, Empowered and Safe West Dunbartonshire Community Learning and Development Partnership will ensure CLD Services in West Dunbartonshire contribute to the WDCPP vision by improving life chances for people of all ages, through learning, personal development and active citizenship. The partnership will also support stronger, more resilient, influential and inclusive communities. Our approach will focus on early intervention to promote equality and ensure learners and communities contribute to the planning do this within partnership service delivery groups that focus on the components of Community Learning and Development to ensure focus on empowerment, skill development and appropriate resources are available… Community Development Alliance Co-ordinating the priorities and delivery of community engagement that contributes to skills, for life and learning. Focus on • community empowerment and development • Community engagement and representation • Setting standards and Volunteer development Youth Alliance Co-ordinating the priorities and delivery of community-based youth learning that contributes to skills, for life, learning and work. Focus on: • Health and wellbeing. Participation and empowerment. Successful learning • Youth Inclusions and Representation. • Youth Safety and Employability. Adult Learning Partnership Co-ordinating the priorities and delivery of a community-based adult learning that contributes to skills, for life, learning and work. Focus on: • Expanding learning. • Supporting the adult learning journey. • Access, Diversity and Inclusion • Staff and volunteer development. We will know we are successful with our approach when learners and community members can say they: I feel more confident and empowered to make decisions about my community and learning pathway. I have access to resources and opportunities that match my learning goals and ambitions. I feel valued and supported by the learning community and learning staff. I can see clear improvements in my skills and knowledgeand I understand how these apply to my personal, family and community life. We will demonstrate progress and success by… Producing Periodical Reports: • Quarterly Reporting • Annual Reporting Gathering and Recording Key Progress data. CLD Managers Scotland Indicators, for example… • Number participating in Learning Activities • Number from specific target groups • Number securing recognised qualifications • Number of groups receiving community capacity building support Gathering and Compiling Learner Testimony. • Self-assessment • Consultation • Case Studies
Page 5
5.3 The production of the CLD Three Year Plan means that we are compliant with the legislation that requires the Education Authority to demonstrate how the CLD partnership will co-ordinate the provision of CLD while considering key national strategies such as the Adult Learning, Youth Work and Community Empowerment strategies and Community planning. 5.4 The development of the CLD Strategic Partnership reinforces that requirement by establishing an approach that allows us to take effective action at the local level to address the specific challenges we face in West Dunbartonshire. 5.5 The CLD Strategic Partnership have agreed a range of shared outcomes for the 3 Year plan and pentana will be used to capture key performance indicators. 5.6 These indicators will be refined through evaluation of progress in year one and adopted in the forthcoming year, where appropriate. These indicators include: CLD Outcome 1: CLD participants have increased skills and knowledge KPI 1: Number of adults participating in CLD activity 1a. Number of ESOL learners participating in CLD 1b. Number of Literacy learners participating in CLD 1c. Number of adults participating in Family Learning CLD Outcome 2: CLD participants have improved mental health and wellbeing KPI 5: Number of adults with improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes through CLD activity KPI 6: Number of children and young people with improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes through CLD activity 6a. Number of children with improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes through CLD activity 6b. Number of young people with improved mental health and wellbeing outcomes through CLD activity CLD Outcome 3: Community groups have strengthened their capacity to address their own priorities and make decisions about their own communities KPI 7: Number of community groups receiving capacity- building support through CLD activity KPI 8: Number of adults and young people taking part in influence and engagement activity through CLD KPI 9: Number of volunteers hours contributed to support CLD delivery
Page 6
6. Financial Implications 6.1 The delivery of the CLD plan aims and objectives is set within the context of existing budgets and approaches. There are no additional financial implications. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 The production of the CLD Three Year Plan addresses the risk of non- compliance with legislation that requires its production. The establishment and effective working of the partners within the CLD Strategic Partnership have collectively addressed issues raised from Education Scotland’s Review of Progress visit (April 24) and we are in a strong position to meet the demands of any future inspection based on the How Good is Our Community Learning and Development Framework. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 An EIA scoping exercise will be undertaken for Year 2 of the 3 Year CLD Plan. 9. Consultation 9.1 This report provides a summary of the progress made by the Strategic Partnership for CLD during the first year of the 3 Year CLD Plan. 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 Progressing work as outlined in this report ensures CPWD can deliver on the outcomes set in the Local Outcome Improvement Plan. Gail MacFarlane Chief Officer Citizen, Roads and Neighbourhoods 31/7/25 ______________________________________________________________ Person to Contact: Stephen Brooks, Working4U Manager, Stephen.brooks@west- dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Background Papers: Wards Affected: All Wards