Live Argyll Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 19 August 2025
Back to Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group — 19 August 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Classification: OFFICIAL Community Learning Services update August 2025 Adult Learning Provision Helensburgh We are currently delivering the majority of our Adult Learning Provision from the Live Argyll building at 59 West King Street. Please contact Caroline Whitson or Eileen Kay with any enquiries. Scottish Mental Health First Aid – We are delighted to be able to offer this exciting new course. Scottish Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA) is a nationally recognised course designed to give participants the knowledge, skills and confidence to support someone experiencing a mental health challenge. Grounded in Scotland’s Mental Health First Aid framework, the course takes a practical, stigma-reducing approach that empowers individuals to recognise early signs of distress, respond appropriately and signpost to the right support. This course is run over 2 days and can be organised either in our premises or in a venue of your choosing. This course is particularly suitable for anyone working or volunteering with their local community. Please contact Caroline Whitson for further information and to book a course. Health Issues in the Community (HIIC) – The current cohort with Jean’s Bothy is almost complete. Health Issues in the Community (HIIC) is a course that helps people understand what affects their health and the health of their communities. Run by tutors across Scotland, HIIC supports people of all ages to develop the skills and knowledge to address health issues using community development approaches. Short courses are available as well as the full SQA accredited course. HIIC Please contact Caroline Whitson with any enquiries. Learning Café – Learning and employability drop-in service every Wednesday afternoon at Live Argyll, 59 West King Street, Helensburgh. 1 -2.30. Suitable for all adults. Tea/coffee/ soup/biscuits. National Databank – Vodafone and O2 sim cards available with free calls, texts and data for up to 6 months. Available by arrangement with Caroline Whitson. Digital Device Lending Service – Now available - Chromebook devices are available, with or without mobile data, for adults aged 18 and over who have been referred by a partner agency. Lending period will be between 3 and 6 months. Regular attendance at The Learning Café is required as part of the lending agreement, as is registering with Learn My Way online learning. Referrals can be made directly to Caroline Whitson. Managing Your Money – New budgeting short course. New sessions will run regularly throughout the year in various locations. Please contact Caroline Whitson if you would like a course to run in your own premises. Adult Literacy and Numeracy support – A range of support for adults requiring help with reading, writing or numbers, including the innovative Citizen Literacy website. Conversation Café – General conversation with tea/coffee/biscuits in Helensburgh Parish Church Halls first Thursday of every month 10:15 – 11:15. Please contact Eileen for more information.
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Classification: OFFICIAL Jean’s Bothy – Digital Drop-in Service – for existing and new Bothy members. First Thursday of every month in Jean’s Bothy 2.30 -4.30. Digital Boost – Advanced IT Support group for learners who have previously attended Get IT Started. First Wednesday of each month in Live Argyll, 59 West King Street, Helensburgh. Contact: Caroline Whitson Caroline.Whitson@liveargyll.co.uk tel: 01436658707 Eileen Kay Eileen.Kay@liveargyll.co.uk tel: 01436658743 Update for Youth Work in H&L Helensburgh and Lomond Youth Action Group: 9 Young people took part in their Summer GIVE Programme where they climbed Ben Nevis, went camping on Bute with other AB Youth Action Groups, created a film for promotion material and took part in a litter pick at Rhu Point. They will now start to meet on Wednesdays from 4-6pm that will focus on future projects and consultations that will take place. Helensburgh and Lomond Youth Council: HLYC will have their first meeting on 27th of August from 4- 6pm and will meet monthly on the last Wednesday of every month. These meetings will be held on a hybrid basis so that young people from different youth organisations will be able to take part. For 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 of their area have. This will also give the young people to be 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). There is also a promotional video that the group would like to show to you as well. We will show this along with a longer presentation at the next CPG . Parklands Primary School Input: There will be a new pilot that will look to give the opportunity to pupils at Parklands Primary School to gain a Dynamic Youth Award through a year long project. This was discussed as a way to include the pupils of Parklands Primary School in our core offer and links in with Articles 28 and 29 of UNCRC (young peoples right to education and goals of education. Hermitage Academy: There will be several wider achievement courses that will start back in the new academic year. These courses will include Leadership Academy, Developing Leadership Skills,
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Classification: OFFICIAL Dynamic Youth & Youth Achievement awards, ASN Support and Health & Wellbeing Program. These courses will all be accredited and will also count towards all young people gaining a Saltire Award Contact: Thomas Guy-Conroy – Thomas.guy-conroy@liveargyll.co.uk