Live Argyll Community Learning Services - Adult Learning Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 5 November 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 5 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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Adult Learning Adult Learning continue to work with a wide range of partners to provide support to adults within the community to reduce unemployment, improve well-being, and promote lifelong learning. Adult Learning in Mid Argyll Skills for Life, Learning and Work: Mid Argyll Community Learning & Employability Hub- continues to run every Tuesday 10am-12pm in the MAYDS building, Lochgilphead. The hub is led by Adult Learning with partners attending weekly including Job Centre Plus/DWP and Carr Gomm. Together partners provide information, learning, support, advice, and signposting related to employability, digital skills, further education, and various life challenges. The Hub can have up to twenty people attending at one time who need assistance and learning in relation to building their core life and employability skills. Importantly, the hub is a place for people to connect and helps to reduce social isolation alongside building social skills, confidence, and self-esteem. Advocacy Services are currently attending weekly and ACHA monthly to provide advice and support and other partners including Occupational Health, Welfare Rights and Community Development link in and attend the service when appropriate or if a need is identified. Local Councillor, Jan Brown joined the Community Learning and Employability Hub on the 14th of October 2025 to listen to community views and concerns and plans to hold more councillor surgeries at the hub in the coming months. Mid Argyll Employability and Services Fair was held on the 21st October 2025 at Lochgilphead Community Centre, planned in partnership with JCP/DWP. There were eight services and employers in attendance to offer advice and opportunities to twenty-seven people from the local community. Digital Skills: Mid Argyll Digital Skills for Life- has been a success and is continuing, 10am-12pm every Monday at Lochgilphead Community Centre. Those attending are improving their digital skills for life and work as they engage in learning programmes tailored to suit their individual need. The learners enjoy the relaxed, friendly environment that in turn allows them to develop their communication and social skills as they interact and support each other on their learning journey. Once learners have completed their programme, they have the opportunity to progress on to accredited learning with one of the group members already feeling confident enough to move forward and undertake an SQA in Information Communication Technology 4. Out and About Digital Skills – Adult Learning and our new Digital Skills Volunteer provided a learning session at the MS Argyll- Snowdrop Centre on 28th October 2025 for one of their Health and Wellbeing
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Groups. Adult Learning were asked to provide a tailored session for the group of sixteen focused on improving confidence and knowledge in relation to online safety and using WhatsApp effectively as a group. Health and Wellbeing: Mid Argyll Let’s Grow Group continue to meet every Thursday 10am at the Lochgilphead Community Centre Garden space. Learner’s attending are adults 18 – 65+ who are all disadvantaged in some way, in relation to their health and wellbeing. The group are continuing to collaborate on the centre garden project and are working to make it a vibrant space for our community. They have worked hard as a team over the summer and into autumn to improve and maintain the space and to grow produce in the garden as they develop their learning and skills alongside improving their wellbeing through group participation in the outdoors. Mid Argyll Women Coming Together continue to meet every Wednesday 10-12pm, currently in Lochgilphead Community Centre. The group is aimed at women in our rural setting who are socially isolated, who face health and wellbeing challenges, and who want to connect with other women in Mid Argyll. The group are improving their wellbeing, learning, and development alongside engaging in peer support and shared life experiences. The group are currently working towards their Festive Fundraising project and members of the group recently attended Mental Health First Aid Training with their Adult Learning worker. Please contact Linda.Tough@liveargyll.co.uk for any questions, comments, networking, or partnership working suggestions. Adult Learning in Kintyre Well-being Crafty Tuesday occurs weekly from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Kintyre Community Centre. The group offers a crucial support network for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s, as well as their families and caregivers. This project creates a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment where participants can participate in meaningful activities, enjoy companionship, and feel a sense of community and belonging. Each week, participants engage in a variety of creative and social activities. These activities help stimulate memory and creativity, encourage social interaction, and enhance emotional well-being for everyone involved. Crafty Tuesday consistently provides comfort, connection, and joy to participants. It offers carers and family members valuable social support and gives those living with dementia opportunities to express themselves and connect positively with others in a relaxed, friendly environment. Forget Me Not Choir Project As part of my ongoing involvement with community wellbeing initiatives, I have been working alongside The Forget Me Not Choir to deliver a collaborative project aimed at supporting adults living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The Forget Me Not Choir was established in response to the increasing need for meaningful social and cognitive support for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia within our community. Research and experience have demonstrated that music can play a powerful role in stimulating memory, lifting mood, and enhancing communication — even when other forms of engagement become more difficult. Recognising this, the project was created to combine the
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therapeutic benefits of music with opportunities for social connection, gentle learning, and community inclusion. The Kintyre Choir started in September and meets every Thursday at the Kintyre Community Centre from 1.30 pm to 3.00 pm. Skills for Life Learning and Work SQA Awards As part of Adult Learning's commitment to personal development and lifelong learning, I continue to deliver SQA Awards in Wellbeing and Working with Others. These programmes aim to build confidence, resilience, and teamwork skills among participants through practical, learner-centred activities. The awards are delivered through a blended learning approach, combining group discussions, practical tasks, and reflective exercises. Learners are encouraged to explore and understand the importance of personal well-being, including emotional, social, and physical health. Develop effective communication and collaboration skills through shared projects and problem-solving activities. Learners have shown high levels of engagement and enthusiasm throughout the delivery. The inclusive and supportive environment has helped individuals to build confidence, express themselves, and work effectively as part of a team. The delivery of the Wellbeing and Working with Others awards has a positive impact on participants’ self-awareness, motivation, and interpersonal skills. Employability The Kintyre Workshop / Hub runs every Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Kintyre Community Centre. With support from Job Centre Plus, the workshop helps people looking for work or wanting to build skills. We offer practical help, including writing CVs and job applications, preparing for interviews, and sharing information about local jobs. Learners gain skills, confidence, and motivation. They also meet others, share experiences, and feel more positive about their future. The workshop helps people take steps towards work or personal development in a supportive environment. We also focus on wellbeing, giving participants a friendly, safe space where they feel supported, listened to, and respected. Digital Skills The Digital Skills Group has recently started and runs every Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Currently, 6 learners attend the sessions. The group provides a friendly and supportive space for adults to improve their confidence and ability in using digital technology. The group focuses on practical digital skills, including: • Online safety, such as recognising scams and keeping personal information secure • Basic computing, including creating, saving, and organising documents • Using apps and online services, such as online shopping, email, and video calls • Exploring the internet safely for information and everyday tasks Sessions are hands-on and interactive, allowing learners to practice skills in real time with guidance and support. Activities are tailored to the needs of the earners, ensuring everyone progresses at their own pace. The learners are enthusiastic and engaged, supporting each other and sharing tips, creating a collaborative and encouraging atmosphere. Please contact Dawn.Park@liveargyll.co.uk for any questions, comments, networking, or partnership working suggestions.