Live Argyll Community Learning Services - Adult Learning Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 27 August 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 27 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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MID ARGYLL Mid Argyll Community Learning & Employability Hub-The Mid Argyll Adult Learning Hub continues to run every Tuesday 10am-12pm in the MAYDS building, Lochgilphead and key partners attend weekly -Job Centre Plus/DWP and Carr Gomm. Adult Learning and regular partners provide information, learning, support, advice, and signposting related to employability, digital skills, further education, and various life challenges. Other partners including Advocacy Services, Occupational Health, Welfare Rights and Community Development link in and attend the service when appropriate or if a need is identified. ACHA have recently begun to attend the hub once a month, providing support and advice. Advocacy Services are also currently attending the hub weekly to promote their Recovery Project and reach the wider community. Balfour Beatty attended the hub recently providing SWAP placements and job opportunities to community members. 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 in order to move on to a positive destination. Importantly, the hub helps people who are attending in terms of reducing social isolation, building social skills, confidence, and self- esteem. The hub also provides a space for networking, developing relationships with both partners and learners. Mid Argyll Digital Skills for Life- Began on Monday 16th June 2025 and is held weekly from 10am-12pm at Lochgilphead Community Centre and will continue, as required, for people who want to improve their digital skills for everyday life and work. The session accommodates up to eight people and is relaxed, friendly, and the learning programme is tailored to the individual needs of those attending. Mid Argyll Let’s Grow Group The group continue to meet every Thursday 10am at Lochgilphead Community Centre. Learner’s attending are adults 18 – 65+ who are all disadvantaged in some way, in relation to their health and wellbeing. Those attending aim to improve their HWB and learning through participating in activities outdoor and in relation to nature, engaging in projects such as growing their own produce, outdoor skills and activities, art in nature and woodcrafts. The group are continuing work on the community centre garden shared space and are working to make it a vibrant space for our community. The group have worked hard as a team to clear the space and make it safe and are currently working on the raised beds and a small greenhouse space to grow vegetables, potato’s, salad, herbs and strawberries alongside creating a wildflower bed to support our bees and butterflies! The group aim to organise an afternoon tea to encourage new learners and community members, in the near future. Mid Argyll Women Coming Together- The group continue to meet every Wednesday 10-12pm in the MAYDS building, Lochgilphead and are currently enjoying their chosen summer activities. 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, to improve their wellbeing, learning, and development alongside connecting with other women through shared experiences and peer support. Please contact Linda.Tough@liveargyll.co.uk for any questions, comments, networking, or partnership working suggestions.
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Kintyre Adult Learning Kintyre Workshop /Hub The Kintyre Workshop / Hub is a welcoming space that runs every Thursday from 11 am to 1 pm, supported by our valued partners at Job Centre Plus. It is designed to provide adult learners with tailored guidance and up-to- date information about the local labour market, helping them understand opportunities available in the community and the skills employers are looking for. Community Learning works closely with each learner to support them through every stage of their journey towards finding and sustaining meaningful employment. As well as providing practical job search support — including CV building, application advice, and interview preparation — we place great importance on overall wellbeing. The Workshop offers a relaxed, safe environment where learners feel listened to, respected, and encouraged. We understand that confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging are just as important as qualifications when it comes to moving forward in life. Through this supportive setting, participants not only gain valuable employment skills but also build connections with others, share experiences, and develop a positive outlook on their futures. Whether someone is taking their first steps back into the world of work, exploring a career change, or seeking to strengthen their skills SQA Awards Our SQA Awards group has been working incredibly hard, and we’re proud to celebrate their recent successes. Learners have completed qualifications including Health and Wellbeing Levels 3 & 4, Communication Level 3, and Employability Level 4. Their dedication doesn’t stop there — many are continuing their lifelong learning journey by progressing to Level 4 Wellbeing and Level 4 Working with Others Awards. These achievements reflect not only the valuable skills they have gained, but also their commitment to personal growth, teamwork, and future opportunities. Digital Skills Identified Need Many adults in our community face digital exclusion due to lack of skills, confidence, or access. This affects their ability to apply for jobs and manage employment accounts, access government services such as Universal Credit., communicate with family, friends, and service providers and carry out essential online activities such as shopping and paying bills. The Digital Skills course will start running in Kintyre Community Centre in September with the aim to equip adults with limited or no digital experience with the skills and confidence to use mobile phones, tablets, and laptops for everyday tasks, communication, and employment-related activities. It will enable them to develop device skills (phones, tablets, laptops) Promote safe and secure internet use, build competence in email, apps, and online communication and support employability through job applications, CV creation, and online registrations Crafty Tuesdays Alzheimer’s Group
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In our local area, there were no activity-based support groups specifically tailored for adults living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. This lack of provision leaves many individuals and their families socially isolated, emotionally unsupported, and without access to meaningful engagement or peer connection. Crafty Tuesday runs for 3 hours every Tuesday and is designed especially for people living with Alzheimer’s. During each session, we offer a variety of games and activities to help stimulate memory, thinking, and communication. Throughout the session, we take part in memory-based activities like reminiscence discussions, where we talk about familiar topics, objects, or music from the past. We also sing together, which many people find uplifting and comforting. Light exercise is included to help keep the body moving in a safe and gentle way. We also play fun and familiar games such as bingo and quizzes, which encourage mental stimulation and group participation. We provide lunch, which gives everyone a chance to sit together, enjoy a meal, and have a friendly chat. This social time is just as important as the activities, helping to build confidence and connection, Families have noticed real changes at home. They have said their loved ones are in a better mood, more connected, and even excited about the sessions. Some look forward to Crafty Tuesday all week. Carers have also felt the benefits. Many say they feel less stressed and really value the chance to talk to others going through similar experiences. The sessions give them a break, some support, and a sense that they are not alone. Overall, these sessions are showing how simple, creative activities can bring joy, connection, and support to people living with Alzheimer’s and those who care for them. ‘’It means everything to Robert (Ron) as he never went out or was involved in very much before. It gets him involved with different people and he is using his brain more when doing the games and activities. This club has made a difference to Ron’s quality of life and to mine – He enjoys chatting and being with people and has grown in confidence. He is more willing to participate in games. It has given him a focus looking forward to being there’’. MR Please contact Dawn.Park@liveargyll.co.uk for any questions, comments, networking, or partnership working suggestions. .