Live Argyll Community Learning Services Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 7 May 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 7 May 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 LiveArgyll Update Health and Wellbeing Following the successful completion of the Lowland Leader training by staff members in Kintyre and Mid Argyll, we are now in a strong position to safely and confidently introduce structured walking activities. These walks will be designed to support the health and wellbeing of our learners, enhancing both their physical and mental wellbeing in a safe, inclusive, and engaging way. Rainbowfest 2025 - Community Learning are working in partnership with Oban Pride to organise our third Rainbowfest after two successful events held in Mid Argyll in 2023 and then Kintyre in 2024. Rainbowfest is a day of celebration and diversity, and is free and open to all including families, adults, young people, and LGBTQ+ allies. Event details are as follows: Rainbowfest 14th June 2025 11am-3pm Queens Hall Dunoon MID ARGYLL Mid Argyll Community Learning Hub-The Mid Argyll Adult Learning Hub continues 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 e.g. 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 confirmed they now also hope to attend regularly. The Hub compromises of regular registered services users and drop-ins and can have up to twenty learners attending at one time who need assistance and learning in relation to building their core/life/employability skills -moving onto a positive destination. The Hub importantly also provides a space for networking, building relationships with partners and learners, reducing social isolation, building social skills, confidence and self-esteem. Mid Argyll Self-Advocacy Skills Workshops-Mid Argyll Adult Learning has been working in partnership with Lomond & Argyll Advocacy Services to provide Self-Advocacy Skills sessions. Seven learners from Mid Argyll completed the course successfully in March. Thanks to Lomond & Argyll Advocacy Services for helping our learners have a stronger voice and for making the sessions such a worthwhile experience for all involved!
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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 have now begun work on the community centre garden shared space and are working to make it a vibrant space for our centre users and partners -Library and After School Club. Lots of hard work to begin to clear the space and make it safe, and the group are currently underway with preparing raised beds and planters. The group are very motivated and using all the skills they have learned to work as a great team. Mid Argyll Women Coming Together- A new group just started in March 2025 and has been developed with three Learners who recently completed their accredited learning, achieving a SQA Volunteer Award 4 with Adult Learning. A great achievement for three ladies who all live with long-term health conditions. The group is aimed at women who want to improve their wellbeing, learning and development through connection with other women in Mid Argyll. The group aim to identify women in our rural setting who are socially isolated and who may face health and wellbeing challenges. The group meet every Wednesday 10-12pm in the MAYDS building, Lochgilphead and are currently working on creating a spring/summer timetable of activities and learning events tailored to suit their interests and needs. Mid Argyll Digital Skills for Life- Initial six weeks of sessions with a view to continuing long term. For people who want to improve their digital skills for everyday life. We aim to begin these relaxed, friendly sessions which will be tailored to the needs of those attending. We had originally hoped to begin this at the beginning of March, however we have been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances but hope to have sessions up and running by end of May 2025. Please contact Linda.Tough@liveargyll.co.uk for any questions, comments, networking, or partnership working suggestions. KINTYRE Kintyre Community Learning Hub The Learning Hub continues to play a vital role in supporting adults who face multiple and complex barriers to securing and maintaining employment. Through a combination of targeted support, a welcoming environment, and strong partnerships, we are helping individuals build the confidence and skills they need to move forward. Our Approach With support from key partners, including Jobcentre Plus and Inspiralba, we have developed a one-stop shop model of support. This approach ensures that each individual receives personalised assistance tailored to their circumstances, strengths, and goals.
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Our services include: • Digital Support: Assistance with IT skills and navigating online systems. • Employment Readiness: CV building, job search support, and application guidance • Financial Advice: Information on budgeting, pensions, benefits, and available training funds • Learning Opportunities: Access to free accredited courses and skills development aligned with current job market needs Our work is centred on promoting skills for life, learning, and work. We empower individuals by helping them overcome barriers, grow in confidence, and pursue sustainable personal development pathways. In April, we are proud to report that three of our learners have successfully gained employment, a testament to their dedication and the targeted support provided through the Learning Hub. Kintyre Accredited Learning Currently supporting five adult learners to achieve Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) accreditation in a variety of subjects. These subjects include Employability, Communications, Health and Wellbeing, and Working with Others. Providing our learners with the tools to achieve these qualifications will empower them to enhance their skills, build confidence, and achieve recognised qualifications that support personal development. Health and Wellbeing – Kintyre Adult Learning and Mari Allibone Alzheimer's Scotland The partnership is focused on creating a safe and supportive environment for adults living with Alzheimer’s disease. By working together, the initiative aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer’s. The primary objective of this collaboration is to provide a secure and welcoming environment where individuals with Alzheimer’s can feel safe, supported, and engaged. This is achieved through structured activities designed to promote memory retention, cognitive stimulation, and emotional well-being. The group continues to grow in numbers due to the lack of provision for the individuals and provides much-needed respite for family members. The partnership is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for adults living with Alzheimer’s disease. Recognising the significant gap in provision for individuals affected by this condition, our collaborative initiative is focused on enhancing quality of life through meaningful engagement and person-centred care. The primary goal of the partnership is to provide a secure and welcoming space where individuals with Alzheimer’s can feel safe, supported, and included. We aim to: • Promote memory retention through reminiscence activities and interactive sessions • Encourage cognitive stimulation with games, puzzles, and creative arts • Support emotional well-being through gentle routines, social interaction, and compassionate care • Offer respite for family members and carers, helping to reduce stress and provide essential time for self-care
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Our programme is built on structured, thoughtfully designed activities that respond to the unique needs of each participant. These include: • Music and movement sessions • Arts and crafts • Gentle physical activities • Storytelling and memory sharing The group continues to grow in numbers, a clear reflection of the lack of local provision and the increasing demand for supportive services for individuals with Alzheimer’s. Feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the consistency, care, and sense of relief that the group provides. In addition to improving the day-to-day lives of participants, the initiative offers vital respite for family members and carers. This partnership demonstrates the power of community collaboration in addressing a significant gap in care. By continuing to work together, we can ensure that individuals living with Alzheimer’s are not only supported but are given the opportunity to thrive in an environment that values dignity, connection, and quality of life. Please contact Dawn.Park@liveargyll.co.uk for any questions, comments, networking, or partnership working suggestions. Kintyre Youth Work Kintyre Youth Action Council The Kintyre Youth Action Council held their inaugural sitting in February this year, marking the beginning of a new chapter for youth voice and participative democracy for local young people moving forward. The new model has been completely designed by the young people themselves in collaboration between Kintyre Youth Action Group and Bute Youth Action Group, and it is hoped that this model can soon be rolled out across Argyll and Bute. The young people from both the Campbeltown and Tarbert areas of Kintyre met three times during their youth led February sitting to discuss issues important to local young people. The main topics they decided to focus on were mental health, vaping/drugs and alcohol, and transport. The group discussed the issues, identified possible solutions, and then shared their concerns and ideas with local Councillor’s John Armour and Anne Horn who came to listen to their concerns during the final meeting of the sitting. The group were also supported and represented by Alasdair Paisley MSYP. Huge thanks must go to both Councillor’s John Armour and Anne Horn for coming along and supporting the group to have their voices heard. The group are now looking forward to developing their model at their next sitting planned for June/July this year. If any relevant organisations would like to come along and consult with the group during their next sitting, please contact jamie.titterton@liveargyll.co.uk for more information.
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Kintyre Youth Action Group Trips In further developing their new youth voice model, lead members of the Kintyre and Bute Youth Action Group’s travelled to Aberdeen to meet with the award-winning Aberdeen Youth Voice Movement. The group spent time getting to know the AYM, taking part in activities, and taking part in workshops delivered by AYM to learn from their experiences, both positive and negative, in developing their youth voice model. The groups will now take what they have learned forward to further improve their own model to help bring about positive change for local young people in Argyll and Bute. In celebration of all their hard work developing their youth voice model, the Kintyre Youth Action Group then took part in a trip to Glasgow the following week where they experienced city life and took part in fun activities to support their health and wellbeing.
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Other Recent Action Group Work In addition to setting up their local youth voice model, the Kintyre Youth Action Group has recently been taking part in workshops and consultations to support the Scottish Government on their ‘Just Transition’ plan to net zero, as well as working with young people from the Scottish Youth Parliament to provide a regional voice on the NSPCC’s current Child Safety online campaign. As such, the work of the Youth Action Group ensures local youth voices are heard at national, as well as local levels. Friday Night Street Sports 2025 The third annual Friday Night Street Sports Programme ran throughout February and March of 2025. Delivered by Active Schools and liveArgyll Youth Work, in partnership with Campbeltown Grammar School, The Hub, KADAS, Police Scotland and many others. The programme was once again a huge success, with a record number of sign-ups, the programme was the biggest yet and engaged 45 young people in a variety of non-competitive sports activities at a time of the weekend when young people need more positive structured activities. Sports included football, touch rugby, swimming, rounders, lawn bowls, boxing, boccia, and others, and each session was completed by a visit from a local service to engage and speak about their work, as well as to develop relationships with local young people to make them more accessible. Visiting services included Police Scotland, Argyll and Bute Women’s Aid, Fire Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, the Coastguard, and local Lifeboat crew. During the Easter holidays the young people were taken to Glasgow for a day trip of activities to celebrate engaging so positively in the programme. A huge thank you must go to all the partners involved, and especially the Campbeltown Community Council who provided funding for the programme through the Campbeltown Community Windfarm Fund.
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Wider Achievement in Schools We continue to support groups of young people in schools to gain wider achievement awards for their extra-curricular and skills development work. Young people in Islay High School have recently completed a wider achievement programme and will soon gain Youth Achievement Award’s for their work at level 4, and young people in Tarbert Academy will soon gain Dynamic Youth Awards as part of their ongoing volunteering programme. Please contact Jamie.titterton@liveargyll.co.uk for any questions, comments, networking, or partnership working suggestions.