Live Argyll Community Learning Services - Adult Learning Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 5 February 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 5 February 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 Kintyre and Mid Argyll Adult Learning Kintyre and Mid Argyll 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. Kintyre Community Learning Hub The Learning Hub continues to offer a wide range of support for adults who often have multiple barriers to securing and maintaining employment. Supported by partners from Jobcentre plus & Inspiralba we provide a welcoming environment where individuals can get support with IT, Job search activities, information and advice on budgeting, pensions and benefits, and advice on funding for training and free accredited learning courses. Our one- stop-shop approach is tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. We are committed to promoting skills for life, learning, and work, empowering individuals to achieve their personal and professional goals 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 Alzheimers 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. Mid Argyll Community Learning Hub The Mid Argyll CL Hub continues to operate successfully with key partners attending weekly -Job Centre Plus/DWP and Carr Gomm. Adult Learning and regular partners provide information, learning, support, advice and sign-posting in relation to employment, life skills, digital skills, further education and various life challenges. Other partners e.g. Advocacy Services, Occupational Health, Welfare
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Rights and Community Development link in and attend the service when appropriate or if a need is identified. The Mid Argyll Adult Literacy Worker attends the hub alongside the Adult Learning Worker to identify literacy learners and offering 1:1 support. The hub compromises of regular registered services users and drop-ins and also provides a space for networking, building relationships with partners and learners, reducing social isolation, building social skills, confidence and self-esteem. Self-Advocacy Skills Workshops- Advocacy Skills workshops delivered in December 2024 and our next will be in March 2025. We have been working in partnership with Lomond and Argyll Advocacy Services to support adult learners from Mid Argyll to develop their learning, confidence in this area with the aim of giving learners a stronger voice in their life and work. Health and Wellbeing- Let’s Grow Group Learners attending are aged 18 – 65 who are all disadvantaged in some way, in relation to their health and wellbeing. Learners aim to improve their HWB through participation in activities outdoors and in relation to nature. Learners engage in projects such as gardening-growing their own produce, outdoor skills, activities, art in nature and woodcrafts. Most recently the group took part in a learning programme with Kilmartin Museum and outdoor ranger, alongside a series of educational walks and associated art in nature projects. The group are currently finishing their art works and are looking forward to using the skills they gained to volunteer for the Community Centre garden project. Health and Wellbeing- Give Back Group Accredited Learning The Give Back Group learners have recently completed their SQA Volunteer Award Level 4. All attending have long-term health conditions and attend the Argyll MS Centre. The Give back Group will continue to give back to their community with Adult Learning and volunteer in the wider community. Now that they have attained their SQA’s they have gained more confidence to plan for a new project where they will take on more leadership and responsibility. The group are currently sharing ideas and inspiration for a new project- watch this space! Digital Skills The Community Learning Hub continues to support people to develop their digital skills. Individuals attend on a drop-in basis and we also have regular learners receiving 1:1 support from the Adult Learning Worker, our Digital Skills Volunteer and Literacy worker Digital Skills for Life an Initial six weeks of sessions with a view to continuing. This will be for people in the Mid Argyll community who want to improve their digital skills for everyday life. We aim to begin these relaxed, friendly sessions at the beginning of March. Sessions will be tailored to the needs of those attending; learning and support will be provided by the Adult Learning Worker and Digital Skills Volunteer Your Voice Community Centre Garden project- Adult Learning had spent a significant amount of time in 2024 consulting with learners, the community and working in partnership with the After School Club and Library in order to develop the community centre garden into a shared green space. However this has
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been on hold due to Community Centre repairs which are now complete! We are now awaiting confirmation to go ahead with the garden project. We hope to begin work in the spring as soon as possible. As mentioned above the Let’s Grow group will utilising their gardening skills to develop and maintain the space on a weekly basis. LGBTQ+Mid Argyll Adult Learning is working in partnership with area wide colleagues from both Youth Services and Adult Learning to plan, organise and deliver our third LGBTQ+ community engagement event with Oban Pride. With a very successful event in Kintyre last summer our third is being held in Dunoon. The event encourages young people, families and adults to attend to learn, connect and celebrate, and also provides a great opportunity for community voices to be heard on the subject, engagement and consultation