Adult Learning Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 30 August 2023
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 30 August 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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August 2023 CPP Update Lochside Enterprise Group The learners involved in this project are adults 18 upwards who are all disadvantaged in some way in relation to physical and mental disabilities, some requiring additional assistance from a support worker. This project was formed with learners and their staff who initially attended Mid Argyll Community Learning workshops in autumn 2022. Subsequently the people supported by Lochside Centre engaged in consultation with Adult Learning and from this it was established that the learners would like to engage in a project that would be practical in nature and adaptable to suit the diverse learning needs of those attending. After an initial six weeks of taster sessions the group continued to work with Adult Learning to develop an enterprise project with the aim of raising money to support their activities fund. The group recently worked together over a twelve week period to create various items to sell for their enterprise alongside organising a craft fair evening at their centre which was well attended by the community and they were successful in raising £285. Engagement in this project has allowed those involved to improve their wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem alongside developing core skills-communication, collaborative working, problem solving and planning and organising. After the success of their first craft fair the group have expressed feelings of achievement and motivation and have now begun planning their new enterprise schedule with Adult Learning and have confirmed their next craft evening date to be held in December. Community Learning Hub The Hub is continuing to operate successfully in partnership with Job Centre Plus and Skills Development Scotland. Partners from the wider community continue to utilise, signpost and refer to the service to enable the people they work with to move on positively for example Carr Gomm, Advocacy Services, Occupational Therapy and MAYDS. The Hub operates weekly to support and develop the learning of those attending to enable them to move forward in life, into employability, further learning, or other positive destinations. The Hub also continues to support people in terms of reducing social isolation and helping them to connect with the community, and attendees often drop in just to chat, get some advice, have a warm drink and stay to socialise with both peers and professionals alike. We also continue to support individuals from Ukraine who have relocated to our local area providing advice and sign posting to appropriate services. Additionally being able to access the SafelifeforDriving app has been a positive investment for the hub and Adult Learning currently work with leaners at present as they prepare for their theory tests. Finally our LA Volunteer for Digital Skills has been with us for six months now and is working 1:1 with two learners. Her time and skills are a great asset and we are able to support people which we would otherwise not be able due to limited capacity. Give Back Group The Give Back Group is based at the MS Argyll- Snowdrop Centre and the learners involved are adults with long term mental and physical health conditions. The group was identified following learners from the centre completing their SQA Health and Wellbeing Award. The group wanted to continue to improve and develop their learning and wellbeing by volunteering and giving back to their community through planning and organising fundraising activities for the MS Argyll-Snowdrop Centre and have been successful in raising money to date through crafting and creating themed pop up shops at the centre. The group’s motivation, planning, organisation and leadership skills have developed positively and this has given them the confidence boost they needed to now undertake an SQA Volunteer Award.
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Let’s Grow Group The Let’s Grow Group continue to meet every Thursday morning and learners attending are aged 18 – 65+, and take part in activities aimed at improving their learning and wellbeing inclusive of gardening, mindfulness, physical activity, arts and crafts. A core part of the groups learning continues to be in relation to growing their own food, which they are able to take home and also share with the community, and the group agree this is a definite benefit in respect of our current financial climate. They are committed to furthering their knowledge with their Adult Learning worker who works in partnership with ACT’s Blarbuie Rangers to support those attending to expand their learning further. Growing, maintaining and harvesting food has been a significant journey for participants who have really begun to demonstrate a genuine confidence in their abilities in this area, and now enjoy being able to share their learning and knowledge with new participants. The group are also more ready to try new techniques or experiment when it comes to growing and maintaining their crops. Most recently Adult Learning worked in partnership with ACT to provide a twelve week course of activities for the group and wider community. Learning activities included campfire cooking, woodcraft, willow wattle fencing, walking stick making, art in nature, bike repair and much more! Participants voiced that they felt feelings of achievement and that they had learned new skills, helping to build their confidence and improve their wellbeing. They also felt they had built relationships and trust alongside a stronger sense of community. The group’s achievements were marked as they each received a certificate from ACT and enjoyed a celebratory exhibition of their creations in the woodland. Health Wellbeing Network The HWB network is currently working with various partners in the community to develop a new community foodbank. MOMA and Community Development plan to attend the Mid Argyll Community Learning Hub to find out about what people think are the key characteristics of a new food share project. The steering group have now identified some potential premises, and the partners are working hard to ensure there is a good and sustainable solution. Library Funding Application Currently working in partnership with Lochgilphead Library to research and identify funding opportunities with the aim of developing the garden space at the community centre into suitable shared outdoor learning space