Making a difference in Scotland’s communities

The report was published on 9 September and  is based on a significant range of inspections on local authority and voluntary sector CLD providers across all of Scotland over the last five years.It is the first time HMIE has published a ‘state of the nation’ report on CLD.  The Scottish approach of bringing together youth work, adult learning and community development into CLD,which in the other countries of the UK are separate professions, means that this is an unprecedented national overview of  practice and
policy implementation.

the report seeks to empower CLD providers and communities by:
* improving the quality of practice through exchange of good practice. The report contains numerous examples of good practice drawn from HMIE reports
* further supporting self-evaluation and quality assurance processes that empower young people, adults and community /voluntary organisations
* providing an independent and central source of information about CLD practice and implementation of policy on the ground in Scotland’s communities and the present state of development of CLD in Scotland.

The reports’ key messages are that:
CLD is a significant element of the Scottish education system and within community regeneration activities.  It has emerged in the new millennium as an area of practice that cuts across the boundaries of institutional provision and puts communities at the heart of the learning and development agenda.

There is much good practice in CLD in Scotland – this is often sector leading in the UK and Europe.

The ‘reach’ and impact of CLD has significantly diversified.  Whereas community education was primarily regarded as a discreet local authority service, sometimes working in partnership with the voluntary sector, CLD is a practice and an approach that is now used by an increasing range of practitioners in voluntary and community organisations, in community health and health promotion, community enterprise,schools, housing, culture, sport, and further education.

However, there is too much variation in the overall performance of authorities and their partners and also variation in performance within the CLD national priorities.”

I have attached a copy of the report for you and the URL is: http://www.hmie.gov.uk/documents/publication/Making%20a%20difference%20in%20Scotland’s%20communities%202007.pdf