Community Learning and Development in Scotland and internationally: literature review - plain language summary

1. Introduction

Community Learning and Development (CLD) provides learning opportunities for people who may find it difficult to get into learning.

The Independent Review of CLD looked at how CLD can best support learners. It began in December 2023 and completed in June 2024.

The independent reviewer is Kate Still. Kate has a passionate desire to make a difference on poverty and equality issues.

This document is a literature review which looks at CLD in Scotland and around the world.

We looked at research and evidence about CLD.

We considered these questions:

• What works and doesn’t work for CLD in Scotland?
• What is the impact of CLD in Scotland?
• What could be done to improve CLD in Scotland?
• What can be learned from CLD outside Scotland?

These are the things about CLD that we wanted to know:

• How much learners know about CLD.
• Availability and how easy it is to take up learning in CLD.
• The learning and support provided in CLD.
• How easy it is to move onto new and other learning opportunities in CLD.

This literature review presented information and evidence about:

• CLD learners.
• The CLD workforce.
• Challenges.