Learning: For All. For Life. A report from the Independent Review of Community Learning and Development (CLD) – Learners Summary

3. What did the Review find out?

FOR LEARNERS

Feedback told us that CLD can have a positive impact for learners. For example:

• Increased confidence.
• Better health, including mental health.
• Help young people feel safer, older people feel less isolated and New Scots to feel more of a part of their community.
• Safer communities.

Leaners reported learning new skills:

• Reading.
• Writing.
• Counting.
• Using a computer.
• New life skills such as cooking, budgeting or driving.
• Learning or improving English language skills.

Things that helped learners to participate in CLD include:

• Flexibility.
• Kind and trusted staff.
• Somewhere safe to learn, near where you live.

Learners can experience a wide range of barriers, which might prevent them from participating in CLD.

People who experienced inequality, poverty, lack of public transport, lack of confidence or having had previous negative experiences in education found it difficult to take up learning in CLD.

FOR THE CLD SECTOR

There is limited funding for CLD organisations in Scotland.

There needs to be strong leadership, good service delivery and better ways of collecting information to help improve services.