Giving local people skills for life
Midlothian Councillors have praised the progress made in helping local people build skills for learning, life, and work.
Efforts commended
Approving The Midlothian Community Learning and Development (CLD) Strategy and Plan for 2024-2027, councillors commended the efforts of the council’s Communities Lifelong Learning and Employability (CLLE) service, along with partners including the Third Sector.
Priorities for years to come
Councillor Ellen Scott, Cabinet Member for CLD, said: “The CLD Plan for 2024-2027 highlights the progress made since 2021 and sets out our priorities for the next few years. It’s great to see how we’re changing lives through youth work, adult learning, community development, and helping people become more employable.”
Key areas
The plan focuses on key areas:
- Encouraging more people to take part in CLD opportunities.
- Reducing poverty through CLD activities.
- Improving social interaction, health, and wellbeing.
- Creating more learning, personal development, and employment pathways.
- Making it easier for people to access online learning.
- Expanding climate change actions and outdoor space opportunities.
- Building the skills of the CLD workforce and volunteers.
Key achievements over the last three years:
- 15,769 learners engaged with the CLLE service
- 6,049 qualifications achieved by learners.
- 898 young people joined the Duke of Edinburgh Groups, with 490 qualifications earned.
- 495 courses offered, 80 of them accredited, with 1,263 adults attending paid adult learning classes.
- 4,172 adults and families participated in free community projects.
- 15,125 young people took part in youth work projects, with support for their learning and qualifications at Croft Street Hub and Loanhead Vocational Learning Centre.
- Over 500 volunteering sessions were delivered, with 119 young people regularly volunteering and 35 securing a qualification in volunteering.
- 2,436 people received one-to-one support from CLLE staff to build their skills.
- 583 people benefited from English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes.
- CLLE has supported a total of 214 community groups, with 696 activities recorded
The CLD Plan has now been approved by Midlothian Council and the Community Planning Partnership Board. Now that it has been fully endorsed, progress will be monitored and reviewed by the Community Planning Partnership, which draws together public, voluntary and private sector bodies, and local communities.