Developing practice to meet the challenges set out in the Joint Statement
The WALT Challenge Fund ran from September 2009 to March 2011, inviting bids from Community Learning and Development (CLD) partnerships to develop ways of working that would address the Challenges set out in the Joint Statement.
The Scottish Government committed funding to this programme over 3 financial years in response to feedback from CLD partnerships regarding earlier grant programmes. This timescale enabled the partnerships to develop their projects over a longer period of time; allowing for a developmental stage, an implementation stage and, a period for embedding and disseminating their new practices.
This programme supported 17 projects, culminating in a celebratory conference on 9 March 2011 where the participating projects had the opportunity to share their new ways of working with other CLD partnerships.
A blog was set up for the conference in March 2011 and is now maintained by Education Scotland to encourage other partnerships to access the information on new working practices developed as part of the programme.
The 17 projects supported by the WALT Challenge fund were:
Community Capacity Building
Aberdeen City and Shire, "Defining and growing strong, resilient and supportive communities" . This project developed action research to identify current levels of community-based activity, mapped existing networks, and assessed feelings of local communities on various issues.
Glasgow, "Strengthening Glasgow's Communities". This project developed resources and tools for community capacity building; raised awareness of CLD at community planning level; held community capacity building practice support sessions; and developed resources to support voluntary and community groups.
Argyll and Bute, "Community Planning Links". This project developed a model of community representation to involve local communities and the Third Sector in the planning process.
Falkirk, "Making a Difference". This project sought to embed a further strategic partnership approach to CCB and to expand community involvement in planning and reporting.
City of Edinburgh "Changing the Community Landscape: West Edinburgh Regeneration". This project built up community networks so communities in West Edinburgh could influence proposed major physical changes in the area eg development of new roads and airport expansion.
Improving Outcome Focussed Practice
South Ayrshire, "Measuring the Difference Through Sustainable Partnership Evaluation". This project aimed to raise partnership awareness and to develop a strategic approach through training.
Stirling, "Working and Learning Together to find Stirling Solutions". This project developed a formal strategic review of the Stirling CLD strategy and developed a set of strategic priorities for Stirling.
East Ayrshire, "Evaluation of the 2008-2011 East Ayrshire CLD strategy and the development of the new strategy for 2011 onwards". This project developed a new CLD strategy and data gathering system to establish an outcome-focused approach to CLD delivery.
Inverclyde, "Singular Outcomes for CLD". This project brought Inverclyde Council and other partners and agencies together to refine compatible performance indicators and tools that would assist them to put effective mechanisms in place, enabling them to establish an outcome-focused approach to delivery.
Developing Performance Information
Perth and Kinross, "Learning Journey Passport" This project developed a resource that allows learners to record their progress in CLD learning and to have a reliable record of their achievements that could be used as evidence when needed.
East Lothian, "Going Live!". This project developed a web-based resource that enabled CLD partners to share management information and learning resources.
Equalities
Glasgow, "Glasgow's Learning About Equality (web-based tool kit)". This project developed a web-based equalities toolkit which enabled practitioners to access up-to-date and sound advice on working with equalities groups.
Perth and Kinross, "Making New Connections". This project used community capacity building approaches to create citizenship opportunities for people with learning disabilities.
East Renfrewshire, "Issues into Action". This project trained action researchers who supported people, to influence local services, in particular, people who were experiencing inequalities, such as disability, ethnic minority backgrounds etc.
Angus, "Working Together to Build Capacity". This project aimed to build more effective community capacity building practice with equalities groups across the partnership.
Workforce Development
North Alliance, "North Alliance CLD Training and Development Partnership". This project brought together several local authorities across the north of Scotland, who collaborated to develop a training strategy that met their particular needs. In particular, addressing the problems of remoteness and travelling long distances for training provision.
West Dunbartonshire, "Inspire - Community Training". This project developed a programme of training for community workers and volunteers which was accredited by the CLD Standards Council.
More detail and updates as well as the evaluation report, published August 2011, can be seen on the WALT Challenge fund blog.
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