UNDESD - Community Learning and Development
Learning for Change is the Scottish Government's Action plan for the United Nations Decade for Education for Sustainable Development (UNDESD). The UNDESD action plan is being developed by the three strands of education (the other two being Schools and Universities and Colleges).
The UNDESD aims to promote education as a basis for moving towards a sustainable society and to integrate sustainable development into education at all levels and all areas of life including communities, the workplace and society in general.
There has been a growing recognition over the first five years of the UNDESD that more can be done to help community groups to learn about sustainable development and how they can actively contribute towards it. In this new Learning for Change Action Plan, we are reaffirming that education for sustainable development is not restricted to the formal education sector but can - and must - play a substantial role in Community Learning and Development.
Over the next four years (2011 to 2014) we aim to establish more of a focus on linking Community Learning and Development with Education for Sustainable Development, on growing the capacity of Scotland's communities to help them move towards living sustainable lives and to building the necessary networks and support that will be needed to achieve this.
Community Learning and Development
The key policy for CLD is Working and Learning Together to build stronger communities (WALT) which identifies priorities for CLD:
Achievement through learning for adults
Achievement through learning for young people
Achievement through building community capacity
These priorities were re-affirmed by the Joint Statement on Community Learning and Development.
More information on CLD Policy can be found on the CLD Policy Links page.
There are many good examples of where CLD has been working well over the first five years of the UN Decade including:
Climate Challenge Fund The Climate Challenge Fund (CCF) has made it possible for communities all over Scotland to work together and come forward with their own solutions for reducing carbon emissions and helping Scotland achieve its ambitious climate change targets. The CCF was launched in June 2008 with a budget of £24.7m over the three financial years 2008 -11. To date the fund has supported around 250 communities to cut their carbon emissions. Carbon reduction must be at the heart of every proposal put forward for funding, and the community must be at the centre of all decision-making. Projects to date have involved a huge range of themes, from helping communities to use less energy, to encouraging more walking and cycling, to producing, selling and buying local food. Some also have environmental, social and economic dimensions, aimed at developing new skills, improving health, helping community members to work together or providing better community facilities. |
Ormlie Community Association Ormlie is a housing estate within the town of Thurso in Caithness. In 1999, the residents grouped together to initiate a programme of redevelopment and regeneration for their area aimed at tackling issues including the impact of high unemployment, low incomes, a lack of facilities for children and young people. This has been a hugely successful community project, which has attracted funding and interest from various sources, leading to the construction of a new community centre and play area for children, as well as other developments. One of the key elements of the Ormlie redevelopment has been a sustainable energy project. Householders have been given energy-saving tips, low energy light bulbs and other low energy gadgets, leading to a reduction in energy bills and fuel debts. |
Moving forward
In the second half of the UNDESD, we aim to build on the momentum that has been created so far within the CLD field. We want to see a Scotland where:
learning for sustainable development supports action for change;
young people can learn about sustainable development through all aspects of their lives - in and out of school;
communities have opportunities to learn more about the sustainable development issues that concern them;
communities use their learning about sustainable development to help them shape the future.
The Scottish Government and key partners have been working together to take forward a series of actions to improve the part that CLD plays in Education for Sustainable Development in Scotland.
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