COUNCILLORS have approved a plan aimed at helping improve the life chances of people in Aberdeen of all ages through learning, personal development and active citizenship.
The interim Community Learning and Development Plan 2024-25, submitted to the Education and Children’s Committee will continue with the work of the 2021-24 plan the impact of which in helping create stronger, more resilient, supportive, influential communities across the city, was also noted by councillors.
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Committee Convener, Councillor Martin Greig, said: Committee Convener, Councillor Martin Greig, said: “People in Aberdeen continue to face many challenges in their daily lives. There are serious economic pressures affecting so many households.
“The Community Learning and Development Plan offers a wide range of activities to support individuals and communities through tough times. The key aim is to bring people together and empower and encourage them with tools that can make a difference for the good.
“There is so much to do to improve wellbeing citywide. The plan is intended to help by offering positive solutions for working together and moving forward together.”
Vice Convener, Councillor Jessica Mennie, said: “Supported learning and wellbeing for people of all ages are vital cogs in helping our communities to become more resilient in the face of continued financial hardship in many instances.
“It was great to see so many examples of how Community Learning and Development Plan is having positive impacts on people’s lives and approving the 2024/25 will allow us to continue with this fantastic work.”
The achievements highlighted in the report achievements include:
- 96% of learners saying that their confidence has increased following engagement with family learning;
- Most learners on the two English for Speakers of other languages (ESOL) care courses run in partnership with Bon Accord Care securing paid placements;
- Working in partnership with SHMU (Station House Media Unit) so support 62 adults through personal challenges with 23 going on to secure positive destinations in education or employment;
- Funded Projects supported 686 volunteers who contributed 103,711 hours of volunteering time;
- Establishing three community resilience groups – in Cults, Culter and Bridge of Don – to support the communities in the face of adverse weather and other civil contingency events.
The 2024-25 interim plan will focus on areas including:
· Continued improvement of data sharing and joint planning between youth work and employability providers.
· Further development of multi-agency response to The Promise, including Edge of Care pilots as part of the Family Support model
· Further develop city wide CLD partners contribution to the Family Support Model and explore how commissioned services contribute to the Family Support Model
· Continued tackling of health inequalities through effective adult and family learning
· Ensuring there is sufficient input or influence from community representatives, young people and adult learners in CLD strategic planning.
In addition to approving the interim plan the committee also instructed the Chief Officer Education and Lifelong Learning to present an updated two-year Community Learning and Development Plan to the Education and Children’s Services Committee in September 2025.
