Community Learning & Development Partners Plan 2024—2027
Year 2 Review - 2026
Orkney’s 3 year partnership plan for Community Learning and Development (CLD) is produced by Orkney’s Community Learning & Development Partnership, which includes both public sector and third sector organisations, who are delivering CLD support and activities across Orkney.
The CLD Partners Plan 2024-27 sets out how CLD will be delivered across Orkney over a 3 year period, ensuring services are planned for and delivered in a joined up way.
Community learning and development (CLD) covers a broad range of practice including youth work, adult learning, family learning, volunteer and community development.
This leaflet details the progress made on the priority actions during year two of the CLD Partners Plan, from September 2025 - September 2026.
The current priority areas for the CLD Partners Plan 2024-27 are: Sustainable Development, Cost of Living, Local Equality, Health & Wellbeing and Workforce Development.
What is Community Learning and Development (CLD)?
CLD is a way of working with individuals and communities which helps support individuals and groups to address issues of importance to them and promotes learning and social development.
Significant progress
Significant progress has been made on many of the actions during the first year of the plan. From the 19 agreed actions, 09 have been completed (blue), 9 are on target to be completed on time (green), and 1 action is partially completed (amber).
Sustainable Development
- Promote and support community organisations to develop local action plans / development / Place Plans
2a. Undertake a strategic review of youth accreditation and awards offered by CLD partners to ensure effective delivery of appropriate awards based on need
2b. Work with Education and wider CLD partners to explore opportunities to better track the achievements of young people
2c. *Develop partnership solutions to reduce antisocial behaviour and keep the community safe through learning, early intervention and prevention approaches in the local community
3a. Development of the Adult Learning Forum to review and coordinate adult learning provision in Orkney
3b. Create a baseline and increase the wider accreditation opportunities for adults
3c. Develop opportunities for a collaborative adult returner learning programme
How does this plan link to Community Planning?
The CLD Partners Plan 2024-27 will focus on elements of each of the Community Planning Partnership priorities, each underpinning the importance of using CLD approaches to help address and progress these important areas of work.
Cost of Living
- Develop a partner’s baseline and increase free learning opportunities including delivery of life skills courses, financial literacies and budgeting support
Local Equality
5a. Promote and embed the continuous involvement of those with lesser heard voices and priority groups within consultation and in matters that affect them
5b. Provide strategic leadership and direction in the development of a relevant, coordinated and representative youth voice structure
- Work collaboratively to increase the opportunities for those in marginalised communities, including the ferry linked isles, to participate in training and development opportunities and reduce isolation
Health & Wellbeing
7a. Increase collaborative family support provision across Orkney
7b. Identify and test a shared approach to measuring improvements to mental health and wellbeing outcomes through CLD activity
*7c. Work with all partners, including the Integrated Joint Board, to deliver on the joint actions from the Orkney Physical Activity and Wellbeing Strategy
What is the CLD Partners Plan?
Orkney CLD Partners Plan is created by the Community Learning & Development Partnership, working with learners and communities.
It help partners plan together, avoid duplication, strengthen coordination and improve understanding of community needs.
Workforce Development
8a. Explore and expand opportunities and pathways into and within the CLD profession
8b. *Use different methods to increase awareness of the CLD sector and the outcomes that can be achieved through CLD delivery
9a. Undertake a training needs audit of the CLD sector
9b. Deliver a training programme for the CLD workforce and volunteers, based on needs identified through a training needs analysis
- Improve the quality of the data that we are sharing across the partnership to better understand local CLD needs and outcomes
It is clear that not all CLD needs can be met during the lifetime of this plan. Some recognised unmet needs are also included in the plan. Encouragingly much progress has been made even on these actions.
Unmet needs
- Develop partnership work with Housing partners to explore opportunities around tenant participation
- Creation of a collaborative family learning strategy and plan
- Increased access to affordable childcare including breakfast club and after school provision
- Climate challenge related opportunities and actions
The CLD Partners Plan has been updated for the final year of the cycle. All completed actions have been removed and remaining actions updated. No additional actions were added.
Want to know more?
A full copy of the CLD Partners Plan 2024-27 can be found at:
You can also pick up a copy from various locations including: Orkney Islands Council Customer Services, your local library or contact the CLD & Employability Service at Orkney Islands Council 873535, email cld@orkney.gov.uk or find us on Facebook @ communitylearninganddevelopmentorkney