Greater Easterhouse Community Learning Plan
Introduction
Greater Easterhouse is one of the two pilot areas in Glasgow where
a Community Learning Plan has been developed within the context
of the citywide Community Learning Strategy. The Greater Easterhouse
Community Learning Plan spans a 3 year period from 2001 –
2004 and includes measures that contribute to lifelong learning,
promote social inclusion and the development of individuals and
strong communities.
Greater Easterhouse Partnership’s Education and Lifelong
Learning Working group has coordinated the development and implementation
of the plan, along with the involvement and support of a wide
range of organisations active in Greater Easterhouse.
The purpose of the plan is to improve the coordinated planning
and delivery of learning activities, and to increasingly improve
the scope and responsiveness of community learning to those most
socially excluded and disengaged from the learning process
Since the original plan was developed, the Scottish Executive
has produced updated guidance on Community Learning and Development
and Glasgow City Council has updated its Community Learning Strategy.
The Challenge for the Partnership is to develop
a revised Community Learning Plan during 2004/05 which:
Takes account of the national
and city strategies;
Provides continuity;
Builds on the success of the Greater Easterhouse
Learning Network and Adult Literacies Project;
Addresses the action points from the HMIE evaluation
report of community learning and development in Greater Easterhouse;
and
Integrates with recent developments in youth
issues and the revision of the Social Inclusion Partnership strategy;
For more information about the Greater Easterhouse
Community Learning Plan or the Education and Lifelong Learning
Working Group contact:-
Alan Inglis, Assistant Principal
John Wheatley College
Tel: 0141 588 1500
Jonathan Brown, Partnership Manager
Greater Easterhouse Partnership
Tel: 0141 771 9338
Greater Easterhouse Learning Network
The Greater Easterhouse Learning Network is a major strategic
vehicle for delivering the Greater Easterhouse Community Learning
Plan. GELN is the physical and electronic network which supports
lifelong learning and community development in Greater Easterhouse.
Its objectives are:
To play a strategic and enabling role in the
regeneration of Greater Easterhouse;
To provide high quality community-based access
to on-line and other learning resources, which will enable young
people and adults to participate in lifelong learning; and to
address serious local issues related to the lack to basic skills
(in literacy, numeracy and information and communication technology
skills) and low-levels of certification and achievement;
To enhance the capacity of community organisations
to respond to community needs and aspirations;
To provide access to a wide range of community
information through the community portal;
It consists of 14 learning centres with broadband Internet access
through John Wheatley College. The eventual target is 21 learning
centres.
The network provides:
Access to college email services for 3,500 Greater
Easterhouse and John Wheatley College learners;
Access to Internet services for everyone in Greater
Easterhouse;
Access to IT skills development support for everyone
in Greater Easterhouse;
Access to literacy skills development support services
for everyone in Greater Easterhouse;
An integrated local information service (the
Pathfinder Website) – providing:
Information services supporting local community organisations
and development agencies;
Access points directly provided through 160 learning centre PCs,
touch screens kiosks at strategic points, and indirectly through
the community representatives' project
A local starting point for Internet services
A publishing reference point for local groups (e.g. the Tronda
History Project)
For information about the learning network and a wealth of other
services supporting the development of Greater Easterhouse and
its residents, please contact:-
Craig Green
Greater Easterhouse Learning Network Manager
John Wheatley College
Tel: 0141 588 1500
Capacity Building / Community Engagement
The Community Support Service has now been established
for 3 years and operates across the 3 suburbs of Greater Easterhouse.
Regular meetings are held at suburb and neighbourhood level involving
local people, agencies, organisations and projects. These meetings
aim to enable all partners to communicate and participate in decision
making. The Service works with Community Representatives to disseminate
information in a variety of ways including by post, email and
the Internet: www.communitysupport.org.uk.
This involves working closely with the Greater Easterhouse Learning
Network to provide training and support to the community representatives
in IT skills. The Service, in conjunction with Community Connections
plans to increase support to community representatives, volunteers
and locally managed learning centres in the coming year.
Since 1996, Community Connections has been reaching out into the
local community to encourage local people to take up and sustain
learning opportunities. In partnership with local community groups
and organisations the project aims to promote individual achievement
and increase community involvement.
The projects SVQ Level 2 Community Development Work programme
offers participants the opportunity to develop skills and raise
awareness to effectively tackle real issues in their lives and
help build stronger communities.
If you would like more information about becoming a community
representative or getting involved in your local community please
contact the Community Support Service on:-
email: enquiries@communitysupport.org.uk
Tel: 0141 773 0044
For further information about Community Connections
email: connections@jwheatley.ac.uk
Tel: 0141 588 1586
Adult Guidance Network
Established in September 2001 with support from Careers Scotland,
the Adult Guidance Network provides clear, accessible information
and guidance on learning opportunities and progression routes.
The main objectives of the Network are to:
provide quality, impartial guidance services to local people
provide clear, accessible information
disseminate good practice
provide staff development opportunities to qualified guidance
practitioners and
review current referral systems between guidance agencies
For further information in the first instance please contact:-
The Adult Guidance Co-coordinator
Careers Scotland
Tel: 0141 771 7602
Youth Network
In May 2003 Cultural & Leisure Youth Services in conjunction
with The Greater Easterhouse Partnership, established the Youth
Network to improve co-ordination and communication of youth services.
The Youth Network is made up of partners from across the voluntary
and public sectors.
The Youth Network has developed an Action Plan which includes
targets and timescales for key areas of work.
Areas of priority which are under development include:
Territorialism
A sub group will be established to develop actions plans to tackle
territorialism. In developing these action plans partners will
seek to gauge local opinion by consulting with local young people
and staff from youth groups. Two initiatives currently in development
are:
Members of the Youth Network are working together in partnership
to tackle territorialism through the arts while pursuing the Duke
of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Family Action in Rogerfield and Easterhouse has arranged,
through their Integration Officer, a Mini Olympics which will
bring together P7 pupils from 17 primary schools as a means of
interaction prior to their transition to secondary school.
Engagement
Developing innovative methods for engaging and consulting with
young people to ensure that they are involved in the decision
making processes a structures in Greater Easterhouse.
Communication
Communication issues were highlighted as an area of initial work
for the Youth Network. It is in response to this that the Youth
Network established a sub group to develop plans for a youth magazine
written by young people, which would be used as a vehicle for
communication and advice. A web page dedicated to the magazine
has been placed on the Pathfinder website which young people can
access and in order to contribute ideas. This is co-ordinate by
John Wheatley College and Greater Easterhouse Arts Team.
The website address is: www.greatereasterhouse.co.uk/youthmag.html
In addition the Greater Easterhouse Partnership in conjunction
with John Wheatley College is developing a Youth Access project
which will seek to provide opportunities for young people to engage
in informal learning activities delivered through the community
based learning centres which make up the Learning Network. For
further information about the Youth Network please contact:-
Avril Thorburn
Community Learning Co-coordinator
Cultural and Leisure Youth Services
Tel: 0141 774 4444
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