News - Community Learning Champions - Update

Development Funded Projects

A key element of the National Support Programme are the Development Funded projects which will operate through 2009/10 and 2010/11. As well as helping to set up a range of CLC projects across the country they will assist in the development of the Support Programme by trialling various aspects including the toolkit, the training package and the register for CLCs.
As a result of the call for bids to the Development Fund we had a fantastic response with over 160 bids for funding. All bids were carefully considered and double scored by experienced bid readers and moderated by the Project Manager.

A final list, comprising one national, one regional and 34 ‘local’ projects was approved by BIS on 26th November 2009. The list of projects can be found at www.communitylearningchampions.org.uk/downloads/CLCDevelopmentFundSuccessfulProjects.pdf

Summaries of the projects are available at www.communitylearningchampions.org.uk/downloads/250_word_project_summaries.pdf

Community Learning Champions - the brand

One of the things that CLCs have told us is that they want others to know what they mean when they tell them they are a CLC and that the role should have national and local recognition.

We have consulted widely on a new brand which is on the header of this update and has now been approved .It will provide instant recognition for learning champions wherever they operate. Local projects can use the national brand alongside their own local logo or brand. (Guidelines for its use are on the website.)

Community Learning Champions Register and Badge

All CLCs will have a chance to register on the CLC website from early 2010. Through the registration CLCs will gain access to:

• A badge that identifies them as part of a national cadre of CLCs
• Membership of local, regional and national networks of CLCs
• Access to a closed on-line community of CLCs, to share experience and support
• A welcome pack to support their work
• Invitations to regional and national CLC events
• The opportunity to nominate award winners for Adult Learners’ Week.

More information about how to register will be available on the website shortly.

The CLC Toolkit

The Toolkit for CLCs and the schemes that support them is being developed and will be trialled by the Development Funded projects before going on the website later in 2010.

Training Programme

The WEA is currently developing the training and development framework which will become the nationally accredited training available for CLCs from 2010. Not wanting to reinvent the wheel, we have ensured that this has been developed after a thorough review of previous and existing courses.

An induction for the trainers’ programme took place in late 2009. The training programme will be piloted with the Development Funded projects early in 2010 and then the training programme and materials will be freely available on the website from April 2010 for schemes to use as they wish.

Further training will be available in 2010-11 as additional need is identified.

Regional Networking Events

An important part of the Community Learning Champions Support Programme is bringing people together to learn from existing good practice and develop ideas to make sure that Community Learning Champions are well supported and able to work effectively to bring more people into learning. A network in every region will focus joint working and sharing of good practice and help to provide support for CLC scheme managers and CLCs.
Regional events in January -March 2010 will launch the regional networks. For information and to book go to http://www.niace.org.uk/campaigns-events/events/community-learning-champions-events

Videos

We are keen to show how Community Learning Champions can make a difference to their communities. On our website you can see the two videos which were made for our launch event in October. The first shows how older learners support one another to get familiar with computers and the Internet. The other records how Learning Champions made an impact on the Broxtowe Estate in Nottingham and developed skills which led them into paid employment. The videos will be available to view on the website shortly. A third film will soon be available dealing with the work of Health Champions in Tower Hamlets, London.

We would like to hear from you

One of the tasks we have set ourselves is recording and sharing information about CLC schemes and activities around the country. We will eventually produce case studies and information about these schemes on the website and in the press. There is an opportunity to tell us about your schemes on the website at http://www.communitylearningchampions.org.uk/contact.php