The Scottish Centre for Regeneration manages five Learning Networks which focus on:
- town centres and local high streets
- mixed and sustainable communities
- community regeneration and tackling poverty
- housing energy efficiency
- housing management and efficiencies
The networks form a cross-Government initiative that connects a range of people from the public, private and voluntary sectors across Scotland. Responding to needs expressed by stakeholders, they give practical help to people and organisations working at a local level. Allowing you to interact with others and share common concerns, problems and interests, improving your knowledge and expertise in the process.
Our Learning Networks:
- are responsive to your needs and help you deal effectively with problems
- enable you to learn in a way that suits you
- provide a dedicated co-ordinator and an allocated budget, as well as access to tools and expertise; and
- provide their services free
This guide will help you learn more about the Learning Networks, including:
- what is the context for the Learning Networks?
- how can the Learning Network help you?
- what will participating mean for you?
- how can I get involved?
What is the context for the Learning Networks?
The Housing and Regeneration Learning Networks are led by the Scottish Government through its Scottish Centre for Regeneration. The centre supports the Scottish Government's purpose, targets and national outcomes by enabling public, private and voluntary sector partners to become more effective at regenerating communities and providing affordable housing which is well managed and energy efficient.
The networks support the Scottish Government's purpose targets on participation, solidarity and cohesion and the following national outcomes, identified in the National Performance Framework:
- we realise our full economic potential with more and better job opportunities for our people
- our young people are successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens
- our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed
- we live longer, healthier lives
- we have tackled the significant inequalities in Scottish society
- we have improved the life chances for children, young people and families at risk
- we live our lives safe from crime, disorder and danger
- we have strong, resilient and supportive communities where people take responsibility for their own actions and how they affect others
- we live in well-designed, sustainable places where we are able to access the amenities and services we need
- we value and enjoy our built and natural environment and protect and enhance it for future generations
- we reduce the local and global environmental impact of our consumption and production
Scottish Centre for Regeneration
The Learning Networks will support the Scottish Centre for Regeneration's aims to ensure high-quality working practices that are continually improving, efficient and responsive to local people's needs. We will work with a range of programmes and organisations across Scotland to:
- increase the number of people and organisations who have:
assessed their knowledge, understanding and skills needs in relation to their objectives
participated in activities that have developed their knowledge, understanding and skills
become more effective in achieving their goals
ensure more and better opportunities for people and organisations to learn from others;
- improve the quality of and access to:
relevant resources
an evidence base to help inform people and organisations in decision-making; and
ensure that learning outcomes are used to improve policy and working practices.
How can the Learning Network help you?
A dedicated Learning Network coordinator works closely with network users to:
Identify the problems the Learning Network should tackle
We will write a regular blog hosted on the Improvement Service/IDeA Communities of Practice website to stimulate discussion about the network's future work programme.
You can respond to this or suggest your own ideas by:
- taking part in online discussions, writing your own blog or posting a question or idea
- contacting the coordinator direct
- attending events and suggesting problem areas to work on and topics to discuss
- feeding back to us using our evaluation forms
Collect good practice, evidence of what works and details of experts
We will identify good practice and evidence of what works through the Scottish Centre for Regeneration's scoping work, liaising with network users and through our involvement in awards for best practice in regeneration. The coordinator will also identify relevant experts who will give advice and share their experience.
If you have expertise or experience you would like to share, you can contact the network coordinator to discuss how this can be best used by other network users.
Share what has worked
We will organise events, such as seminars, conferences, learning exchanges and study visits, which are tailored to users' learning needs and requirements. We will also publish evidence of what works on our website: www.partnersinregeneration.com, including:
- good-practice case studies from Scotland and abroad
- learning outcomes from previous programmes and events
- relevant research and publications from the Scottish Government and others
- tools and resources; and
- details of other events, specialist Learning Networks or capacity-building programmes.
We will ensure you learn about the experiences of other Learning Network users by:
- publishing learning points that illustrate lessons and good practice; and
- organising an annual learning exchange where network users can share lessons learned when tackling problems.
We will create opportunities for users to learn from each other online through our forum. Sign up online to:
- take part in debates, peer-review sessions and learning groups
- post questions and ideas; and
- learn about or advertise events and learning programmes.
Develop new tools and resources where there is a gap
We will work with users to find appropriate solutions to help you tackle issues and problems. This may involve scoping work, examples of good practice or investigating tools or resource to help you or your organisation find a new way of dealing with something.
Network users will help the Learning Network coordinator ensure the final product is practical and useful. This may mean commenting on a brief, giving your ideas on how to go about the project, telling us what would and wouldn't work or testing a prototype.
Measure the effectiveness and impact of the Learning Networks, and improving them where possible
We will ensure the Learning Networks are meeting your needs by regularly assessing whether they are changing the way users work and improving knowledge and expertise. To do this effectively, we need you to give us honest and regular feedback on our evaluation forms and when you talk to the Learning Network coordinator. We also need you to help us identify the Learning Networks' priorities and working practices.
What will participating mean for you?
Use the Learning Network to:
- develop your understanding by sharing knowledge, experience and good practice
- work with others to develop solutions by contributing to events, visits and learning activities
- promote equality of opportunity
- learn about new ideas, approaches and joint working
- help you apply new learning
Get involved by:
- signing up to the network
- keeping your profile information up to date on our online forum,
- providing honest feedback on the Learning Network and its effects on you and your work behaviour
You and the other network users will be expected to:
- show mutual respect for and trust of other users
- be open and transparent in communications
- be committed to being positive and constructive
- be committed to working with and learning from others
- make the best use of available resources
How can I get involved?
To find out more about the Learning Networks, to join or to get regular updates, contact the Scottish Centre for Regeneration:
Highlander House
58 Waterloo Street
Glasgow
G2 7DA
Tel: 0141 271 3736
Email: contactscr@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.partnersinregeneration.com