The Scottish Government has merged two existing networks to create a new Employability and Tackling Poverty Learning Network.
The Community Regeneration and Tackling Poverty learning network has refocused its priorities on 'tackling poverty' and merged with the Employability Learning Network (ELN) to become the Employability and Tackling Poverty Learning Network.
>> check out the Employability and tackling poverty in Scotland website for network news, case studies and other resources
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Learning Network Briefing Papers: Lessons Learned 2009-11
This briefing paper captures messages relating to the three main priorities agreed for the Community Regeneration and Tackling Poverty Learning Network: embedding an outcomes based approach in anti poverty and regeneration activities; tackling complex needs and adapted to a new context for regeneration - global recession, budget reductions.
Themes
Community regeneration
Outcome focused partnerships
Discusses how 'collaborative gain' can help shape the way that partnerships approach the task of delivering enhanced outcomes within communities.
Focusing mainstream resources
Considers how Community Planning Partnerships can mainstream effective poverty and community regeneration programmes. Examines what we mean by the term and Scotland's history of 'ring fenced funds'.
The evidence base for an outcomes approach
About the evidence base to support the development of strategic and operational approaches to achieving key community regeneration and tackling poverty outcomes.
Effective prioritisation of outcomes
This learning point comes from a workshop that examined how Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) can successfully prioritise outcomes in order to effectively tackle poverty and community regeneration.
Making the case for regeneration
This learning point is based on a workshop that brought together a range of practitioners to explore key issues and lessons for 'making the case' for maintaining investment in regeneration during tough times.
Outcomes Focused Targets
This learning point outlines what is meant by 'outcome-focused targets' and sets out why they can be an important and useful tool, providing a focal point for local partnerships on the issues that matter most to local communities.
Tackling Multiple Deprivation in Communities - The Ongoing Challenge
This learning point captures the key messages and discussion from a workshop event which brought together relevant practitioners to explore key issues and lessons for continuing successful place-based regeneration.
Achieving Outcomes Through Collaborative Gain
This SCR briefing paper is concerned with what is meant by an 'outcomes approach' and with how the concept of 'collaborative gain' can be drawn upon to help shape the way that partnerships approach the task of delivering enhanced outcomes within communities.
Developing leadership in community planning
This learning point looks at the Tomorrow's Leaders pilot programme, which was designed and delivered on behalf of Glasgow Community Planning Partnership (GCPP) and the Scottish Centre for Regeneration, by Peoplematters (Europe) Ltd.
Fairer Scotland Fund
Questions and answers on the Fairer Scotland Fund.
Single Outcome Agreements
Scottish Government briefing on Single Outcome Agreements (SOAs).
How do we change the way people feel and think about places?
Looks at what action can be taken to change negative perceptions into positive ones as part of the wider regeneration of neighbourhoods.
Successful regeneration: the practitioner's view
Records the views of practitioners working at project level in the regeneration field on what makes regeneration effective, and what factors helped or hindered them in the establishment of good practice.
Income inequality and poverty
Our rural numbers are not enough *NEW*
An independent position statement and recommendations - compiled by members of the Community Regeneration and Tackling Poverty Learning Network - to improve the identification of poverty, income inequality and deprivation in rural Scotland.
The Scottish strategy to end child poverty: Roundtable discussion forum report
The Child Poverty Act sets out specific targets to 'eradicate' child poverty by 2020. The Act requires the Scottish Government to draw up a strategy setting out the steps it will take to meet the specific targets by 2020. The Scottish Government has already conducted a written consultation on the strategy and this event feeds into that consultation.
Children and young people as researchers
John McKendrick, Glasgow Caledonian University, and Fiona McHardy, Poverty Alliance, co-authored this paper. They reflect on the emerging practice of involving children and young people as researchers and on the specific experience of involving children as researchers in anti-poverty activity and community regeneration work in Scotland.
Writing and talking about poverty
This briefing from Dr John McKendrick of the Institute for Society and Social Justice Research (Glasgow Caledonian University) is about how community regeneration practitioners should describe poverty in their writing and presentations.
Tackling poverty in local areas
This paper represents Dr John McKendrick's reflections on the issues currently surrounding tackling poverty in local areas and its related strategies. It proposes that, although we face challenges overcoming deprivation which may persist at an area level, local action can play a key role in tackling poverty.
Money Advice
The SCR learning point considers the impact of the recent economic downturn on the need for money advice and approaches to delivery. Written by Louise Dobbie and Morag Gillespie of the Scottish Poverty Information Unit (Glasgow Caledonian University), it develops from a review of the published literature and aims to reflect on current policy and practice to propose ways in which services can develop.
Money Advice at the Crossroads
SCR briefing paper. The combination of the credit crunch and a recession in 2008 has put further pressure on money advice services at a point when public spending is tightening. New ways of working, including use of new technologies, is transforming the way that money advice services are delivered.
Tackling poverty and social exclusion through human rights and democratic citizenship in Europe and Scotland
This learning point was developed from an event held by Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS) and the Democracy and Human Rights Education in Adult Learning Network (DARE) in March 2010. Presentations focused on the causes of poverty and social exclusion and the impact these have on the lives of individuals, groups and communities.
Profiling local poverty
This learning point was written by John McKendrick of the Scottish Poverty Information Unit (Glasgow Caledonian University) and develops from a review of the published literature. The paper aims to reflect on current practice to propose ways in which poverty profiling could potentially fulfil a more central role in regeneration activity in Scotland.
Tackling inequalities: Social policy frameworks
SCR learning point developed from an event held in Fife in June 2009. Hosted by Fife Community Planning Partnership and chaired by Councillor Fiona Grant, it brought together people who involved in tackling inequality from across Scotland.
Child poverty in Scotland: taking the next steps
This study from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation discusses progress made in Scotland to end child poverty, and suggests what the Scottish Government needs to do to reach the 2020 target.
Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland: 2007-08
Key statistics on the number of children, working age adults and pensioners in low-income poverty. It presents annual estimates of the proportion and number of children, working age adults and pensioners living in low income households in Scotland and the distribution of household income across Scotland.
Achieving Our Potential
Scottish Government framework aimed at tackling poverty and income inequality in Scotland and launched in November 2008. Supported by funding of £7.5 million, Achieving Our Potential sets out the joint approach of the Scottish Government and COSLA in the fight against poverty.
Poverty Alliance Briefing 9 - Tackling Poverty, Inequality, and Deprivation in Scotland
Summary of the Scottish Government discussion paper.
Poverty Alliance Briefing 8 - Different in Scotland? Public Attitudes to Poverty A Discussion paper
Nice work if you can get it: achieving a sustainable solution to low pay and in-work poverty
Insititute for Public Poliy Research report makes the case for a coherent strategy to deal with the twin challenges of low pay and in-work poverty that emphasises job quality and career progression and recognises the needs of different families.
Review of Evidence on the Impact of Economic Downturn on Disadvantaged Groups
Reviews the evidence on the impact of the recessions of the early 1970s, 1980s and 1990s on eight disadvantaged groups.
Building public support for eradicating poverty in the UK
A look at different ways of building public support for tackling UK poverty by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Poverty Pathways: Ethnic minority women's livelihoods
A report on why ethnic minority women as a group experience considerably higher rates of poverty than white women in the U. Part of Fawcett's Seeing Double campaign on ethnic minority women.
Below the breadline: a year in the life of families in poverty
Barnardo's pioneering research project into the experiences and events that shape the lives of families living in poverty. The study spent a year following 16 families from across the UK who were living below the poverty line. The aim of the study was to find out what it's really like to live in poverty in the UK today and to examine some of the pressures families experience as a result of poverty.
Employability
Equal access - full employment for all
How the EQUAL initiative, funded by the European Commission, worked in Scotland. Gives details about lessons from the EQUAL Access Development Partnership which was established in 2002 to bring together policy makers, practitioners and academics with a common interest in the labour market and inclusion.
Is work good for your health?
About the links between health and employment. Based on the learning from a Scottish Government event for senior staff involved in health, social work and employability sectors. This event was the first of its kind in Scotland to share best practice, and find better ways of working together to improve health through employment.
Working together to create ways to employment
About joint working in health, social care and employment services. Draws lessons from the Re:Focus Development Partnership. The partnership of 98 organisations was set up in 2005 to pilot 22 Glasgow projects on new ways that health, social care and employment services could jointly support people into work.
A case management approach in tackling employability issues
The work of the EQUAL Access Development Partnership which brought together policy makers, practitioners and academics with a common interest in the labour market and social inclusion. The partnership tested new ways of joint working between employment and health services that can help individuals facing barriers such as ill health, disability and caring responsibilities improve their chances of finding work.
Young people, early years and education
Growing Up in Scotland: Using evidence in practice
This learning point was developed from an event held by the Community Regeneration and Tackling Poverty Learning Network in September 2009 in conjunction with the Scottish Centre for Social Research. It brought together a range of practitioners with an interest in early years development and the practical use of data to evidence outcomes.
The Early Years Framework
Scottish Government framework about giving all our children the best start in life and the steps the Scottish Government, local partners and practitioners in early years services need to take to start us on that journey.
Connecting schools, young people and community regeneration
Explores how education and regeneration professionals can better work together by identifying common areas of interest and sharing examples of good practice.
Health and wellbeing
Evaluating community and voluntary health improvement
Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS) and NHS Health Scotland briefing paper for people commissioning, funding or evaluating community-led health projects and programmes. Summarises key evaluation challenges such as understanding outcomes of community-led health and funding and evaluation.
Equally Well Implementation Plan
The plan, produced in partnership with COSLA, identifies who is responsible for taking forward the recommendations contained in Equally Well - The Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities. Describes how the Scottish Government and community planning partnerships can and will turn Equally Well's recommendations into action.
Equally Well
Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities.
Equally Well test sites
This provides detail on the test sites which are a key part of implementing the health inequalities Task Force report.
Making sense of smoking cessation
The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) for Local Government in England has published information that shows that smoking continues to be a major issue for public bodies in their efforts to improve population health. This has been reflected in the local area agreement (LAA) process and this document reviews existing knowledge about the issues, provides information on what works.
Health and regeneration: shared premises
How health and other regeneration partners share premises (a way of working together sometimes called 'co-location') to provide better and more integrated services. Considers the different ways, the challenges and the lessons of sharing space.
How can mainstream health services contribute to regeneration?
How mainstream, or day-to-day, health services provided by general practitioners (GPs) and other primary care staff in local health centres can contribute to regeneration. Suggests ways they can be a catalyst or a partner in change.
Service delivery
Skilling up Future Leaders in Community Planning *NEW*
This learning point looks at the Tomorrows Leaders 2009 programme. The programme was designed to develop effective leadership skills and ensure a better understanding of how a broad range of partner organisations operate in Glasgow.
Mainstreaming Regeneration Initiatives *NEW*
This learning point highlights key messages from a participative workshop discussion on how local authorities in Scotland can use mainstreamed resources to support improved approaches to tackling poverty in our most deprived communities. The event brought together a range of relevant practitioners to draw on their experience and knowledge in order to explore key issues and lessons for mainstreaming of effective regeneration activity.
Delivering regeneration in a new context: policy and practice *NEW*
This learning point was developed from an event held by the Community Regeneration and Tackling Poverty Learning Network in conjunction with the Community Planning Network. The event took place in August 2009 to discuss the delivery of regeneration in light of the end of the Fairer Scotland Fund (FSF) ring fence in March 2010 and the continuation of anti poverty/regeneration activities in a difficult economic climate.
Excellence approaches within housing associations *NEW*
This learning point arises from a pilot project funded by the Scottish Centre for Regeneration and delivered by Quality Scotland using the newly developed self-assessment tool, Charity Juggler.
Effective procurement and tendering for services to tackle poverty
This learning point is about the procurement of those goods and services at the Community Planning Partnership level which aim to tackle poverty and regenerate our communities.
Using evidence to mainstream equalities in regeneration
Communities Scotland published a report in 1996 which includes sources of information and tools for analysis. This gives information about the (then) legislative framework, suggests ways of gathering evidence and provides tools to help develop an evidence base.
EQUAL Social Economy Scotland - Business development
About four Social Economy Scotland (SES) pilot business development projects. Describes the lessons learned.
Equal Social Economy Scotland - Public social partnerships (PSPs)
Lessons learned from two Social Economy Scotland pilot schemes developed in partnership by social economy and public sector agencies.
Equal Social Economy Scotland - Measuring social added value
Lessons learned from a number of Social Economy Scotland pilot projects which looked measuring the impact of their work on the community.
Using evidence to help plan regeneration
Summarises discussions at an event which showcased how evidence has been used in planning four Scottish examples of regeneration work.
Making the best use of evidence in outcome agreements
Drawn from an SCR event for monitoring and evaluation officers who had been involved in developing regeneration outcome agreements (ROAs). To be effective, ROAs must be supported by good information, an identified need for activities, and demonstrate progress towards outcomes.
Integrating health and employment services in tackling employability
About the work of the EQUAL Access Development Partnership which brought together policy makers, practitioners and academics with a common interest in the labour market and social inclusion. The partnership tested new ways of joint working between employment and health services to help people improve their chances of finding work when they face barriers such as ill health, disability and caring responsibilities.
Service user involvement in employability
Describes how the EQUAL SUI project carried out a literature review about engaging service users and the benefits to them. It then shared the lessons from other sectors that employability partners could use in the management, design and delivery of their services which could give clients a stronger role in improving service quality.
Creating pathways to work
How the EQUAL Employability Development Partnership worked locally, nationally and internationally to try out new ways of supporting people into work. It focused on helping people who need the most training and support to find work.
Developing Business Juggler as part of a continuous improvement approach within the voluntary, housing and social economy sectors
About the challenges of introducing continuous improvement to organisations working in the voluntary, social economy and housing sectors across Scotland.
Social economy organisations and successful partnerships
About how social economy organisations can work in partnership with other organisations to help disadvantaged communities. Social economy organisations combine a businesslike approach to delivering services with one or more explicit social objectives.
Involving the arts in community regeneration
Developed from two events in early 2005 targeted at partner organisations but also involving those working in the arts. The events aimed to give some background and context to arts and regeneration and offer some examples through case studies, finishing with discussion and debate on shared experiences and knowledge.
The arts and regeneration: working in partnership
About ensuring that culture is integrated at every stage of community planning and development. Cultural planning is an approach to making communities better places for residents to live, putting people and culture at its centre.
Equalities in community regeneration: making it mainstream
Looks at raising awareness of equalities issues and tackling them within the context of regeneration. Explores racism, sexism, ageism, homophobia and ethnocentrism, and the responsibility we all share for illuminating and eliminating them. Presents principles for raising awareness and changing perceptions and practice, with the aim of getting these views into the mainstream.
Community engagement and empowerment
Community Empowerment Action Plan
Jointly developed with COSLA and colleagues in the third sector and announced in March 2009, this action plan encourages people in both rural and urban areas to participate in the running of their neighbourhoods. A range of best practice examples from across Scotland are set out. There is also information on the variety of grants that are accessible to community groups, providing potential investment of around £180 million from a range of government sources.
Joint Statement of Commitment to Community Empowerment
Published in April 2008 by the Scottish Government and COSLA to establish a long-term path to ensuring community empowerment.
National Standards for Community Engagement
Launched in May 2005, the National Standards set out best practice principles for the way that government agencies, councils, health boards, police and other public bodies engage with communities. The idea for developing the standards came from people on the front line of community engagement.
Better Community Engagement: A Framework for Learning
Sets out a framework of competencies designed to enable the planning of learning in community engagement, and to test models for delivering effective learning for community engagement.
Developing buildings as community assets
Captures the key lessons from the masterclass, 'Delivering Buildings as Community Assets.' Focuses on issues that are important if agencies are to help communities successfully take on the challenges involved.
Involving communities in Scotland with an ageing population
About 'active ageing', a term used to describe an ideal, integrated and aware community that offers choice to the older person. Looks at how we could develop our communities to support an older population that has very different expectations from previous generations.
Appreciative inquiry: from vision to action
About taking a vision for regenerating a community and putting it into action using appreciative inquiry methods. Appreciative inquiry highlights the most positive aspects of a community organisation. It encourages people to imagine the best that their community or organisation can be and then translate these possibilities into action.
Asset based community development: making the most of a community's strengths
The work of the Asset Based Community Development Institute in Chicago, and in particular the work of John McKnight and his colleagues there. Examines how public sector organisations look at communities and how communities look at themselves, and how bringing these two elements together leads to effective community development.
Rural issues
Rural Development in the Highlands and Islands
Captured at the 'Rural development in the Highlands and Islands' - a practice event in Inverness in September 2005. The event brought together partners from across north Scotland to exchange information about what works for community regeneration in remote rural areas.