Scottish Government

Area

Research has identified that there are areas across Scotland with little or no level of participation from the voluntary sector in adult literacy provision and planning, particularly in areas of high unemployment. However, as this is a pilot project, the focus will be on six or seven local authority areas: Angus, Argyll & Bute, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Inverclyde, Stirling and West Dunbartonshire.

The Links to Literacies project is part of Learning Link Scotland, the intermediary organisation for voluntary adult education sector in Scotland. Partners in this pathfinder are: Careers Scotland, the Council for Voluntary Services Network, Volunteer Development Scotland and West Dunbartonshire Council Adult Literacy Partnership.

Target client group

Local and national voluntary organisations and clients involved with these organisations who have unmet literacy needs.

The project has arisen from a recognition that many people engaged with voluntary groups have literacy needs, and that the links between voluntary groups and literacy provision need to be strengthened in order to reach disadvantaged learners and to engage the voluntary sector in literacies planning and delivery mechanisms.

Aims

The aim is to strengthen effective voluntary sector participation in local literacies partnerships. The belief is that an increased voluntary sector role within literacies partnerships will impact on the effectiveness of these partnerships, the quality of service development and delivery, and the numbers of people accessing literacy services.

Activities

The project will involve a worker in each of the piloted local authority areas who will act as a link between local literacies partnerships and voluntary organisations (an average of 10 in each area). Information on literacies provision and planning frameworks will be cascaded through these link workers, who will increase collaboration and communication between local literacies partnerships and voluntary organisations.

Intended pathfinder legacy

Demonstration models for network development, skills sharing and representation, showing impacts and benefits of approaches and offering guidance and recommendations for roll out.

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