The Community Learning and Development (CLD) Strategic Partnership Plan 2024–2027 has been endorsed at the Council meeting held on 25 September.
Elected members gave their approval in recognition of the Plan's importance in supporting the delivery of key Community Planning Partnership priorities and improving outcomes for learners and communities across the region.
The Plan builds on the success of the interim one-year bridging plan and has been shaped through consultation and engagement with learners, practitioners, and partner organisations. It sets out a collaborative, data-informed approach to community empowerment and lifelong learning while also aiming to be flexible and responsive, with built-in mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation.
Additional work has been undertaken to ensure the plan is in line with statutory requirements and national priorities, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals which support rural inclusion, equality of access and climate resilience.
Delivery of the plan
The CLD Strategic Partnership will lead on delivery of the Plan, with quarterly progress reporting, a shared data system to track impact, and annual updates to the Community Planning Partnership. Each of the nine priorities summarised below has a designated lead organisation to further ensure accountability and coordinated action:
- Expanding accreditation opportunities - CLD partners will increase the range of accredited learning programmes available to both youth and adult learners, helping individuals gain recognised qualifications that support personal development and employability.
- Enhancing English for Speakers of Other Languages provision – the Plan commits to expanding ESOL learning and accreditation, ensuring that language learners are supported to integrate, participate, and thrive in their communities.
- Strengthening evaluation and data systems - a robust self-evaluation and data gathering framework will be implemented across the partnership to evidence collective impact and inform future planning.
- Creating pathways for community engagement - clear and inclusive pathways will be developed to involve both adults and young people in shaping the strategic direction of CLD services, ensuring that lived experience and local insight guide decision-making.
- Promoting learning and training opportunities - the partnership will actively promote the wide range of learning and training opportunities available, increasing awareness and uptake across communities.
- Joint workforce development - partners will collaborate to deliver joint training and development opportunities for the CLD workforce, strengthening capacity and ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Improving accessibility and digital inclusion - efforts will be made to remove barriers to learning, including advancing digital inclusion through targeted support and infrastructure improvements, particularly in rural areas.
- Strengthening adult learning and employability support - a focused approach will be taken to enhance adult learning and employability services, with targeted support in priority areas identified through data and consultation.
- Coordinating youth work services - a region-wide framework will be established to ensure consistent, high-quality youth work provision, supporting young people’s development and wellbeing.
Councillor Caroline Cochrane, Executive Member for Community and Partnership Development
"This Plan represents a powerful commitment to community empowerment and lifelong learning. It builds on the fantastic work already being delivered by CLD practitioners and partners across the Borders—work that continues to make a real difference in people’s lives every day.
“Designed to take that impact to the next level, this new approach strengthens collaboration, targets resources where they’re needed most, and ensures that the voices of learners and communities are at the heart of everything we do.
“I welcome the spirit of partnership and shared purpose that drives this work and look forward to seeing the positive outcomes it will deliver over the next three years.”
More information
- The CLD Strategic Partnership brings together cross-sector representation from public services, education, health, emergency services, and the third sector—featuring organisations such as Scottish Borders Council, NHS Borders, Borders Community Action, Police Scotland, Youth Borders, Skills Development Scotland, Borders College, Live Borders, Jobcentre Plus, and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
- The report and plan can be downloaded from the agenda papers for the Council meeting on 25 September – Item 14.