The Chair of Community Learning and Development Standards Council (CLDSC) has written an article on the ways in which community learning and development staff are supporting people through the coronavirus crisis. ‘Tackling coronavirus will require community response’ was recentl published in Times Education Scotland and drew on some of the points in our earlier IACD message.
The full article is available to read here, and an excerpt has been copied below.
While self-isolation may prevent the spread of the virus, it has the potential to have a negative effect on the lives of those who have previously depended on CLD provision for social interaction. CLD staff are working to develop innovative ways of engaging with individuals, not all of which will rely on ICT as the means of delivering this support. Greater than ever collaboration between local authority and third sector CLD providers will be necessary to ensure a range of opportunities to combat social isolation. This will emerge quickly as steps are already being taken in many areas to put this joined-up working in place.
There will also be a need for CLD staff to continue to advocate on behalf of those vulnerable groups who often do not have easy access to decision-makers or those in authority. Senior CLD staff, especially, will have a crucial role to play in seeking to ensure that both national and local governments provide funding to support those vulnerable individuals and communities who are most likely to suffer disproportionately from the economic consequences of this pandemic.
Alan Sherry, https://www.tes.com/news/tackling-coronavirus-will-require-community-response
