A list of the most frequently asked questions about Community Learning & Development is given in the table below.
Please click on any question to see the answer.
Q. What is Community Learning and Development?
A. The first part of the term, "Community Learning", means the provision of learning opportunities locally that reflect the needs and aspirations of all the various communities in the district.
Amongst the major aims are to increase the level of participation in learning, to improve the quality of the learning experience and to develop the range of learning opportunities available to potential participants.
The second part of the term, "Community Development", means the process of consulting with communities about local issues and aspirations and supporting community groups to achieve their aims by providing a range of information, services and support.
In this way communities can build up their capacity to achieve their aims and fulfil their potential.
The overall objective is to help develop communities in which every member both contributes and benefits, thereby reaching their full potential.
In Midlothian the main provider of such activities is Midlothian Council Community Learning & Development - a section of Education & Children's Services.
We work in partnership with a wide range of other groups and organisations, such as colleges and universities, voluntary sector groups and statutory bodies.
One of our principal aims is to tackle social exclusion in disadvantaged communities or with individuals who suffer disadvantage.
We provide a wide range of courses and learning opportunities in the local neighbourhoods.
Through our courses and other community activities we support the building of successful communities throughout Midlothian.
Q. Who can use your courses and activities?
A. The courses and activities provided by Community Learning & Development are open to learners of all ages, abilities and backgrounds throughout Midlothian.
We provide learning opportunities to individuals, families and communities.
We try to ensure that our courses and activities are available to absolutely everyone, ensuring access for people with disabilities wherever possible.
We have a stated policy of equal opportunities in terms of gender, race and learning ability.
Q. What courses do you provide?
A. We provide a wide range of courses and activities throughout Midlothian, mainly through our locally-based Community Learning Centres.
The main part of our work is the Adult Learning Programme - a mainstream programme of daytime and evening courses made up of a wide range of activities.
These include such diverse subjects as Art, Computing, Languages, Tai Chi, Picture Framing, Family History, Indian Head Massage, Aromatherapy, Upholstery and Swimming.
Our programme also includes free courses such as lip-reading classes for people who are hard-of-hearing and courses for those who want to improve their everyday English and Maths.
Q. Can I obtain qualifications through your courses?
A. Some of our courses are certificated, others are not.
For example, we run computing courses leading to recognised qualifications, such PC Passport.
Learners attend our courses for many different purposes - to gain qualifications, to learn useful skills, for personal development, to learn more about their local area, to generally improve their career prospects, to train specifically for a new job or simply just for fun.
Our courses and activities are conducted in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in local venues.
They are a very good way to learn - even if you've been away from formal education for many years.
For further details of our courses please see Day & Evening Classes - Courses.
Q. How much do your courses cost?
A. Our standard fees vary according to subject and band (certificated or non-certificated), but we always try to ensure that our courses are as inexpensive as possible.
The range of standard course fees varies between £13.00 to £78.25, depending upon the specific type of course.
However, we provide a wide range of concessions.
Learners under the age of 18 pay a half-fee for non-certificated courses.
Learners aged 60 or over and not in employment are entitled to a reduced fee.
People in receipt of various benefits pay a concessionary fee.
If you are a learner with a disability and require an escort or personal assistant to help you, they can join the course free of charge.
For full details on concessions please see Day & Evening Classes - Concessions.
(As well as the fee-paying courses, our programme also includes free courses such as computing for beginners, lip-reading classes for people who are hard-of-hearing and courses for those who want to improve their everyday English and Maths).
For more detailed information on our current charges please see the fee tables for each course at Day & Evening Classes - Courses.
Q. Do you provide crèche facilities?
A. We provide crèche facilities for many of our courses.
Also, crèche facilities may be provided on request for all of our free computing classes.
For any specific course please inquire at the relevant Community Learning Centre for information about the availability of crèche facilities.
For contact details please see Community Learning Centres.
Q. How do I book on a course?
A. The Adult Learning Programme is published in August and December each year and is distributed locally through venues such as libraries, leisure centres and community centres. It contains an enrolment form for our courses.
The Programme can be obtained directly from the main Community Learning & Development office.
If required, copies of the Programme are available at Day & Evening Classes - Programme.
The course details and Postal Enrolment Form can also be viewed on this website at Day & Evening Classes - Courses.
To enrol by post, please complete the enrolment form and return it with the appropriate payment (cheque, postal order or credit card details) to the Administrative Assistant.
For contact details please see Enquiries.
You can also enrol in person at specified centres during certain dates and times, as shown in the programme.
Q. What are Community Learning Centres?
A. Community Learning Centres are neighbourhood learning resources provided for the benefit of the whole community.
They are the principal venues for the courses and activities provided by Community Learning & Development and offer a variety of facilities for use in meetings, classes and workshops.
Most importantly they are local and they offer a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Community Learning Centres lie at the heart of our aim to help people of all ages bring about positive changes in their own lives and in their communities through learning.
They are also used as meeting-places by a wide variety of community groups, such as parent support groups, carer support groups, 50-plus groups, tenants' associations, minority ethnic groups, environment groups, youth and children's groups.
Q. Where is my local Community Learning Centre?
A. Community Learning Centres are located in towns throughout Midlothian.
For details of your local centre please see Community Learning Centres.
Q. What does a Tutor do?
A. Adult Tutors are employed to help adults learn a subject, activity or skill in their local community.
Tutors provide tuition at Community Learning Centres or other learning venues in the neighbourhood, such as schools and libraries.
They have skills or expertise in their specific subjects - such as computing, art or languages.
In Community Learning & Development the emphasis is on the Tutor creating a good learning environment and valuing the existing skills and experience of the participants.
Q. How can I become a Tutor?
A. Following an initial interview, all Tutors are selected through Community Learning & Development procedures.
In line with Council policy, Community Learning & Development undertake Disclosure Scotland background checks on all potential Tutors as they may work with young people or vulnerable adults.
If an applicant successfully completes our selection and disclosure procedures, their name is then added to our database of available Tutors.
They are then offered work when it becomes available, usually on a part-time basis.
If you're interested in becoming a Tutor please contact the Training Officer, whose contact details can be found under Management and Team Leaders.
Q. What grants do you provide for local groups?
A. Community Learning & Development assists the Council in the administration of grants to groups and organisations.
These grants are mainly awarded towards the running costs of voluntary organisations engaged in youth and children's work, adult learning and community development.
They vary in size from a few hundred pounds to many thousand pounds.
The grants are available in three categories:
- Organisations based in Midlothian
- Organisations providing service to Midlothian-based organisations
- Organisations with a Scottish remit.
For information on the grants awarded in the current year please see Grant Awards to Voluntary Organisations.
Q. How can my local group apply for a grant?
A. Grant application forms can be obtained from Shelagh Docherty in the Community Learning & Development office at Fairfield House.
For contact details please see Enquiries.
Grant application forms are issued each year in Autumn.
There is strong competition for available funding so each individual application is considered on its merits and, if successful, is awarded an amount deemed appropriate (which may or may not match the initial application).
All organisations are required to account fully for how their grant is used.
For further information please see Grants for Voluntary Organisations.
Q. What other groups do you work with?
A. We work together with a wide range of other groups or bodies to make the most of the resources available and to be as effective as possible.
Often this will involve sharing resources (such as venues) or pooling information.
For this reason we have developed many partnerships with other groups and organisations.
For a list of our main partners and other local organisations with whom we co-operate please see Partners and Local Organisations.
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