1. Strengthening communities through learning in a rural context
A Family Learning Project
in Coldstream, Scottish Borders
Catherine Hadshar, Adult Learning Worker
Oonagh McGarry, Community Learning & Development Team Leader (Adult Learning)
Scottish Borders Council

2. 1500 people with 125 families at Primary
Coldstream
1500 people with 125 families at Primary
Elderly profile amongst highest proportion in Scotland
Coldstream South
within the 30% most-deprived in Scotland for education deprivation
Coldstream Landward
within the 5% most deprived for geographic access to services
(3 datazones from SIMD 2009)

3. Rural Isolation 50m to city Education High School 10m, 30m bus ride
Borders College (Galashiels) 1hr 23 each way
Employment
Jobcentre 1 hr 30m each way
Work opportunities in the town - a few shops, cafes, garage, cleaning jobs, one small factory
2 Factories in Duns 10m (car – v few buses)
Jobs in Galashiels (26m) £15/day on fuel - £75/wk

4. CL&D work in Coldstream
Work with parents: Me and My Baby, Cooking on a Budget, Money Matters
Adult learning Group, IT follow-on
Voluntary sector youth work (Connect – now Berwickshire wide) and thriving Community Trust, running community Centre
CCB eg welfare reform, Grant Hunting

5. Local networks… 1st Jointly plan services to support parents
‘Supporting parents network’
facilitated by CL&D (Adult learning)
HV Playgroup and ASC/Youth Project
HT and PT from Primary School
Homelink/Family Support team members
Jointly plan services to support parents
& widen their opportunities
Agencies co-deliver, share evaluation data, identify annual partnership outcomes to work towards
1st

6. Family Learning Week (since 2011)
All invited to join the class: 70 attend
Activities with the children
Tai Chi, Puppet Making, outdoor maths,
Story telling, internet safety, traditional
games, outdoor art project etc
Theme eg Money Week
Recruit for CBAL short courses, Literacies etc
Plan with staff and parents, evaluate then feedback
to stakeholders
Consultations using parents’ Wall
Gather parents’ views on…
homework, info on childrens’ learning
vision for the school

7. 2013 Outdoors & Active Grandfriends Afternoon
Family Learning week : outdoor fun

8. Consultation
Gathered lots of ideas re playing out – local and regional
Captured issues and concerns with local facilities
Also recruited parents for groups:
Parents to help school improve outdoor play facilities
(7 names)
Parents to join Leaflet group – OOT & ABOOT (10)
Promoting active outdoor activities in the town and area
Campaign for new facilities in the town – Coldstream Outdoor Play Project COPP (9) Formed a committee to bring new outdoor play options to the community

9. Oot & Aboot

10. COPP Coldstream Outdoor Play Project
Committee of 10, list of 20+ helpers
Facebook page
Linked to community groups – football club, local Youth Services, Playgroup and Primary School, Community council, Scottish Borders Council, BAVS etc
Launching campaign with community consultations, applying for grants etc

11. Ripple effect ….. Healthy partnerships and networks
CBAL, AL and Lit, CCB