FCDL News

Latest Community Development Learning News

Federation Working With LLUK to Review the National Occupational Standards for Development Work…..2nd Stage Date: 17th Dec 2008 The 2nd Stage of the NOS Review will start 8th January 2009. Revised Draft Standards will be published; a new Questionnaire will be available; and a new round of Consultation Events is being planned. Keep an eye on the NOS Review page and the NOS Events page to keep up to date!
Common Grounds Conference, July 2008 date: 13 November 2008 The mental health service user movement and community development work have existed in parallel worlds for a number of years - each promoting active participation and user/community influence for positive change. In July 2008 the Centre of Excellence in Interdisciplinary Mental Health and the Federation for Community Development Learning co-organised an event: Common Grounds: Building Alliances for Positive Mental Health: Communities, Community Development and Service User Groups. The conference report explores the 'common grounds' between service user movements, participation initiatives in health services and community development work and identifies a number of practical action points. Download the Report (PDF file)
FIRST Community Development graduates in the South-East. Date ...6th November 2008. Two groups of students from Ruskin College Oxford and University of Sussex graduated with Community Development Foundation degrees in Ocotober - the first ever in the South-East of England. FCDL and Community Development South-east extend their warmest congratulations.
Federation produces NEW "How To.." guides. Date: 7 August 2008. These guides are part of a series produced by members of the National Empowerment Partnership. Go to Publications page for more detail..
NEW - Community Development Work Accreditation Pilot Scheme The National Empowerment Partnership funded ESB, through FCDL, to undertake a small research project with the aim of developing a formal model of accreditation which acknowledges the skills and expertise of experienced community development practitioners in England. For further information see the Learning & Qualifications Framework page OR do to the ESB site
Federation Working With LLUK to Review the National Occupational Standards for Development Work….. Date: 31st July 2008

FCDL has been successful in its tender to Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) to create a new generation of National Occupational Standards for the community development workforce.
LLUK is one of 25 employer-led Sector Skills Councils and has been licensed by the UK government to set standards for occupational competence in Community Development Work. These standards will be designed to help and inform employers regarding the recruitment and professional development of staff (paid and unpaid) working in community development.

Starting with a review of the second generation of standards (set in 2002 by PAULO the former National Training Organisation for Community Learning and Development), consultations will start in the autumn to ensure that the third generation of standards are fit for purpose in today’s policy context, whilst still reflecting the values and principles of Community Development Work. Go to the NOS Review page for the Questionnaire and Guidance.

Federation Awarded £450k to Provide Training and Support to Marginalised Communities… Date: 24th June 2008.

The Federation is delighted to be involved in Capacity Builder's 'Improving Reach' programme. This funding (announced on 17th June) will allow the Federation to provide self-identified development and training/learning support to small marginalised frontline organisations reflecting and working with excluded communities.

This programme builds on the work undertaken within a pilot project where partnership with FCDL members enabled outreach work to involve some of the most excluded groups. This work provided support for marginalised groups to identify their own learning and development needs, and developed and delivered customised training or support that was relevant and accessible.

Funding from Capacity Builders will allow the project to continue for a further three years and will involve working with a range of marginalised communities including small BME, Refugee, isolated rural, migrant workers and Gypsy & Traveller front-line organisations. Further information will follow as the project develops along with evaluations of the original pilot.

NOCN Resource packs New prices for Spring 2008.

Taster Session Packs: More information

How to Set up a Refugee Community Organisation. NEW publication. Find out more. & Order your copy.

Older News
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Neighbourhood identity: People, time and place
Douglas Robertson, James Smyth and Ian McIntosh. March 2008. A new report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, is a study of how neighbourhood identity is formed and the implications this may have for area renewal policies.

Community Empowerment Network (CEN) research
published by Urban Forum April 2008. Research detailing the state of Community Empowerment Networks (CENs).

Interested in a career and qualification in community development? Foundation Degree at Ruskin College, Oxford

Learning Power: A contribution to the national skills strategy
The Scarman Trust: July 2007. A discussion paper considering how learning can improve opportunities and life chances for all citizens, especially the poorest.

New Community Work Skills Manual.. Anniversary edition of the very successful Community Work Skills Manual. This edition will include green themes and environmental issues - with new contributions from community development workers - and should be available summer 2008.

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