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

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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oot & Aboot

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

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