Accessibility: text only A A A

Awareness

The main purpose of 'Spotters & Referrers' is to:

Raise awareness of Adult Literacies
Put Literacies in a Scottish and local context, and for those going on to ITALL training
Provide background information on the development of current literacies provision

Adult Literacy and Numeracy - How did it all start?
An International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) in 2000 concluded that:

23% of adults in Scotland may have low skills
30% have inadequate skills to meet the demands of knowledge society and the information age

The Adult Literacy and Numeracy in Scotland (ALNIS) report of 2001: Made 21 recommendations for improvements to literacy provision in Scotland. Key targets for the strategy are:

To more than double the number of adult literacies learners
To raise awareness of and promote adult literacies
To improve the quality of provision
To encourage research in adult literacies
To consult with learners

Learners Consultation Report 2001 Learners wanted:

More support from tutors
More consultation on planning and evaluation of learning
Fewer barriers to accessing learning e.g. cost, transport, childcare
More openness and acceptance

Definition
"To be able to read, write and use numbers, to handle information, to express ideas and opinions, to make decisions and solve problems, as family members, workers, citizens and lifelong learners"
Adult Literacy & Numeracy in Scotland,
Scottish Executive July 2001

Barriers to Learning may be caused by

Stigma attached with literacy and numeracy
Pressures on time at home and work
Inconvenient location of learning opportunities
Financial barriers
Conflict with domestic and caring responsibilities
Lack of information and absence of opportunity
Belief amongst many that learning has little to offer them
Unhappy memories of school

Our Aim

To use the Scottish Social Practice Model to build upon existing skills of the learners to achieve their personal goals
To offer professional support to individuals by highly trained staff to improve their literacy and numeracy skills
A learner centred approach
Provision will be:
- Well organised and flexible
- Meet individuals needs
- FREE OF CHARGE

Scottish Executive's Key Targets

£51m of new resources over 5 years
£40m for action locally
Help 80,000 people by 2004 and 150,000 by 2006
Improve the quality as well as capacity

Literacies and Argyll and Bute Council

Literacies has been included as part of the Community Learning and Development Partnership

This gives Literacies a direct link with other agencies who are part of this group

Scottish Executive funding for adult literacy and numeracy is allocated through this Partnership

The Local Literacies Service

Recruit and trains volunteer tutors
Welcomes learners who are either self-referred or referred by various agencies
Matches learners and tutors for 1 to 1 work or working in small groups
Supports learners and tutors
Carries out marketing, development and partnership work

The Local Literacies Service is

Funded by the Scottish Executive via the Argyll and Bute Community Learning Partnership
- Part of Literacies funding is made available to the whole partnership for innovative projects addressing literacies issues through the Challenge Fund
Managed by Argyll and Bute Council Community Regeneration Service
Generally based in Community Regeneration Centres
Delivered by full and part time staff, working with a team of volunteer tutors

The Current Position in Argyll and Bute

Most areas have completed, or are in the process of completing the first phase of ITALL (Introductory Training in Adult Literacy Learning) tutor training
Learners are matched with tutors, ideally within a couple of weeks
Ongoing national and local publicity campaigns to attract more learners
In the process of developing a rolling programme of training to support both staff and volunteer tutors
Developing a number of initiatives in the various centre's through 'Challenge Fund' monies

For further information, please contact us

« Return to awareness