Overview of community learning and development
Lifelong Learning UK (LLUK) represents staff working in community based settings. Much activity is voluntary and the area comprises 7 strands:
- Community Based Adult Learning
- Community Development
- Community Education
- Development Education
- Family Learning
- Working With Parents
- Youth Work
For Community Learning and Development Scotland, please click on the link.
Approximate numbers of staff working in community learning and development (CLD) are:
- 167,924 staff in England
- 3,907 staff in Northern Ireland
- 10,935 staff in Scotland
- 4,123 staff in Wales
(Source: LLUK Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1 Report)
There are approximately 50,000 CLD organisations, whose funding comes from a variety of sources.
Some of the main stakeholders are:
- British Overseas NGOs for Development (BOND)
- Community Development Foundation
- Community Development Cymru
- Council for Wales Voluntary Youth Service (CWVYS)
- Development Education Association (DEA)
- Federation for Community Development Learning
- Local Education Authorities Forum for the Education of Adults (LEAFEA)
- National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)
- National Network of Local Adult Learning Providers (HOLEX)
- National Youth Agency (NYA)
- NIACE
- Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)
- Parenting UK
- Scottish Adult Learning Partnership
- Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations
- Youth Action
- Youth Council NI
- Youthlink Scotland
- Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
- Workers Education Association (WEA)
Further information about the CLD sector is included in the nations and research pages.
For information on leadership and management, the reform of initial teacher education and Skills for Life professional development, please view the standards and qualifications pages.
To learn more about careers and professional development in the CLD sector, please contact LLUK's Information and Advice Service.

