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info@digitalcldawards.com
info@digitalcldawards.com

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Here is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers on the Digital CLD Awards Scotland and related topics.

Organisations, teams and services whose CLD practitioners work directly with individuals and/or groups, in formal or informal settings, to improve learning opportunities and/or community involvement in democratic processes.
When an organisation, team or service registers for the Digital CLD Awards, it is assigned a Validator. The Validator will also act as the Critical Friend, if the organisation requires it.  For example, although organisations will probably proceed with the self-review process without the need for an initial conversation with the Validator, contact can be made with the Validator if there are queries or if support is needed.  The Validator can then act as the Critical Friend, pointing out where more info may be needed in one of the Key Areas or against one of the Considerations and where support may be available. 
Yes, the award is designed to be achievable for any organisation/service that works with individuals or groups in a CLD ethos, regardless if they are a local authority, third sector organisation, charity etc.
In being an initial organisation/team/service that signs up to pilot the award you will be helping to ensure that digital practices along with the criteria, evidence and knowledge required to achieve the award are acceptable and achievable.  The criteria for the award are set out in the six ‘Key Areas’ and associated ‘Considerations’ for each.  On successful completion, you will also become one of the first organisation/team/service to receive a Digital CLD Award Scotland.
The pilot phase will spread over approximately 3 months.  Firstly, each organisation/team/service involved from across youth work, adult learning and community development will gather appropriate evidence of their digital development and activities and liaise with their Validator.  The Validator will then agree on a date and time for Validation (the Validation should last between 1.5 and 2 hours).  The Validator then prepares a short report.  Thereafter, the pilot process will be reviewed by the Development Group, using feedback from Validators and organisations/teams/services involved.
Absolutely not. The award is designed to work with organisations/teams/services large and small and takes into account the strategic elements that inform your organisational aims.
Yes, any organisation/team/service completing the pilot award successfully will receive the Digital CLD Award Scotland.   Following the validation visit (which may be online), the Validator recommends one of three outcomes.
  • An ‘Award’ - for organisations/teams/services where digital technologies have already been adopted and embedded in practice and where the breadth and depth of deployment is evident from the evidence.
  • An ‘Award with Targets’ - where organisations/ teams/services do not yet fully meet the award criteria but, through discussion and agreement with the Validator, use the criteria statements to set targets for digital development.  The organisation/team/service updates the Validator at an agreed point.
  • ‘Award not yet achieved’ – where evidence is not sufficient and organisations/teams/services may well recognise that there is still further development work to do.  The Validator can suggest some areas for development before applying for a further validation visit.  The Validator may invite the organisation to liaise with other, similar organisations where practice is more established.
There is no set figure for evidence. The selection of evidence should highlight how the organisation team/service can demonstrate the extent to which it fulfils the award requirements.  Avoid submitting large amounts of information.  Not every Consideration may be relevant to every organisation/team/service applying.  Your Validator or critical friend can offer specific advice but in general: 
  • Be selective, representative and typical of best practice.   
  • Explain the evidence and its context where possible; 
  • Don’t be afraid to show the challenges as well as the achievements. 
The Validator will be notified directly by the Digital CLD Awards Scotland programme team when the organisation/team/service has indicated that it is ready for validation.  The Validator will normally contact the link person to arrange a date and time and to explain the format and suggest themes or discussions based on his/her review of the submission.
Following an initial discussion to arrange the validation, the organisation/team/service should arrange for a suitable quiet location where there is good connectivity. The organisation/team/service can prepare a timetable of short meetings with key people. with people sufficient time for a review at the end of the validation process.
Notice of a validation depends on the availability of the Validator and the organisation/service but ideally should not be less than two weeks or more than six weeks.
The organisation/team/service may seek reassessment by request to the programme coordinating team.  In most cases, discussion between the Critical Friend and the organisation/service can resolve any disagreements. It is the applying organisation/team/service’s responsibility to ensure that sufficient evidence is presented to show that it complies with the statements contained in the framework.
Validators or Critical Friends will always use discretion when interacting with organisations/ teams/services.  Validators or Critical Friends do not offer advice on possible actions in any sensitive cases. Organisations/teams/services should seek professional advice from appropriate agencies. 
Successful organisations/teams/services are those where the Validator is confident that when participants, learners and/or stakeholders are engaging with the organisation/team/service, their overall experience is one of digitally-enhanced learning and engagement, and that their access to living and working in modern society benefits from their participation.
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