Following discussions by the Improvement Service with community councils across Scotland, we have identified some key areas where community councillors would like to improve their skills.
Using the OU’s free learning portal OpenLearn, we have provided links below to courses which will help people improve their skills in these key areas. The courses are free to use and you can do them at any time and at your own pace. You can gain either a digital badge or certificate for completing each course.
Many CCs have fully embraced the digital journey during the pandemic and there are courses here to help you continue that journey such as using Microsoft Teams and succeeding in a digital world. In addition to digital skills there are also courses on a range of other topics that community councillors have suggested including finance, fundraising, community and business skills.
If you have any questions about accessing these courses or other study options with the OU, please contact ouscotland-skills-support@open.ac.uk.
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Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world
This free course, Digital skills: succeeding in a digital world, will develop your confidence and skills for life online, whether study, work or everyday life. It explores a range of digital skills and practices, including digital identity, digital well-being, staying safe and legal, finding and using information and online tools, and dealing with information overload. The importance of developing a critical approach to life online is emphasised throughout, whether consuming or creating information. You'll be encouraged to reflect on your own situation and to apply what you learn to real-life scenarios, using a digital skills plan to keep a record of progress.
Learn moreDigital skills: succeeding in a digital worldLevel: 1 Introductory
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Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online
This free course, Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online, will help you to understand online security and start to protect your digital life, whether at home or work. You will learn how to recognise the threats that could harm you online and the steps you can take to reduce the chances that they will happen to you.
Learn moreIntroduction to cyber security: stay safe onlineLevel: 1 Introductory
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Microsoft Excel training
Excel video training, from the basics to making charts, pivot tables and formulas.
Read moreMicrosoft Excel training -
Microsoft Teams training
Microsoft Teams video training, from the basics of how posts and messages work, to finding files and setting up live events.
Read moreMicrosoft Teams training -
Google Digital Garage Courses
Discover a range of free learning content designed to help your business or in your career. You can learn by selecting individual modules, or dive right in and take an entire course end-to-end.
Read moreGoogle Digital Garage Courses
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Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis
This free course, Business communication: writing a SWOT analysis, is designed to develop your writing skills for business. You will be taken step by step through the process of writing a SWOT analysis, with clear advice on selecting key information from a case study text, making concise notes, choosing an appropriate structure and using language effectively. You will learn how to write a formal report including recommendations, based on a case study analysis of the British company, Brompton Bicycle.
Learn moreBusiness communication: writing a SWOT analysisLevel: 1 Introductory
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Effective communication in the workplace
This free course, Effective communication in the workplace, explores the importance of communication as a skill in the workplace. It aims to increase your understanding of communication skills and to help you to consider how your communication could be perceived by others. You'll cover areas such as verbal and non-verbal communication, written communication and using your communication skills to overcome challenging situations.
Learn moreEffective communication in the workplaceLevel: 1 Introductory
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Difference and challenge in teams
This free course looks at how teams ‘travel’ together on a journey of development. Those journeys are hardly ever smooth. The course encourages you to recognise difference and challenge amongst individuals in the team who are pulling in different directions. It will help you identify where such challenges can be embraced for the benefit of your team and your organisation.
Learn moreDifference and challenge in teamsLevel: 1 Introductory
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Managing virtual project teams
Many projects are now ‘virtual’, i.e. some or all of the team are located remotely and may be working in different time zones. The project manager needs all the traditional soft skills, and more. This free course, Managing virtual project teams, looks at knowledge and techniques which underpin team selection and then consider the additional expertise needed to manage teams in a virtual environment.
Learn moreManaging virtual project teamsLevel: 3 Advanced
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Working in diverse teams
This free badged course, Working in diverse teams, will help you consider your experience of working in teams and the different roles you play in them. It will increase your confidence in marketing this key skill to employers as well improve your ability to perform well in teams you are currently part of.
Learn moreWorking in diverse teamsLevel: 1 Introductory
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Making decisions
Do you hate making decisions? Does the ability of others to make snap decisions really frustrate you? This free course will help you understand some of the processes involved in decision making. Attention to the psychology of decision making and the social context in which decisions are made can improve your understanding of others and yourself.
Learn moreMaking decisionsLevel: 3 Advanced
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Project management: the start of the project journey
This free course, Project management: The start of the project journey, introduces projects, what they are, how they come about, responses to problems and planning. It explores the role of key players including the project manager, feasibility studies, decision making and project life cycles.
Learn moreProject management: the start of the project journeyLevel: 3 Advanced
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Planning a project
Gantt charts, critical path analysis, SMART objectives and estimation skills are just some of the topics covered in this free course, Planning a project, to help you understand how to plan for a project. You will gain an appreciation of the range of planning techniques available and the situations in which it is appropriate to use them.
Learn morePlanning a projectLevel: 3 Advanced
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Preparing a project
Managing projects is something most managers will find themselves doing at some point in their career. This free course, Preparing a project, aims to provide an overview of the features of a project and the issues that arise in managing a project.
Learn morePreparing a projectLevel: 3 Advanced
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Implementing the project
Day-to-day monitoring of a project is essential to ensure that work is progressing according to the plan, and it will often be necessary to review and revise the plan as circumstances change. This free course, Implementing the project, will introduce some of the key techniques that help managers to monitor and control projects, and consider what approaches work best in particular circumstances.
Learn moreImplementing the projectLevel: 3 Advanced
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Completing the project
This free course, Completing the project, will examine the particular issues that arise in bringing a project to a close, and ways of evaluating a project on its completion. The key components of project closure will be identified and discussed and their importance in ensuring that the aims and objectives of a project have been successfully attained will be explored. After studying this course, you will be able to plan an effective project closure.
Learn moreCompleting the projectLevel: 3 Advanced
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An introduction to public leadership
In this free course, An introduction to public leadership, you will learn more about leadership in the context of public service provision, by public sector organisations, community and voluntary groups, and political bodies.
Learn moreAn introduction to public leadershipLevel: 1 Introductory
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Collaborative leadership in voluntary organisations
This free course, Collaborative leadership in voluntary organisations, will help you to reflect on and develop collaborative leadership practices that will make a difference. The course is aimed at people who work within voluntary organisations as paid staff or as volunteers or for people who work regularly with voluntary organisations, such as public sector staff or politicians.
Learn moreCollaborative leadership in voluntary organisationsLevel: 1 Introductory
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Developing leadership practice in voluntary organisations
This free course, Developing leadership practice in voluntary organisations, provides an opportunity for people who work within voluntary organisations, as paid employees or staff, to develop energetic, practical and thoughtful leadership practice.
Learn moreDeveloping leadership practice in voluntary organisationsLevel: 1 Introductory
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Leadership and followership
This free course, Leadership and followership, will help you to explore what makes a good leader, recognise common leadership challenges, and identify the skills you need to develop if you want to enhance your own leadership experience.
Learn moreLeadership and followershipLevel: 1 Introductory
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Financial accounting and reporting
This free course, Financial accounting and reporting, discusses how accountants act as processors and purveyors of information for decision making and the needs of those who use accounting information. It also looks at the role performed by accountants and notes the need to be aware of relevant regulatory and conceptual frameworks.
Learn moreFinancial accounting and reportingLevel: 2 Intermediate
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Fundamentals of accounting
Learn about the essential numerical and double-entry skills required for accounting. This free course, Fundamentals of accounting, will explain the fundamental purpose and role of accounting as well as the double-entry rules that are the foundation of all financial records and reports in any modern business.
Learn moreFundamentals of accountingLevel: 1 Introductory
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Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting
Learn about the essential numerical skills required for accounting and bookkeeping. This free course, Introduction to bookkeeping and accounting, explains the fundamental rules of double-entry bookkeeping and how they are used to produce the balance sheet and the profit and loss account.
Learn moreIntroduction to bookkeeping and accountingLevel: 1 Introductory
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Building relationships with donors
Legacy fundraising and big-gift seeking are part of the professional fundraiser's role. This free course, Building relationships with donors, will help you to gain the skills necessary to persuade individuals to become donors. How do you change people's ideas about methods of giving, moving them from casual street donations to regular direct debit giving?
Learn moreBuilding relationships with donorsLevel: 3 Advanced
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Managing relationships
Do you find fundraising difficult? Are others around you making your role as a fundraiser more difficult than it need be? This free course, Managing relationships, will help you to understand your role by analysing a variety of issues about fundraising and the dilemmas and problems that organisations involved in winning resources and support are likely to face.
Learn moreManaging relationshipsLevel: 3 Advanced
Community and society
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Legal skills and debates in Scotland
This free course, Legal skills and debates in Scotland, considers how laws are interpreted and applied. It looks at legislation, court judgments, argument, judicial reasoning and rights. It also explores the relationship between society’s values and the laws which it supports and how policy and rights influence development of law.
Learn moreLegal skills and debates in ScotlandLevel: 1 Introductory
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Scottish courts and the law
This free course, Scottish courts and the law, explores the role, function and purpose of the courts in Scotland and their relationship with the law. You consider the way in which cases come to court, the difference between the criminal and civil justice systems, the separation of powers, how individuals may become involved with the court system, the alternatives to courts that have evolved in recent decades and future advances that are being considered. You learn about the work of lawyers and the judiciary and explore how Scottish courts and tribunals operate in an open and transparent way working to ensure justice.
Learn moreScottish courts and the lawLevel: 1 Introductory
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The Scottish Parliament and law making
This free course, The Scottish Parliament and law making, explores the law making powers of the Scottish Parliament and examines its place in the UK’s constitution. It considers how, and why, laws are made by both the Scottish and UK Parliaments before exploring devolved matters, reserved matters, legislative competence, secondary legislation, and the work of MSPs and MPs. It discusses the characteristics of the constitution, the importance of the concept of the rule of law, how an Act of Parliament is structured and considers how and why members of the public are encouraged to become involved with the work of the Scottish Parliament.
Learn moreThe Scottish Parliament and law makingLevel: 1 Introductory
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Introducing environmental decision making
Many of the decisions we make have implications for our environment, particularly those concerning natural resources and waste. Taking account of environmental factors in decision making can be both complex and challenging. This free course, Introducing environmental decision making, considers decisions in their broader contexts and advocates a systems approach to environmental decision making.
Learn moreIntroducing environmental decision makingLevel: 3 Advanced
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Sustainable Scotland
Sustainable Scotland is a free course that will appeal to anyone with an interest in a sustainable future in the context of contemporary Scottish society. It will give you a broad-based introduction to a number of different aspects of sustainability that impact on Scotland and the wider world.
Learn moreSustainable ScotlandLevel: 1 Introductory
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Partnerships and networks in work with young people
The term 'partnership' is used to describe a wide range of organisational arrangements and ways of working: from informal networking between individuals, to more formal partnership structures. In this free course, Partnerships and networks in work with young people, you will explore a range of meanings for the word 'partnership' and see that it is used to describe a range of practices, structures and processes. You will also look at some of the difficulties, as well as the potential benefits, that can come from working in partnership.
Learn morePartnerships and networks in work with young peopleLevel: 2 Intermediate
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Collaborative problem solving for community safety
This free course, Collaborative problem solving for community safety, offers a range of techniques for community police officers, other community-based public service professionals and members of community groups working to solve problems collaboratively and creatively. It examines some of the ways which OU specialists in creative problem solving recommend to tackle difficult problems, and how to implement them in a community setting.
Learn moreCollaborative problem solving for community safetyLevel: 1 Introductory
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