Community Futures pilots have been hailed a success in two North Lanarkshire Communities following the development of Community Action Plans in Pather and Plains.
Community Learning and Development Workers from North Lanarkshire, working in conjunction with the Small Town and Rural Development Group (STAR), Community Councils, Residents Groups and the wider population, piloted two Community Futures projects for regeneration and community planning. Plains was selected as an example of a rural area with a network of community organisations and Pather as an urban area with no existing 3rd sector infrastructure.
At the outset public meetings were organised in the two communities to explain the Community Futures approach to community engagement, participation and planning. Workers in Plains utilised the existing network of community organisations in which to promote this public meeting. Workers in Pather had to build up relationships with individuals and local community organisations as there was no localised networking history. This was a challenging process for the workers but in this case has built up a strong and vibrant network.
Through the public meetings local Community Futures steering groups were set up with the support of Community Learning and Development Staff. These staff in partnership with the Small Town and Rural Development Group took the steering groups through the Community Futures model of community planning. Through this training and support both steering groups developed community surveys, developed community profiles and carried out stakeholder interviews to build a picture of community perceptions, provision and facilities. The steering groups took responsibility for developing and distributing the survey to every household in their communities.
Community Futures events were held to provide local people with the opportunity to view and comment on the survey findings and to collectively identify priorities. These events were successful in bringing more people onto the steering groups and in taking forward the process of producing community led action plans for the two communities.
Two Community Futures action plans for Plains and Pather were developed as a result of the extensive community engagement. These plans highlighted and prioritised areas for development in both communities.
The two Community Futures pilot groups have now developed into locally led autonomous community Action Groups that continue to access support from Community Learning and Development Workers. Since publication and distribution of the action plans, both groups have engaged with other local authority services and partner agencies on a wide variety of matters including environmental, transport, adult education, youth work and community safety issues. Partnership working has been and continues to be evident throughout the process of addressing the specific priorities of these two communities. This has led to clearer lines of communication, increased awareness of roles and responsibilities and greater opportunities for local people to impact on decisions to improve and develop services within the communities of Plains and Pather.
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For more information please contact:
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Colin Bruce for the Plains Community Futures Action Group
- Community Learning and Development Worker
- Chapelside Centre
- Waddell Centre
- Airdrie
- ML6 6JU
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Tel 01236 638530
- Morene Simpson for the Pather Community Futures Action Group
- Community Learning and Development Worker
- Lammermoor Primary
- Rowan Street
- Wishaw
- ML2 7EG
- 01698 274343
- Colin Roxburgh and Alan Tuffs of the Small Town and Rural Development Group pioneered the Community Futures Model and information in relation to this organisation can be found on their website or contact them directly:
- colinroxstar@tiscali.co.uk
- alan.tuffs@btinternet.com
- http://www.stardevelopmentgroup.org/
