A Local Learning Cohort has been created and is facilitated by the Programme Team providing a platform for learning.
We are evaluating our work and sharing our learning across different key stages of the programme. This is facilitated by a Local Learning Cohort platform where meetings are held fortnightly, and every eight weeks with the Project Leads and the Programme Team, to enable continuous progress and learning to be shared within and beyond the Project Towns on shared topics. Fortnightly meetings connect the seven Project Towns with additional learning partners from across Scotland to share knowledge and expertise, bridging the gap between the local project work and national leaders, and providing a mechanism to inform national policy.
The sessions have brought together colleagues from within the Improvement Service who run programmes that are closely aligned with the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme. They include:
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)
- Adopting a Trauma-Informed Approach
- Climate Change
- Wellbeing Economy
There have also been sessions with external partners including:
- Public Health Scotland - Housing
- Paths for All
- SUSTRANS
- Scottish Futures Trust
- Climate Action Towns
- Scottish Towns Partnership
- Architecture and Design Scotland
- Scottish Community Development Centre
- Public Health Scotland – Mental Health
- Social Enterprise Academy and Social Enterprise Scotland
- Planning Aid Scotland
- Scottish Empty Homes Partnership
In addition to these sessions, the Project Leads complete monthly 'Reflect and Capture' reports highlighting any new connections they’ve made, challenges or powerful learning moments for that month.
We’re keen to share the learning across all our Project Towns and have been doing this by hosting quarterly All Project Towns – Local Learning Cohort sessions. These sessions bring together all Steering Group members to share progress from each Project Town, it’s also an opportunity to hear reflections and learnings from Project Towns too.
It’s bringing people together that wouldn’t perhaps originally work together so closely, and it’s helped to breakdown those silos across the town. It’s really allowing us to implement that place principle a lot better, it’s much more effective.
It’s given more decision makers more insight into place and why the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes are so key to the wellbeing of the people living there.
I think one of the key things for Ayr and what we have benefitted from is really the work of the Local Information System Team (LIST) Analyst from Public Health Scotland and the profile that’s been produced is probably one of the best data sets that I’ve ever seen.
If you are looking at place-based approaches, or if the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme sounds like something you would like to know more about, please contact Irene Beautyman, Place and Wellbeing Partnership Lead, below or follow us on X (Twitter) @place4wellbeing to keep up to date with all of our latest news
Irene Beautyman - Place and Wellbeing Partnership Lead
Phone: 07908 930763
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Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme
The Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme is a joint delivery partnership between the Improvement Service and Public Health Scotland. This forum is for those interested in our work supporting the role of place to reduce inequality and improve the wellbeing of people and planet.
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Place Network
For those interested in the importance of place as a working approach to delivering national outcomes around improved wellbeing and inclusive growth.