Our Programme worked in Rutherglen from 2022 until June 2024 supporting them to take a place based approach. Here you can find information about the Project Town, all the work we carried out and the documents we created.
The final document we produced is our Project Town Closing Summary which brings together all of this information.
About our Rutherglen Project Town
Situated to the north of South Lanarkshire, Rutherglen comprises of nine intermediate zones and was our fourth Project Town to get underway. With life expectancy and deprivation within intermediate zones varying significantly, as well as one-third of the population living within 500 metres of a derelict site, it met our programme criteria for support.
Rutherglen’s Steering Group was made up mostly of members from South Lanarkshire Council, Rutherglen and Cambuslang South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Healthy N Happy Community Development Trust and Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire and met monthly from May 2022.
Ruth Hart was Project Lead for Rutherglen from August 2022- October 2023. Andrew Whittet joined the Programme as Community Link Lead in November 2022 and moved into the Project Lead role from October 2023 until June 2024.
What has been the impact of the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme in Rutherglen?
Read how we supported the refresh of the Burnhill Action Group, which sets out priorities for the Burnhill area.
Rutherglen's Data Journey
How has data collected by our Programme, with the help of the Public Health Scotland Local Intelligence Support (LIST) Analysts Team, identified specific actions to target work inequalities within the Burnhill area of Rutherglen? Read our second Impact Story for Rutherglen here.
The support from the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme began with our quantitative data exercise to identify the population groups of Rutherglen experiencing the most inequality, carried out with support from the Public Health Scotland Local Intelligence System Team (LIST). This was captured in a Quantitative Data Profile of the findings that allowed us to identify five main areas of impact around:
- Life expectancy variances
- Proximity to derelict sites
- Children in poverty
- Income and employment
- Higher substance misuse
We shared our findings through:
- Quantitative data profile
- Quantitative data infographic, highlighting key areas of inequality
To understand residents’ experiences of the places they live, work and relax, our Community Link Leads aimed to bring this quantitative data to life by undertaking a qualitative data gathering exercise which was informal in its approach, and prioritised building relationships with third sector organisations and community groups, combined with desk-based searches. We shared our findings through:
A data explanation profile for Burnhill and Bankhead North was created to provide a snapshot of the population/demographic of the area including age, levels of deprivation and poverty, and derelict land within the area. Contact us at placeandwellbeing@improvementservice.org.uk for a copy of this document.
Read more about our data journey here.
Place and Wellbeing Outcome Briefings: Impact on Rutherglen's Community
Each Project Town created Place and Wellbeing Outcome Briefings, which explored the impact of the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes on communities, organisations and practitioners within our Project Towns. Read Rutherglen's Place and Wellbeing Outcome Briefings below.
Movement
Spaces
Civic
Rutherglen's Place and Wellbeing Assessments
Rutherglen also undertook a number of Place and Wellbeing Assessments:
- South Lanarkshire Economic Strategy
- Burnhill Neighbourhood Plan
- South Lanarkshire Local Development Plan 2
- Rutherglen Town Centre Action Plan
Following each Place and Wellbeing Assessment a report was produced recommending how a more place-based approach could be taken. If you’re interested in our approach, read Rutherglen’s Place and Wellbeing Assessment reports in full.
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Planning for Place Programme
The Planning for Place Programme supports councils and their partners to collaborate around place, seeking to encourage place-based approaches to joint planning, resourcing and delivery of places that enable all communities to flourish.
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National Planning Improvement Programme
The National Planning Improvement Champion is responsible for monitoring the performance of planning authorities and providing advice to them (and others) on what steps might be taken to improve their performance.
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Planning Skills
The Planning Skills Programme co-ordinates training events for public sector planning officers, with the aim to develop the skills required to deliver better places.
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Digital Planning
The Digital Planning team at the Improvement Service collaborates with local government to enhance and unify data related to planning and building standards. This work aims to develop a cohesive national data landscape, fostering insights and supporting informed decision-making.
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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.