South Ayrshire Community Activity

Julia Whitaker Ailsa HorizonsJoan O’Sullivan Alan Jones Associates

South Ayrshire Communities

Our Communities

1. Annbank2. Coylton3. Loans4. Dundonald5. Symington6. Craigie7. Minishant8. Maybole9. Crosshill10. Kirkmichael11. Straiton12. Dunure

Why 12 Communities and not 7?

South Ayrshire already has 12 communities who have gone through local level action planning.

Completion of the 12 remaining rural communities will mean that all SA rural communities have plans to take forward

“We want more affordable houses for our young people so

they can afford to stay in Symington.”

“We want to make sure our older residents can stay here in Symington living confidently and

independently”

What are people saying?

“Our Symington Park Project will provide our community with better

sports facilities”

“Loans needs more volunteers to help make

things happen”

“ Village hall could close unless we get more help”

“We want to encourage visitors to the castle to come into the village and see what else we

have to offer.”

“great young farmers activities”

“strong and well run community council”

“we will work hard to make sure we

get a bypass”

There is good community spirit in

Coylton

“We will work hard to get our new sports facilities installed”

“Saving our Harbour and Light Tower and opening it out to the public will bring

in more visitors ”

South Ayrshire Communities

Who have we spoken with to express opinion? We are collecting the views of at least 50 individuals in each community to build a

picture of what they feel about where they live and their local services and facilities. We are speaking to community groups and organisations to build a picture of the

diverse range of organisations and activities available in each community We have mapped the community and noted the services within each community We are talking to other key organisations and stakeholders, to map their activities in

local communities We have taken account of any current and recent consultations and other research

carried out within communities to inform the action plans Local primary school children are taking part in consultations in the school South Ayrshire Youth Forum members Had the opportunity to express their opinions

during their 2013 conference and Young Scot events We are holding coffee mornings to encourage more people to come and talk to us

and each other in a more social setting – “We bring the cake and you bring the chat”

South Ayrshire Communities

What are the emerging priorities in our Communities? Maybole want Town Centre improvements and a new A77 bypass Bring together Sporting Groups in Dundonald Improve and create more walking trails around Kirkmichael Hall improvements needed in Dunure and Loans Symington community concerned that new housing developments will change the

character of village Annbank parents concerned about Primary School refurbishments Children in Minishant are frightened to walk or cycle to the shop because of the

traffic on the A77 Crosshill residents concerned about the state of the roads Straiton residents have concerns regarding wind farm developments Coylton are working with South Ayrshire Council to create a new sports area next to

school grounds Craigie Community are considering a wind turbine to generate revenue to support

community projects

South Ayrshire Communities

Some common themes between all communities

Litter and Dog Fouling – our children have told us this More activities for young people in particular Many of the communities want better sports and play park facilities Many of the communities want to have better communications Many of the communities want to make the most of our heritage and culture to

maximise our tourism offer

South Ayrshire Communities

Have we had any difficulties?

Making initial contacts in some communities Long times between community council meetings Other community issues more important in some communities so difficult to

engage with people Many of the communities have little volunteer capacity or time Many volunteers work during the day Many people cannot give any more time to support Ayrshire 21 as they have

more than enough to do with their own activities Getting people together to talk Catching people in at home during the day Gaining peoples trust

South Ayrshire Communities

Completing the Project We are preparing draft action plans Talk to partners and agencies to gain their support and enlist their help to

support actions within the plan Keep communities informed and obtain opinion and support to turn drafts

into adopted plans Print final plans and distribute within the community and also to those

partnering with communities to turn ideas and aspirations into real and lasting change

We will continue to work with communities to deliver these actions with communities

South Ayrshire Communities

Strengthening Our CommunitiesWhat's Next?

Colette McGarvaCommunity Engagement Officer

South Ayrshire Council

Strengthening Our Communities

Outputs

Implement community development /asset based approaches to strengthen communities in order to unlock potential

Easi4Communities programme- Teams from Ailsa Horizons, Voluntary Action South Ayrshire, Housing, Community Safety, CLD (youth & adult based learning) and Community Engagement working together

Strengthening Communities Programme- implemented in various parts of South Ayrshire

Further roll out of training to CPP senior managers in community engagement and VOiCE ( Visioning Outcomes in Community Engagement)

Strengthening Our Communities

Single Outcome Agreement- Outcomes Overview

Partnership priorities:-

Safer and Stronger Communities

What we want to achieve in 10 years:-

Communities in South Ayrshire are stronger and safer

Long term outcomes ( 5-10 years) Communities are more confident and empowered to address the issues that

matter to them

Strengthening Our Communities

Inputs Communities Community Councils Social Enterprises ( including Ailsa Horizons) & South Ayrshire Social

Enterprise Network Voluntary Action South Ayrshire NHS South Ayrshire Council Police Scotland Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

University of West of Scotland Ayrshire College Scottish Rural College

Strengthening Our Communities

Next Steps

Present findings to Community Planning Partnerships and mirrored thematic groups

Liaise with locality partnerships including North Carrick CLD partnership and Carrick Community Councils Forum/Carrick & Kyle Rural Forum

inform Carrick /Kyle Development Strategy Further development of Strengthening Communities programme Bring key stakeholders together who can support the process and

implementation of action plans