This document discusses the re-focusing of public services in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Drivers for change include drops in public sector funding, demographic changes, increased demand, and national reforms. A new service called Vibrant Communities was created by combining over 100 employees from various departments. Vibrant Communities takes an asset-based approach, focusing on community-led action plans, volunteering, and connecting community assets. These plans have led to increased community involvement, new organizations, and communities taking a more proactive role in their development. Small community projects have had big impacts through activities like litter cleaning, crowdfunding, and youth programs.

1. Why Re-focus?
•Drop in funding available to public sector
•Changes in demography
•Increase in demand
•Listening to our communities and
stakeholders
•Widening inequalities gap
•Welfare Reform
•National Drivers for change
VIBRANT
COMMUNITIES
in
EAST AYRSHIRE
Dot Grieve & Suzanne Brodie

2. Why Re-focus?
•Drop in funding available to public sector
•Changes in demography
•Increase in demand
•Listening to our communities and
stakeholders
•Widening inequalities gap
•Welfare Reform
•National Drivers for change
 Overview of Vibrant Communities in
East Ayrshire & context for change
 Highlight Community Led Action
Plans
 Small projects big impact

3. Why Re-focus?
•Drop in funding available to public sector
•Changes in demography
•Increase in demand
•Listening to our communities and
stakeholders
•Widening inequalities gap
•Welfare Reform
•National Drivers for change
Transforming Our Relationship
With Communities
Listening to our Communities & Stakeholders
Reduce the bureaucracy/red tape
Solution focussed
Easier access to people & information
Help make connections

4. Why Re-focus?
•Drop in funding available to public sector
•Changes in demography
•Increase in demand
•Listening to our communities and
stakeholders
•Widening inequalities gap
•Welfare Reform
•National Drivers for change
Our solutions are often not fit for purpose

5. Why Re-focus?
•Drop in funding available to public sector
•Changes in demography
•Increase in demand
•Listening to our communities and
stakeholders
•Widening inequalities gap
•Welfare Reform
•National Drivers for change
A TIME FOR CHANGE
“This is not solely a matter of fiscal necessity
but a once in a generation opportunity to
implement radical reforms that will provide
improved public services that are better
focused on the needs of the people it seeks
to support”
Commission on the Future Delivery of Public Services
(2011)

6. Why Re-focus?
•Drop in funding available to public sector
•Changes in demography
•Increase in demand
•Listening to our communities and
stakeholders
•Widening inequalities gap
•Welfare Reform
•National Drivers for change
A redesigned service bringing together the talents,
experience and skills of over 100 front facing employees from…
 Active Schools
 Community Learning & Development Service
 Democratic Services (support to Community Council’s)
 Leisure Development Services (early intervention and
prevention services)
 Planning and Economic Development - External Funding
and Sustainability and Local Project Posts
 Social Work Community Care - Local Area Coordinators
and Care Coordinators
 Social Work Children and Families – Befriending
 Corporate Infrastructure and Legal

7. Why Re-focus?
•Drop in funding available to public sector
•Changes in demography
•Increase in demand
•Listening to our communities and
stakeholders
•Widening inequalities gap
•Welfare Reform
•National Drivers for change
Vibrant Communities
Key Service Areas

8. Why Re-focus?
•Drop in funding available to public sector
•Changes in demography
•Increase in demand
•Listening to our communities and
stakeholders
•Widening inequalities gap
•Welfare Reform
•National Drivers for change
An increased focus on
 Recognising people as assets
 Discovering local skills and talents
 Connect these assets
 Create opportunities for these assets to be
productive
 Doing things with rather than for people
 Valuing work differently
 Promoting volunteering and giving back to the
community
 Building social networks
AN ASSET BASED APPROACH

9. East Ayrshire
Community Led Action Plans
The Story So Far….

10. Community Led Action Plans
Background
•5 year plans led by the community for the
community
•Transforming our relationship with communities
•Ayrshire LEADER 21 Programme
•Rollout to all 35 communities across East Ayrshire

11. THE ROAD MAP
THE
RESEARCH
ROAD
Expression of Interest
Steering Group
Community Survey
Stakeholder Interviews
Community
Profile
Community Event
Community Action Plan
& Launch

12. Community Led Action Plans
Key Outcomes
• Increased membership of existing groups
• More people involved in shaping the future of their
community
• Creation of new community organisations
• Increased local capacity to develop and manage projects
• Communities shifting from being reactive to proactive
• Communities becoming partners in their own development
• Greater ability for communities to partner with public
agencies to deliver services

13. Impact and Benefits on the Community
“The process has really
helped us to get to
know our community
and what’s in it”
"It has been the
community that has
decided what we want for
our community, we have
ownership“
"We have found the
strengths of the community
and the challenges and we
are moving forward to
make this plan happen"
Brought back a
“sense of
community”
“It’s revived the
community”

14. “Really pleased to be
part of the steering
group, makes me feel
more involved and
developing Community
Spirit”
"It has been a lot of
hard work. We have
networked, shared
skills and knowledge
within the community
and it has all been
great“
“Bringing areas of
the community
together that have
never worked
together in the
past”
“Getting things done
over the lifespan of
the plan will really
improve the area”
“Extremely
encouraging
meeting other
people and sharing
ideas”

15. Community Led Action Plans

16. Small projects big impact
• Litter picking/hanging baskets
• Community Asset Transfer
• Crowd Funding (Islay Dog Rescue)
• Galston Youth Forum ( Diversionary Youth Work )
• Darvel Music Company (Engaging Young People )
• Community WW1 Projects ( Crosshouse &
Mauchline

17. Why Re-focus?
•Drop in funding available to public sector
•Changes in demography
•Increase in demand
•Listening to our communities and
stakeholders
•Widening inequalities gap
•Welfare Reform
•National Drivers for change
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world. Indeed
it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead, US anthropologist
Small pots of money can help
change a community.
AN ASSET BASED APPROACH