This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Launch of community partnership project
02/09/2002
A new initiative which will pool the collective
resources of communities in Dumfries to improve the range
and quality of public services in the North West Dumfries
area, was launched today.
Under the North West Dumfries Communities in Partnership
Project, community organisations, the wider business
community and local residents will collaborate to provide
services and activities for the local area.
These services, based at the North West Resource Centre,
a former derelict site in Lincluden, will fill gaps in
existing services, add value to current services while
meeting community and economic regeneration needs.
The Centre received European Regional Development Grant
funding of almost £700,000 under the South of Scotland
Objective 2 Programme.
The aims of the project include:
- Improving skills, providing retraining, improving
childcare and transport
- A reduction in the high levels of benefit
dependency and unemployment
- Encouraging new business start-ups and small
business growth
- Encouraging larger numbers of local residents to
participate in education with the region's higher and
further education providers and to enrol for New Deal
courses
- Delivering environmental improvements to housing
conditions
At the Dumfries Centre, Minister for Finance and Public
Services Andy Kerr said:
"I am delighted to see first-hand that Community
Planning is bearing fruit and delivering positive results
for the people of North West Dumfries. The Communities in
Partnership Project has come about as a result of
determined and hard-working people joining forces to make a
difference to their local community.
"Making services accessible to all citizens is a key
priority of the Executive. We are committed to Community
Planning - which is clearly already taking root across
Scotland and here in Dumfries.
"The success of Community Planning is down to the
leadership shown by local authorities and the genuine
participation of the many groups in the local community,
working together to meet the needs of the local community
and voluntary interests. While strategic vision is
essential, the real test is whether the ensuing action on
the ground results in tangible improvements to people's
lives.
"It gives me great pleasure to see that the North West
Dumfries Communities in Partnership Project embodies all
these principles, with the end result being the first-rate
services, facilities and training opportunities provided at
the North West Resource Centre, for the benefit of
all."
Andy Kerr visited the North West Resource Centre to
launch Phase 1 of the Communities in Partnership Project
and to see the results of community action and strong
agency partnerships. The Project partners include Dumfries
and Galloway Council, Dumfries and Galloway College,
Scottish Enterprise D&G, Voluntary Childcare Providers
and the Employment Service.
The Resource Centre will provide a service to the people
of Lochside, Lincluden, Stakeford, Summerhill and
Summerville estates. It was a derelict former residential
care centre, identified by community groups within these
areas as a potential site to expand and attract additional
services to their community.
Under phase one, work will be completed for the Learning
Centre and Childcare Facility at Lincluden House. The
Centre will be open to the community from Tuesday,
September 3. Under Phase 2, work will be completed for the
reception, administration, conference facilities and office
space. A range of local agencies, groups and voluntary
sector organisations will deliver services from the
Centre.