Working Together?Community organisations

and public agencies on Uist

Workshop on Wednesday 17th April

Sgoil Lionacleit Theatre

4 to 6:30pm (followed by food)

Contact

Thomas FisherCommunity Economic Development Team

Cothrom Ltd, Ormicleit, Isle of South Uist, HS8 5SB

01878 700918/910

thomas.fisher@cothrom.net

www.cothrom.net

Overview of workshop

1. Opening remarks by Thomas Fisher, Cothrom

2. Cothrom presentation on community sector by Gemma Campbell

3. Presentation by Kate Thomson-McDermott on Community Empowerment and

Renewal Bill

4. Summary of previous OHCPP workshop on Uist and introduction to casestudies

5. Work in small groups on casestudies and presentations by groups

6. Summarising results and presentation by Ailsa Clark of the Argyll & Bute Local

Services Initiative

7. Open discussion (if time!)

8. Food at 6:30pm provided by local social enterprise (Claddach Kirkibost Centre)

Employment in the community sector

178 jobs in the community sector

this represents 14.6% of all employees outside of the

public sector (cf to 2007 Annual Business Enquiry)

Over 10% of jobs outside of the public sector (2001

Census): I estimate 11.8%

the large social enterprises are among the largest

employers on the islands

How best to supportCommunity Sector

As a group largest 8 community enterprises on Uist (income over £100K) seem to have sustained their income (non-inflation adjusted) and employment during recession

The smaller community organisations are most characterised by significant fluctuations in their income, including an overall decline of 10% from 2009 to 2011

How can we (OHCPP, CnES, Third Sector support organisations) best address this challenge?

OHCPP workshopUist, Nov 2011

Casestudies

Atlantis Leisure, Oban Social enterprise took over existing council leisure facilities

Community Benefit Clauses Aspire

Housing association supporting social enterprises among their tenants to deliver services to the

association

Community Care Assynt Community group took over day care centre in Lochinver

Cornerstone providing services for people with disabilities: moving beyond Service Level Agreements to more

enterprising partnerships

Maud Village Trust NHS Grampian handed new building over to a community trust

OHCPP workshopUist, Nov 2011

Recommendations

Social enterprise champions among public sector staff

Partnership agreements rather than SLAs More intensive engagement by public sector with

community groups in service delivery Enhanced consultation processes Community skills audit for Western Isles Making best use of Local Community planning

Today’s casestudies

Archaeology on Uistfacilitated by Catherine Macleod of Access Archaeology and Catherine Eunson, Cothrom

Ceòlas: A centre to promote Gaelic culture, history, education and the natural resources of Uist.

facilitated by Mary Schmoller, Ceòlas

Today’s casestudies

CnES’ Community Gateway – from a community perspective

facilitated by Thomas Fisher, Cothrom

Enterprising Young People: Skills for Enterprise (CnES) and Cothrom

facilitated by Theona Morrison, CnES

Today’s casestudies

Local Food Project -- Sustainable Uist facilitated by David Newman, SU

Home Support Service and Community Transport: Tagsa Uibhist

facilitated by Murdina, Tagsa

How community and public sector organisations work

together effectively

Each casestudy has a brief introductory sheet Each introduction reviews the successes and

opportunities as well as the challenges of the community and public sectors working together

Drawing on the casestudy each small group to identify critical factors that determine the success or otherwise of working together

Critical factors that enable us to work together to deliver

effective and efficient services

Maximum of 7 people in each group, including facilitators

30 minutes for discussion One member of each small group

presents summary of discussion on one flipchart