Airdrie and surrounding villages include areas of high levels of deprivation and poverty. SIMD data demonstrates that many data zones are in the top 5% of poverty across Scotland.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on families living in the area. There has been a vast increase in the number of individual or families asking for assistance with finances, emergency food and clothing essentials.

Pressure on families has also been increasing due to the cost-of-living crisis and community groups, charities and council departments have all reported increased need from communities for help and support during this period. 

Community Learning and Development (CLD)

North Lanarkshire Council’s Community Learning and Development (CLD) officers have been instrumental in developing a collective response to support families and communities.

They have worked with local community groups, third sector organisations, and wider local authority colleagues to create the ‘Airdrie Action Partnership’.

Airdrie Action Partnership brings together various community groups, third sector organisations, charities, and council services to develop shared approaches to address priorities identified with the wider community and is facilitated by CLD officers from North Lanarkshire Council. 

In North Lanarkshire, there are six Local Outcome Improvement Plans (LOIPs). Airdrie Action Partnership contributes towards the local priorities for the Airdrie LOIP which were identified through a range of stakeholder and listening events. The three main priorities are: 

• COVID 19 recovery and renewal  
• Mental health and emotional wellbeing  
• Poverty  

Airdrie Action Partnership

Airdrie Action Partnership brings together various community groups, third sector organisations, charities, and council services to develop shared approaches to address priorities identified with the wider community.

The partnership includes:

• Whinhall Action Group
• Whinhall Allotments
• Chapelhall Resilience Project
• XACT
• Bear Necessities
• Citizens Advice Bureau
• Routes to Work
• Kinship Carers
• Cairnlea Church
• Home Start
• Airdrie Foodbank
• the Voice of Experience Forum
• CLD
• VANL
• education
• Tackling Poverty team
• social work
• community Partnership team
• the NHS Health Improvement team

This collective group engage through monthly meetings, facilitated by CLD and Community Planning officers. 

Shared projects

An example of a shared project facilitated through the partnership to address the priority of poverty was the 2022 Christmas Partnership appeal. It came to light through discussion by partners that it would be helpful for all groups and services to work together and provide one response when supporting individuals and families during the winter period.

During the Christmas of 2021, it was highlighted that community groups and services were working in isolation which resulted in groups becoming overwhelmed with referrals for support and some families receiving multiple donations of toys or food parcels and yet other families hadn’t received any support at all.

It was agreed that by streamlining one response in the area that we could avoid duplication of resources whilst building in further assistance beyond toys and food to include financial supports to ensure we are gaining longer term positive solutions for families and individuals. 

Challenges 

CLD officers help the partnership to secure funding that would support limited access to a local charity’s building to support the work of the Christmas Appeal. One initial challenge was everyone understanding of the access to the partnership base being utilised.

Some groups interpreted that they could access this building at any time. This issue was resolved through effective communication between partners to agree a work schedule of when the space would be accessible, and sharing that with all partners.  

Impact

CLD Development Officers used an online referral form to ensure that all partners had the opportunity to provide support for families. This included:

• CLD
• Education
• Social Work
• Educational Psychologist
• Virtual Schools
• Health

This online referral process also allows CLD officers to capture strong data to demonstrate the impact that this approach had served.  

Support provided

As part of this project:

•  251 families were referred
• 555 children and young people were provided toys and clothing
• 151 parents were given gifts
• 143 referrals were made for clothing
• 52 referrals were made for long-term financial solutions
• 150 referrals were made for help with gas and electricity
• 6 individuals received a full Christmas dinner package
• 23 referrals were duplicated

Evidence suggests that the partnership approach seems to be making a positive difference for everyone involved.

Community groups are reporting that having stronger connections and ongoing conversations with CLD, Community Partnership teams and other Local Authority services is bolstering community capacity.

There  are increasing opportunities to provide sustainable outcomes for families; and empowering communities to influence and shape services.  

Next steps 

The partnership continues to meet monthly and negotiate further shared projects. It has been highlighted that ‘networking’ is key to the success for this partnership and to promote this, workers are looking to create multiple community networking evenings that will be facilitated across various community spaces in Airdrie and the villages.  

Further information 

Local Outcome Improvement Plan Airdrie (northlanarkshire.gov.uk)