How can you get involved in a local community structure?
Answers
Community planning partnerships (CPPs): bring together public agencies to work together with the community to plan and deliver better services locally; getting in touch with your local CPP is a good way to find out more about future plans for your area and how your work fits – your council’s website will have a link to your local CPP
Community Health (and Care) Partnerships: local CHP/CHCPs have information on health improvement targets for the local area and can signpost you to support available for health related work. CHP/CHCPs are currently changing to Health and Social Care Partnerships and so information is variable at the moment. The following health boards’ websites have CHP/CHCPs and HSC Partnership contact details:
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Highland: North, West, South & Mid, Argyll & Bute
Lothian
Shetland
Tayside: Angus; Dundee; Perth and Kinross
Western Isles
Community councils: mostly get involved in local planning decisions but also take on wider aspects of regeneration. Some areas have community councils and some don’t – your council’s website will have community council contact details
Housing associations: local housing providers work with local people. Some housing associations employ a regeneration or a community support officer – the Scottish Housing Regulator holds a directory of social landlords.
Development trusts: some areas have set up trusts to deal with large-scale community-led improvement projects – contact Development Trusts Association Scotland to find out if there is a trust in your area
Community forums: many local councils support community forums or meetings of local community representatives; in some areas community representatives are elected – your council’s website will have contact details
As well as being useful sources of information and support, local support structures often have small grant schemes.
What they do and where to find them
Third sector interfaces: each local council in Scotland has a ‘third sector interface’ to support, promote, develop and represent the community groups; voluntary organisations and social enterprises; they are a good place to find out about other community food initiatives in your area – find your local interface on Voluntary Action Scotland’s website
Community planning partnerships (CPPs): bring together public agencies to work together with the community to plan and deliver better services locally; getting in touch with your local CPP is a good way to find out more about future plans for your area and how your work fits – your council’s website will have a link to your local CPP
Community Health (and Care) Partnerships: local CHP/CHCPs have information on health improvement targets for the local area and can signpost you to support available for health related work. CHP/CHCPs are currently changing to Health and Social Care Partnerships and so information is variable at the moment. The following health boards’ websites have CHP/CHCPs and HSC Partnership contact details:
Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Highland: North, West, South & Mid, Argyll & Bute
Lothian
Shetland
Tayside: Angus; Dundee; Perth and Kinross
Western Isles
Community councils: mostly get involved in local planning decisions but also take on wider aspects of regeneration. Some areas have community councils and some don’t – your council’s website will have community council contact details
Housing associations: local housing providers work with local people. Some housing associations employ a regeneration or a community support officer – the Scottish Housing Regulator holds a directory of social landlords.
Development trusts: some areas have set up trusts to deal with large-scale community-led improvement projects – contact Development Trusts Association Scotland to find out if there is a trust in your area
Community forums: many local councils support community forums or meetings of local community representatives; in some areas community representatives are elected – your council’s website will have contact detail