EVOC are pleased to share a summary report from the consultation event on Edinburgh’s Community Plan (LOIP 2018-2028) Refresh:
The refreshed Community Plan is due to be approved and launched in June, with opportunities to shape the next Plan to follow.
Edinburgh has changed dramatically since the current community plan (LOIP) was last revised. We need people working in the third sector to share their insights at an in-person event:
Thursday 26th February, 9.30am – 12.30pm
at Norton Park Business and Conference Centre
AGENDA:
09:30am – 10:00am
Registration, breakout group signup and refreshments
10:00 am – 10:15am
Overview of the refresh of the Community Plan (2018-2028)
10:15 am – 12:15 pm
Facilitated Round Table Discussions
12:15 pm – 12:30 pm
Summary and close
Register: https://tinyurl.com/47vv5mn6
Our communities need change!
Our webinar on Local Place Plans – what could they mean for pedestrians? – takes place a week today: Monday, 23 February, at 3 – 4pm.
We are delighted to host Anna Grant, Edinburgh Council and Joanna McClelland, architect.
Aimed especially at community councils but everyone – groups or individuals – very welcome!
Register here! http://bit.ly/45KgofS
Unpaid carers, disabled people and people with lived experience of social care will have a say on local services after Scottish Parliament regulations come into force.
Social Care Minister Tom Arthur tabled an order giving service users and third sector organisations a vote during integration joint board decision making. This ensures their perspectives carry equal weight in shaping decisions about services, such as care in the community to enable people with disabilities or long term conditions to remain at home.
The 31 boards bring together the NHS and local councils with key community and service representatives to oversee planning and delivery of social care and community health services. Until now only members appointed by the NHS health board and local councils can vote.
The draft regulations will come into force in September after the Scottish Parliament’s Health, Social Care and Sport Committee’s scrutiny of the legislation concluded yesterday.
Mr Arthur said: “I am determined to ensure those who access and support community health and social care services have an equal say in making decisions that affect their communities.
“These regulations extend voting rights to unpaid carers, service users and third sector representatives, collectively representing the voice of lived experience. It is only fair that these voices carry equal weight alongside other members – to help ensure local services are funded properly to meet the needs of people.
“People with lived experience provide valuable insight into challenges and opportunities which should be considered during planning. This change will bring decision making closer to the people we all serve. We expect to see more inclusive, collaborative and improved choices as a result.”
In collaboration with Public Health Scotland, Nesta, an innovation agency for social good, has today published two key publications which explore how Scotland’s planning system can be used to create healthier food environments and support efforts to reduce obesity and health inequalities.
The two publications are:
These resources draw on research, stakeholder engagement, and lessons learned to recommend practical steps for integrating food environment policies into the local planning system.
Around two thirds of adults in Scotland are living with overweight or obesity, and one in three children starting primary 1 are at risk of overweight or obesity, with rates significantly higher in more deprived areas.
Recent modelling also projects substantial increases in overweight by 2040. The need for change is evident and reducing overweight and obesity is a key priority in Scotland’s Population Health Framework.
Historically, planning policies in Scotland have rarely addressed food environments or obesity directly. But now, the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and Local Development Plans (LDPs) provide an opportunity to change that. LDPs are currently in preparation stage, with decisions taken over the next two to three years shaping Scotland’s food environment for the next decade.
Many organisations, including local authorities and health boards, play a key role in the planning process. These new publications outline key stages and priority areas where public health professionals can contribute and influence the development of plans, such as:
Claire Hislop RNutr (Public Health), Organisational Lead – Food and Physical Activity, Public Health Scotland, said: “Scotland’s current food environment often fails to support healthy eating. This is particularly evident in communities with higher deprivation and where access to affordable, nutritious food can be limited.
“Improving Scotland’s food environment requires a package of measures; utilising the planning process as part of this is both necessary and possible.
“In particular, Local Development Plan preparation offers a unique, but time limited, opportunity to contribute to creating communities that enable and promote healthier food options – for years to come.”
Frances Bain, Mission Manager, Nesta, added: “Nesta were delighted to partner with Public Health Scotland on this research which was carried out through a residency placement and explored the potential to use the planning system to influence healthier food environments.
“Thanks to all the local and national stakeholders who participated in the research and in particular Dr Meadhbh Maguire for leading the work.
“We have been able to outline the opportunities and challenges that exist when considering new planning policies relating to the food environment and highlight the role that local development plans can play in supporting public health.”
Are you passionate about your local community and interested in helping us shape how it looks in the future? Local Place Plans have been introduced so you can tell us what you care about, like and don’t like about where you live as well as your community’s aspirations.
Every area is different and so your plan can address your community’s needs and concerns. The Council is required to recognise Local Place Plans when preparing the next local development Plan – City Plan 2040.
So how does this work? There is no right or wrong way to develop each plan. It will depend on the resources you have available. But it must include a map of the relevant land, and a proposal of how the land will be used. You can make it very simple, and it doesn’t need to be professionally designed. A word document and a map can be enough.
You can help shape future housing, business, or community spaces by bringing forward proposals to improve quality of life, health and well-being, and help to protect buildings and green space in line with your community values.
If you have an idea, I’d suggest you team up with your local community council or relevant trusts or charities. Children and youth groups, local schools and organisations big and small may also like to get involved with your plan.
A Local Place Plan needs to relate to a specific area, but it can be any size. It can cover a whole district, a neighbourhood, or a single plot of land. It is up to you what you cover.
It doesn’t need to be clearly defined in the beginning. It can evolve during the process.
A good Local Place Plan has information on what life is like in your area and who lives there. It could have ideas for new buildings and homes, improving how you get around, additional spaces for playing, sports or growing food, or proposals to reuse important buildings.
To prepare one you’ll also need to reach out to your community to find out what is most important to them. You should ask about the changes you’d like to make, what you’d like to protect, what they think is missing in the community and you can point out planning policies you think can be influenced in your plan.
You could do this through surveys and questionnaires, drop in events, exhibitions and by attending planned local events. Schools and youth organisations will be able to help you talk to young people too.
Our aim with City Plan 2040 and local place plans is to strengthen communities and make sure that they look after the wellbeing of their residents.
We want to build attractive places where people can afford to buy or rent their homes, walk to educational and healthcare facilities, enjoy cultural and sporting activities and easily access sustainable transport to visit other parts of Edinburgh.
You will find further information on local place plans on our website.
R2 SUMMER EVENT HELD AT GRANTON CASTLE WALLED GARDEN
R2 held our Summer Garden Party in Granton Castle’s Walled Garden last week.
Garden Parties are becoming something of an annual event for R2 – last year’s gathering at Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre was a great success – and once again the event proved very popular with more than fifty local organisations represented.
Granton Castle’s Walled Garden is very much a hidden jewel, and for many participants it was a first opportunity to enjoy the wonderful green space that is tucked away between Caroline Park House and Social Bite Village.
Following a delicious buffet lunch provided by North Edinburgh’s very own Empty Kitchens Full Hearts, Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden chairperson Gillean Paterson treated visitors to a tour of the near three-acre site – and there was a delight around every corner.
From flowers beds and vegetable patches to an impressive orchard stocked with a great variety of apple, damson and plum trees, the garden is a natural wonder, teeming with life. The walled garden is ablaze with colour, and this despite the fact that there is no electricity supply and no running water on-site!
Tended by a team of enthusiastic volunteers – I was given my own wee personal tour by one volunteer who has put his handyman and building skills to good use all over the site – the garden really is an amazing local success story.
The Garden Party was an opportunity for R2 member projects to network and share information, and – maybe it was the sunshine! – there seemed to be more positive news to share than has sometimes been the case in the past. We even had music!
Connections have been made with a number of local organisations who now use the garden space regularly, and I have no doubt many more will now be making a beeline down to Granton Castle Walled Garden again following the R2 visit!
For further information about Friends of Granton Castle Walled Garden, visit their website or email grantongarden@gmail.com.
For further information about R2, email Anita at hello@R2.org.uk
NEW 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EVOC
EVOC (Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council) has published a new 5-year strategic plan, outlining the organisation’s vision to contribute to an equitable, sustainable and resilient Edinburgh, supported by a thriving third sector.
The new plan is structured around three priorities – advocacy, capacity building and collaboration – with all areas underpinned by data gathering and research that will be used to inform policy and decision-making.
Data and research will also be used to make on-the-ground decisions with and for third sector organisations in the city.
Bruce Crawford, EVOC’s CEO, commented: “I’ve been in post for 6 months now, and since day one, we’ve been working towards the publication of this new strategic plan.
“To help us achieve our vision, we’re focused on supporting organisations to make local community-driven change.
“We want to use our networks and forums, which sit at the heart of the dynamic between the third sector, public sector and private sector, to bring the voices of the sector together to develop policies that meet the needs of the communities we all serve.”
Established in 1868, EVOC has been committed to improving the lives of people and communities for more than 155 years.
Over that time, the organisation’s priorities and activities have adapted in line with the needs of the people in the city and the third sector, but this new plan has the same ethos at its heart.
Bruce Crawford continued: “Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with people from across the sector to help inform what’s gone into our strategic plan.
“In 2025, there have been a series of challenges that the sector has faced, including public sector funding cuts and increased running costs.
“We’re looking to create some stability by going back to basics – EVOC doing what is right for the sector. So, we’ll be covering a broad range of areas that come under our three priorities.”
EVOC’s strategic plan for 2025 to 2030 is available to read here and you can hear more from Bruce Crawford here.
DRYLAW NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE – MONDAY 30 JUNE at 6.30pm
Drylaw & Telford. Don’t forget!
@everyone
The Drylaw Telford Community Council meets on the last Monday of every month (except July & December) at 6:30 PM at the Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre.
Pop the next date in your diary and come along! We’d love to see new faces. 
The Edinburgh Partnership is conducting a review of how it supports and works with third sector organisations in Edinburgh.
The review into the relationship between the public sector and third sector in Edinburgh seeks to improve funding certainty in future years. This includes how grant funding and commissioning is delivered, how third sector organisations monitor and report on their work, and what in-kind support is provided.
Third sector organisations of all types – voluntary, social enterprises and charities – are being asked to share their views through the City of Edinburgh Council’s Consultation Hub survey or by attending a workshop.
The results will be reported to the Policy and Sustainability Committee in August.
Council Leader and Chair of the Edinburgh Partnership, Jane Meagher, said: “The third sector provides vital support to local communities, with many giving direct support to the most vulnerable in our city.
“We know that they, like the Council, are under significant financial pressure and that there needs to be longer-term change in how they are supported by us and our partners.
“We want to hear about how we can make it simpler, provide more stability, and work better together to help vulnerable people. You can share your views through the council’s consultation hub webpage, or by attending one of the workshops.”
Workshops run from Monday 19 May until Thursday 5 June. Details are available on the Consultation Hub and booking is required.
As part of the city’s commitment to help the sector, the council has dedicated £3.5m this year to help organisations impacted by unexpected loss of grant funding or reduced commissioning.
Visit the Council’s website for more information about the Third Sector Resilience Fund.
