MEARNS AREA PARTNERSHIP (MAP)
Researching Success
Karen McArdle
University of Aberdeen
March 2011
For further information about this report, contact:
Dr. Karen McArdle
Senior Lecturer
University of Aberdeen
(01224)274654
SECTION 1
- Introduction and acknowledgements
This report is an attempt to document the achievements of the Mearns Area Partnership (MAP). Established in 1992 as a rural regeneration partnership, it is widely considered to be a successful partnership in a rural Scottish regeneration context, as evidenced by in its use as an example or model for other projects in the region. I use the term ‘rural regeneration partnership’ to summarise the purposes of MAP as outlined in its constitution. I was interested to see how this success was understood and was apparent in outcomes and achievements. In Section 3, I address the question of how success may, in fact, be defined.
This report has 3 main purposes:
-To report on the findings of the research undertaken;
-To provide the community with an overview of achievement to date;
-To provide partnerships in other areas with ideas and insight into successful community partnership projects.
I wish to acknowledge the support I received from members of MAP, who contributed their time willingly and gave me substantial insight into their work. I wish to apologise that the scope and timescale of this project did not permit talking to everyone who might have been well able to contribute. I wish, in particular, to thank Sue Briggs who proposed this project to me and provided invaluable expertise, knowledge and support in the course of my work with MAP. I need to place on record an interest I have in this geographical area of study. I am a resident of Marykirk, one of the villages in MAP’s catchment area, and am Secretary to one of the community groups in Marykirk.
- Methodology
This is a qualitative study of a rural regeneration partnership located in the North East of Scotland in rural Aberdeenshire. A description of the area is provided in Section 2.
I chose a qualitative approach as there are many Government sponsored reports, mainly from the 1990s and early this decade on rural regeneration and perceived indicators of success. There is, however, limited data that looks at regeneration from the perspective of the partners involved. I sought to redress this balance and to undertake an inquiry that focused on perceptions and understandings of success from a partnership dimension, emphasising community.
As I was also seeking to celebrate the perceived success of this rural project, the approach I adopted may be understood to be in part linked to appreciative inquiry which seeks to evaluate from a positive perspective. This report does not, however, engage participants in the inquiry process, as is fundamental to appreciative inquiry, rather it works from the assumption that the project does, indeed, have some outcomes that may be perceived to be successful and seeks to identify what these are. I was not, however, totally focused on the positive to the extent that negative perspectives were ignored. Evaluation was not the purpose of this research; rather I sought to secure data linked to understandings of success from partnership participants. This is a qualitative, interpretative study.
The methods I undertook included immersion in the local community. I worked intermittently in the local Mearns Community Centre over the course of a year with a broad agenda of ensuring that my higher education teaching and research linked to community learning and development remained grounded in current policy and practice. This enabled me to immerse myself in MAP’s community; to develop an understanding of the key issues affecting MAP’s community; and to identify the relevant parameters for the research. I also learnt informally from local people how MAP is understood and perceived in the community.
My initial method was documentary analysis. Fortunately, the Mearns Community Centre held a comprehensive archive of minutes, reports and miscellaneous information on MAP projects. I reviewed all of this data and identified the chronology of events and emerging themes linked to regeneration activities. It was a source of helpful background to my research that MAP over the years had itself shown a commitment to research projects and my work builds on the work of other contributors to the research field.
I also conducted semi-structured interviews with 7 people linked to MAP. These people were selected to cover community, council employed and voluntary sector staff and they included people who had both a new and a long standing commitment to MAP. There were 3 men and 4 women. Characteristically, interviews were scheduled to take around half an hour but frequently lasted much longer. Ethically, the researcher sought permission from the University’s ethical approval committee and confidentiality was assured to all participants and I have attempted in this report to protect the identity of research participants except where permission to identify a participant has been granted. Interviews were taped, partially transcribed and analysed thematically.
- Research Questions
The aim of the research was to identify in what ways MAP could be considered a successful rural regeneration project.
The research questions were as follows:
-How do partners in MAP define success?
-What are the successful outcomes of MAP’s activities?
-What are the contributing factors to MAP’s perceived success?
- Strengths and Limitations of the Study
The data generated from the study was in-depth and highly illuminating. The range and number of participants in the interview method was sufficient and varied, from the point of view of scope and breadth of data generated. If time had allowed all of the MAP partners would have been interviewed. A further dimension of the study that could have been carried out, and was not, was a more formal approach to assessing the impact of MAP on community representatives who were not engaged with MAP. This dimension was available to the researcher through informal community contacts and reports from MAP staff and participants.
- Structure of the Report
Section 1 of the report forms an introduction and description of project and research methodology.
Section 2 of the report is an introduction to the demography of MAP and its communities and an introduction to its main activities over the last decade. This is by no means complete; it is intended as a representative sample of key activities.
Section 3 of the report is a consideration of the literature and thinking linked to rural community regeneration and how these ideas and models link to MAP and its outcomes, achievements and processes.
Section 4 of the report presents the findings of the research and the answers to the research questions described above and my interpretation of this data.
Section 5 presents conclusions to the MAP project and areas for further study.
SECTION 2
- Introductionto MAP
Mearns Area Project (MAP), formerly known as Mearns Area Partnership was formed in 1992when the constitution was formally adopted, as one of 4 pilot projects to target rural disadvantage,. It is the only surviving partnership.
The Project aims through a partnership between statutory, voluntary and private agencies, and community organisations to assist local residents to identify needs and issues and develop strategies to address these with the purpose of improving the quality of life in the Mearns.
Location
It is situated in Aberdeenshire in the North East of Scotland and embraces the settlements of:
Artbuthnott
Auchenblae
Drumlithie
Edzell Woods
Fettercairn
Fordoun
Glenbervie
Laurencekirk
Luthermuir
Marykirk
St. Cyrus
It is a largely rural area with the main centre being the town of Laurencekirk. The population is approximately 9,000.
- Historyof MAP
Grampian Regional Council in 1992 established the project with the aim of “tackling the priority problems experienced by residents in rural areas.” The project involved staff from the Grampian Regional Council’s Social Strategy Unit, the Social Work Unit, Education Department as well as the Grampian Healthboard, Regional Councillors and the Voluntary Sector.
MAP was established due to concerns regarding:
-Poor uptake of public services and state benefits;
-Higher than average numbers of older people;
-Low expectations of change and involvement in effecting it:
-Outward migration of young people;
-Lack of provision of childcare and other related social work issues;
-Limited transport services;
-Diluted delivery of services due to peripheral location.
-
(Source: MAP Social Accounts for August 2004 – March 2006)
- Values
The values of MAP are summarised in a Social Accounting Project undertaken by the Arkleton Trust.
The values are:
Community
Partnership
Openness
Equality
Approachability and Honesty
Confidentiality and Respect
Accountability.
- Management and Membership
Membership at November 2010 involves representatives of:
Mearns Community Council
St Cyrus Community Counci
Arbuthnott Community Council (vacant)
Villages in Control
Edzell Woods Planning for Real
Mearns Youth Forum
Mearns and Coastal Healthy Living Network
Aberdeenshire Central/South Council of Voluntary Services
NHS Grampian
Social Work and Housing: Aberdeenshire Council
Area Manager: Aberdeenshire Council
Elected representatives: Aberdeenshire Council
1 co-opted individual
MAP is run by a committee of 14 people who are community representatives, representatives of the voluntary sector and elected and employed members of Aberdeenshire Council.
A MAP representative sits on the Area Community Planning Group creating links to wider decision making.
Map employs one clerical/admin worker for 4 hours per month.
- Activities
MAP over time has run a wide range of activities on behalf of its communities.
5.1 Transport
Community conferences were held in 1998 and 2005 which identified rural transport issues as being of concern to local residents. These conferences were community led, bottom-up approaches to working in partnership.
MAP liaised with the Road Safety Unit to bring the Young Drivers’ Training Scheme to Mearns.
A register of minibus permit holders was established; funding was secured for a Community Minibus and a 17 seater vehicle was purchased.
1999 Mearns Public Transport Survey
The Scottish Office Rural Challenge Fund in 1999 funded a Mearns Public Transport Survey. 80% of the population were surveyed. Following the Mearns Public Transport Survey, the council changed its transport priorities in and engaged with MAP to develop 2 additional pilot services. No one in the North East of Scotland had produced such a comprehensive survey of local needs. The findings endorsed the community minibus service which provided a shuttle minibus to all the villages of the Mearns Area and shopper services to Montrose. It formed the basis of a further successful bid to the Community Transport Association. It provided sturdy evidence for funding bids.
5.2 Advice and Information
A Howe of the Mearns Directory was first produced by MAP in 1994 to help people be aware of the services, facilities and opportunities near their homes.
A Directory of Childcare in Kincardine and Mearns was produced by MAP and Aberdeenshire Social Work to detail for families the day care provision in the local area.
What’s On Leaflets for young people were produced by MAP with a youth worker to let young people know what there was to do in the local area.
Community Planning Project
A 2 year project funded by Communities Scotland led by MAP sought ways to get hard to reach groups involved in planning and developing services. Known as the Community Planning Project it consulted local people about their needs. It ran an event for people with physical and sensory disabilities in March 2005. 40 people attended and reported their needs for affordable, accessible transport; day and respite care and more user friendly pavements amongst other things. Another event looked at issues amongst the 19 – 25 year age range and 15 participants put their names down to volunteer in the local community.
5.3 Special Groups
The requirements of special groups has always been a focus for MAP activities.
Food Initiative 2010
MAP was concerned at the impact of closure of village shops on the communities. They recognised that these shops are not just businesses, they also have important social functions. Since 1995 there had been 8 shop closures. MAP applied to the LEADER Lottery and Health Improvement Fund and secured funding for a 2 year project which delivers produce to 4 villages with no shop:
Marykirk
Luthermuir
Fordoun
Edzell Woods
It is heavily used and improves access to good locally produced fruit and vegetables; it focuses on settlements where there is limited transport.
For families a survey was done on the need for an After-School Club which resulted in 1996 with the start of the Club which continues to this day.
A Women’s Support Group was run in conjunction with the WEA as part of the adult education opportunities in the Mearns.
Play schemes were established at Luthermuir and Auchenblae in response to identified needs and a Playscheme Information Pack was developed to help volunteers run playschemes.
A part time youth worker was appointed and drop-in events were organised at Mearns Academy.
The Mearns Drug Project in 1998 provided drugs awareness and information services; diversionary activities; a drop-in cafe and a summer programme.
Mearns Healthy Living Network
The Mearns Healthy Living Network was established by MAP in 2002 with funding from the Big Lottery. It provides mainly volunteer services to older people in the Mearnsarea. Its remit is to improve older people’s health in the Laurencekirk and surrounding areas. It currently has around 80 volunteers and is managed by elderly people. It meets the needs of approximately 200 elderly people each week doing services including shopping and gardening. It employs 3 part time staff
It became independent of MAP in 2007, which is important because MAP is not a provider of services where this can be done with alternative structures. MAP seeks to avoid the bureaucracy of managing large services. It was however responsible for the consultation and instigation that led to this important service provision and managed the transition to independence. The Healthy Living Network has recently won a community capacity building contract for the whole of Aberdeenshire to set up older people’s networks and a social return on investment study has just been completed which found that many of the services it provides provide a £6 or £7 return on investment.
5.4 Research and Consultation
MAP over the course of its life has been active in staying close to community needs and wants. It has conducted many research and consultation activities to ensure that its work remains relevant and to provide data to explore effectiveness and for funding purposes. A Mearns Community Conference was held in 1995. This included workshops on the need for a website; young people in rural areas; rural transport; health/community care; rural economic development. This resulted in local surveys, a newsletter and a website. A youth worker was employed and a bid was developed for an improved minibus service that was, indeed, secured. The needs of older people were addressed through lottery funding of £168,000 which resulted in newly developed services and volunteering described above. The conference workshop on rural economic development influenced VIC and influenced in turn the new primary school, rebuilding of the square in Laurencekirkand the production of a business directory.
A village appraisal was carried out in Auchenblae through use of a questionnaire.
Youth consultation events were organised.
A survey was done of the need for After School Clubs, which subsequently were set up.
In 1998 an assessment was done of the difficulties in rural passenger transport in the Mearns area
In September 2005 MAP held another community conference. They undertook a Green Audit and 394 people were involved who had not been previously included.
A review was commissioned in 2005 of Villages in Control (VIC) to assist VIC after 10 years to refocus its local economic and environmental interests. It recommended an enhanced future for VIC. VIC focused on transport and the reopening of the railway station achieved in 2009
Edzell Woods Planning for Real project sought the views of this community on local services and activities. This resulted in the participation on 73 people from this small community. The purpose was to produce better relationships within the community; to develop partnership working with the community; bring together statutory and voluntary agencies; to engage the community in community planning.
A study was undertaken of volunteers in 2009 and their role in sustaining social and economic activity through management of community resources. It focused on volunteering linked to village halls. It showed how important volunteering is to the community.
2003 Scoping Study
A scoping study was commissioned by MAP from the Arkleton Trust examining partnership in the Kincardine and Mearns area. MAP was able to produce an academic but accessible resource which looked at community partnership across the area, 115 community groups were consulted by questionnaire and 4 rural area partnerships and 9 groups working in partnership were interviewed. It concluded that the kind of work MAP was doing should be consolidated in Kincardine and Mearns and this led to the establishment of the Kincardine and Mearns Area Partnership (KMAP).
Social Accounting August 2004 – March 2006
MAP employed a professional on a half time contract to undertake social accounting. In the action research process and evaluation, 394 local people were consulted. The social accounts found that the finances were in good form and that aims and objectives were being met. The results were shared with all relevant agencies and a DVD was made and distributed widely, which was a resource to assist with practices of engagement with the community.
(See pp. 73-5
SECTION 3
- The Rural Regeneration Context
Over the last 2 decades rural regeneration and development projects have become increasingly common (Osborne et al : 2002); in particular projects which involve community participation. These are seen to have the capacity to:
- Broaden support for area regeneration;
- To lever in a range of resources from the private and non-profit sectors;
- To co-ordinate disparate initiatives and agencies all working towards local regeneration;
- To promote social inclusion.
(Osborne et al: 2002)