A new film explores the process of turning a council community centre into a vibrant community-owned asset
When an East Ayrshire village’s community centre was threatened with closure, local residents took things into their own hands, turning it into a thriving community-owned asset.
Now the story of the transfer of ownership of Dalmellington Community Centre from the council to the community association has been made into a short film as an example of the benefits of coproduction.
The film, Rocky Road, focuses on how the community association worked with council officials to create a business plan, overcoming obstacles and stumbling blocks.
'Rocky Road' from Scottish Co-production Network on Vimeo.
Sharon Smith, community activist and Secretary of Dalmellington Community Association, said: “The threat was that the community centre was going to be closed down and bulldozed. We couldn't allow that to happen.
“When the council turned down our first business plan, we were all gutted. It was very disappointing and disheartening. But we didn't give up.
“It's been a rocky road... but what we've done in the past year is remarkable.
“The whole process has been a learning curve - not just for us, but for the Local Authority as well."
Angela Graham, senior estates surveyor at East Ayrshire Council, who has taken on the council’s Vibrant Communities co-production approach to asset transfer over the past 18 months, said: “Studying as a surveyor did I ever think I would be involved in discussions about what night of the week bingo's held on? We've had tears over toilet rolls down here!
“I was one of the faceless corporate people. Learning to work with community groups that I hadn't met before - it was starting like the ‘new girl’ almost. How would I come across to the communities?
“I had to let go a wee bit of my inner control freak!
My advice is to embrace co-production. Not only will it make your job easier, but it'll also make it more rewarding.”
Rocky Road is the first prototype film in the 100 Stories of Co-production project, which aims to spread the word about what it really takes for communities and government to work together.
The film is coproduced by the participants, social enterprise film-makers Media Co-op, the Ingage team leading on coproduction policy and practice at the Scottish Government, along with the ihub in NHS Healthcare Improvement Scotland, and the Scottish Coproduction Network .
