Initiative plans future projects to boost health, skills and employment

More than 30 former mining communities across Scotland have benefited from the Coalfields Community Futures (CCF) programme.

The Coalfields Communities Futures: Our Learning evaluation report launched by the Coalfields Community Trust (CRT) reports on progress made by the CCF programme across 11 local authority areas since it started in 2011.

Grants of £835,475 have been awarded to boost employment, skills and health.

CRT commissioned Glasgow-based consultancy the Social Value Lab to evaluate CCF and make recommendations for the future.

The CCF is CRT’s flagship initiative to find innovative ways to regenerate former mining areas.

It targets fragile areas which, to date, have not really benefited from specific funding. It aims to drive community-led change, complementing the Scottish Government’s emphasis on empowering such areas.

Nicky Wilson, CRT Scottish trustee, said: “The Coalfields Community Futures programme is about forming umbrella groups based on what the people in those areas want and bringing all the different organisations together. I think this has been a tremendous success.

“We believe this type of work should be happening throughout the UK, not just in Scotland, and I’m pleased to say there is a project starting in Yorkshire that will be based on what the CCF has done here.”

CCF’s three strategic objectives centre on employment, skills and health.

Since 2012 £835,475 has been awarded in at least 33 former coalfield communities and 227 community groups have received CCF funding, with 292 projects and activities delivered.

The evaluation found that CCF has had a positive impact on targeted communities. Two out of three community members said that funding allowed them to access essential equipment and resources they needed to enhance existing activities and deliver new ones for the benefit of local people.

CCF’s collaborative approach and partnership working has led to the increased participation of young people in local projects and improved health and wellbeing, along with greater interaction and reduced isolation.

A key aim of CCF is to build community capacity, with some areas, such as Dalmellington in East Ayrshire, repurposing and refurbishing empty buildings and disused land for wider community use.

Elaine Stewart, a community activist in Dalmellington, said: “We published our new action plan in June this year and to date more than £250,000 has been awarded to different groups in the area. The main action people wanted was the formation of a development trust as Dalmellington is a small village with many different groups. I’m pleased to say we recently held a community event and more than 40 people have signed up as trustees.”

Pauline Douglas, CRT head of operations in Scotland, added: “The evidence shows that CCF has made a real difference to many former mining areas across Scotland by letting local communities decide the best way to use funding made available to them. We plan to build on this success and continue this vital work in helping fragile communities.”