Combining Asset Based and Grassroots Techniques to develop a Mixed Method Approach to Cultural Planning for the Barrhead Foundry

1. Combining Asset Based and Grassroots Techniques
to develop a Mixed Method Approach to Cultural Planning
for the Barrhead Foundry
Christine Browne, Economic Development Officer
& Sarah Angus, Arts Services Manager
East Renfrewshire Council

2. £3.4m capital project...

3. Location...
Located within the Levern Valley area of East Renfrewshire, Barrhead is one of the most deprived communities in
Scotland (SIMD, 2012) and has been identified as a Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) area by the European Union
(2004). It is a community well known for its social and economic deprivation; unemployment, addiction (alcohol
and drugs) and crime are prevalent along with poor physical and mental health.

4. The DNA of Barrhead

5. What already exists in Barrhead?
Tangible
Assets
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Library
Sports Centre
Museum
Schools
Government buildings
Churches
Parks
War memorial
Shops and cafes
Public spaces
Growing local economy
Inward investment
Intangible
Assets
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Active Citizens
Community pride
Community spirit
Heritage
Connected communities
Strong identity
Strong sense of place
Strong relationships
Diversity
Photo credit: http://www.drookitagain.co.uk

6. Local Art Groups
Arts Development
Investment
Libraries
Economic Development
Schools
Learning
Resources
Sports Development
Buildings
Sports Clubs
Early Years
CHCP
Nurseries
Customs/rituals
People
Place
Culture
Heritage
Definition
Jobs
Community
Social Issues
Ideas
Public Spaces
Parks
Partnerships
Shared beliefs
Expression
Shops and cafes
Identity
Regeneration
Local economy
Ethnicity
Health and Well-Being
Pride / Values
Inclusion
Diversity
Accessibility
Mental Health
Skills for life
Employability
Break poverty cycle
Societal Improvement
Prevention
Improved health outcomes

7. Council Buildings and Health Centre
ASDA
Barrhead
Foundry
Local Library
Local
Businesses
Museum

8. Local Radio
Local Paper
Space?
Barrhead
Foundry
Active
Citizens
Youth
Diversion
Community
Spirit

9. Skills for Leisure
Barrhead
Tubal
Foundry
Local plumber, John
Shanks, established
the Tubal Foundry in
1866. This was a centre
of industry in the area
and an employer of
many local people.
Skills for Employment
Health and Wellbeing
Stories

10. CHALLENGES
Community resentment, suspicion, negative experiences, bad
press / negative messages on social media, wasting tax
payers money
Temporary relocation of sports users
Local businesses loss of income due to parking constraints
during build and new “better” facilities in new building
OPPORTUNITIES
Increase opportunities to learn and get involved /
Positive contribution to urban development & stimulate local
economy
Investment in arts development and cultural facilities
Partnership working with established agencies (The ARC)
Arriving at community engagement too late, no community
consultation for internal layout
Improved accessibility and inclusion
Locals residents feel too intimidated – “not for the likes of us”,
failure to connect, empowerment and ownership
Communication and cooperation between council and
community leading to improved perception
Attempting to implement a new model for public services in
the future (prototype)
Respond to community needs
Risk averse, self preservation, resistant to change, staff
capacity and buy-in
Policies and procedures (tendering, can’t negotiate, data
protection)
Limited budget and resources, Having to do more with less,
accountability, “that’s not the way we do stuff here”
Trying to get council services to collaborate
Attract additional funding (Creative Scotland, Sport
Scotland), previously unexplored routes
Putting Barrhead on a national platform, announcing “we’re
open for business”
Contribute to the Early Years Collaborative And Youth
Diversion Strategies through targeted programming
Support the Preventative Spending Agenda and contribute to
the SOA and ODP
Break the poverty cycle & change a generation

11. The journey?
Learning
Common
Vision
Identity
Digital
Partnerships
How?
Proactive
PR
Social
Enterprises
Community
Engagement
Empowerment
& Ownership
Brand
Champions
Storytelling