Ormlie Community Association – Improving an estate
Key contact: Lorna Simpson
Address: 108 Marr Terrace, Thurso, KW14 7SW
Telephone: 01847 891 789
Email: Ormlie Community Association
Web address: www.caithness.org
In a nutshell
We address the social, economic and environmental issues on Ormlie estate in Thurso. The estate has had years of under investment and had a bad reputation. Together with the community, we aim to improve the estate and meet the needs of the community.
The issues addressed
Ormlie has high unemployment; a high percentage of single parents and a high percentage of families with young children. It is isolated. It suffered from:
• a complete lack of facilities for all ages - Ormlie estate had 350 houses and only one shop!
• a major problem with speeding cars on the estate
• dangerous and neglected play areas - many children had been hurt by pieces of play equipment which were then removed and not replaced.
The approach to the issues
A child was knocked down as she was crossing the road to a play area. Residents decided that ‘enough was enough’ and did a door-to-door survey to find out what people thought of the estate and what they felt was needed to address the problems.
The survey highlighted that the community wanted action to be taken about many issues. And the residents felt that a more focused community structure was needed. We decided to form a community association –to lead the regeneration of the estate.
We have done this by reacting to the issues that the community faces – whether it is about facilities, employment opportunities and training, slowing down traffic or improving the estate’s environment.
Setting up the work
With support from the Highland Council, we did a Planning for Real exercise to help get things started. Consultants were then appointed to help produce an in-depth community plan. The plan highlighted the areas that the community wanted to improve.
An office was set up in an empty flat on the estate. A co-ordinator and an assistant were appointed to take forward the improvements highlighted in the community plan.
Funding to support the delivery of the community plan came from the local enterprise company, European funding, Tudor Trust and Highland Council.
A community regeneration partnership group was set up to assist with the regeneration. It is made up of the council, the enterprise company, Northern Constabulary, Job Centre Plus, Careers Scotland and a range of other relevant groups.
Evidence of success
The regeneration project has been very successful and is an example of community planning, long before community planning came into being. Our work has, for example, resulted in:
• a new play area and sports facility being built
• people from outside Ormlie now come to the estate with their children to use the park
• a small community centre being built which houses a pre-school facility, meeting room, computer room and office - it allows the community to have a focal point where they can meet and gives a sense of community
• houses have become easier to let. And there is now a waiting list for people wanting to live in the area
• people now want to stay in the area. Residents are beginning to invest in the estate by buying their homes.
One great thing – Community capacity building
We would not have been able to make all the changes without our volunteers. And our work has helped build capacity in the community. By being involved, people have more confidence in their own ability and have started to see themselves in a new way:
• Children and young people have a say in what happens within their community. They attend the local open meetings. They are attentive, interested and bring a refreshing, dynamic element to the discussions.
• People are volunteering to form sub-groups. For example, a residents’ group has been set up to take over the responsibility of gardening.
• Volunteering has helped people find employment. One single parent volunteer says that her world has changed since being involved in the regeneration work. That is real success!
Lessons learnt
• It can be helpful to involve staff who have experience and ability to work closely with very diverse groups of people – this can support the involvement of the community.
• Funding takes time - so allow enough time for this when you are setting up your work.
• It is easier to achieve positive outcomes when you work in partnership with others.
