Petersburn Development Trust - Creating a development trust to empower the community
Key contact: Elizabeth Carr – Secretary
Address: CVS North Lanarkshire, 2nd Floor, Stirling House, 82-86 Stirling Street, Airdrie, ML6 0AS
Email: Elizabeth Carr
In a nutshell
As part of the physical and environmental regeneration of Petersburn - an estate located on the outskirts of Airdrie - a community trust was formed to take the lead in transforming the local park. The Trust brings together the community groups on the estate and works with a range of private and public organisations. The work has empowered the community who now work together towards shared goals.
The issues addressed
The area’s housing and the surrounding areas were redeveloped between 1999 and 2005. As this work was happening, the community became concerned that improvements to the area would not last because of problems with the adjacent park. Local people had complained for a long time that the park provided very limited amenity value and there was a feeling that the area was unsafe.
With the backing of the community, work to improve the park was led by Linkwide – a subsidiary company of Link Housing Association. As work continued, the community became excited about the progress being made and they started to participate more.
But there was little consensus of what the community wanted in the park. Nor was there funding in place, partnership support or leadership. Everyone involved therefore felt that more formal structures for community involvement were needed.
Setting up the work
Staff and resources were brought in by Linkwide to help build a strong partnership between the local community, North Lanarkshire Council and Communities Scotland.
With the help of lawyers, a constitution was drafted and approved. And the Development Trust was formed in March 2004 following a year of consultation within the community led by Linkwide. The Trust received funding support from Communities Scotland and organisational support from North Lanarkshire Council.
The Trust is now a Company Limited by Guarantee and is a registered charity.
The approach to the issues
Linkwide was instrumental in the creation of the Trust. They helped the community explore various models and constitutions and put forward a range of alternatives.
The community – with input from the council and Communities Scotland – agreed that a development trust would be the most appropriate structure. This was because it had the social aims that the group wanted to carry forward – based on local needs and not profit.
The overarching aim of the Trust is to create a locally owned sustainable asset that offers recreational opportunities for all - with maximum community participation.
The Trust is a partnership between all of the community groups in Petersburn and a number of organisations: North Lanarkshire Council, Airdrie United Football Club and Linkwide Ltd.
Evidence of success
The Trust has raised £1 million of external funding. It has worked with a range of agencies to provide a thriving park at the centre of the community which:
• has purpose built areas for sporting activity, play areas for toddlers and a meeting area for teenagers to offer a diversion from anti-social behaviour
• means that young people can really make the most of the personal and social development opportunities when they are involved in the activities.
• helps children and young people become fitter because they have more safe, healthy outdoor play facilities
• has built the capacity of the community (and individuals in the community) - as they have taken on more responsibility for the park they have gained more skills and experience.
One great thing – Building capacity in the community and the Trust
• Activities run by the Trust are helping to develop a community of shared goals and challenges. There is now more spirit and willingness of people to engage in community activities.
• The Trust itself is also growing in confidence and is improving its strategic thinking regarding how the park improvements can be maintained for future generations.
• The Trust is now looking at ideas for income generation based on the success of work to date. This would not have been possible only a short while ago.
• Local people have adopted an innovative and creative approach that addresses anti-social behaviour in their community.
Lessons learnt
• Creating the trust has shown how important partnership working is, and the real benefits of genuine community engagement.
• It is important to remember that communities need time to build capacity and tackle local problems.
• It was essential that major external support and resources were provided to resolve the basic housing needs in Petersburn first. This was the community's main priority and their involvement in other quality of life improvements increased once work was underway to improve the housing.
• There is value in a new community organisation receiving initial advice and guidance from an established and experienced organisation – in this case Linkwide.
• It is important that organisations tackling community regeneration address social as well as environmental and economic problems.
