Millions Invested in Council Community Projects in West Dunbartonshire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Details of the Council community projects are set out below:

Clydebank:

• Faifley upgrade – £40k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Goldenhill MUGA – Old Tennis Courts – £150k creation of an all-weather sports area to meet demand in this area.
• Whitecrook Park Upgrade – £50k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Yoker Boundary Upgrade – £50k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Crown Ave/Second Ave – £30k Dev. £30k. Extension to existing facility with match funding from the housing developer.
• Community Park HCI – £15k dev. £30k. Extension to existing facility with match funding from housing developer
• Drumry Environmental Improvements & Play – £70k. Community Centre external improvements to improve access and play value experience.
• West Thomson Street play area – £150k, of which £125k was developers match funding.
• Faifley Knowes playpark – £75k, of which £10k was match funding from Save the Children.
• Breval Crescent playpark – £60k.
• Dalmuir Square upgrade – £40k.
• New Street playpark – £40k.
• Thistleneuk play area – £60k.
• Whitecrook skatepark – £75k
• Linnvale Open Space – £100k
• John Brown 3G Pitch – £550k
• Goldenhill Park – £120k
• Stark Avenue – £40k
• St Helena – £80k
• New sports pavilions,   Singers Park & (Dumbarton Common) – £350k, of which £150k was match funding from sportscotland.
• Community Greenspace project, Old Kilpatrick – £40k.

Dumbarton:

• Castlehill – upgrade MUGA’s – £80k. The two MUGA’s are now over 10 years old and are in need of resurfacing.
• Westcliff upgrade – £40k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Brucehill upgrade – £40k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Bellsmyre Nursery – £60k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Silverton Milldam – £60k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Bowling upgrade – £30k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Castlehill – Play area – £100k
• Dumbarton Common – £80k
• Overburn Crescent play – £60k
•  East End Park 3G Pitch – £500k

Vale of Leven:

• Mollanbowie Estate – £40k. Upgrade of existing equipment and provision of additional equipment to improve play value experience.
• Balloch Park Slipway – £100k. This is the most used site in West Dunbartonshire. The site is now over 10 years old and much of the equipment is in need of replacement.
• Riverside Estate – £50k. New site taking into account additional new properties built in this location.
• Dillichip Park – £80k Creation of a skate park. There are no properties in the immediate vicinity which would mean that there is unlikely to be opposition to this proposal.
• Moss O’ Balloch infrastructure upgrade – £80k, improve drainage on Moss O’ Balloch.
• New sports pavilions, Dumbarton Common (& Singers Park) – £350k, of which £150k was match funding from sportscotland.
• Milton playpark – £40k.
• Dalmonach Park upgrade – £75k.
• Rosshead all-weather sports pitch refurbishment – £45k.
• Tontine Park play area – £60k.
• Wylie Park play area – £80k.
• New Bonhill playpark – £120k
• Moss O’ Balloch drainage – £40k
• Brown Street playpark – £75k
• Argyll Park 3G pitch – £500k
• Inler Park play area – £75k
• Tullichewan – £90k
• Christie Park – £30k (plus Developer funding)

Other developments:

1. The Labour Administration provided £500k towards a £3.1m Community Sport Hub centred around Rugby at Whitecrook in Clydebank.
2. The Labour Administration provided £500k towards a Community Sports Hub in Faifley in Clydebank, around a football theme, providing community facilities and securing a permanent home ground for Clydebank FC. The neighbours to the development opposed the new facilities and these will be provided at an alternative location.
3. The Labour Administration provide £500k towards a £1.65m Community Sports Hub centred around athletics at Posties Park in Dumbarton.
4. The Labour Administration had provided £500k towards a Community Sports Hub in Alexandria, it was to be around the proposed new primary schools. However, the consultation showed the school communities were opposed the new primary schools and unfortunately the Community Sports project can no longer proceed.
5. The Labour Administration  is supporting the development of a Community Sports Hub in Balloch, centred on the theme of watersports.
6. The Labour Administration secured £2.8m of funding towards a £3.7m upgrade of Levengrove Park.
7. Lomond Rugby Club in Bonhill is to benefit from a £40,000.
8. The Labour Administration is looking at additional developments across the authority as part of the 2016/17 budget process.

Developing the Young Workforce – Foundation Apprenticeships

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2016/17 will see West Dunbartonshire Council introduce 2 Foundation Apprenticeship courses with our partner West College Scotland (WCS) for approximately 20 Senior Phase pupils across our secondary schools.

Skills Development Scotland (SDS) have been working for the last two years on the development of frameworks for Foundation Apprenticeships.

A Foundation Apprenticeship is a course undertaken whilst a young person is still in school, working in partnership between the school, college and an employer to cover aspects of the course in both a classroom and workplace setting.

 

It is a two year course, broadly in line with the standard required to attain National 6 Higher qualifications. To date, only one Scottish University has recognised the standard offered by a Foundation Apprenticeship.

There are a total of 9 frameworks, covering a variety of areas such as:

• Engineering,
• Construction,
• Financial Services,
• Social Services:
• Heathcare,
• Social Services:
• Children and Young People,
• Energy,
• Business Services,
• Software Development and Hardware and
• System Support.

Further frameworks will be developed over time.

This sits as part of the wider Developing the Young Workforce agenda, providing more appropriate pathways into the world of work for our senior pupils whilst still at school, and increasing collaboration between schools, colleges, and employers.

By 2021, the Scottish Government have the ambitious target of 20% of all school leavers choosing this route into the workplace

Working with the Scottish Funding Council, West College Scotland and it’s partner local authorities (West Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and East Renfrewshire) put forward a bid in January 2016 to introduce Foundation Apprenticeships for the 2016/17 session.

Due to the lateness of this submission process, WDC only committed to offer 2 of the frameworks:

• Social Service: Children and Young People, and
• Software Development.

Our neighbouring authorities also agreed to only offer a small number of the available frameworks. Prior to a course starting, there is significant development work required on the part of the delivering body. Courses were included in options booklets in schools, but information on course content was light.

A commitment was given by the Funding Council in March 2016 for West College Scotland to deliver the courses, however,this was after initial option column choices were made by our pupils.

Uptake was low, with each course only gathering the interest of a handful of young people from across our schools. This is a similar picture to our neighbouring authorities.

SDS committed to market the courses for prospective students and their parents to ensure they were aware of the benefits. Marketing activities included website and social media updates, targeted radio ads, print media, information sheets for Pastoral Care staff, and both college and school information events. This marketing is scheduled to continue in August, once the pupils have received their SQA results.

Notes:

In the initial year of West College Scotland offering Foundation Apprenticeships, we will have approximately 20 pupils involved in two frameworks.

We will benefit from the experience of our neighbours in the running of other frameworks which we plan to introduce for our young people in the following session 2017/18.

There is a significant amount of marketing to do within our communities, to help people understand that this new Foundation Apprenticeship model is a viable option and in some cases preferential pathway into employment for many of our young people than the more traditional school/university/employment route that exists presently.

WDC Education, Learning and Attainment and Communications, Culture and Communities have worked with SDS and WCS to create a robust communications plan for next session to ensure that uptake figures are higher for the Foundation Apprenticeship courses on offer for our young people.

This plan utilises a number of communications channels to reach segmented audiences, and a number of events to increase the knowledge and awareness of pupils, parents and staff.

Outdoor Learning Opportunities Significantly Increased in West Dunbartonshire

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following the closure of the Loch Lomond Outdoor Centre at Ardlui, the number of outdoor activities undertaken by our young people has actually increased due to the variety offered by the different centres.

Residential Outdoor Learning:

Since the closure of the Loch Lomond Outdoor Centre at Ardlui, there have been 55 residential excursions made by our schools. These excursions included:

• 9 trips to Ardentinny Outdoor Education Centre

• 7 trips to Lochgoilhead Outdoor Education Centre

• 7 trips to Auchengillan Outdoor Education Centre

• 5 trips to Kingswood Outdoor Education Centre

• 2 trips to Lockerbie Manor Outdoor Education Centre

• 1 trip to Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre

• 1 trip to Ardmay Outdoor Education Centre

• 1 trip to Kindrogan Field Centre

• 22 trips beyond Scotland, to a variety of locations including Austria, Belgium, England, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Malawi, Morocco, Poland, Spain and the U.S.A.

All educational establishments have made use of other facilities for the provision of residential outdoor learning experiences.

 

Forest Schools:

Forest schools in West Dunbartonshire, enables schools and centres to provide learning in the outdoors which is regular planned and quality in line with the entitlements of Curriculum for Excellence.

• Hundreds of children are experiencing Forest School every week in West Dunbartonshire thanks to the continued roll-out of a varied programme of outdoor learning.

• Around 200 primary and nursery pupils are enjoying Forest School activities at the area’s seven designated sites each week of the academic year. To date more than 50 staff from 30 schools and nurseries have been trained to a nationally accredited BTEC level 3 Forest school leader standard.

• This course enables practitioners to develop the following skills in the learners:
  • a wide range of practical skills, including the safe use of tools, the basic construction of semi-permanent structures, how to tie knots and lashings,
  • the construction of fires and woodland conservation.
  • creativity, problem solving, team building and risk-taking skills.
  • learn a variety of techniques for building self-esteem and managing behaviour.
  • become more confident and independent

• The Council has provided Forest School training in partnership with Bridgewater College for the past six years. Tied to Curriculum for Excellence objectives on outdoor learning, Forest School aims to offer active opportunities for children to engage with the outdoors and develop skills not always available in the classroom. Parents and families are engaged from the start of the programme. They are offered opportunities to learn with their children about forest schools and many schools and centres have parent sessions where children and their families are learning together and getting hands on experiences eg Den building.

• There are plans to train another 20 practitioners in the coming session.

 

Outdoor Learning as part of the curriculum:

New schools are being designed with dedicated spaces created for learning outdoors. For example, each classroom in the new Bellsmyre campus will have direct access to a dedicated outdoor learning space specifically for that class, as well as access to outdoor facilities that can be used by all classes.

Through the use of ‘ourcloud’, practitioners are openly sharing practice in the use of the outdoors, inspiring colleagues in other establishments to try out new practice and methodology.

 

Marketing of Ardlui Site:

The estates team continue to market the site of the former outdoor centre. Details of this marketing can be found at: http://www.west-dunbarton.gov.uk/media/4310871/ardlui-outdoor-education-and-conference-centre-letting-details.pdf

The estates team have shown the site to 6 interested parties from across the public, private and voluntary sector. As yet, there has been no formal offer from any party.

Some Pipe Band Championship Photos from last year

Dumbarton gets set for biggest ever Scottish Pipe Band Championships

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A record number of competitors will take part in the Scottish Pipe Band Championships in Dumbarton on Saturday (30 July).

The free event, which is being held at Levengrove Park for the 17th year in a row, will welcome more than 140 bands from across the UK and abroad.

Locals Dumbarton and District Pipe Band will once again be looking to make their mark on home turf, in front of the enthusiastic crowd which is expected to be in excess of 20,000 people.

Lewis Barber, 15, will be competing for the Novice Juvenile Band which finished in fifth place at the European Championships last month.

The Dumbarton Academy pupil said: “We have had some great results recently and our confidence is high, so with all our friends and families out supporting hopefully we can do really well. It’s always great competing at Levengrove Park and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The event will also include the annual Highland Dance competition, with a number of local dancers competing.

Another attraction this year, which will get the crowd’s pulses racing is a healthy living festival being run by Diabetes UK, the British Heart Foundation and Tesco in partnership with West Dunbartonshire Leisure.

A range of exhibits provided by Glasgow Science Centre’s Bodyworks On Tour team will test endurance, power, agility, speed and co-ordination, while there will also be live science demonstrations.

The West Dunbartonshire Leisure team will be showcasing the range of services available to help visitors get more active and lead a healthier lifestyle.

There will also be group fitness demonstrations, nutritional advice and loads of fun activities for the whole family – with a fabulous prize of an iPad Mini up for grabs too.

All of these events are free and will be next to the pavilion in the centre of the park.

West Dunbartonshire Provost and Chieftain, Douglas McAllister, said: “This is the biggest free pipe band competition in the world and always attracts a world-class field of competitors. It’s a fantastic event, which is getting bigger and better every year. With plenty on offer to keep all the family entertained it’s a great day out and I’m sure the crowds will come out in force once again.”

A park and pay facility will be available at the venue, however due to the high volume of people expected to attend the event, visitors are encouraged to use public transport. Dalreoch railway station and buses into Dumbarton High Street are both in easy walking distance to the park.

Visitors who are driving to the event should adhere to the many parking restrictions in and around the venue and follow advice from the stewards.

Council Secure £388,253 of Lottery Funding for Domestic Abuse Project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The area’s Cedar (Children Experiencing Domestic Abuse Recovery) programme has been granted £388,253 from the Big Lottery Fund, allowing it to run for another three years.

Councillor Gail Casey, chair of the West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership Board (HSCP), said this week:

“I am delighted that the West Dunbartonshire Cedar Project has been awarded this significant funding from the Big Lottery Fund, which will allow us to continue developing the service as part our violence against women strategy.

“By providing direct support to victims of domestic abuse and educating young people about how to develop positive relationships, the project is already making an impact in West Dunbartonshire.

“Through strong joint working between the HSCP, the police, education and the third sector a number of exciting new initiatives will now be developed across both child and adult services.”

Notes:

The CEDAR (Children Experiencing Domestic Abuse Recovery) programme, has been running in West Dunbartonshire since 2012 and is managed by the Health and Social Care Partnership. Since being set up almost 100 children and more than 50 mothers/primary carers have been provided with support.

The project works with children and young people in the community (aged 4 -16 years) who are experiencing social, emotional and behavioural difficulties as a consequence of their experience of domestic abuse. CEDAR supports children and young people to develop skills to cope with a range of issues which directly relate to their experiences of domestic abuse, the key theme being to promote individual and family resilience.

In addition, support to mothers / primary carers is offered to assist them in understanding the impact of domestic abuse can have on the social, emotional and psychological development of children.

Support is provided once families have moved on from the abusive experience; the CEDAR approach being aimed at promoting reintegration and building resilience with families who have experienced domestic abuse.

The overall aims of the CEDAR programme are;

• to promote communication between primary carer and child,
• to enable mother’s and primary carers to see the experience of domestic abuse through the child’s eyes,
• To support a mother or primary carer to feel confident when talking with the child in their care about the child’s experience of domestic abuse.

 

WDC Gaelic Plan 2014 – 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Scottish Local Authorities are required to prepare a Gaelic Language Plan under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 20 05.

In order to meet this statutory requirement a West Dunbartonshire Gaelic Language Plan 2014-19 has been developed.

The Act states that a Gaelic language plan must set out the measures to be taken by the relevant public authority in relation to the use of the Gaelic language in connection with the exercise of the authority’s functions.

It must specify the date by which the measures are to be taken, and contain such other information as may be prescribed in regulations.

A Gaelic language plan must also have regard to:

i. the most recent national Gaelic language plan published;
ii. the extent to which the persons in relation to whom the authority’s functions are exercisable use the Gaelic language;
iii. the potential for developing the use of the Gaelic language in connection with the exercise of those functions; and
iv. any representations made to the authority in relation to the use of the Gaelic language in connection with the exercise of those functions.

A copy of the Councils Gaelic Plan 2014 – 2019 is below:

Gaelic Plan

WDC Unemployment figures for June 2016

 

 

 

 

 

National and International Context

Scotland’s economy has shown little growth over the past year, with the country’s unemployment rate higher than the UK overall and the output of the Scottish economy remaining flat during the first quarter of 2016.

The Fraser of Allander Centre conducted research with a range of Scottish Businesses shortly after the EU membership referendum.   The clear consensus amongst business is that ‘Brexit’ will have a negative impact. It is unsurprising therefore that many are adjusting their expectations about future investment and recruitment plans. However, there was no evidence from the survey of major decisions being undertaken to cut-back investment or jobs immediately.

The latest NOMIS data shows that there was a narrowing of the gap between West Dunbartonshire and Scotland in terms of employment (increased for West Dunbartonshire) and unemployment (decreased for West Dunbartonshire) rates which are local positive developments.

Unemployment figures:

The latest figures for West Dunbartonshire show that, in June, 3.5% of the working age population were claiming JSA, the same as in May 2016.  The rates of 2.2% for Scotland and 1.8% for Great Britain also remained unchanged.

In June 2016, 2,040 people in West Dunbartonshire were claiming JSA, a decrease of 20 people since May 2016. This is a decrease of 6.6% since June 2015.

North Ayrshire has the highest rate of JSA claimants in Scotland at 3.9%, followed by Dundee City at 3.6% and West Dunbartonshire at 3.5%, with Glasgow at 3.2%.

Currently, West Dunbartonshire is ranked 15^th highest in GB for the proportion of people claiming JSA.

Long Term Unemployed

In West Dunbartonshire in June 2016, 570 people had been in receipt of unemployment benefits for 12 months or more, a decrease of 15 people from May 2016.  North Ayrshire has the highest rate at 1.1%, with West Dunbartonshire and Dundee following at 1.0%, East Ayrshire at 0.9% and Eilean Siar had a rate of 0.8% with Glasgow City at 0.7%.

The figure for West Dunbartonshire represents a decrease of 8.8% compared to June 2015.

Young People Claiming JSA in West Dunbartonshire

The percentage of young people unemployed decreased from 2.6% to 2.5% (from 210 to 200 people) between May and June.  This is a 5% drop since last month and a 48.1% since June 2015.

Long Term Youth Unemployment

In June 2016, 40 young people had been out of work for more than 12 months the same number as in May.  The June 2016 figure is a 12.5% reduction from June 2015.

The rate for Scotland remains at 0.3%.  North Ayrshire has the highest rate at 0.7% with East Ayrshire is at 0.6%, with Eilean Siar and West Dunbartonshire Dundee City and Clackmannanshire at 0.5%. The rate for Glasgow City’s is 0.3%.

Employment, Unemployment and Inactivity

Based on the latest figures available at the West Dunbartonshire level (April 2015 to March 2016), the employment rate in West Dunbartonshire rose from 68.9% to 72.3% compared to the previous period, the Scotland figure fell to 72.9%.

The unemployment rate, people claiming JSA and other unemployment related benefits, fell from 7.6% to 6.7%. In Scotland the rate stayed at 5.7% and remained at 5.2% for the UK.

Job Density

The job density figure for West Dunbartonshire moved from 0.57 to 0.61 between 2013 and 2014 (the latest year available).  This figure represents the ratio of total jobs in the population.  A job ratio of 1.0 means there is one job for each person of working age.  The figure for Scotland is 0.80 and for the GB 0.82.  The figure for Glasgow which is a significant regional labour market is 1.05.

New Tenants Group Formed in Clydebank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At a well-attended meeting on Wednesday 22nd July, a new TRO committee was formed by residents in Clydebank. The  Radnor Park Tenants & Residents Organisation was established after local people expressed a strong desire to set it up.

Tenants and Residents Organisations (TROs) play an important role in shaping their communities. We now have 19 active TROs across West Dunbartonshire, giving communities a voice on the matters which are important to them.

The Council will provide the necessary support to the group as they aim to establish themselves and look forward to working alongside them in the coming years.

The newly elected  committee will hold another meeting on 3 August to discuss housing matters in the area.

Notes:

1. If there isn’t a tenants and residents group in your area you can start one up.
2. The Council can support you through each of the steps and provide training which will help your group to develop skills in organising and chairing meetings and secretary and treasurer duties.
3. The Council will also provide you with funding to meet costs to hire venues, advertise your meetings, travel, stationery and any other costs associated with you setting up and running a tenants and residents organisation.
4. The Council will also make sure that you are not out of pocket, that you are supported and that your group progresses at a pace with which you are comfortable.
5. Residents interested in setting up a TRO in their area can contact:
   1. Jane Mack, Tenant Participation Officer (01389) 737281
   2. Dawn Conner, Tenant Participation Development Officer (01389) 737697
   3. Lynnette O’Brien, Policy & Performance Support Assistant (01389) 737743

A directory of tenants and residents groups in West Dunbartonshire is below:

• Brucehill Tenants and Residents Association
• Central Alexandria Tenants and Residents Association
• Clydebank East Tenants and Residents Association
• Dalmonach Tenants & Residents Association
• Dalmuir Multi Storey Flats Tenants & Residents Association
• Duntocher Tenants and Residents Association
• Littleholm Tenants and Residents Association
• North Bank Street Tenants & Residents Association
• North Drumry Tenants and Residents Association
• Overburn & Townend Tenants and Residents Association
• Radnor Park Tenants & Residents Association
• Risk Street Tenants and Residents Association
• Rosshead Tenants and Residents Association
• South Drumry Tenants and Residents Association
• Tontine Tenants and Residents Association
• Tullichewan Tenants and Residents Association
• Westbridgend Tenants and Residents Association
• West Dunbartonshire Tenants and Residents Organisation

 

Library Refurbishment Will Double Public Access Computers at Balloch Library

 

 

 

 

West Dunbartonshire Council is due to start its long-awaited refurbishment of Balloch Library.

The main purpose of the project is to provide a fully accessible Public Toilet, plus an enhanced ICT area within the Library which will double the number of public PC’s to 12, and in combination with free Wi-Fi will offer a much improved public service.

In addition to the investment by WDC the project is also benefiting from a partnership with the Wheatley Group to provide £30,000 Scottish Government funding under the Click & Connect scheme to encourage digital inclusion.

This will see the Library offer access to West College Scotland’s on-line learning platform and an extended choice of courses provided by the WD Libraries and Cultural Services Quest Team and Working 4 U Learning.

The refurbishment work which will commence at Balloch Library on August 15^th and will entail a closure of the Library for a week from August 22^nd.

The project has a six-week schedule of works and will be completed by the end of September bar any unforeseen eventualities.

During the closure, the nearest available library will be Alexandria.

The refurbishment was included in the Labour Administrations Budget last year.