Initiative at the Edge Process

This document was prepared to advise the Community Planning Partnerships (CPP’s), of the structure of the Initiative, and the processes the areas will follow as they participate in the Initiative at the Edge (IatE) programme.

KEY ELEMENTS OF THE INITIATIVE AT THE EDGE

Communities themselves setting the development agenda, led by a local community development group.
A "statement of intent” from the partner agencies to underpin their commitment to the Initiative.
A planned process for identifying, prioritising and implementing the communities’ development, built around the preparation of a community development plan.
Development officers deployed to ensure the proper functioning of community development groups, to initiate development projects, and to source additional resources.
Community groups across a wide range of activities are supported in their development.
Seedcorn-type funding is made available readily to allow community groups to carry out preliminary investigations with minimal obstacles.
Agencies and Local Authorities work collaboratively to ensure the most effective solutions to identified issues.
Public bodies and the Executive give the IatE areas a special focus and priority in their activities, ensuring good practice in their mainstream operations, initiating new projects and practices, and levering in additional resources.
There is an exchange of experience, ideas, information and best practice between IatE communities across the Highlands and Islands.
Grant awarding bodies recognise the “IatE” badge, allocating higher priority to applications from these areas.
The National Steering Group works at a high level to resolve strategic obstacles to development, to help ensure that the IatE areas are able to take advantage of the opportunities that are available.
The successful practices piloted by agencies through the Initiative are implemented elsewhere.

THE INITIATIVE AT THE EDGE PROCESS

1- Immediately post-designation as an IatE area

This stage is a brief and intense period during which the agencies and community come together to get the IatE process underway:

Agencies facilitate public meetings to explain what IatE involves.
Steering group formed comprising representatives of community and agencies to discuss how the community can make the most of the opportunity:
- Confirm there is a willingness within the community to commit to the process
- Identify immediate priorities and how these will be delivered
- Identify most appropriate structures for the Initiative
- Whether there is an existing community development group to lead the process, or does one have to be formed?
- Whether recruitment of Local Development Officer (LDO) or other is necessary
Agencies internally start process of reviewing activities in the area.
Agencies agree funding package to facilitate the next, “establishment, phase”.

2 – Establishment

This second stage builds on initial progress by putting structures and processes in place:

Community Group established, if required
Community group debates and agrees priorities for the area, involving the wider community through open consultation events
Local public agencies engaged in this consultative process
LDO (or equivalent) deployed to support community group’s activities and its development
Early progress made on small projects raises community awareness and morale
Other community groups supported in their development through Seedcorn funding

3 – Consolidation

This stage is the critical one in the IatE process:

Community development group prepares its local development plan in consultation with agencies and then distributes the final version widely within the community and agencies
Community development group formalises its structure as its confidence grows
More substantive progress on key issues and priority projects
Agencies engage locally in the delivery of key objectives
Key strategic issues referred on to National Steering Group (NSG) through Co-ordinator.
Public bodies and community groups draw up a local agency/community partnership agreement to cover the remaining period of support, identifying milestones and the conclusion of IatE designation against a timescale.

4 – Delivery

This is the main period of delivery, part of which will be covered by the IatE designation, and part of which will continue thereafter during the “follow-up” phase in accordance with the local community/agency partnership agreement.

Community groups awarded “development plan funding” to assist with the delivery of their development plan.
Public Bodies work with the community development groups to deliver agreed actions.
Community development ensure wider community informed of progress.
Community development groups update the development plan.

MILESTONES & OUTPUTS

The following are indicative milestones that the Initiative would seek to achieve for the IatE Areas while they are under IatE designation in phase one of the “IatE" process:

a well functioning community development group with the respect of the local community.
a local development plan drawn up through wide community consultation, and with the support of local agencies.
commitments from all key agencies to an agreed IatE action plan, through a local agency/community partnership agreement.
material progress made on key projects identified in the development plan.
a broad range of community groups revitalised, with visible evidence of improved community facilities and services.
funding in place for remaining key elements of the agreed action plan – including the funding of any remaining period of LDO employment.
strategic issues identified and forwarded to the NSG, with a commitment to action on at least some of these.
early indications of population decline being successfully tackled, with a renewed interest in people returning to/moving to the area.

The following bullet points are provided as indicative long term outputs from the Initiative

improved community facilities, services and environment.
more competitive environment for establishing businesses, and evidence of re-location of public and private sector jobs.
greater level of community activity and community-generated developments & enterprise.
a respected community development group working closely with the public agencies on the areas’ development priorities.
better integration between the agencies locally and nationally.

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