NPP Annual Conference 9 September 2010

NPP Annual Conference

9 September 2010

Good practice in rural service

provision

Norman MacAskillHead of Rural Policy


9 September 2010

Presentation

• Scottish context• SCVO and the SCVO Rural Team• The DESERVE Project• OECD view• Examples:

– co-location– community-based– co-production


9 September 2010

Scottish context

• Population 5 million - 1 million live in areas defined as rural

• Devolved Scottish Government has responsibility for rural

• 32 local authorities, with Single Outcome Agreements

• OECD review of Rural Policy said:– innovative and rapidly evolving– Complex sectoral approach– Weak integration of policy design– Over-complex delivery mechanisms (more than 100 agencies involved in rural)


9 September 2010

SCVO

• National body representing the Scottish Voluntary Sector– 45,000 voluntary organisations – 130,000 paid staff – 1.3 million volunteers– Income of £4.1 billion

• Around 120 staff• Main offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness• Seeks to advance the values and shared

interests of the voluntary sector


9 September 2010

SCVO Rural Team

• Based in Inverness, but covers all rural Scotland• Rural Policy and Information work• Rural Direct Service – helping rural communities

to access funding for services and facilities• Campaigns, events and research on issues such

as village halls and other community facilities• Rural Equalities Network• Rural Network website and regional events


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www.ruralgateway.org.uk


9 September 2010

Cowal Peninsula, Argyll


9 September 2010


9 September 2010

The DESERVE Project

• Delivering Services in Remote and Rural Areas: A Transnational Exchange of ideas and Practices

• Priority 3.1 Household related services provision• March 2004 to June 2007• Eligible costs 2,251,542 euros• Award 1,642,811 euros to Member states (74.9%)• Award 15,000 euros to Iceland (25.8%)


9 September 2010

The DESERVE Project

• Partners from Scotland, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, with associate from Norway

• Aimed to establish the transferability of models of service delivery to remote and rural areas

• Each region implement project using a model, or elements of a model previously tested by partners in their own regions

• Partners to establish the extent to which models must be adapted to suit local conditions

• www.nppdeserve.info


9 September 2010

Cowal DESERVE• Transport-based service based on Swedish and Finnish

models • Two vehicles, five employees• Allowed elderly and disabled people of all ages to

access services that others take for granted• Around 350 users over the life of the project - majority

over 65, though no age restrictions• Dentist, chiropodist, hairdresser, post office, Advice

Centre, hospital clinics, Stroke Club, GP, library• From home, taken to appointments, taken home again• People who had fallen through the gaps in existing

services – large amount of unrecognised and unmet need

• Improvement to service widely recognised


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9 September 2010

Cowal DESERVE Interloch

• Continuation of service from 2007

• Covers wider area with more vehicles

• Strong links with health and other local services

• Registered Charity• Mix of funding


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DESERVE Conclusions Transferring models is not enough - have to be

customised, and only useful if they change local practice

Learning requires co-operation, and crossing boundaries between sectors to encourage innovations.

Study trips and workshops that brought together different actors (village developers, small firms, social workers, public officials, researchers) created common understanding about the alternatives at home.

New approaches emerged from networking in a foreign context, resulting in innovative service experiments.


9 September 2010

OECD view of rural services

The demographic structure of rural regions is often not appropriate to support provision of local public services. Because these regions have difficulty in establishing the necessary critical mass of facilities, producer services and infrastructure… the economy does not generate employment opportunities and there are strong incentives for young people to move away. This kind of vicious circle, in which unemployment and lack of services lead to rural exodus has been a common pattern in rural regions ever since the agricultural sector began to shed unemployment…OECD RURAL POLICY REVIEWS: THE NEW RURAL PARADIGM


9 September 2010

OECD view of rural services

To the extent that rural areas are more dependent on public support for services than are urban areas, they will feel a greater effect when national governments begin to … reduce expenditures. This makes it important for rural citizens to both make a strong case for continued public support and to develop alternative means for providing services that are vital for economic development.OECD RURAL POLICY REVIEWS: STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE RURAL SERVICE DELIVERY 2010


9 September 2010

Co-location:Pulteneytown People’s Project


9 September 2010

Co-location:Pulteneytown People’s Project

• Community initiative began in 2003 aiming to raise aspirations and renew sense of cohesion in area of high unemployment

• Support, classes and activities for parents and children• Clubs and activities with Primary and Secondary

schools• Activities and training for young people not in work• Community garden and playing field upgrades• Classes and outings for older people• Over 600 users per week, ranging in age from 0 to 90 • 20 people in good quality jobs• Turnover of £2,000,000 a year

Example


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Co-location:Pulteneytown Peoples Project

Example


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Co-location:Pulteneytown Peoples Project

• Big plans for a new £4 million community enterprise centre, with support for businesses

Example


9 September 2010

Community-basedRankinston Broadband

Initiative


9 September 2010

Community-based:Rankinston Broadband

Initiative• Isolated village community with no permanent

essential and non-essential services• Decided communication is top priority• Free laptops in community centre• Free wi-fi broadband connection throughout the

area• Skype nights for older residents• Funding from Coalfields Regeneration Trust• Small project – big impact

Example


9 September 2010

Community-based/Co-production

Community Care Assynt


9 September 2010

Community-based/Co-production

Community Care Assynt

Example


9 September 2010

Community-based/Co-production:

Community Care Assynt• Remote community in north-west Scotland• Reduction in services and attempted closure of

care centre for older people• Action group became Community Care Assynt, a

Community Interest Company, which has now taken over running the centre

• Highland Council providing financial support• Possible model for care services in other areas• Huge support from O4O – a project for

NPP to be very proud of.

Example


9 September 2010

Thank you

[email protected](+44) 1463 251731

www.scvo.org.ukwww.ruralgateway.org.uk

NPP Annual Conference 9 September 2010

Health & Medicine

Transcript of NPP Annual Conference 9 September 2010