Launched at the Forgewood Community Centre, the new strategy runs until 2027 and has been developed following extensive engagement with partners, staff, community and the voluntary sectors.

It has been developed specifically to ensure the right systems and supports are in place to ensure people and groups can effectively engage with the partnership no matter their location or circumstances.

To strengthen this engagement work with supported people, a new Growth Pot Fund has been created. This financial commitment will provide stability and security to community groups and organisations supporting engagement and reaching out to underrepresented groups.

The first nine community groups to receive grants from the new Growth Pot Fund were announced at the event with the groups sharing funding of £33,450. The groups will deliver engagement and participation activities across North Lanarkshire over the next 12 months.

Sharing the first round of funding are:

• Friends of Kilsyth (£5,000)
• Best Way Community Kitchen (£5,000)
• The Storehouse (£5,000)
• Birkshaw Tower Tenants and Residents Association (£5,000)
• North Lanarkshire Ethnic Minority Association (£5,000)
• Cardowan Community Meadows (£4,950)
• CABIA Goes Outdoors (£2,500)
• Caldercruix Ladies Education Group (£500)
• Motherwell Baptist Church (£500)

Professor Ross McGuffie, chief officer, University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, said: “We’re committed to building on local knowledge and experience. This is how we can best ensure services are tailored to the needs of our communities and make the most of the knowledgeable and dedicated groups spread across our towns and villages.

“This new Engagement and Participation Strategy shows University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire’s firm commitment to working with the communities it serves and ensuring they have meaningful involvement in decisions.

“It’s encouraging to see the strategy is further building on the partnership’s well-established approach to engagement and participation. It will build on the existing strong foundations already in place to increase the involvement of carers, supported people, the wider community, and the voluntary and independent sectors.

“This commitment to building on local knowledge and experience is central to ensuring services are tailored to community needs. It will also make the most of the considerable community assets that exist in towns and villages across North Lanarkshire.”

Maria Williamson, senior manager, University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire, added: “It is essential this vital work is supported to ensure it is effective as possible. The new Growth Pot Fund will play in an invaluable role in empowering local voluntary groups to carry out wide engagement across many of the communities that live throughout North Lanarkshire.

“Ultimately, the partnership’s whole reason for existing is to help people live safer, healthier, independent lives by providing the right information, local support networks and services, and by anticipating need before it arises.

“There is no doubt whatsoever that plans to deliver services that meet the needs of North Lanarkshire’s communities will be truly successful only with their full engagement, participation and knowledge.”

The first cycle of applications for the Growth Pot Fund has been launched through a partnership of the North Lanarkshire Disability Forum (NLDF), Lanarkshire Links (LL) and the Voice of Experience Forum (VoEF).