DRAFT Community Action Plan

Introduction The Community Planning Partnership

Grangemouth is an important contributor to the Scottish economy due to The Community Planning Partnership is the term used in each Local the petro-chemical, and other industries in the . Despite this, Authority area to describe the joint-planning and priority-setting of local Grangemouth has many areas with inequalities such as higher public and third sector organisations, alongside community bodies. These unemployment and benefit claimants, and more low-income families. organisations work together so they can share their local knowledge and resources to get the best outcomes for the people living there. This plan was developed to help address some of these inequalities so we can improve the wealth, health and wellbeing of its residents and In partners include: workers. It was done through a range of events, speaking to local • CVS Falkirk residents about what is important to them and what they think should be • done to improve their town. Falkirk Community Trust • Falkirk Council • Forth Valley College Why the Plan was Developed • The Health and Social Care Partnership • Local Community Bodies The Scottish Government published the Community Empowerment • NHS Forth Valley () Act in 2015, which outlined all Community Planning • Partnerships in Scotland must develop an improvement plan for each • Scottish Enterprise area with higher levels of deprivation or disadvantage within the local • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service authority boundary. • Scottish Natural Heritage In Falkirk, the Community Planning Partnership is developing this plan for • SESTran Grangemouth, a plan for Denny, and , and will • Skills Development Scotland develop further plans in places with higher levels of inequality.

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

About Grangemouth Local Community Groups

Grangemouth was originally known as Sealock, a name attributed to the • Glitter Team: A well-known team in Grangemouth, this group workers building the , though was never officially organises community clean up events. adopted as the name. The canal was commissioned in 1768 and completed • Kersiebank Community Project: based in Grangemouth Town in 1790, and the town thrived through industry and trade creating a link centre, it provides activities, support, and learning opportunities between the Forth & Clyde Canal, the , and on to the North Sea. to the local community as well as a foodbank. The town's industrial heritage continues, visible from the petrochemical • Bowhouse Community Association: runs the community centre plant and Grangemouth Port, which is the largest in Scotland and is which hosts numerous activities and is available to book. responsible for as much as 30% of Scotland’s Gross Domestic Product. • NU2U Furniture Project: an affordable furniture service to help homeless people into new tenancies. Grangemouth’s local economy grew significantly in the post war decades • and there was a significant increase in the workforce. This has Grangemouth Heritage Trust: the trust showcases artefacts from subsequently led to an ageing population. Due in part to the layout of the Grangemouth’s past to preserve its history. town, there is little opportunity for new development in Grangemouth What has been achieved so far which has led to stagnation and a declining population over the last 30 years. • Kersiebank medical practice has diverted some of its resources to have additional capacity for mental health workers Points of Interest (Show this on a map in design) • Town Centre Wifi: public wifi was installed in early 2020 in the • Kelpies town centre and Charlotte Dundas Court • Docks • Falkirk Council has begun work to reconfigure the town centre, moving businesses from Kerse Road into the centre to renovate • Grangemouth Town hall Kerse Road. • Community centres • Kersiebank Food Pantry was established in September 2020 as • Com Ed Centre part of Falkirk Community Food Consortium, which received • Grangemouth Stadium £153,000 from the Scottish Government to develop these • Talbot House pantries in areas of need. • Zetland Park

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Grangemouth Profile - TO BE ADDED IN DESIGN

16,204 people

965 fewer people than 10 years ago

2,626 children

25% of children living in poverty

555 children are in low income families

31% of pupils receive a clothing grant

52.9% of homes are flats

Unemployment in February 2020: 5.6%

Unemployment in November 2020: 9.1%

Youth unemployment is 14%

Average household weekly income is £47

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

One Page Timeline of events, infographic TO BE ADDED IN DESIGN

Category Event Date Attendance Your place, Your Views Online Survey 15 Jan 18- 151, 97 of 15 Feb 18 which were under 16 (64%) Grangemouth Community Workshop at 31-Jan-18 25

Grangemouth High workshop not recorded 30

Carrongrange Workshop 19th Feb 18 Community Conversations Workshop at Bowhouse Community Centre 27th June 18 Youth Forum Forum event run by community police officer and Community Learning and 7th Sept 18 36 yp, 30 Development adults invited Community Links Drop-ins Throughout 79,more March 19 were unrecorded Focus Groups 25 March- 4th 59- 31 yp, 28 April 19 adults Community Design Sessions 3rd-6th April 19 120- 87 adult, 33 children Review of Local Services 13 Interviews with front-line staff March/ April 19 19 Action development workshops Housing and Poverty 4th Sept 19 19 Employment and Employability 17th Sept 19 10 Town Centre Regeneration and Transport 30th Sept 19 23 Community Links/ Growth Deal Community links and Falkirk Council Chief executive fed back to community 5th Oct 19 feedback event

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

What people like What people don’t like

‘People are lovely’ ‘People are friendly’ ‘we try to do things together – ‘town centre is dying’ ‘electric theatre is an eyesore’ ‘town centre is community matters, get people together’ empty’

‘Zetland Park, and Kelpies’ ‘Beautiful park, wide open streets, ‘Rubbish everywhere, scattered everywhere – needs to be addressed as sports facilities, 24-hour , regular buses to Falkirk’ filthy – it makes the place look bad’

‘Recently added paths to Kelpies and other walks’ ‘too many flats’ ‘Too many flats and rubbish lying around them’

‘Historical past and buildings, docks, beautiful park, community pride ‘Pollution from industry, noise from industry, smells from industry’ (long term residents)’ ‘No train stations’ ‘No public transport to hospital’ ‘People genuinely care, but need encouragement/opportunity to get involved’ ‘Too many areas of deprivation – more money generated in/through the ‘Good: children’s day, glitter teams (more needed) people look out for town should be spent in the town – very disproportionate currently’ elderly neighbours’ ‘Centre is shocking – too many shops closed/closing’ ‘Too many empty ‘Kersiebank Community Project – helping those in need’ shops, town could be better shops etc. Anti-social behaviour due to drink people vandalising places in town’

‘Depleted, forgotten about’

‘We seem to have become a “dumping ground” with no easy access to other areas, shops closing, doctors leaving – the forgotten town’

‘More activities for our children and youth’

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Housing: • 70% of all council owned properties in Grangemouth are flats. • 10% of Council tenancies end within the first year, which is similar Housing in Grangemouth is clean and attractive, suits the needs of all to the rest of Falkirk. residents, and people moving into Grangemouth are supported as part of • The average time to fix housing repairs is 3.1 hours for an the community emergency and 5.23 days for non-emergency. This is better than What local people said: the average for Falkirk.

• ‘Too many blocks of flats, too much ‘homeless’ accommodation, Priorities to address together: build more houses for families’ • Housing amount and type: Local people have many concerns about • ‘Build housing not flats’ the housing available locally and they want to see a long-term • ‘Need to reduce density in flatted areas - programme of planned solution, including housing for families and those with disabilities. regeneration required’ • Physical and environmental improvements: Issues have been raised • ‘Many different types of housing in the area all close by, some of about repairs, fly-tipping, graffiti, litter and the condition of the area has recently been done up which looks great!! Hopefully communal areas; and we want to improve these. the rest will be able to soon also make improvements to the area’ • People are supported within the community: there is a stigma around • ‘Other tenants in houses not looking after their property, rubbish some areas and tenants, and some people think Grangemouth is a everywhere gardens left in a state, not looking after it at all’ ‘dumping ground’ for people with additional barriers. We want to • ‘Too many flats which nobody wants to live in – so transient ensure people are supported in their tenancies, and have access to people are being housed in them’ the support they need to improve sustainment; and people • ‘I do not understand the system of giving out houses. understand how and why people are allocated housing. • ‘Better repairs service/process’ • ‘Incomers to Grangemouth – drug and alcohol’ What will be different in 10 years? • ‘Support people who live there and are struggling’ 1. There will be more houses and fewer flats 2. The communal areas around flats will be cleaner What we know: 3. People moving into Grangemouth will stay longer and be • Almost a quarter of all low-demand Council properties in Falkirk accepted as members of the community

are in Grangemouth. 4. More tenants will have access to the support they need • Grangemouth has 23% of all Council owned flats across Falkirk, but only 13% of all houses.

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Housing Action Plan

No. Action Who will be involved This will be achieved by: 1. Create a housing masterplan for Grangemouth including public and Link, Paragon, FC Housing, Private 2022 private landlords to address local housing issues. landlords, Tenants and residents 2. Review the Housing Allocations Policy of social landlords in Link, Paragon, FC Housing, Tenants and 2020 Grangemouth. Residents 3. Explore options for incentives to free up under-occupied housing within Link, Paragon, FC Housing 2022 Grangemouth.

4. Explore and identify the need for small environmental improvement Link, Paragon, FC Housing, Tenants and 2022 projects. For example CCTV, close meetings, external cleaners, close Residents, community groups, noticeboards etc. 5. Identify local issues with waste, and promote responsible cleansing, Link, Paragon, FC Housing, FC Waste, 2022 recycling, and other preventative measures to waste issues. Tenants and Residents, community groups 6. Further develop the small repair service within the area. FC Housing, Tenants and Residents 2022 7. Establish links between health and support providers, and social NHS Forth Valley, FC Community Learning 2024 housing providers. and Development, Community 8. Explore any need for a housing education project for school aged pupils FC Housing, FC Education, FC Community 2024 around tenancy sustainment and life skills. Learning and Development

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Social Wellbeing: Priorities to address together:

People in Grangemouth are supported within the community, and have • People struggling financially: Issues have been raised about people access to the services they need to support their health and wellbeing moving into new tenancies with no furniture or white goods, being able to afford a new tenancy, debts associated with Universal Credit, What local people said: and the affordability of public transport. • ‘I used to think quiet place to live in – bringing in ASB/drug • People struggling with additional barriers: the prevalence of mental [users]’ health issues in Grangemouth has been raised frequently, as has • ‘Proportion of income generated in town (by industry) for substance use and the ability to access relevant services. Scottish economy at odds with investment in town (i.e. 5 SIMD What will be different in 10 years? areas!!)’ • ‘Universal Credit – massive problems – rent arrears’ 5. Poverty rates will reduce and people will have access to a wider range • ‘Addiction/mental health – support basis’ of support. • ‘Drug problems – leading to problems with housing’ 6. More people in Grangemouth will have access to services to reduce • ‘Little support for people with addictions’ barriers. • ‘A lot of drug problems’

What we know

• Suicide rates are higher in Falkirk than Scotland, and mental health is a concern in Grangemouth. • Grangemouth has 5 datazones within the 10% most deprived in Scotland; one of which is in the 5% most deprived.

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Social Wellbeing actions

No. Action Who will be involved: This will be achieved by: 9. Develop a network of local providers which makes best use of Community Groups, FC Community 2022 household goods and furniture. Learning and Development, CVS Falkirk, Fairer Falkirk 10. Research possible projects for low-cost transport passes for low-income FC Development Services, Fairer Falkirk, 2022 households. SEStran, 11. Ensure people have the opportunity to work with the community Fairer Falkirk, service users, 2022 planning partnership to share their experiences in order to improve services around mitigating the impacts of Universal Credit and other benefit issues. 12. Review current services for mental health and wellbeing and barriers to Health and Social Care Partnership, Mental 2022 accessing these services for people in Grangemouth. Health and Wellbeing Group, FC Housing, service users, 13. Review current services for drug and alcohol use and barriers to Falkirk Alcohol and Drugs Partnership, 2024 accessing these services in Grangemouth. Health and Social Care Partnership

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Community Spirit and Empowerment • Throughout the engagement process, residents have indicated a low sense of control and that they don’t believe they are listened Local people are the leaders of change within Grangemouth and are to in the decision-making process. empowered to take part in local decision-making • Falkirk Council have secured funding for leadership development What local people said for young people from the Scottish Community Development Centre (SCDC). The Council is working collaboratively with Youth • ‘Council should connect with more people’ Scotland and SCDC to deliver the iLead Project to build the • ‘Councils need to take more time for their residents’ capacity of young people to engage fully within decision making • ‘Not much services or activities for young people e.g. youth club, structures. afterschool’ • ‘More volunteering opportunities more involvement’ Priorities to address together • ‘More people getting involved’ • People want to be included in making decisions about their town. • ‘Get people more involved in tenants forum’ Local partners should ensure they are reaching out, listening to • ‘Volunteers do most work at parks.’ residents and allowing local people to take part in decisions • ‘Young people involved in clean-ups, take pride in centre and to about their town and local services. clean the burn’ • Local young people want to use an existing building to create a • ‘Glitter team – helping clean up Grangemouth’ safe space exclusively for them. Local adults have said that they • ‘More community groups to enhance civic pride’ feel as if there isn’t enough for young people to do locally. • ‘Safe spaces for young people- Well used by young people, Young people take ownership, Free wifi, Indoor and outdoor spaces, Opportunities to progress – training – jobs’ What will be different in 10 years?

What we know 7. People are empowered to take part in decisions about their town, and more people are involved in the development and delivery of local • In late 2018, young people hosted a consultation session with services. local adults, a presentation to community leaders and local 8. Young people in Grangemouth will have their own space with activities partners outlining why they want their own space, and a further they plan and manage with the assistance of partners. engagement session with other young people to find out what they would like to see in a space of their own. They want their own space and are asking for support to achieve this.

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Community Spirit and Empowerment Actions

No. Action Who will be involved This will be achieved by 14. Support young people in their desire for a youth-led facility by helping Young people, Community Groups, CVS 2024 them identify funding, a location, and assist with business planning. Falkirk, FC Community Learning and Development 15. Work together to promote the benefits and incentives of forming a Community, FC Housing, Paragon, Link 2022 tenants and residents association. 16. Explore options for evening use of local schools, such as access for Community groups, FC Community 2022 community groups, and encourage inter-generational projects. Learning and Development, FC Education, CVS Falkirk, Falkirk Community Trust 17. Investigate opportunities to include local people in redesigning local Young people, Community Groups, CVS 2024 services. Falkirk, Falkirk Community Planning Board

18. Support community organisations to increase community capacity and Community Groups, FC Community Ongoing develop opportunities for all age groups. Learning and Development, CVS

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Employment and Employability • INEOS present in a both primary and secondary schools in Grangemouth and wider areas. They work with Forth Valley People in Grangemouth have the skills and opportunities to access local College and take on apprentices each year aligned to STEM employment subjects. What local people said • Since the start of Covid-19, unemployment claimants in Falkirk has risen by 66.6% between March and April 2020. • ‘Possibilities for good well-paid employment’ • Grangemouth Port has seen a drop in business of around 30–40% • ‘Plenty of opportunities for younger people’ since the end of March. • The employment opportunities are poor. Minimum wage, zero hours’ Priorities to address together: • ‘Maybe a lot of industry but skilled well-paid work not necessarily • Access to employment: including understanding local employment employed to Grangemouth people’ and any skills needed to fill local jobs, pathways to local employment • ‘Large oil industry but very few Grangemouth people employed.’ for young people, and more visible local employment programmes • ‘The town appears to be very industrial and thriving. However, there are a lot of unemployed people in the town and the town • Local jobs for local people: local unemployment, high levels of centre is desperately run-down.’ deprivation, and concerns that local people do not have access to • ‘No local economy high unemployment and increasing serious local jobs; particularly people with additional barriers crimes’ • Improved connections with local industry: local people feel • ‘ETU (Employment Training Unit) – difficult to get information’ disconnected from local industry and they want to increase • ‘Everything is done online – no one to go to and speak to about communication. employment’ • ‘Forth Ports and ASDA – in house training’ What will be different in 10 years?

What we know 9. Increased understanding of local employment and barriers to accessing • Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the unemployment rate across it, and more local jobs for local people. Falkirk was 3.6% compared to 3.3% in Scotland. 10. Improved communication with local industries and employers, and • The Department for Work and Pensions, Skills Development well-established relationships with people in the town. Scotland, and Falkirk Council work in both primary and secondary schools carrying out careers training and events.

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Employment and Employability Actions

No. Action Who will be involved This will be achieved by: 19. Carry out research to understand current employment and future local FC Employment and Training Unit, local 2024 labour market demand and opportunities. This could involve analysis of employers, Skills Development Scotland, local opportunities as well as working with local employers directly to Local Employability Partnership understand their current level of local employment, and forecasting skills required in the area. 20. Promotion of local employment programmes. FC Employment and Training Unit, local 2022 employers, Skills Development Scotland, Local Employability Partnership 21. Establish a local employment pathways group for young people, FC Employment and Training Unit, local 2024 including local businesses, education, and employability and training employers, Skills Development Scotland, providers. Local Employability Partnership, Forth Valley College, FC Education 22. Undertake a whole-system pilot project which will focus on a small FC Employment and Training Unit, CVS 2024 number of families in the Kersiebank and Bowhouse areas with the aim Falkirk, FC Community learning and of addressing barriers to employment. Development, community groups 23. Work with local young people to understand barriers to work. Young People, FC Employment and 2022 Training Unit, CVS Falkirk, FC Community learning and Development, community groups 24. Look into Falkirk Council employment policies and procurement to FC Employment and Training Unit, FC 2024 understand how this could be further developed to provide greater Procurement benefit to the local community, such as extending the guaranteed interview scheme to local deprived areas. 25. Identify and scope an employment programme linked to opportunities Local Employability Partnership, Economic 2030 that will arise from the Growth Deal. Partnership 26. Investigate ways to improve the relationship between local industry Community members, local employers, 2030 and the local community. Economic Partnership DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Regenerating the Town Centres and Local Infrastructure • Retail is suffering due to Covid-19 which may further impact the town centre, with fewer people shopping and high fixed costs Grangemouth Town Centre is clean, safe, has good transport links and is a such as rent and rates. place in which people want to spend time • A Freight Working Group has now been established to find a What local people said solution to the HGV issues.

• ‘Regenerate town centre to bring more businesses’ • ‘Lower rents and rates for vacant premises’ Priorities to address together: • ‘Town centre is dying – need more shops’ • ‘Electric theatre is an eyesore’ • Regenerating the town centre and Charlotte Dundas Court: issues • ‘Town centre regeneration – more attractive shops – town clean- raised locally include a ‘run-down’ town centre, empty units, poor up’ choice of shops, and high business rates and rents. • ‘People are frightened to go in at night’ • Heavy Goods Vehicles: people are unhappy with HGVs in the town • ‘Threatening atmosphere /dull and dark/boarded up pub – not centre, particularly drivers discarding waste in the streets while good environment’ (of Charlotte Dundas Court) sleeping in their lorries overnight. • ‘I don't feel safe because I live near the Charlotte Dundas’ • Anti-social behaviour: Concerns have been raised about ASB in the • ‘we have a really good bus service with buses running very town centre and Charlotte Dundas Court regularly to different areas.’ • Historic buildings: people want some buildings refurbished or brought • ‘Not everyone can afford the prices of our buses here they are back into use, particularly La Scala. shockingly high I for one can't afford to even go to Falkirk on the • Transport: Availability of public transport, and transport links have bus’ been identified as issues • ‘No public transport access to station (only 2 buses via Falkirk)’ • ‘A local train station would be good’ • ‘Lack of train station’ What will be different in 10 years? • ‘No public transport to hospital’ 11.The town centre will be more active and will be an attractive place for • ‘Too many HGV’s’ people to spend time.

12. Charlotte Dundas Court will feel safer and will be an attractive place What we know for people to spend time. • Vacancy in the town centre is 25% which is double the average 13. There will be better access to reliable public transport. for Scotland DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Regenerating the town centres and local infrastructure actions

No. Action Who will be involved: This will be achieved by: 27. Reconfigure Grangemouth Town Centre to incorporate opportunities Economic Partnership, Local businesses, 2030 for residential, commercial, and community use; and preserve existing Local Community, Community Groups, historic buildings. 28. Develop a solution to the local concerns regarding HGVs in the town Economic partnership, FC Roads, Local 2022 centre in partnership with local businesses and the local community. business, Local Community 29. Develop a local action plan to tackle anti-social behaviour in Police Scotland, Public Protection Chief 2024 Grangemouth town centre and Charlotte Dundas Court. Officers Group, FC Community Safety team 30. Undertake a conservation audit of buildings in Grangemouth town FC Development Services, Historic 2024 centre to take stock of buildings that need to be protected or Environment Scotland, Local Community refurbished. 31. Assess the current accessibility and affordability of public transport in FC Development Services, SESTran, Fairer 2024 Grangemouth and make recommendations to improve provision. Falkirk, 32. Undertake a Transport Appraisal exploring all transport options, FC Development Services 2030 including rail.

DRAFT Grangemouth Community Action Plan

Next Steps

Monitoring this plan

This Action Plan shows what will be done to improve outcomes in Grangemouth over the next 10 years. Each action will be jointly delivered There is a lot of current and planned by different organisations within the Community Planning Partnership activity and members of the local community. A Performance Management Framework will be developed so each action is monitored, and indicators will be developed by the working group responsible for each action. These groups will develop indicators and targets so change can be measured and the community can see this change.

This plan will be monitored and reported on annually so trends and progress can be measured.

Getting involved

This plan is for anyone who lives or works in Grangemouth. The actions in this plan will be jointly delivered by organisations within the Community Planning Partnership, local community groups, members of the local community and anyone else that wants to be involved.

If you are interested in discussing what is in this plan, or want to get involved in any way, please contact the Community Planning Partnership at [email protected].