LESMAHAGOW DEVELOPMENT TRUST COMMUNITY ALLOTMENT PROJECT

GROW A LOT (GLL)

DRAFT DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR GLL

1.Executive summary

Grow a Lot Lesmahagow (GLL) will cut carbon emissions, promote a healthier lifestyle and improve the economic circumstances of Lesmahagow residents. The project will enable local schools, interest groups and individuals to grow their own produce, thereby reducing food miles and food waste. The establishment works will be delivered as an employability project providing waged work experience and training for local people.

Project Aims Grow a Lot Lesmahagow (GLL) aims to enable key behavioural changes within the Lesmahagow community. Development, design and creation of a community allotment will:

• Reduce carbon emissions • Reduce food waste • Increase composting • Encourage healthier eating • Improve health through physical activity • Improve mental health through social interaction • Strengthen community cohesion • Provide opportunities for lifelong learning • Support people into sustainable employment • Alleviate poverty

How it Will Achieve Changes

GLL will achieve significant carbon emissions reductions through the creation and management of a community allotment. The allotment will enable the community to grow its own fruit and vegetables. It offers the opportunity to educate local children and adults about where our food comes from. Growing produce locally will reduce food miles, require fewer trips to the supermarket and reduce food waste. Zero Waste Scotland figures show that Scottish households throwaway over half a million tonnes of food every year - over two thirds of this could be avoided. LOT will access resources and support available through Zero Waste Scotland's 'Love Food Hate Waste' and 'Home Composting' programmes.

Allotment user surveys will monitor behaviour change.

Growing plots will be available to local schools, community groups and individuals. Plots will be accessible and vary in size to meet different needs and abilities within the community.

The allotment will serve as a new space for social interaction, promoting community cohesion and combating feelings of isolation.

The project will improve the economic circumstances of local people. The works to establish the allotment will be delivered as an employability project. Local people will be recruited onto a training scheme and will learn skills and gain confidence to stand them in a better position for future employment prospects. They will receive training and work to create the allotment under the supervision of qualified industry professionals. Trainees will gain certificated qualifications. Trainees will be supported to progress into sustainable employment on completion of the project works. The development of the project and on-going management of the allotment presents an excellent capacity building opportunity for LOT. It will also provide additional volunteering opportunities for the community.

2. Organisational summary

Lesmahagow Development Trust (LOT) LOT is an independent, not-for-profit organisation with charitable status and a limited company. It was established in 2009, with the objective of funding and implementing projects to enhance the facilities and environment of Lesmahagow.

LOT works in close partnership with Lesmahagow Community Council and other groups active within the village.

Website: www.lesmahagowdevtrust.com

Who can jOin/membership

Membership is open to all residents of the village, the surrounding area detailed within our memorandum and articles of association and also non -voting members from further afield with an interest in seeing Lesmahagow prosper.

Structure & Governance

Trust activities are overseen by a voluntary Board elected by the members. Oecisions are made by the Board at formal meetings and involve consultations with relevant individuals and local organisations as and when necessary. Our activities are recorded in our Minutes of Board and reported on our members' website. We often hold community information events and have regular reports in the local press of our activities and intentions. Reports are also provided to the Community Council where we have a representative available to answer any questions from members or interested parties. Our finances are managed by our Treasurer on a day to day basis and agreed officially by regular financial updates at Exec and Board meetings and audited annually.

3. Project Background

The Trust has developed a number of small community development initiatives which have made a difference to the community, most notably a funded project from a local Tesco store to enhance and improve the main street and retail outlets in our village with shop frontage improvement work.

The Trust holds regular village markets and an annual Christmas Fair in partnership with the local Community Council. The Trust organises a regular weekly computer course for older residents called Silver Surfers Group. The Trust have also produced a local community plan and investigated at length the possibility of asset transfer from the council two central properties that were declared surplus to Council requirements.

The Trust also ran a series of successful Gaelic classes for the local community.

The Trust has also developed the initiative to create an allotment project for the local villagers and to date has secured a grant of £89k from Climate Challenge Fund for this

2 allotment project with a further additional capital contribution from Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership.

The Trust were also successful in securing £134k from Central Scotland Green Network as a joint partnership bid between the Forestry Commission and the Wise Group to install woodland paths in and around the village and create a community orchard. This has been successfully achieved and we hope to within the next two years begin to harvest fruit for local consumption from our orchard.

LOT has or has had direct management in the following projects:

Paths to Progress-partnership - LOT, Forestry Commission and Wise Group. £134,000.00 awarded from CSGN Grow a Lot Lesmahagow - £89,000.00 from CCF and capital contribution from Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP). Silver Surfers- IT classes. Community Planning -priority setting Credit Union - Feasibility exercise Jubilee Hall-failed to secure asset transfer initiative Main Street Improvements- ongoing Gaelic Lessons for local community now completed Pensioner Hall- asset transfer initiative failed. Regular village markets held and annual Christmas open doors event organised in partnership with Lesmahagow Community Council.

The ambition of the Trust is to build from this base and the inward investment achieved to make a bigger difference to the community of Lesmahagow. Importantly, the achievements of these smaller projects have helped both the Trust and the wider community believe that change is possible and that, coming together as a community, we can have a sustainable community controlled organisation with a positive and lasting impact on the quality of life and on our environment.

4. Strategic Context

Lesmahagow is a village in rural . It is situated just off the M74 motorway, on the west bank of the River Nethan. The GLL project will provide a new greenspace resource for the benefit of all Lesmahagow residents. The allotment will provide growing plots for local schools, interest groups and individual members of the community.

Lesmahagow is a geographically, economically and socially diverse village. Due to its proximity to the M74, some parts of Lesmahagow have over the years become a commuter belt for people who want to live in a village but have work commitments elsewhere. Many of these commuters have reasonable levels of disposable income but with limited opportunities for social activity, they travel outwith the village for recreation and leisure.

Other areas of the village are classed as socially deprived and access to local activities is restricted by financial constraints.

3 This presents Lesmahagow Development Trust with one of its biggest challenges is how to develop projects which do not alienate any part of the population but bring all areas together regardless of social or financial standing.

The village has a population of just over 3,600 people. Outlying and surrounding areas within boundary of the community council adds a further 3,300 people.

The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) divides the Lesmahagow community into four Datazones, one of which is ranked 646th and falls within the 10% most deprived communities in Scotland. Within this area: • 27% of the population is Income Deprived (Scottish average = 15%) • 21% is Employment Deprived (Scottish average = 12%)

Lesmahagow's social issues mirror those evident across South Lanarkshire. Data from SIMD shows: • 58 datazones in South Lanarkshire are amongst the most deprived 15% in Scotland • There is a high concentration of datazones within the worst 15% around the Larkhall/Strutherhill and Hamilton/ areas. • A higher percentage of the South Lanarkshire population claim Job Seekers Allowance than the Scottish Average. This is the case across all age bands, from 16 to the over 50s. • Within the South Multi Member Ward, 15% of the population are income deprived against a Scottish average of 14%. The percentage of 16-24 year olds claiming Job Seekers Allowance, at 9.6%, is significantly higher than the Scottish average of 5.9%.

The Single Outcome Agreement Annual Report for 2010-11 shows: • Income per head in South Lanarkshire has dropped below the Scottish average and the gap continues to widen • Around 45.3% of all children in South Lanarkshire live in low income households • The employment rate in South Lanarkshire is below the Scottish rate • Activity rate for 16-19 year olds in 2009-10 was the lowest ever recorded and has fallen for 3 consecutive years • Activity rate for 20-24 year olds has fallen each year since 2007-08 • Mortality rate is above the Scottish average • Men and women can expect to live fewer years of their lives in good health than in Scotland as a whole

Economic activity and prospects thus feel mixed to residents in the community. Some businesses feel stable and secure to residents, while others feel precarious and all (including visitors) feel the impact of derelict or empty buildings, both public and private, remaining idle and the impact of seeing business initiatives fail. New public investment is welcome and has picked up pace in the last two years with new school buildings and the new Fountain centre. Following a period of slow decline, this represents an opportunity to begin build community inspired economic and social activity and to reverse the decline. This forms the backdrop for this project and is an opportunity that we can seize if given the opportunity to do so.

The different situation that different groups of residents in Lesmahagow find themselves in represents both a threat and an opportunity: the threat that local project development benefits only some groups while others struggle, or the opportunity that, working together, the full social and economic capital of the community can be harnessed, and improvements delivered for all. This positive vision is what inspires Lesmahagow Development Trust. One of Lesmahagow's great strengths is the level and vibrancy of

4 community action, with a long list of successful and active community groups and clubs operating in the village. People have come together to overcome disadvantage and to provide services and activities for the community; this again provides a strong base to build on.

Evidence of Need

This project seeks to tackle general lack of environmental projects within Lesmahagow and low economic opportunity within the area and to meet them both in a financially sustainable way. The project also seeks to build community strength and cohesion by the way it operates.

Evidence of this need for comes from several sources: firstly, the experience of the Trust itself and the demand expressed directly to Trust members; secondly, the Trust has conducted a range of community engagement and consultation exercises with individuals and community groups and others representing different stakeholder interests.

Lesmaghagow Development Trust is well established in the village with a growing membership. The Trust maintains formal links to community organisations e.g. Community Council, WRVS and informal links to others via its individual members e.g. children's groups, local businesses, farming community and external bodies like Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership, Clydesdale Community Initiative, Forestry Commission, local businesses and Social Care organisation's looking to possible therapeutic outlets for their client base. The Trust also have regular contact with South Lanarkshire Council on many local issues such as environmental projects.

These links enabled LDT to consult widely to gather residents' opinions on the needs of the village and what their aspirations are for the countryside around it. There was a clear drive to make Lesmahagow a greener, more environmentally friendly place.

On the allotment proposal, LDT has consulted with many local groups eg: the Community Council; local schools; Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Scout groups; and local businesses e.g. Auchlochan retirement village. All organisations have expressed support for the allotment proposals with a number expressing interest in applying for plots.

The local WRVS group for example operate a community fruit and vegetable co-operative. They are keen to acquire a sizable allotment plot to provide produce to support their co• operative. We have at present 20 individuals signed up for an allotment plot. We are concerned that local expectations are growing and that we have to spend the allocated CCF monies before March 2013. The Trust has held a series of events in 2013 which have contributed to our understanding of the expressed needs of the community:

We have also:

Conducted a consultation of community opinion! support (2009!10) for allotment ground during our negotiations relating to the sale of Birkwood Estate walled garden site• unsuccessful

Conducted open consultations via the local press culminating in press coverage and political support. See Appendix 14

Prepared questionnaires for distribution.

5 See Appendix 15

Conducted discussions at LOT meetings and local events -throughout 2013 we have had 8 events where questionnaires were used to gauge community opinion. The following statistics from Village markets held on 27th April, 17th August, 26th October 2013, from specific consultation and focus group meetings held on 8th April, 1st July, 5th August, site visit focus group 17th August showed by returned forms of 73 of which 65 fully supported the allotment project.

Sent out email consultations. Refer back to Appendix 13

Conducted web page discussions- we ran a facebook and twitter consultation and received responses of 42 positives out of 59 total replies.

Discussed allotment issues as standing item at our Trustees meetings. See Appendix 16-minutes See Appendix 16- minutes cont

Options Appraisal

The Trust explored a number of options for the allotment site. Discussions were held with potential new owners and business developers for the Birkwood estate and we assessed the possibility of securing on a long term basis the walled garden area of the estate to run as a market and community garden. Negotiations were over a period of several months and the outcome was very favourable towards the Trust acquiring this walled garden for such purposes. Unfortunately the business venture went into bankruptcy and no further action could be taken. This was a blow to the community as this initiative was also going to provide local jobs as a hydro hotel was part of the development as well as several discreet pockets of new housing developments.

We also met and discussed with South Lanarkshire Council regarding local plans for allotment development and to suggest we work together in partnership towards securing land from them within Lesmahagow to develop allotment plots but this did not fit into their plans at this stage, however they supported us in our endeavours to secure such an asset for our allotment project.

Relevance to local, regional and national policies and plans

The broader aims of the Trust and this project specifically are fully in accordance with the Scottish Government's objectives for Scotland: wealthier and fairer, smarter, healthier, safer and stronger, and greener. The Community Empowerment Action Plan, jointly developed by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA), details specifically how community acquisition or leasing of assets can have a huge impact on empowerment. The project is relevant to the achievement of the 15 outcomes in the South Lanarkshire Council Single Outcome Agreement. The project is aligned with the South Lanarkshire Council Rural Strategy strand 5.4 of "Growing our Rural Economy". The project also supports the Scottish Government plan that "development in rural economies should be recognisably smaller in scale and based on community engagement, community planning and exploiting opportunities for asset based community development".

6 Project Goals

1. Sign and secure lease conditions with FC Complete allocations policy Complete and issue terms and conditions to allotment holders Issue tender documents for land works Manage land preparation works in partnership with contractors Work with newly formed Lesmahagow Allotment Group on daily ongoing operational issues Meet regularly with non-voting partners (FC, CAVLP) and main funder (CCF) to update on developments and progress Monitor and evaluate project on regular basis and produce annual report

Allotment plot secured by application to National Forest Land Scheme by year end 2013 Lease agreed and signed with Forestry Commission by Jan/Feb 2014 All legal securities and access clarification in place by Feb 2014 Draw down of grant monies from Climate Challenge Fund begins Feb 2014 Agreement of financial contribution towards project( based on 40% of total capital costs) from Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership by Jan 2014. Appointment of Project development consultant to oversee site works and implementation stages. 2. Site works and ground preparation completed by March 2014 Individual allotment leases and Terms and Conditions issued to new holders by Feb 2014 Access to site by allotment holders March/April 2014 3. Community empowered and strengthened through the acquisition of the lease and working together. 20 to 30 new allotment holders taking up full responsibility for individual plots

Volunteers will gain skills and experience. Experience and evaluation evidence also suggests that volunteers can benefit in many other ways such as increased confidence, self• esteem and wellbeing. Indirect beneficiaries include the wider community which benefits from the improvement of the environment and enhances community cohesion.

Management and supervision resources

The project will be overall managed by the Trust Board. A local Lesmahagow Allotment Group has now formed to manage in partnership with the Trust the day to day activities of the allotment project. Project finances will be managed by a Board member who is a Chartered Accountant. The budget has provision for expert and consultancy support. The Trust will finalise the job description and tender for consultancy.

Partnership working and stakeholders

Important stakeholders and partners are the two project funders CCF and CAVLP - and the Forestry Commission and Lesmahagow Agricultural society and Community Council. We will work in partnership with our contracted professionals - their understanding of our aims and values will be critical to success. There are many community organisations in Lesmahagow with an interest in the project. We will look to involve community organisations and others to participate in allotment activity at key times during the year.

7 Volunteer resources

The use of volunteer resources will be a benefit to the project. Volunteers fall into different categories: • Volunteer Board members on the Trust - after assessing particular skills gaps, we will seek to complement existing members with new volunteers. There have been several expressions of interest: a successful allotment project will provide an important opportunity to engage new members. Volunteers with specialist skills will be needed during the project pre-operations and operational phases - we will seek to identify sources of expertise that the project may be able to leverage on a voluntary basis. Many public and private sector organisations have policies that encourage volunteering. Universities and colleges are also sometimes looking for projects that students can use as practical learning opportunities. Volunteers to help with running the allotment when operational - there will be a broad range of volunteering opportunities that can provide a variety of volunteering experiences. We will engage with local schools, with local voluntary service organisations, and with groups with outreach to different groups within the community. Supporting volunteers effectively will be an important role for the Trust. As volunteer resources are so important, we will seek to value these contributions in-kind explicitly. The table below gives one way of thinking about this.

A value for voluntary activity Type of voluntary help Per hour Per day

General, unskilled labour (e.g. administrative support) £6.25 £50.00

Specialist, skilled, trained labour (e.g. driving) £18.75 £150.00

Specialist services, (e.g. training and advisory services) £31.25 £250.00

Professional services (consultants, lawyers, planners etc) £50.00 £350.00 (Forward Scotland 2009)

5. Project Costs See appendix 18 and Appendix 7

6. Marketing and Communications Strategy

A Marketing Strategy will be agreed and communications and promotional material will be focused mainly on effective communication within the local area, but social media and the internet will also be harnessed.

7.Monitoring and Evaluation

High quality monitoring and evaluation will be important in ensuring that project implementation maximises the chances of success. During the first period of project delivery, the construction phase and preparation for launch, monitoring will primarily consist of tracking against key project milestones such as those related to the construction contract. Once operational, the collection of regular information and feedback will be at the heart of project monitoring. This, together with financial information, will enable the Trust to ensure that any problems are spotted early and action taken to ensure that the Trust remain on

8 track to ensure financial sustainability and project success. Monthly monitoring will form a regular and standard agenda item at Trust meetings.

User satisfaction surveys will also be undertaken on a regular basis.The Trust believes that effective monitoring and evaluation is important not only for the measurement of outcomes and for accountability purposes, but is a critical factor for project success. At the end of three years of operation, the Trust will repeat the survey, to assess change over the period. This will form part of a self evaluation that the Trust will undertake.

The Trust will produce an annual report each year on the progress of the project and published together with any actions resulting from the report and agreed by the Trust and allotment holders.

8. Risk Analysis

A risk analysis table is at present being produced

Jeff Frew Lesmahagow Development Trust Member with Environmental Port Folio

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