Cadder community centre

To find out more about projects we’ve worked on or to see what services we can provide and to sign up for our quarterly newsletter, please visit our website:www.comlinks.org.uk

As a charitable not-for-profit organisation, we aim to support and assist other not-for-profit and voluntary groups over Scotland with developing and managing a wide variety of projects. We help local people to develop, sustain and take control of their community assets that include community centres, information hubs, sports facilities and recreational spaces.

URBAN COMMUNITY ASSETSCommunity Links Scotland urban regeneration projects

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WOODHALL COMMUNITY PARKPort Glasgow

Our assistance with this project enabled River Clyde Homes to secure almost £100,000 from Big Lottery Community Spaces Fund to transform neglected urban space in the middle of a new social housing development into a vibrant community park. The regeneration of the area will involve a wide range of community groups and schools, the set up of a local horticultural training project and the wider development of the park. The improvements will be achieved through a series of structured events covering forest school activities, community art and community conservation days.

CADDER COMMUNITY HUBNorth Glasgow

There were two buildings in the centre of Cadder for use by the local community - a community centre and a sports hall. We were appointed by the Cadder Housing Association in May 2011 to complete a business plan for a community centre and to look at the options available for the future use of the existing buildings while working on improvements to the current facilities. We carried out a door to door consultation and surveyed residents at community events. Results from the consultations fed into an option analysis which indicated retaining both buildings was not the best option. A number of applications was completed for funding to carry out improvements to the existing community centre and the demolition and rebuilding on the sports hall site.

BARMULLOCH COMMUNITY CENTRENorth Glasgow

We have worked with Barmulloch Community Development Company (BCDC) to produce a business plan and secure approximately £1.5m capital funding for a new community centre for the area. This will provide multi-purpose space for community activities and services focusing on healthy lifestyles, employment and training. Our work has included a community-wide consultation with 1,300 local households, engaging with 50 young people and preparing a Stage 2 Big Lottery Fund submission to the Growing Community Assets programme.

Former church hall in Barmulloch

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Community Links Scotland urban regeneration projects

MAKING OUR MARKDumbarton

Making Our Mark was a joint project between Dunbritton Housing Association (DHA) and West Dunbartonshire Environment Trust based in Castlehill, Dumbarton. It involved local people who worked together to enhance a local open space and which engaged young people in diversionary activities to steer them away from anti-social behaviour. We secured funding from the Scottish Government’s Wider Role Fund and Fairer Scotland Fund, with contributions from DHA, West Dunbartonshire Environment Trust and Cube Housing Association. The project was managed by Community Links Scotland with support from Streetlinks, young people took part in a 13 week programme of activities to learn about wider context and impact of public art. The end result was a stainless steel sculpture depicting images and slogans which represent young people’s thoughts and interests of today and which is now a focal point in the area.

DALMUIR COMMUNITY ALLOTMENTS Clydebank

We were approached by Dalmuir Park and Trafalgar Housing Association on behalf of Dalmuir Plots Association who wished to transform run down, dilapidated allotments into a sustainable community resource. We worked closely with the associations to secure over £500,000 of funding from Scottish Government, URBAN II, The Big Lottery and Community Planning Partnership for the redesign and implementation of a new layout including new huts, green houses and wildlife area. Additionally, we provided training sessions for the allotments committee to assist them with the future day to day running of their association.

Castlehill sculpture with young people who took part in the project

Dalmuir allotments

OBAN YOUTH AND COMMUNITY OPTIONS STUDYOban

When Oban Youth and Community Association (OYCA) wanted to consider their options for either the upgrade and extension of their existing, condemned premises or a move to new and more appropriate premises, they commissioned us to work with an architect to look at their options and prepare a business plan. The study involved widespread consultations with the community, residents and service providers as to their aspirations for a youth and community centre for now and the foreseeable future. The conclusion was that the empty local primary school building offered the community the best opportunity for a vibrant and sustainable facility, serving a variety of interests and income generating opportunities.

OYCA community consultation event

The support received from Community Links in ensuring a successful funding application, assistance in the resident consultation process and their project management expertise was invaluable in making this project a great success.”

“Alex Grassie, Development Manager, Paisley South HA

BAPTIST CHURCH Alexandria

We worked with the committee of a local hall, based in Alexandria Baptist Church, to secure over £27,000 of funding from CARES and Scottish Government Wider Role to assist the committee to upgrade the hall in line with Care Inspectorate standards. This was required in order that the hall could be used by an after school care club and the wider community for social and educational activities. Enhancements included a new air source heat pump system, new windows and wall insulation. We also arranged for the local employability team to carry out extensive painting and decorating works as part of a wider community halls employability project which provided local unemployed people with training and real work experience.

DUMBARTON DISTRICT WOMEN’S AIDDumbarton

We were appointed by Dunbritton Housing Association to work with Dumbarton District Women’s Aid (DDWA) on a project to encourage women in refuge to think to the future. We secured funding to transform the bland environs of the refuge in to a colourful, scented garden and allotment area for past and current women of the refuge to enjoy. Women’s confidence and self esteem grew as they helped to design the garden and acquired skills in basic horticulture, basic IT and cookery on a budget. Activities in the garden continue to help in the recovery of women and towards life independent of the refuge.

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Alexandria Baptist Church

CENTRE 81Clydebank

Working with Clydebank Housing Association, we secured over £246,000 of funding for activities to be carried out in Centre 81, based in Whitecrook. Owned and managed by Clydebank Housing Association, the centre is a major milestone in the future regeneration of Clydebank and the aim to combat multiple deprivation issues in the area including high levels unemployment. Funding enables the association to maximise the usage of Centre 81 by providing activities and services that help break down barriers which prevent people from accessing the centre. Activities focus on enhancing people’s confidence and self esteem, improving physical fitness and wellbeing and learning new skills through the delivery of courses. These activities help to improve people’s chances to apply for further educational courses or employment.

HILLHEAD HUBKirkintilloch

Our work in Hillhead in Kirkintilloch included a business plan and feasibility study for a proposed £5 million community facility. The design included space for housing association and council offices and a variety of multipurpose community spaces. The process involved extensive community consultation, the preparation of five year financial projections and a funding strategy.

RENFREW ASSOCIATION OF GROWERS AND GARDENERS (RAGG)Renfrew

Working within the Big Lottery Fund’s Our Place Programme priority area of Renfrew West, we have helped to build the capacity of the RAGG Group and have assisted in developing their plans for a local community growing initiative and garden share scheme. As a part of our work with the group, we have prepared their stage 2 bid to the Big Lottery to fund further development of the project.

Participants of the Breaking Barriers course in Centre 81

Marketing for community groupsGood marketing can help with achieving a group’s aims more effectively and attracting the right attention. We assist our clients with creating a wide variety of promotional material - leaflets, newsletters, information posters, websites or anything else that is required.

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COMMUNITY LINKS SCOTLANDMaking a difference in your community

ABOUT US

Community Links Scotland (CLS) provide regeneration consultancy services for registered social landlords throughout Scotland in addition to carrying out independent pieces of consultancy for a large number of community organisations, trusts and voluntary groups.

GROUNDLINKS - Community landscaping

Our small Groundlinks team provide a full landscape design and contract supervision service. Our staff work closely with our clients to ensure a full understanding of the brief and to involve people in the design process towards workable, inspiring and yet sustainable solutions to local landscape issues.

At Community Links Scotland, we bring the community together to work on solutions to their problems and make a real difference to the lives of individuals and whole communities.

Our staff help community groups to take forward their outline ideas and turn them into tangible projects. We guide our clients through all the stages of the development process; all the way to the completion of their projects that have a lasting impact on their communities.

Community Consultations and ConferencesOur staff can undertake a variety of community consultation activities including face to face consultations, open days, conferences, street events or postal or online survey.

Financial InclusionWe have supported a number of welfare rights services and credit unions that provide access to financial advice for local communities.

Employability ProjectsWorking with our clients to develop training and work experience projects, which partner with a range of training providers and benefit from national programmes such as Modern Apprenticeships and Training for Work.

Business Plans, Feasibility Studies and Community Action PlansThe results of our consultations often inform business plans, options studies or community action plans for our clients which are then used to secure funding for individual projects to enhance the lives of local residents.

Learning for LifeWe develop and manage programmes that aim to provide training opportunities for volunteers to build their employability and life skills through both short informal training sessions and accredited college courses.

FundraisingSecuring funding for projects in the community is one of our main areas of expertise. We identify funding that suits a project idea and then assist our clients to access the funding from a variety of sources.

63 Kilbowie RoadClydebank G81 1BL

tel | 0141 952 4382 email | info@comlinks.org.ukweb | www.comlinks.org.uk

Community Links Scotland is a Company Limited by Guarantee and not having a share capital company No. 229753 and a recognised Charitable Company No. SC032934

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METHLAN PARKDumbartonLoretto Housing Association required a landscape to suit the future tenants of their new sheltered housing development, close to the Clyde coast in Dumbarton and which reflected the formal nature of the old Victorian house to the rear and which respected the surrounding parkland setting. The design incorporated a seating area with pergolas and a grid of cherry trees along with ornamental grasses, flowering and scented perennials and bird baths for the elderly residents to enjoy.

STORRIE STREET BACKCOURTPaisleyThe Paisley South Housing Association required the rejuvenation of an enclosed and unloved space to the rear of tenemental back courts in Storrie Street; tenants wanted a pleasant space with access from back courts and the inclusion of natural play facilities and somewhere safe for young children to learn to ride a bike. The design solution included a paved cycle path, stepping stones, dodge poles, a somersault bar, picnic seating and low maintenance shrub planting and pergolas.

Storrie Street - before and after

Landscaping around Methlan Park sheltered housing

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