Neighbourhood audits to identify issues affecting city’s priority areas
19 April 2017
A series of neighbourhood audits has begun; identifying the main issues affecting people living in Aberdeen’s priority regeneration areas.
From today (19 April) Aberdeen charity Pathways Services will be knocking on doors across Middlefield, Torry, Woodside, Seaton and Tillydrone as part of a £2.2million project aimed at investing in local people, creating opportunities and allowing citizens to reach their full potential.
Canvassers will seek to speak to people about the Progress Through Positive Partnerships project and how it could help them to tackle challenges they are facing and take the first steps towards making a fresh start. Up to 200 homes in each area will be visited.
Part-funded by the European Structural Fund (ESF), the project, which forms part of the City Centre Masterplan, is designed to provide participants with support and tailored assistance to develop employment and vocational skills, and to help them into work, training, education, or volunteering.
The audits will help to identify people who may be eligible to take part in the project, as well as to build a clear picture of issues affecting the regeneration areas. As well as going door-to-door, the interviewers will visit community centres, housing and rent offices, libraries, and other community facilities to try to ensure everyone who meets the criteria has a chance to get involved.
All of the canvassers will carry photographic identification issued by Pathways.
The information gathered during the audits will be compiled into individual neighbourhood reports highlighting particular issues, strengths and weaknesses in each area. An overall report will compare these results, identifying similarities and clear differences between the regeneration areas.
Part-funded by the European Structural Fund (ESF), the project, which forms part of the City Centre Masterplan, is designed to provide participants with support and tailored assistance to develop employment and vocational skills.
Progress Through Positive Partnerships will see Aberdeen City Council work in partnership with a range of training and development organisations to provide increased employability services and positive outcomes across the city.
Increased levels of support will be offered to the areas specifically targeted, providing additional opportunities to help those people with multiple barriers to move closer to the labour market by enabling them to develop relevant skills based on their individual needs and abilities.
As well as the geographic areas, the project will also focus on specific groups, including: unemployed; those in low-paid employment; clients in recovery; women returners; care leavers; those for whom English is not their first language; ethnic minorities; people facing other disadvantages, including those with long term health issues, disabilities, alcohol or drug misuse issues; ex-offenders; and care leavers. Workers in the retail, care, security and service sectors employed on zero hours contracts or who are underemployed and who wish to secure additional hours or more stable, less precarious employment, will also be targeted.
Progress Through Positive Partnerships will establish and develop a strategic employability pipeline. It will improve the co-ordination of service provision and ensure that those in need of it receive local support tailored specifically to address their individual needs.
The ESF is contributing £880,000 (40%) of the project funding.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit Scottish Government Website or follow @scotgovESIF.