Putting the heart into Collydean
From left, Duncan Mitchell, Elaine Richards, Sarah Cherrett, Diane Florence, Pat Rose, Graham Maxwell - FEAT staff ouside Collydean Cottage
Residents of Collydean in Glenrothes are set to benefit from an exciting new community-led project in their area.
Collydean Community Connections is a new two-year project funded by the Fife Health & Wellbeing Alliance with the aim of supporting the community to take the lead on determining the aspects of improving health and wellbeing that’s most important to them and the community.
The project is being led by a partnership of four local organisations, co-ordinated by Fife Employment Access Trust (FEAT).
FEAT were based in Collydean Cottage for over 10 years, just moving to new premises in central Glenrothes last year, and have teamed up with their former landlord, Glen Housing Association, the new occupiers of Collydean Cottage,
Fife Shopping & Support Services, and Collydean Primary School, who will all jointly oversee the project and share their experience and knowledge of health and wellbeing with the local community to help reach their desired goals.
Duncan Mitchell, general manager of FEAT and a Collydean resident, said: “There are a wide range of outcomes that can be achieved from this project, not only health and wellbeing-related, but also upskilling people in project planning and development as community solutions will ultimately be delivered by community members.
“Utilising all age groups in the community creates inter-generational outcomes, wellbeing improvements and increased community spirit.”
A community wellbeing co-ordinator will be recruited shortly, supported by FEAT staff and wider partner agencies, and their initial role will be to tap into existing community assets and existing community groups, or communities of interest within the area, such as the primary school, neighbourhood centre and church to promote the opportunities for individuals and groups in the area to discuss their feelings, concerns and aspirations on health inequalities and health and wellbeing topics and support the community to develop action plans and explore solutions based on need.
“A wider marketing campaign across the area will be held to ensure those who currently do not form part of these existing communities of interest, or utilise the local services, to ensure they are also included in the development of this project and able to make their own contribution.
“This will be achieved through combination of marketing materials and ‘chapping on doors’.”
Duncan adds, “Until we have recruited a co-ordinator for this work I’m pleased to say that Lynn Ogilvie from Fife Shopping and Support Services has volunteered to take on the initial ground work and setting up of the project – so if you live in Collydean, you can expect a knock on the door from her in the near future!
The primary school will be asking their pupils to come up with a logo for us and Glen Housing will be contacting their tenants with further details, and hopefully this will create a positive buzz around the area.”
Further information will be circulated about this work across Collydean as it develops, however anyone interested in further information at this stage can e-mail: collydeancc @gmail.com or log on to www.facebook.com/ collydeancommunityconnections
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Weather for Kirkcaldy
Friday 24 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 7 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South west
