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Vibrant Communities 10 year anniversary

Read about our journey over the past ten years, our latest achievements and the good news stories as we continue to support a more caring, kind and connected approach across East Ayrshire.

Vibrant Communities: 10 Year Anniversary (PDF 15.4Mb)

Our story

Our Vibrant Communities Service has been up and running since April 2013 and its impact on local people and communities in that short period of time has been far-reaching.

We have provided a range of keynote presentations and workshops at national conferences and events, and the Vibrant Communities approach is being widely recognised as informing the Community Empowerment agenda across Scotland and the UK.

In 2015, we told you about Vibrant Communities: Our story so far (PDF 2.53Mb) and what Vibrant Communities means to local people living in East Ayrshire by producing these videos:

We have told our story through:

About Vibrant Communities

This unique service, which brings together the skills and talents of over 100 employees, has attracted considerable national interest from other local authorities, Health and Social Care Partnerships and major funders. This is due to its innovative and often life-changing approach to service development and delivery, empowering members of our communities, young and old, to live happy, healthy, connected and fulfilling lives.

The main services provided by Vibrant Communities include:

  • events
  • funding advice
  • youth empowerment
  • health and wellbeing
  • literacies and learning
  • play and parental bonding
  • sport and physical activity
  • community empowerment
  • befriending and volunteering

We were visited by Mr Cormac Russell from Nurture Development. Cormac travels the world over and is a leader in promoting assets based community development and the importance of community connections. He came to speak to our Head of Housing and Communities, Katie Kelly who led the establishment and development of Vibrant Communities and believed passionately in putting people at the heart of everything we do.

Watch a short video clip of Cormac meeting Katie to find out more about our vision for Vibrant Communities.

Whole council approach

The Vibrant Communities Service is working with all other Council services to ensure a consistent approach. This includes presentations and workshops to employee teams about asset based approaches and positive practice.

Developing our workforce

Workforce development is an integral part of what we do. We are holding regular development sessions for all Vibrant Communities employees, working to strengths, and encouraging a learning culture. We are taking a cohesive approach to identifying and addressing workforce development needs and to changing culture.

Vibrant Communities works with, rather than for, communities. The aim is to change culture and unlock the knowledge, skills and experience of local people and employees, to harness the enthusiasm, talent and 'can do' spirit that exists across East Ayrshire.

Participation requests

A participation request is a formal request by a community group who want to make a difference to something that affects their community. Visit Community Planning: Participation Requests to find out more and how to apply.

Community learning and development framework

Our East Ayrshire Community Learning and Development Framework is produced in response to the requirements for Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013.

The Regulations place a requirement on every local authority to publish a plan every three years, outlining how it will coordinate and secure Community Learning and Development (CLD) provision with other sector partners.

View or download the plans:

Contact Information