Arbroath residents have embarked on a fact-finding mission to Cornwall in a bid to improve life in the Angus seaside town.
Connecting Communities (C2) originally started in Cornwall and is credited with turning around the fortunes of communities in the county.
Where the programme has been promoted health indicators such as drug and alcohol use and teenage pregnancy rates have fallen significantly.
Vandalism and petty crime have also decreased and people’s perceptions of quality of life in the area have been transformed.
It is hoped that the links will continue in the future to ensure that the lessons learned in Cornwall can be replicated in Arbroath.
The fact-finding mission was attended by representatives of Timmergreens Action Group, Bruce Road Community Flat and the Association of Residents of Cliffburn and Hayshead.
The trip was organised by Timmergreens Action Group and C2 to see how the pioneering programme is able to support the community at two projects in Cornwall.
The Arbroath contingent visited the Beacon Community Regeneration Project and the Redruth North Partnership during their trip.
The Beacon Community Regeneration Partnership has worked tirelessly to improve the homes and lives of people living in some of the disadvantaged areas of Falmouth.
Throughout the years the group has received both national and local recognition winning several awards such as the NHS Nye Bevan Award in 1999, the Cornwall Employment Service Partnership Award in 2001, the Queen’s Jubilee Award in 2003 and the Carrick District Council Recognition of Success Award in 2004 and many more.
The community initially got together to improve housing in the area and successfully secured £2.2million funding in 1997.
The money was used to regenerate the areas by improving the housing including work on insulation, cladding, central heating and installing new windows as well completely renovating some properties.
The Redruth North Partnership was formed to improve life for residents after a Mori poll found only one in 100 people felt safe on the streets at night.
This resulted in the group working to implement a voluntary curfew known as Operation Goodnight where parents were asked to ensure their under-16s were home by 9pm.
This resulted in older residents being able to feel safe in their homes and when going out after dark. It also resulted in crime overall falling by 67%.
Kevin Barthorpe, an Arbroath resident who made the trip, said: “I would like to see all areas of Arbroath work together to make it better for all residents whether it is for those already residing here or newcomers to the town.
“If we don’t work in true partnership with others we will not be able bring things to the people of Arbroath.”
ARCH representative Lynda McLean said: “We found it very interesting. We have also learned that groups can work together and there also seems to be no signs of apathy between groups down in Cornwall.”
Joan Mesney, from Bruce Road Community Flat, said she hoped the whole of Angus can benefit from the fact-finding mission.
She added: “I hope to keep in regular contact with the groups in Cornwall.”
TAG chairman John McCrank said: “It reinforced what C2 was about and it is hoped it will create a greater working partnership between the groups in Arbroath”
Fore more details email John at tagarbroath@hotmail.com.