Annual Progress Reports shine a light on Community Planning milestones

The first year Annual Progress Reports for South Ayrshire's Local Outcomes Improvement Plan (LOIP) and Child Poverty Strategy have been published.

In April 2024, the LOIP and Child Poverty Strategy for 2024-2029 were approved, setting priorities for the years to follow. The recent annual progress reports highlight the ways in which South Ayrshire Council has worked with community partners to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for people living in South Ayrshire between 2024 and 2025 in line with these priorities.

Some of the key findings from the LOIP annual progress report include:

·       6,410 Information and Advice cases were handled in the financial year 2024/2025, resulting in a financial gain totalling £6,625,780 to local households and the economy;

·       Taxi marshals worked 627 hours over 51 nights. This allowed over 10,400 people to use a taxi service with only 6 incidents requiring intervention;

·       Over 600 hours were volunteered by Street Pastors over 48 nights;

·       Targeted community safety inputs were delivered to 1780 pupils across 15 schools;

·       Development of a new Ageing Well Strategy and Action Plan which will work with communities to help tackle the issues associated with the area's rising older population and

·       The development of an innovative Green Health Calendar designed to inspire individuals embrace nature to enhance their wellbeing.

Case studies have been published here, documenting the impact of the LOIP across five areas; Financial Inclusion, Community Safety, Children's Services, Population Health, and Sustainability.

The first year annual progress report for our Child Poverty Strategy highlights successes and progress made across the three priority areas identified within the strategy, and recognises the significant work being carried out across wider strategic partnership and service areas to address child poverty.

There are also case studies available to read here, which document the impact of the strategy on children living within South Ayrshire who received small grants or passes for free bus travel.

South Ayrshire Council's Policy Lead for Leisure and Community Services, Councillor Chris Cullen, said: "I'm pleased to be able to share the progress made against the LOIP and Child Poverty Strategy within the first year.

"Strides have been made towards minimising the effect of poverty on communities within South Ayrshire, and we hope to continue this momentum in the remaining four years of the strategies."

Chair of the Community Planning Partnership Board, Councillor Julie Dettbarn, said: "Progress has been made towards improving the quality of life for the residents of South Ayrshire.

"The publishing of these two annual reports allows us not only to look back upon the successes in the year past, but to look forward and plan how we can build upon this to continue improving outcomes in the years to follow."

You can find out more about the Community Planning Partnership, and read the Local Outcomes Improvement Plan and Child Poverty Strategy 2024-2029 at https://www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/cpp