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The Marmot Principles, developed by Professor Sir Michael Marmot, highlight the importance of tackling health inequalities by focusing on social, economic, and environmental factors: Marmot Places.
As a social enterprise consultancy, we support communities in creating places to live recognising the Marmot Principles – guiding local people in addressing the social determinants of health in their community, and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
Here are some examples of how SKS has been involved across Scotland:
Improving the Social Gradient (Reducing Inequalities)
- Assessment and Strategy Development: We work with communities to assess existing inequalities within their local areas. This involves understanding the socio-economic conditions, access to services, and opportunities available to different groups. We then help develop strategies that target resource distribution and interventions that ensure equitable access to services, education, and employment opportunities.
Example: Across Highland Perthshire’s rural and remote communities, there is a pressing need to provide equal access to care at home and other social care services, especially for older and vulnerable people. Demographic trends mean the situation will deteriorate further unless addressed. In response to this, and funded by PKC CLLD, Rannoch Community Trust and Dunkeld, Birnam and District Community Development Trust have collaborated to co-create an innovative community-led approach to provide a range of social care services for their localities. More information on Rannoch Community Trust.
Monitoring and Evaluating Impact
- Data Collection and Analysis: We assist communities in developing systems for monitoring and evaluating the impact of their programs and initiatives related to the Marmot Principles. This data helps refine strategies, measure success, and ensure that interventions are having a meaningful and lasting impact on reducing health inequalities.
Example:
We worked with Maud Village Trust to measure the benefits it brings to the community, limitations and solutions, ultimately providing a five-year business plan for the organisation to enable it to continue to be effective and resilient, supplying relevant services for the local community through appropriate strategic planning. Maud Village Trust developed and runs the Maud Community Service Centre and Resource Centre (funded by NHS Health & Social Care Partnership) since it successfully bought the old animal market in the centre of the village in 2001. More information on Maud Village Trust.
- Continuous Improvement: We help create feedback loops so that communities can continuously improve their approach, adjust their strategies, and remain adaptable to changing circumstances.
Example:
We worked with Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) to carry out an evaluation of the Trust’s pilot Community Wellbeing Project. Through an extensive community engagement process, we identified the value and impact of this project in addressing the social, health and wellbeing needs of the local community, and the challenges in the project’s delivery model. We then worked with the Trust to co-create an options appraisal, recommendations and evaluation framework to inform the future development of the Trust’s strategic approach to supporting community wellbeing, and to ensure that going forward, it reaches more widely across the island communities, with more people able to access and benefit from the services provided. More information on MICT
Marmot Principles
1. Give every child the best start in life.
- Education and Parenting Support: We collaborate with local schools, childcare providers, and families to offer parenting support and improve early childhood education. We create initiatives that help give every child a fair start in life, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Example –
With limited childcare options in rural Dumfries and Galloway, we worked with Glenkens District Trust to look into the provision of early learning and childcare in the area, addressing the key issues of how high quality, flexible, accessible and affordable early learning and childcare can be provided in the Glenkens, supported and sustained in a dispersed rural economy. More information on Glenkens District Trust
2. Enable all children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives.
- Training and Development: We offer skills training programs that improve educational outcomes and employability. These programs target those who are most at risk of exclusion from education and the job market, especially people facing economic hardships or those from underrepresented communities.
Example –
We worked with Inverness Kart Raceway Limited (IKR/Day1), a social enterprise that runs employability schemes through its karting facility, providing training for young people who struggled in school. The Raceway also generates income for Day1, the charity arm offering mentoring to at-risk youth. SKS developed a marketing strategy to boost corporate sponsorship and visitor income, helping IKR/Day1 expand its impact. More information on IKR/Day1.
3. Create fair employment and good work for all.
- Social Enterprises: We help develop and scale social enterprises that offer meaningful and sustainable employment to individuals who face barriers to traditional employment. These enterprises focus on job creation, social impact, and community development.
Example:
A long-term project with Lanark Community Development Trust enabled us to help the community create a more sustainable organisation ensuring the long term future for Castlebank Horticultural Centre, which provides meaningful support and alternative pathways into employment.
MAC Pool, Lochgilphead – Working closely with the Board and staff to carry out an options appraisal and community engagement, producing a business plan for future organisational growth, including asset acquisition and development of new income streams. This led to a successful SLF application for MACPool and a planned Redevelopment Project. A further commission to lead on the fundraising for this Redevelopment Project which raised £1.6 million and the financial management of the capital project which was successfully implemented and opened in May 2022. More information on MacPool.
Cyrenians – Support with business planning and financial model for a well established charity to enable it to expand business and social enterprise activity and income streams. Customer and market analysis, leading to phased approach to development for a number of existing and new strands of work. More information on Cyrenians.
SKS delivers the ‘Social Enterprise Toolkit’ for aspiring Social Enterprises. Regular groups are run by Engage Renfrewshire and other Third Sector Interfaces have also commissioned the sessions over the past few years. The course is designed to be an accessible and interesting introduction to starting your own Social Enterprise. SKS delivers the Toolkit face to face, with opportunities for follow up or one to one work as required. At the end of the sessions attendees have a clear understanding of what it takes to set up a social enterprise, together with an early stage business overview, stakeholder analysis and marketing plan.
4. Ensure a healthy standard of living for all.
5. Create and develop healthy and sustainable places and communities.
- Community Empowerment: We empower marginalized groups within communities, providing them with tools and resources to advocate for themselves and take an active role in shaping decisions that affect their well-being.
Example:
We provided a five year business plan to support the desired purchase of the Cardowan Community Playpark, located in an ex-mining village, north-east of Glasgow, and recognised as an area of multiple deprivation. The group behind this has provided passion and hard work over recent years and been embedded in the local community since its inception, providing invaluable youth activities, health and wellbeing support, maintenance of the local green spaces and a community garden. The business plan enabled it to advocate for themselves and give them the tools and confidence to impact future decision making. More information on Cardowan Community Group.
Balmacara 2023 Working with Balmacara Community Trust to carry out an options appraisal and develop a business plan for the potential purchase and community management of a disused campsite in Balmacara. To retain open space in the village for walking and social events. We supported the trust by engaging with stakeholders regarding future partnerships, carrying out a community survey and developing operational model options for discussion. This enabled the organisation to make informed decisions about the route forward and they have recently successfully purchased the site through a Community Asset Transfer, empowering the community to make lasting change. More information on Balmacara Community Trust.
- Community Building Initiatives: We support community-driven initiatives that foster social inclusion, reduce isolation, and build stronger social networks. This could involve facilitating local clubs, support groups, and neighbourhood activities that bring people together.
Example:
Carron Valley – Supporting the community to purchase of an area of woodland that has enable the community to develop activities and a meeting space for regular events, with a second phase of the project now focussing upon the creation of a community building and cycle trails. We helped the group to research the project, engage with the community and break the project into manageable phases, resulting in a successful funding application and community asset transfer. The group is now progressing with a range of community run projects to bring people together, including community woodland management supported by a small grant scheme from the local wind farm. More information on Valley Renewables Group.
A recent business plan for Kemnay Village Hall – which plays a central role in the life of the village providing a meeting and entertainment space for continuous groups and one off lets – investigated the option of purchasing the asset from the Council. If the community was to purchase the hall from the Council it was anticipated that there would be significant social, environmental and economic benefits for Kemnay and its community, including increased community resilience through the generation of a steady income stream, new opportunities for community gatherings and events, improved social interaction and reduced loneliness, and the employment of local skilled staff. More information on Kemnay Village Hall.
- Engaging with Local Leaders: We work with local leaders and stakeholders to create platforms for open dialogue, collaboration, and action. This ensures that community members are involved in decision-making processes, helping to build trust and mutual support.
Example: SKS undertook a long term community consultation to inform a Local Place Plan for Cove and Kilcreggan, working with various communities including local leaders and key stakeholders, defining the needs and ambitions of the community into the future. This engagement has included several large community workshops, engagement workshops for local businesses, primary school engagement and an extremely successful on-line survey which has provided excellent information and helped build strong and trusted working relationships with individuals in the community and steering group. This is now informing the development of a Local Place Plan to help the community realise its ambitions and build a vision for the villages that is both transformational and achievable.
6. Strengthen the role and impact of ill health prevention
- Health Inequality Reduction: We support the development of health services that cater to the specific needs of marginalized or underserved populations, addressing both physical and mental health concerns.
Examples:
We have worked with Highland Hospice in a range of work that has enabled the development of community run health support services:
Grief Matters – We mapped opportunity and carried out an Options Appraisal for potential expansion of bereavement services by a consortium of relevant organisations in Highland, led by Highland Hospice. This required clarification of need together with mapping the current offer, gaps and potential extension of services. The options appraisal supported decision making leading to business planning for expansion of the service.
7. Pursue environmental sustainability and health equity together
- Sustainable Community Development: We help communities design and implement sustainable environmental practices that contribute to the well-being of residents, such as green spaces, sustainable energy solutions, and waste management systems.
Example:
Bute Community Forest – Working with Bute Community Land Company to identify a viable and sustainable route forward for the development of Bute Community Forest. Work encompassed stakeholder meetings, Woodland Plan development in conjunction with Community Woodlands Association, comprehensive options appraisal, partnership and development planning. The final business plan informed a route forward for the community owned woodland that has led to the creation of income streams, community paths and Forest School projects. More information on Bute Community Forest.
- Building Resilience: We assist communities in building resilience to environmental challenges, such as climate change, by promoting environmentally conscious practices and supporting community-led initiatives to reduce environmental harm.
Example:
We are currently Supporting Good Green Futures in their work planning towards the development and delivery of the Reuse, Repair, Recycle Hub which aims to bring a partnership of services to the centre of Stirling.
By combining these strategies with our expertise in social enterprise and community development, we enable communities to implement the Marmot Principles effectively. This leads to more equitable, sustainable, and healthy environments where everyone can thrive.
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