NEXT STEPS MEETING
‘NEXT STEPS’ Meeting to be held on Tuesday, 29th September in the upstairs lounge of the Black Bitch starting 6pm.
SETTING THE DIRECTION of Linlithgow Aspires.
1. What are your particular interests?
2. Creating work streams
3. Progressing the Vision – you decide how to do it
4. There will be an open bar this time! (for over 18’s only)
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 8th October, 2009 – venue to be confirmed
Please confirm by return which meetings you can attend and any areas of interest you’d like to lead.
Add comment 26/09/2009
Linlithgow Aspires – Notice of Public Meetings
Linlithgow Aspires will hold meetings open to all members of the community at the following venue and times:
Linlithgow Rugby Club, Mains Road, Linlithgow
Thursday 24th September 6 – 8pm
Friday 2nd October 2 – 4 pm
Tuesday 6th October 6 – 8 pm
Snacks and light refreshments will be provided.
See update below for more information
Add comment 18/09/2009
September 09 Update – Public Meetings
LINLITHGOW!
A WORLD CLASS EXPERIENCE!
A WORLD CLASS DESTINATION!
WORLD CLASS PEOPLE!
A WORLD CLASS LIFE STYLE!
This is not simply a Dream… If we choose to remove unnecessary self-limiting beliefs, this is a practical possibility! So….
How can you influence a journey on this scale…?
How can you make best use of your personal qualities, experience, skills and energy…?
How much will you gain from the experience of being part of a world-class ‘WINNING TEAM’…?
Join us on Thursday 24 September at 18:00, in Linlithgow Rugby Club, to find out how you can become a key part in Linlithgow’s future!
Summary
Two years ago, research completed by a group of people responsible for leading a huge transformation in a community in the United States, identified Linlithgow as a town with the location, tradition, resources and capability to mirror their own experience and success. (Success in their case means they have ACHIEVED AND SUSTAINED the highest level of community, commercial and social values.) They then reached out to West Lothian offering to work with us in a ‘mentoring’ capacity.
Inspired by their energy and success, a range of visits, events and small projects have been carried out over the last 24 months, led by various groups and people. Based on a set of recommendations made during a phase of activity led by professional consultants, a small local team agreed to commit an evening each week for 13 weeks to help establish concrete foundations from which to base a journey to an exciting destination for our town and community. This group is ‘Linlithgow Aspires’.
Linlithgow Aspires has organised an ‘open’ workshop, designed to:
- Share details of this activity and progress!
- Provide opportunity for anyone and everyone in our community to contribute to the development of an exciting and inspirational vision for the town
- Tap into the ‘collective ideas and wisdom’ of people reflecting every part of our community
- …. and provide a unique opportunity for you to choose how you can influence or make your mark on the town and the community we will become!
Most importantly and UNUSUALLY, this is not “just for some”, this is “for EVERYONE”!
We know this will appeal to many of you, whilst others may have reservations.
Linlithgow needs input from ALL areas:
- From the residential community to the business community!
- From the ‘yoof’ to the more experienced!
- From public sector to investors!
- And, most importantly, those of us who simply want to find a way to contribute, even when we are not sure how!
Whatever your interests…
Wherever you work…
Whatever your motivation…
There is SO much talent in this town!
So, don’t hesitate, put the following dates, times and venue in your diary:
- Thursday, 24 September @ 6 – 8.oo pm
- Friday, 2 October 2 – 4.00 pm
- Tuesday, 6 October 6 – 8.00 pm
- Venue: Linlithgow Rugby Club
… and there is only really one question you need ask yourself:
If not YOU….. then WHO?
Add comment 16/09/2009
Progress and current plans update July 09
‘Big Town Plan’ made a number of Recommended Next Steps following their work in helping to launch Linlithgow Aspires earlier in the year.
The particular order in which Linlithgow Aspires can practicably deliver those next steps required some further planning. A small team is making excellent progress having almost completed the first 3 month phase of putting together a 12 month plan for the next steps.
The 12 month plan for Linlithgow Aspires which will contain details and practical recommendations for the involvement of the wider local community, whilst preserving, and building on, the value of work carried out to date. Deliverables also include a draft constitution, terms of reference and governance structure for Linlithgow Aspires and a mentoring plan to maximise the value of input from outside sources and agencies.
It is planned to complete this work by week commencing 20 July 2009.
Further progress reports will be posted on the Linlithgow Aspires website by the end of July
Add comment 25/07/2009
Representative Groups
Business & Tourism
Linlithgow Business Association
Cittaslow
Pride & Passion
Local Area Committee
Hydrosense Ltd
First Scotland East
Linlithgow Fairtrade Partnership
Linlithgow Town Centre Management Group
Local Authority
Community Planning & Regeneration
Local Area Committee
Linlithgow Library
Fiona Hyslop MSP
Funding & Administration
no organisations yet registered
Environment & Heritage
Cittaslow
Civic Trust
Local Area Committee
Linlithgow Climate Challenge
Linlithgow & District Allotment Society
Linlithgow Heritage Trust
Residents & Community
Cittaslow
Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Pensioners Association
Linlithgow & District Allotment Society
Local Area Committee
Donaldson’s
St John’s Church
Linlithgow Link
Linlithgow Young People’s Project
Add comment 21/07/2009
Positive Initial Response To ‘Linlithgow Aspires’
Since the launch of Linlithgow Aspires (a community led project to ascertain local interest in a proposal to develop a bold 20-year vision for the town) in February, local organisations have been considering if they would participate.
Seventeen different local organisations have registered interest via the Linlithgow Aspires website coordinated by independent consultants Big Town Plan, on behalf of West Lothian Council and Linlithgow Business Association who raised the proposal. By registering these organisations have expressed an interest in debating this proposal fully.
Further discussions are now being planned with these seventeen organisations to make the decision about establishing a new partnership group to ensure complete community consultation would feed into the development of a vision.
Joanna Goddard of Big Town Plan, an independent consultancy experienced in similar partnership groups in other towns commented:
“It is vital that any new group established to create a 20 year vision supports and empowers work from existing groups in the town, and does not simply create another layer of decision making. The purpose of a 20 year vision is to explore bold long term goals for the town’s future that existing community and business groups could plug into as new projects unfold. The main purpose of a new group would be to provide a regular forum for public, business and community representatives to get together in one place to debate the needs and aspirations of Linlithgow. Thus ensuring that projects compliment each other and public funds are not spent in areas that will become subject to change months later”
Joanna has worked with other towns in the past where this approach of creating a community wide partnership group has proven effective. The question now is will this work in Linlithgow?
Big Town Plan anticipate that by the end of April additional feedback will be in place to enable a final decision to be made as to whether or not a formal group should be formed.
Add comment 21/07/2009
Welcome to Linlithgow Aspires
Linlithgow Aspires is a group of people from businesses, community groups and West Lothian Council. Following a hugely successful event delivered by Jim Mather, MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism in autumn 2008 we have worked closely together to design a structured way in which everyone in the community can have the opportunity to get involved in developing a 20 year vision to keep and improve Linlithgow as a vibrant and sustainable place to live, work and visit.
We will collectively work together to
- Make Linlithgow a vibrant town
- Attract new business
- Attract new residents
- Attract shoppers and visitors
- Develop transport networks that work
- Create a town where events are a real success
- Protect and develop our heritage and civic spaces
- Protect our natural environment for future generations to enjoy
We will do this by
- Ensuring an Executive Group oversee the project. A group which has representation from community, residents, businesses and organisations
- Creating a 20 year vision to ensure all projects link into each other and maximise benefits for our town
- Ensuring all registered stakeholders are kept informed of progress and invited to participate in regular consultation opportunities
We look forward to working with you to take views and information from all stakeholders in the Linlithgow community and make our town vibrant and sustainable. Find out how to get involved or how to be kept informed
23/06/2009
Endorsements
“Linlithgow is well placed to maintain the engagement that has been established to date, and keep people talking and working with each other to allow solutions and new initiatives to emerge”
Jim Mather MSP,
Minister for Enterprise,
Energy & Tourism
“I hope the Linlithgow community will come forward and have their say in establishing a new blueprint for the town. Linlithgow is already a town by a famous past, and the Linlithgow Aspires movement will help make sure it has a successful future ahead of it too.”
Councillor Martyn Day,Chair of Linlithgow Local Area Committee
Add comment 01/06/2009
Jim Mather Event
Attached below is a mind map document from the event held at Sun Microsystems Autumn 2008.
A flow chart created from the events discussion
Add comment 01/05/2009
