Having only been formed in July 2007, Bury, Tameside and Glossop community solutions (BTGCS) is a relative newcomer to the LIFT partnership programme. Already, however, the construction of two primary care centres, one at Ashton and another at nearby Radcliffe, is well under way.
Both projects have shown a high level of commitment to ongoing community engagement and involvement. This reflects the LIFT team’s “Benefits before buildings” philosophy, an approach that seeks to improve health and social care standards through inclusion, participation and cohesion.
Direct community influence of service design and delivery has been achieved through public consultation, user group meetings and representation on the bid evaluation panel. Safe on-site facilities and Advanced Resource Centres (ARC) have now been set up at each of the builds to give local people the chance to follow progress of the construction first-hand, look at furniture and fittings, meet the team and ask questions.
The ARCs can also be put to use for skills training, education purposes and community engagement. Local schools have been using them as venues for lessons and local authority regeneration teams have participated in meetings with residents groups.
Another facility, which is off-site and contains full size, fitted out consulting and treatment rooms, has been developed to help people see and provide feedback on proposals for all current and future schemes.
A commitment to training and employment for local people has seen construction partner Morgan Ashurst take 65 per cent of its project staff from across the community and, more widely, Greater Manchester. There are eight new apprenticeships and work experience arrangements with a nearby construction college.
Sustainable employment and material purchase practices are anticipated to put more than £8m back in to the local economy. Solar thermal panels and combined heat and power units are among measures that will reduce the buildings’ environmental impact.
Easily accessible accommodation at the new primary care centres will be available to the community for meetings, classes and events