A new Engagement and Participation strategy encouraging greater public involvement, engagement and participation in University Health & Social Care North Lanarkshire’s services has now been launched.

Launched at the Forgewood Community Centre, the new strategy runs until 2027 and has been developed following extensive engagement with partners, staff, community and the voluntary sectors. To strengthen engagement work with supported people, a new Growth Pot Fund has been created.

The first nine community groups to receive grants from the new Growth Pot Fund were announced at the event with the groups sharing funding of £33,450:

• Friends of Kilsyth (£5,000)
• Best Way Community Kitchen (£5,000)
• The Storehouse (£5,000)
• Birkshaw Tower Tenants and Residents Association (£5,000)
• North Lanarkshire Ethnic Minority Association (£5,000)
• Cardowan Community Meadows (£4,950)
• CABIA Goes Outdoors (£2,500)
• Caldercruix Ladies Education Group (£500)
• Motherwell Baptist Church (£500)

The first cycle of applications for the Growth Pot Fund has been launched through a partnership of the North Lanarkshire Disability Forum (NLDF), Lanarkshire Links (LL) and the Voice of Experience Forum (VoEF).

The new strategy can be viewed at www.https://hscnl.org.uk/about-us/.