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The Scottish Executive has pursued a programme for tackling 'exclusion' by promoting 'social inclusion' as a more positive step towards promoting social unity. The establishment of 'Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs)' throughout Scotland has been one of the ways in which the Scottish Executive has attempted to address issues of exclusion in communities and of minority groups. The SIPs replaced what was formerly Priority Partnership Areas (PPAs) and Regeneration Partnerships (RPs) New SIPs were also introduced across Scotland. Other SIPs established are also thematic in that they attempt to address problems that affect particular groups or address a particular issue, for example, health.
The priority for the Scottish Executive and the SIPs is to break the cycle of disadvantage and prevent poverty through planned interventions and promote Social inclusion through providing equality of opportunity for those who have become marginalised and excluded.
The first annual Social Justice report outlined measures to deliver a range of targets to promote social inclusion. Social Inclusion Partnerships (SIPs) were highlighted as key local mechanisms for achieving these targets.
Broadly speaking SIPs are multi-agency partnership bodies. In North Lanarkshire the partnership agencies include the Council, public sector organisation and, crucially, the local community and voluntary sectors.
SIPs have been tasked with the co-ordination of local activities in specific areas to promote Social Inclusion thus preventing social exclusion and therefore, assisting the development of innovative models of working. The SIPs are funded from the Social Inclusion Partnership Fund that replaced the urban programme funding in April 1999. The funding allocated to each SIP by the Scottish Executive is to be viewed as a lever to pull down resources from public bodies – the 'bending' of mainstream budgets towards local SIP priorities is viewed as integral to the work of the SIPs.
The future direction of the SIPs will be entirely consistent with the North Lanarkshire Community Plan. Community Planning is the name that has been given to the way in which the main public sector agencies work to improve their communities through better co-ordination and improved partnership approaches to economic, social and environmental regeneration. Linking closely to the Community Plan will also ensure appropriate connections with a range of other strategies and policies. In particular, agency specific strategies such as North Lanarkshire Council's 'Corporate Plan' & 'Social Inclusion Strategy,' the strategy for the Lanarkshire economy 'Changing Gear' and NHS Lanarkshire's 'Health Improvement Plan'
The first draft community plan was published by the North Lanarkshire Partnership in February 2000. The North Lanarkshire Partnership is committed to finding new ways of delivering effective services through improved partnership working.
There are currently three Social Inclusion Partnerships in North Lanarkshire. Two area-based SIPs - Motherwell North SIP, covering the areas of Orbiston, Viewpark, Forgewood & North Motherwell and North Lanarkshire SIP covering a range of areas but with a focus on South Wishaw and Airdrie North. The third, South Coatbridge SIP, is a thematic SIP that focuses on tackling health inequalities in the South Coatbridge area. This area includes the communities of Kirkwood, Kirkshaws, Old Monkland, Dundyvan, Barrowfield, Langloan, Sikeside and Greenend.
Further Information on SIPs
Further information on the North Lanarkshire Social Inclusion Partnerships can be accessed by connecting to their website using the "external links" box at the top right hand side of your screen.
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