Blacklands – believing people know best for their community
Cath McNally, Programme Officer, People in Place
Over the next few weeks we are sharing the 2024 Annual Updates from the communities we work alongside as part of Corra’s People and Place Programme. We have started things off this week with the latest from Blacklands in Kilwinning – have a read of the update from them here – they have lots of community inspiration to share.
Alongside each community update, we are sharing a reflection from Corra’s Cath McNally – Programme Officer on the People and Place team. Working closely with these communities, Cath will be sharing key insights and learning – enjoy the first piece on Blacklands below!
What’s happening in Blacklands this year is more than a series of community activities – it’s a shift in how people see themselves and each other. The Getting Alongside Communities programme, with Louise at its heart, has been about trust, letting go, and believing that people know best what works for them.
Why take this approach? It’s simple: when people are given space, they step up. Louise’s decision to step back from running groups day-to-day wasn’t about doing less, but about making room for others to do more. It’s a quiet kind of leadership that says, ‘You’ve got this – and I’m here if you need me.’ The impact is clear: groups are more confident, resilient, and willing to try things out for themselves.
We’re learning that formal structures aren’t always what people want or need. Time and again, Blacklands shows that people value informality. There’s freedom in not having to set up committees or fill in forms. Energy goes into delivery, not paperwork. When groups organise themselves in ways that feel natural, they’re more likely to stick with it and welcome others in.
This approach has a ripple effect. When one group sees another managing on their own, it builds a sense of what’s possible. It’s not about big, dramatic changes, but small, everyday shifts – parents organising a toy clean, neighbours checking in on each other, women asking for DIY skills instead of more of the same. These small acts add up to a community that feels more connected and able to respond to what matters.
The impact isn’t just practical; it’s emotional. There’s a growing sense of belonging in Blacklands. People talk about feeling less alone, about having someone to turn to if things get tough. You can’t measure that on a spreadsheet, but it’s at the heart of what makes a community strong. It lasts, even when projects or funding end.
We also see learning spreading beyond the groups. People take what they’ve picked up – about working together, trying things out, not waiting for permission – and use it elsewhere. Whether in jobs, families, or other groups, the mindset of ‘let’s give it a go’ is catching on.
So what are we learning? That the best thing we can do is trust people, give them space, and support them to do things their way. Community isn’t about ticking boxes, but relationships, kindness, and the freedom to try (and sometimes fail). Real change happens when people feel they belong and believe they can make a difference.
Blacklands shows that when you focus on the why, not just the what, remarkable things grow. And that’s something worth holding onto.
If you’d like to find out more about the work in Blacklands, look at previous annual updates, visit the Blacklands Place page or contact Louise for a chat at louise@corra.scot.