group of four young adults showing their artwork

About Blacklands

We began working alongside the community of Blacklands in November 2016 and has involved:

Knowledge

Research and understanding the history of the community.

Connections

Connecting with local spaces, places, services, and people.

New activities

Supporting development of chair based exercise group, parent and toddler group, and a participatory budgeting process led by the community.

Convening

Convening a group of people to form a Systems Changers group examining local systems and how to bring about change to benefit local people.

Community Map

Blacklands by Corra Foundation

In this interactive map, you can explore the area of Blacklands and some of the areas important to the commmunity.

Nethermains Community Centre

Almswall Park

Blacklands Primary School

Kilwinning Library

Blacklands Community Hub

What’s been happening?

Blacklands

Annual Update 2022 Snapshot

Chair Based Exercise
The group moved from Blacklands Community Hub to Kilwinning Library due to restrictions, providing exercise and social time. They enjoy the company and chat, and thank the co-ordinator for bringing them together.

Parent and Toddler Group – Nethermains Community Centre
The group has increased to full capacity with 30 children and parents/grandparents/carers working together to provide safe and fun play, supported by the Community Co-ordinator.

System Changers
The nine months of learning sessions gave Systems Changers participants the chance to connect, form relationships, and develop their voices. Members of the group embarked on a journey to assess what is crucial, what is/is not working in local systems, and to examine the stigma associated with using food pantries.

Blacklands Community Kitty
Blacklands Community Kitty has continued on longer than anticipated, this has been mainly due to lockdowns and restrictions on communities coming together. This resulted in a shift in how some grants were used and new opportunities for the community.

TRACS: People’s Parish
After meeting several people and talking to them about the local history, Blacklands was identified as an ideal location for a history tale to be shared (read more on page 4 of the latest annual update).

Working alongside the community and in partnership with other organisations we will continue to support Blacklands with new ideas, to fulfil current projects and offer support to allow sustainable community activity.

Louise Shaw

Community Co-ordinator (Blacklands)

Get involved

Community Co-ordinator: Louise Shaw

What we’re planning

We hope to develop the Systems Changers group to include more participants. This includes developing and delivering training to welcome new participants to the group. Some of the current activity groups will be developed to become community-led and sustainable. We will continue to work with local partners on a deeper level within the Systems Changers group and support ideas and projects to bring about local Systems Change. 

Further reading and related content

6 clocks representing lots of time needed

System Changers: Time

A school chalkboard with writing about school costs

School Costs: A community pulls together

two adults sitting together in a community centre laughing over a cup of tea

Space, the essential ingredient

young person with question marks

System Changers: Keep Asking Why

picture of four school children with report title 'Blacklands Annual Update 2022'

Blacklands Annual Updates 2018-2022