Scotland

SERVICES available 'after' DESERVE

The main activities on the DESERVE project ceased to be funded through the Northern Periphery Programme from 30th June 2007  -  however the transport service provision in the Cowal area continues and we are pleased to announce that   INTERLOCH TRANSPORT Ltd   a new social enterprise company has been constituted.  Interloch Transport Ltd continues to receive funding from Argyll and Bute Council and SEERAD who were funders in the DESERVE project and in addition has new funding from the Rural Transport Initiative, The Robertson Trust and Highland Health Board. Interloch Transport Ltd is located in  the Riverbank Surgery,  Kilmun, Argyll PA 23 8SE  which is just outside Dunoon.  Interloch Transport Ltd now charges a small amount for transporting individuals and for further details contact     Sharron Farrell and Maureen Spy, Interloch Managers, telephone 01369 840474   website  www.interlochtransport.com

 Free Broadband access in Cowal area

There is also free broadband access in four areas throughout Cowal   - these can be accessed at the following locations:

During Normal Post Office hours at

Kames Post Office, Batllefield Buildings, Kames 

www.kames-po.co.uk

Contact Heather MacBride  Tel 01700 811 877

Lochgoilhead Post Office

Contact Rod Phillips  Tel 01301  703201

 www.lochgoilhead-po.co.uk

Tighnabruaich Post Office

Contact May Bunting   Tel 01700 811 201

 www.lochgoilhead-po.co.uk

and at

Strachur Memorial Hall 

Contact David Fiddes

Tel  01369 860776

Email david@letterscottage.fsnet.co.uk

 Times at the hall by arrangement with the Hall Committee

DESERVE Lead Partner

SCVO acted as the lead partner for the NPP Project .

Project activities

• to develop a better understanding of the economic and social circumstances of sparsely populated areas that may impact on rural service delivery
• transnational co-operation
• the exchange of ideas and practices across the Northern Periphery region
• joint working to address common problems
• transferral of knowledge and information across regional boundaries

Expected results

• to improve the level and quality of rural service delivery
• the implementation of innovative approaches to common problems - what is already a solution in one region may be an innovation in another - towards finding new and improved ways of delivering rural services
• to establish more integrated ways of working by moving away from the present sectoral approaches found in most partner regions, to a more co-ordinated and co-operative approach that should be more effective and efficient
• to develop a long lasting transnational co-operation promoting continued learning and joint working towards the resolution of common problems in rural service delivery

Partners

Argyll & Bute Council - Scotland
Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department - Scotland
Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations - Scotland                  County Administrative Board of Västerbotten - Sweden
The Icelandic Regional Institute - Iceland
Kajaani University Consortium; University of Oulu - Finland
Rural Advisory Centre of Kainuu - Finland
Karelian Institute, University of Joensuu - Finland
Regional Council of North Karelia - Finland
Regional Council of Kainuu - Finland  

Scottish Project

The Scottish Project, which was located in the Cowal area of Argyll, was originally intended to test the model of  'an organised community transport programme that takes services to the individuals, as well as taking individuals to services, based on models of service delivery tested in Finland and Sweden.  However this was redefined as "The Cowal DESERVE project aims to improve access to services for vulnerable people within the rural areas of the Cowal peninsula".  This more general wording takes into consideration that although primarily a community transport service, other rural services are involved and will benefit from the project.

 Within Scotland staff from SCVO, Argyll and Bute Council , Argyll CVS and the Scottish Executive  acted as the Steering Group for the project.  In addition a number of individuals who are active in local organisations in the Cowal area provide further advice and guidance through a local Advisory group.  Cowal DESERVE project was run through the Argyll Council for Voluntary Services and SCVO.  The local Project Co-ordinator, 3 drivers and a part time administrator who were all based in Dunoon, came into post from November 2004 and were managed by the Argyll CVS which is based in  Lochgilphead.  The project quickly established itself and by the end of December 2004 had over 80 clients utilising the services of the 2 vehicles by 2007 this number had grown to 326 and the individuals had accessed over 10,000 different services.   The majority of clients are in the over 65 age group and their referral to the project  has come from a range of organisations.   To date over 400 different services have been acessed by the clients. 

In January 2006 there was both a client survey and a stakeholder event and the feedback from these illustrated how well appreciated the Cowal DESERVE team are.

Consultants have completed a report on Rural Shops in the Cowal area and 4 rural shops are piloting the use of computer systems to assist in the delivery of services to individuals living in remote and rural areas. 

At the conclusion of the project the community transport services will continue in the Cowal area as a new social enterprise company, Interloch Transport Ltd,  has been incorporated and has obtained sufficient funding to provide an enlarged service to individuals within the Cowal area.

 Further detailed information can be obtained from the International Project Co-ordinator Barbara Love who can be contacted at barbara.love@scvo.org.uk or telephone 01463 251725