Performance Improvement Plan 2024 - 2025 Quarter 1 Update Report p3
Improvement Objective 1:
People - We will work with partners to improve the lives of citizens.
By:
- Fostering local enterprise and economic growth.
- Supporting skills development and improving employment outcomes.
- Helping citizens lead healthy and active lives.
- Supporting people who are vulnerable or marginalised, and promoting an equal, diverse, inclusive, and accessible borough.
Who is responsible:
- Director of Community
- Acting Director of Development
- Interim Director of Corporate and Support Services
Why are we doing this?
- The actions set out to achieve this objective align with the key priorities identified through public consultation. They support priority groupings and provide opportunities for skills development and employment progression. They offer both health and wellbeing support and help to improve equality of opportunity, accessibility, and inclusivity.
- Developing skills and job prospects, and support to reduce poverty, were two of citizens’ top five priorities for making the borough a better place to live in. Only 28% agreed the area is a good place for job opportunities (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
- With the rising cost of living and the impact of the pandemic, the number of financially insecure households is increasing. Anecdotal evidence indicates that poverty is impacting families across the whole borough. Our Citizens Survey (2022) found on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being not at all satisfied, half of respondents rated their satisfaction with their financial health as being 5 or less.
- This objective aligns with the Department for the Economy’s vision for Northern Ireland of creating jobs, increasing incomes, improving productivity, and providing opportunities for all.
- In terms of wellbeing, almost 50% of residents said they want to see more support services for children and families, and/or people with disabilities (MEABC Citizens Survey 2022).
- The issue of inclusion was highlighted during the review of the Community Plan (2022), particularly for people with disabilities and learning difficulties. People from ethnic minority backgrounds, young people, and older people were also identified as being ‘at risk’.
The pages that follow outline our progress towards achieving our outcomes for citizens.
Measure 1
240 participants supported through start-up assistance via Go Succeed by 31 March 2025.
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Outcome 1 - Opportunities to start your own business |
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|---|---|
| Status: On track | There are 107 participants currently receiving start-up support through Go Succeed. |
| Measure 2 | 107 jobs promoted through business start interventions by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Data is not yet available | We are currently receiving monthly performance data, which is still subject to verification, and therefore not yet available for publication. |
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Outcome 2 - An active Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force |
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| Measure 1 | At least 3 new Manufacturing Task Force members by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | There are 2 new companies due to become members imminently. |
| Measure 2 | £40,000 of Task Force members’ in-kind time contributions by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | There were approximately £8,000 in-kind time contributions from April to June 2024. This amount is expected to increase by autumn. |
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Outcome 3 - Opportunities to take part in skills and employability programmes |
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| Measure 1 | 200 people participating in employment and skills programmes by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track |
A Letter of Offer for delivery of the Labour Market Action Plan for 2024/25 was received in July 2024. The programme will now run from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 (extending the delivery timescale by three months). From April to June 2024, 68 people participated in the programmes, namely, the Graduate Disability Programme, Engineering (Coachbuilding), the Tourism Academy, Plant Operations, the Administration Academy, and Community Skills programmes (which includes, Building Confidence for Careers, Security Industry Association, Digital Accessibility, and Education and Training Level 3). |
| Measure 2 | 100 participants gaining employment via employment academies by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | From April to June 2024, 29 participants gained employment from programmes commencing in late 2023/24 and early 2024/25, including, the Childminding Academy, Enterprise Pathways, the Transport Academy, the Graduate Disability Programme, Engineering (Coachbuilding), the Tourism Academy, Plant Operations, the Administration Academy, and the Support Services Academy. |
| Measure 3 | 150 participants securing qualifications by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | From April to June 2024, 98 qualifications were secured. |
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Outcome 4 - Support to lead a healthy and active life |
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| Measure 1 | MEA Aqua Strategy and Year 1 Action Plan (including the expansion of toddler and disability sessions) delivered by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | Accessible swimming lessons have been introduced across all three leisure centres, with good uptake. The MEAqua Programme is now running over the summer months, with opportunities to participate in intensive swimming lessons. Improvements are underway within the MEActive mobile application, with promotion of the swimming academy now taking place via the app. |
| Measure 2 | 12 outdoor events to involve a wide range of abilities by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved | From April to June 2024, over 50 events took place across the borough, which were attended by 3,147 people. These included, Easter events, tree, herb and vegetable planting, a Fossil and Geology Walk, a Bluebell Festival, an Eco Day at a local primary school, Women’s Safety, Drowning Prevention, and more. |
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Outcome 5 - A borough that values, engages, and supports everyone |
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| Measure 1 | MEA Age-Friendly Strategy and Year 1 Action Plan launched by 30 June 2024. |
| Status: Delayed but progressing | The consultation on the draft plan closed at the end of May 2024. A workshop was held in June to analyse feedback, with subsequent amendments made following a meeting held in July. The plan will now be launched in October 2024, to coincide with Positive Ageing Month. |
| Measure 2 | An Older Person’s Forum established by 31 December 2024. |
| Status: On track | Progress has been made in identifying current structures within the borough. A meeting is due to take place with the Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership to advance the prospect of the partnership facilitating the forum as part of their existing arrangements. |
| Measure 3 | MEA Age-Friendly Year 2 Action Plan confirmed by 28 February 2025. |
| Status: Not yet due | The Year 2 Action Plan will be developed to align with the new launch date. The timeframe for this will be updated accordingly. |
| Measure 4 | Autism-Friendly Action Plans implemented in 4 Council venues by 30 September 2024. |
| Status: On track | The action plans are progressing and are on track for implementation by 30 September 2024 at The Braid Museum and Arts Centre, Larne Arts Centre, Carrickfergus Museum, and Andrew Jackson Cottage. |
| Measure 5 | 4 additional Autism Champions developed within Council by 30 September 2024. |
| Status: On track | The staff members remain on track for full accreditation by the end of September 2024. |
| Measure 6 | An Autism-Awareness initiative Communications Plan developed by 30 September 2024. |
| Status: On track | The Communications Plan is nearing completion, with implementation already underway. |
| Measure 7 | 4 arts and culture events delivered to address loneliness and improve accessibility by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track |
We delivered 2 community initiatives from April to June 2024, alongside the Mid and East Antrim Agewell Partnership and funded by the Arts Council NI. The Rural Engagement Arts Programme, a mobile drama project, was created from stories and memories of local culture and home life in rural Mid and East Antrim. Over 300 local older people engaged in the Theatre in the Front Room project, which began with a tea dance, where stories were collected and developed into a touring play using local older actors. The drama was showcased in nursing homes, day-care centres, and to local community groups. Lots of positive feedback was received. The Arts and Older People Programme included a series of 20 workshops in various artforms, ranging from dance and movement, textiles, expressive and mural painting, to the Elder Arts Manifesto, which, through a series of interviews, will feed into the development of an Arts Manifesto for older people in the area. Over 200 older people took part in interviews, workshops, and a new online platform to share their stories. |
| Measure 8 | 8 Council-managed community centres connected to full-fibre broadband by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: On track | Both internet and public Wi-Fi access have been installed in Eden and Oakfield community centres. A further 8 centres are due to have operational internet before the end of October (Ahoghill, Ballykeel, Dunclug, Gracehill, Greenisland, Harryville, Kells, and Sunnylands). |
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Outcome 6 - Collaboration with the Mid and East Antrim Poverty Action Group |
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| Measure 1 | Attendance at Poverty Action Group meetings and support of initiatives. |
| Status: On track | No meetings have taken place so far this year, with plans to recommence in the autumn. |