What are the Theme Teams all about?

We have 6 theme teams within the New Ways Partnership, that bring together relevant agencies, organisations, community groups etc. Each theme team meets on a regular basis to progress the partnership projects identified as priorities in the Community Plan 2006-2016. There are also two supporting groups; Social Justice, Equalities and Diversity and External Funding.

THE THEME TEAMS EXPLAINED........

What is Vibrant Communities all about?

• Enhancing communities, physically, socially, and economically
• Increasing the capacity of individuals, community groups and the voluntary sector
• Ensuring that people in towns and villages feel more connected to required services
• Empowering people to engage in future service provision
• Ensuring people feel safe

• Local Partnerships e.g. Hawick, Eyemouth / East Berwickshire
• Infrastructural / physical improvements e.g. Heart of Hawick Project
• Support for local events e.g. Borders Walking Festival 2004, Reivers Festival

• Identifying issues and opportunities, and coordinating support services for Borders businesses and organisations.
• Adding value in business
• Innovating in public services (to support businesses)
• Engaging new people
• Developing new opportunities

• New Ways Economic Development Strategy published in 2003 (link to strategy) 
• Business Gateway established
• Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce established
• South of Scotland Loan Fund established
• Input to consultations - "Green Jobs Strategy"; Waverly Rail Project; Scottish Water etc

• Providing appropriate lifelong learning opportunities for all in the Borders
• Ensuring that learning provision is appropriate for Business & Employment
• Providing Shared Labour Market Intelligence
• This theme operates under the name "Borders Lifelong Learning Partnership" for this purpose

• Lifelong Learning Strategy for the region , endorsed by Nicol Stephen MSP in March 2006
• Funding secured for Joint Higher/Further Education Campus at Netherdale, Galashiels

• Enabling Joint Working to Improve Outcomes
• Protecting & Supporting the Most Vulnerable in our Community
• Promoting Health & Wellbeing
• Raising Performance & Standards
• Addressing the needs of Children and Young People
• Improving Health & Tackling Inequalities in Health

• Single shared assessment for patients
• Bright New Futures Policy, integrating children's services
• Establishment of Vulnerable Adults Committee and Protection Unit

• Creating a competitive physical infrastructure
• Improving road, rail and public transport links
• Developing Information and Communications Technology (ICT) links and putting them to effective use
• Promoting the area as an attractive place to live, work and visit

• Broadband initiative
• Waverley Rail Project
• Development and role out of the Borders brand (Our Scottish Borders, your inspiration) and Borders portal (www.ourscottishborders.com)

• Co-ordinating the activities of those who work within our rural landscape
• Restoration, protection, and enhancement of our natural resources and historic environment
• Collaborative working for the benefit of our beautiful landscape

A Working Countryside in Action

• 2 highly successful Keynote speaker seminars, on CAP Reform and Biofuel in 2006
• Joint responses to various Scottish Executive consultation e.g.Rural Development Programme for Scotland 2007-2013; The Strategic Plan