News / More organisations sign up to expansive partnership plan
AN AMBITIOUS plan aimed at improving life in Shetland over a broad base of measures has taken another step with the announcement that 14 public agencies have now formally signed up.
Shetland’s Partnership Plan is “based on extensive research” and “takes into account information from a wide range of community conversations and consultations, as well as statistical data about health, the economy, crime, poverty, population and much more”.
As a result, four key priorities have been identified:
• People – making sure that individuals and families can thrive and reach their full potential
• Participation – ensuring that everyone can participate and influence decisions on services and use of resources
• Place – making sure that Shetland is an attractive place to live, work, study and invest
• Money – ensuring that every household can afford to have a good standard of living
The partner organisation, including Shetland Islands Council and NHS Shetland, are “working to develop projects which focus on all these elements and are looking at ways to involve individuals, families and community groups in solutions for these shared challenges.”
NHS Shetland chief executive Ralph Roberts said: “We all want to make sure Shetland is a place where everyone thrives. We can best do this by working well together and by making sure our services provide the support required by the families and communities who need them.”
Shetland Islands Council director of development services Neil Grant said Shetland was a “very special place to live”, and offered a fantastic quality of life – but not for everyone.
Grant said: “We face some key challenges in making sure we do the best we possibly can, especially as public funding continues to shrink and increasing pressure comes to bear on all our services.
“Our community must be able to help us plan and deliver, and they must be at the heart of the work we do; as this work continues, that’s what we aim to achieve.”
The Partnership’s 14 statutory public sector partners are: Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, NHS Shetland, Shetland Islands Council, SportScotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the University of the Highlands and Islands, ZetTrans, Integration Joint Board, VisitScotland, Skills Development Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland
You can find out more about the Shetland Partnership at www.shetlandpartnership.org
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
