Community Space Analysis Reveals Encouraging Statistics from Early Weeks of Provision

The first six weeks of operation of a new town centre Community Space for Cumbernauld has shown that the facility is being accessed regularly for a range of purposes by a diverse group of service users, a Cornerstone House Centre analysis has revealed.  

Community Space Progress Report: August-September 2019 is available for download and provides details about the number and gender breakdown of Community Space service users between Thursday 1 August 2019 (its opening date) and Thursday 12 September 2019, as well as profiling the neighbourhoods in which visitors came from and the reasons for which they came to the facility.

The Community Space has been designed as a partnership initiative between social enterprise charity Cornerstone House Centre and Antonine Shopping Centre with a view to improving health and wellbeing in the Cumbernauld area. It forms part of a wider Cumbernauld Community Health Information Hub which was launched by Cornerstone House Centre on behalf of Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire in February 2019.

A central feature of The Community Space is a dedicated ‘Ping Pong Parlour’, an innovation providing four table tennis tables and relevant equipment, enabling locals to play table tennis for free.

The Space also incorporates a ‘Light Bites Station’ where visitors can have a seat and buy tea, coffee, refreshments and snacks at affordable prices, and a Community Information Point, where local organisations and not-for-profit service providers can host market-place stalls and facilitate citizen and community engagement. Mary McNeil, Development Manager at Cornerstone House Centre, commented:

 “By analysing Community Space visitor footfall and statistics, Cornerstone House Centre is better equipped to plan for the future and improve the services it provides from the facility.

“During August-September 2019, The Community Space has been opened three afternoons per week. It is clear from the statistics gathered that in this period of operation that innovation has been very successful in a number of ways.

“For example, feedback from service users has been excellent, with individuals requesting extended opening hours and days, which the organisation is currently working to introduce. 

“As well as individual service users, a range of positive feedback has also been received from partner organisations and agencies, including Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire, NHS Lanarkshire, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, CACE Older People Active Lives, Independent Age, Cumbernauld Poverty Action, Cumbernauld Community Forum, Drop In Café and Tool Library Cumbernauld.”

The Community Space is open every Monday, Thursday and Friday from 12noon-3.00pm at Unit 14 of Antonine Shopping Centre, in close proximity to several reputable retailers and service providers. All are welcome and activities inside are free of charge.

For further information about The Community Space, please contact Cornerstone House Centre on 01236 739220 or email health@cornerstone-house.org.uk.

Click here to download Community Space Progress Report: August-September 2019