Performance Improvement Plan 2024 to 2025 Year-end Update 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 citizens 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.
|
Outcome 1 - Opportunities to start your own business. |
|
|---|---|
| Measure 1 |
240 participants supported through start-up assistance via Go Succeed by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
Across the year, there were 325 participants supported through Go Succeed. (These figures are subject to quality assurance and may change). |
| Measure 2 |
107 jobs promoted through business start interventions by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
Across the year, there were 144 jobs promoted through business start interventions. These figures are subject to quality assurance and may change). |
|
Outcome 2 - An active Mid and East Antrim Manufacturing Task Force. |
|
| Measure 1 |
At least 3 new Manufacturing Task Force members by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
Across the year, 4 new organisations joined the Task Force. |
| Measure 2 |
£40,000 of Task Force members’ in-kind time contributions by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
Across the year, members’ collective time contribution was valued at £43,560. |
|
Outcome 3 - Opportunities to take part in skills and employability programmes. |
|
| Measure 1 |
200 people participating in employment and skills programmes by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
Across the year, 365 people participated in various programmes, academies and upskilling courses, including Manufacturing, Transportation, Fibre Skills, Investor, Excel, Classroom Assistant, and more. Some courses will run until June 2025, with Childcare Upskilling, GP Administration, Phlebotomy, Cleantech Hydrogen and Welding, all underway. Future updates on these programmes will be provided to the Council’s Environment and Economy Committee. |
| Measure 2 |
100 participants gaining employment via employment academies by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Delayed but progressing |
Despite a late start due to delayed funding, 83 participants have already gained employment, with further outcomes expected later in 2025/26 as academies conclude. Future updates will be provided to the Council’s Environment and Economy Committee. |
| Measure 3 |
150 participants securing qualifications by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
Across the year, 377 qualifications were secured with more expected by the end of June 2025. These range from Excel, Mathematics, and Personal Finance to Pediatric First Aid, Safeguarding, Classroom Assistant, Customer Service and Food Hygiene, HGV, Telehandler, and more. Future updates will be provided to the Council’s Environment and Economy Committee. |
|
Outcome 4 - Support to lead a healthy and active life. |
|
| Measure 1 |
MEAqua Strategy and Year 1 Action Plan (including the expansion of toddler and disability sessions) delivered by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
Several improvements were made to the MEAqua programme during the year, including the expansion of swimming classes for parents and small children, and the provision of Disability Swimming lessons in our 3 leisure centres. Our development plan for 2024-2027 will see further expansion for all age groups and abilities, from toddlers and learners to high-performance groups. Future updates will be provided to the Council's Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee. |
| Measure 2 |
12 outdoor events to involve a wide range of abilities by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
There were 150 events delivered during the year, with over 6,500 participants. These ranged from festive trails, petting farms, crafting, bird box building and tree giveaways, to food and walking events, grandparent days, spring events, orienteering, and more. |
|
Outcome 5 - A borough that values, engages, and supports everyone. |
|
| Measure 1 |
MEA Age-Friendly Strategy and Year 1 Action Plan launched by 30 June 2024. |
| Status: Achieved |
The Age-Friendly Strategy and Action Plan for 2024-2027 was launched in September 2024, marking a key milestone in our commitment to supporting older people. |
| Measure 2 |
An Older Person’s Forum established by 31 December 2024. |
| Status: Achieved |
The Agewell Lived Experience Group will act as the Older Person’s Forum and will attend meetings of the Age-Friendly Alliance, ensuring the voices of older people are heard right across the borough. |
| Measure 3 |
MEA Age-Friendly Year 2 Action Plan confirmed by 28 February 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
The Year 2 Action Plan was agreed at a workshop in January 2025. |
| Measure 4 |
Autism-Friendly Action Plans implemented in 4 Council venues by 30 September 2024. |
| Status: Delayed but progressing |
Over the past year, we’ve made strong progress in making our services and spaces more accessible and welcoming for autistic people. Our Arts and Museums centres are the latest of our services to take action to achieve this by introducing sensory spaces, and developing accessible signage and pre-visit guides. It is hoped these venues will complete their action plans and achieve the Autism Impact Award by summer. Future updates will be provided to the Council’s Neighbourhoods and Communities Committee. |
| Measure 5 |
4 additional Autism Champions developed within Council by 30 September 2024. |
| Status: Achieved |
With 4 staff members accredited in September 2024, there are now 17 Autism Champions within our Parks, Museums and Arts centres, and Leisure Services. These individuals are trained and dedicated to ensuring positive experiences for autistic people and their families by providing support to anyone who needs it. |
| Measure 6 |
An Autism-Awareness initiative Communications Plan developed by 30 September 2024. |
| Status: Achieved |
We have developed and launched an Autism-Awareness Communications Plan, which includes the promotion of Quiet Hours in our parks and new resources for Autism Acceptance Month, such as an Employability Guide and Training Model, developed in partnership with the Northern Area Autism Forum. |
| Measure 7 |
4 arts and culture events delivered to address loneliness and improve accessibility by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
A range of events were delivered during the year, including the Rural Engagement Arts Programme, an Arts and Older People Programme, exhibitions, reminiscence sessions, an arts and nature-based workshop, and a film screening. Autism-Friendly pre-visit guides are also being developed for our Museums and Arts centres. |
| Measure 8 |
8 Council-managed community centres connected to full-fibre broadband by 31 March 2025. |
| Status: Achieved |
All Council-managed community centres now have working internet and Wi-Fi. |
|
Outcome 6 - Collaboration with the Mid and East Antrim Poverty Action Group. |
|
| Measure 1 |
Attendance at Poverty Action Group meetings and support of initiatives. |
| Status: Achieved |
This objective is partly achieved. Although the group did not formally meet during the year, members remained active in supporting families and individuals across the borough through financial advice, food distribution, essential resources, and wellbeing programmes. With group support, we successfully delivered the School Uniform Scheme, providing vital assistance ahead of the new school year. To improve coordination, the Council will take on facilitation and assign a dedicated staff resource to resume regular meetings, ensuring more effective partnership working and ongoing support for vulnerable residents. |