Local Sessions Explore How Data Can Strengthen Community Support in Lerwick

Two interactive Locality Planning sessions took place at the Shetland Museum & Archives on Monday 8th June and Thursday 11th June, bringing together people to explore how local data can help strengthen community support in Lerwick.

The sessions brought together staff, volunteers, elected members, community representatives and partner organisations from a wide range of sectors.  Participants used a series of local data maps alongside their own knowledge and experience to discuss community needs, identify emerging themes, and consider how organisations can work together to improve outcomes for people living in Lerwick.

Session Highlights

The sessions focused on four local datasets covering child poverty, crime, out-of-work benefits and council rent arrears.  Using these maps as a starting point, participants explored what the data revealed about different parts of Lerwick and compared this with their own experience of working within the community.

A consistent theme throughout both sessions was that the data challenged some long-held assumptions about where need exists across Lerwick.  Participants also highlighted the importance of looking beyond headline figures, recognising that data should be considered alongside local knowledge, lived experience and wider contextual information.

Discussions also identified several common priorities, including:

• improving accessibility to services and opportunities;
• reducing barriers and stigma around accessing support;
• strengthening partnership working and collaboration;
• making better use of local data to inform early intervention and prevention; and
• ensuring future planning is informed by both evidence and community experience.

Engagement and Next Steps

Feedback from participants was positive, with attendees particularly valuing the opportunity to hear different perspectives, strengthen relationships across organisations and discuss how local data can be used to support practical action.  There was also strong interest in holding a follow-up session to continue the conversations and explore the themes in greater depth.

The sessions formed part of the Shetland Partnership's wider locality planning work, helping to build a shared understanding of local challenges, strengthen connections between organisations and identify opportunities for collaborative action to improve outcomes for people and communities in Lerwick.