Page 7 - Barrow Town Deal Board Agenda 14/4/2020

Barrow Town Investment Plan - Stakeholder Insight Report

Opportunities for Barrow

3.3 Table 3.1 groups the summary points made by consultees in respect of identified
opportunities for Barrow aligned with the Town Deal thematic focus.
3.4 In addition, some general points which do not have a ready fit with the three theme areas,
including:

General Opportunities:

• DWP are working with clients to provide a pathway of support to get them closer to the
labour market, i.e. through Project John and WELL initiatives.

• The £1.93m Arts Council ‘Creating People and Places’ programme will deliver ‘Barra
Culture’, a community arts programme which will be co-designed and co-produced by
the community. This project links places and spaces in the town, and seeks to change
perceptions of arts and culture through projects involving skills, activities and
enhanced spaces.
• There is a strong voluntary sector in Barrow, and initiatives such as staff ‘give as you
earn’ schemes facilitated by major employers are supportive. The strength of the
voluntary sector as seen now during the current crisis “makes you proud to work in
Barrow”
• The ‘People in the Lead’ community planning programme is providing a local
engagement worker in priority wards in Barrow. A previous programme in Barrow
Island was very effective at developing a community-led plan that built community
capacity, upskilled residents, and enabled local people to take ownership of
investment. “There is scope to achieve a lot through community-led planning and
collaborative working”.

• The BAE wage bill of £350m per annum represents a significant opportunity to harness
spend locally. How can this spend be retained within the town?

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