Last month, the Belonging Forum continued its series of community visits, which began in Hexham, with a local roundtable in Western Scotland.  

We co-hosted our second roundtable in the constituency of Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock with the constituency’s MP Elaine Stewart. The roundtable was convened to further build on our main takeaways from our first session in Hexham in order to craft the world’s first Charter of Belonging, which will provide a common language for collaboration and resource sharing.  

The constituency returned a particularly low score in the previous edition of the Belonging Barometer, ranking in the bottom 10 constituencies, and we wanted to understand the experience of constituents behind the data. This was particularly important given how Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock returned contrasting results to Hexham, which scored one of the highest scores in the country. 

Some notable highlights from this year’s Barometer survey from Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock included: 

• 13% of constituents reported having no close friends, but 25% of constituents reported having between five and nine close friends. 

• 28% of constituents reported feeling lonely often or always. 

• 43% reported hardly ever or never feeling lonely. 

• Two in three (63%) constituents reported feeling strongly connected to their local area. 

• 80% of constituents agreed that shared green spaces were a good thing. 

• 65% agreed that more inter-generational events were a good thing, slightly down locally from last year. 

• 71% believed that more community events are a good thing. 

As in Hexham, this event saw community leaders convened together from a range of organisations including: New Cumnock Development Trust; The Carrick Centre; The Belsbank Project; Ayrshire College; Ochiltree Primary School; Ayrshire Police; Drongan Breakfast Club; Coalfields Regeneration Trust; and Girvan Business Association, amongst others. 

Throughout our session, we remarked upon the notable features of the area which the participants felt defined the local area. This included: 

• Sense of Place: The group felt that the area’s natural beauty, rich heritage, and historic identity helped to inspire pride amongst the residents and the community. 

• People and Purpose: The community thrives on strong social connections fostered through volunteering and collective effort. There was also a shared sense of responsibility which felt very distinct to the area. 

• Identity: The participants really valued the area’s unique identity, shaped by historical movements and industrial shifts, which has strengthened the local sense of belonging. 

There were also areas where participants wanted to enact change for the betterment of the area and to positively influence belonging.  These included: 

• Improving economic and employment opportunities – particularly after leaving school 

• Encourage greater intergenerational activities and engagement in order to foster a more cohesive community 

• The creation of more community hubs where residents can connect, access jobs, and receive healthcare services tailored to their needs.  

• More recognition for volunteers and caregivers to encourage further participation  

Something that really struck a chord was the emphasis the participants placed on vision, imagination, and open spaces for dialogue – which I hope this format has provided.  

The Ayr, Carrick, and Cumnock constituency is a place of strong community ties, shaped by resilience, collaboration, and an enduring sense of purpose. Building on these foundations will help strengthen belonging for all residents, regardless of age or background. 

As in Hexham, it is my hope that these community leaders will continue to meet and engage with each other without me for the betterment of their community.