WHAT WE’VE LEARNED SO FAR…

Cumbernauld Alternative Network was launched on 11th November 2021. Our Community Interest Company was started by two local residents whose experience includes music, crafts, events, charities and project management and an enthusiastic pal with a background in community arts. We plan to grow our board as the organisation becomes more established, and to be a truly community led organisation.

We all live in our own bubbles, but the response to our first survey has helped to burst ours,  introducing us to many interesting and interested people, and to organisations, services and facts that we weren’t previously aware of. 

In response we have started this page to record the things we’ve learned. We’ll update as we go along (and hopefully keep learning).

  1. There’s already a CAN in Cumbernauld! Thank you to all those who pointed out the existance of Cumbernauld CAN (Cumbernauld Community Anchor Network). They give out grants and provide training to local organisations via participatory budgetting (where the public vote on how funding is distributed). It’s most embarrasing that we’ve picked a very similar name, and we hope that it doesn’t cause too much confusion. We look forward to meeting coordinators Cornerstone House Centre. They do a lot of useful things in the community, including providing room hire, employability support, health and wellbeing, family services, training services and a cafe. They also operate a Community Space in the Antonine Centre.
  2. An organisation called Palacerigg Community Trust have been successful in negotiating a community asset transfer, preserving this fantastic park for community benefit.
  3. Loads of people have fond memories of nights out in The MugShack, and are excited to see this venue opening its doors to the community once again.
    1. We are on the look out for any old photos taken at The MugShack (Cumbernauld’s Old Town Hall). Contact us at can@cumbernauld.org or via Facebook if you have any. We’ll happily help digitise any old physical photos or negatives.
  4. The people of Cumbernauld care about their environment, and are looking for things to do. Of all the issues we asked about in our survey the areas which have been reported as an issue for most people were (as of 17th November 2021 and 123 responses): Sustainability & The Environment, Finding Things for Adults to Do, Having Opportunities to Socialise with Others and Having Opportunities to Be Creative. Of the various activities we suggested could happen at the MugShack Live Music is the clear frontrunner, with Comedy, Live Theatre & Private Functions also getting a lot of support.
    1. We hope that anyone who expressed an interest in Live Theatre also know that Cumbernauld has a brand new theatre at the Lanternhouse, on the Cumbernauld Academy campus. They opened their doors to their new state of the art venue on 30th September and have since been programming lots of music and theatre shows.
    2. The Friends of Cumbernauld Cottage Trust are working to try to bring the cottage which housed the old Cumbernauld Theatre back into community use.
  5. Carbrain Community Hub are another local organisation we have learned about and connected with. They host great projects including a free food pantry and baby massage.

 

More learning will be shared here as we learn it!