The Good North Ayrshire programme aims to create a place where everyone can 'be born, grow, live, work, and age well'. It addresses the fact that many residents experience shorter lives and more years in poor health compared to other parts of Scotland. The initiative brings together communities and organisations to drive change.
The programme acknowledges that health is shaped by more than just healthcare and personal choices, highlighting the importance of 'building blocks of everyday life' such as early years support, good jobs, safe housing, education, healthy food, and community support. Deficiencies in these areas can lead to increased stress, poor health, and fewer opportunities.
National reports from the Institute of Health Equity have been published to explain the scale and causes of health inequalities in Scotland. These reports focus on variations in health and life expectancy, the impact of social determinants like income and education, and structural drivers of inequality with recommendations for action.
Good North Ayrshire is now moving into practical action, with communities helping to identify priorities for 'Good Start' in Irvine, 'Good Jobs' in the Three Towns, and 'Good Health' in the Garnock Valley. Workstreams are testing new ways to improve access to support and create better connections between services, including family support, health and employment links, and community-based prevention.
Specific studies for North Ayrshire by the Institute of Health Equity found that the region experienced steeper declines in many health indicators post-pandemic and that current resources are insufficient to meet ambitions for reducing inequalities. Public Health Scotland is also examining the ongoing health impacts of deindustrialisation and the role of community confidence.
The 'Good Start' initiative in Irvine focuses on improving support for children and families, gathering feedback from over 200 responses. A six-month health visiting pilot is underway in Bourtreehill, and partners are developing a family hub approach to make services more accessible.
In the Three Towns, 'Good Jobs' aims to improve access to fair work by addressing barriers such as poor health and limited access to flexible jobs. A Microsoft Teams hub is being tested for service coordination, and discussions are progressing on a pilot with a GP practice to connect people with ill health to employability support. Routes into training and volunteering for young people are also being developed.
The 'Good Health' initiative in the Garnock Valley focuses on preventing ill health and improving access to support. Recent activities include targeted health screening and CPR sessions at Dalry Primary School. Partners are also strengthening the Kilbirnie Recovery Hub and exploring its extension to Dalry, with links to housing and homelessness services.
