Upstart: Langholm

Youth led community action plan development through a participatory process and community engagement programme.

Upstart was commissioned to draw out views, knowledge and ideas of younger people who live, work or study in Langholm to develop a plan of their aspirations for the town including underplayed heritage and tourism assets. Creative activities were the backdrop to conversations to identify what would support young people to stay and thrive in this town.

OutPost Arts led on the development of an overarching Town Plan whilst New Practice delivered a focussed engagement programme to ensure and centre the voices of young people in the community in the accompanying Youth-Led Action Plan under the Upstart brand.

Langholm Town Hall with surrounding buildings

a street in Langholm with "Ahead Only" road markings

A young woman standing at the entrance to a pop-up event — Through school activities, design workshops, Brunches and a High Street Takeover, our team created trendy, versatile and fun opportunities for conversation with young people from 14 to 40.

With such a wide ranging definition of 'young people' we had to provide different opportunities that created space for teenagers and young adults still in education as distinct from young professionals and parents of young families. The key unheard and lesser-heard voices for Langholm were in the youngest age bracket we spoke with: 14 to 24, so we focussed opportunities and promotion to this audience.

The takeover of the vacant Post Office in Langholm gave us a base for all our conversations, workshops and brunches. We kitted it out with furniture and graphics defined by the simple project branding to become an 'urban cafe space' with hot drinks and cake provided for participants. This also acted as an example of the types of establishment and opportunity available within the town.

A table of cakes, fruit and water at one of the project events

A group of people having a discussion around a table

A group of people sitting around a table

Workshop tools focussed on uncovering challenges in the town, identifying possibilities for change, and participatory funding activities which asked people how they would spend £100,000 across eight categories: community, culture, movement, education, housing, entertainment, sustainability and employment.

Conversations opened up about the choices that young people feel they need to make around higher and further education and employment opportunities in rural and semi-rural towns.

The Upstart Youth-Led Action Plan for Langholm identifies both key challenges and key locations and sites of opportunity for the town, before defining possible outcomes at range of scales:

Xtra Small - increasing support for local organisations to enable them to diversify and increase outputs
Small - a temporary, year-long activation of the High Street and townscape to test opportunities
Medium - physical improvements to the High Street leading to increased footfall
Large - long term capital development and reactivation bringing leisure, work and tourism opportunities
Xtra Large - varied housing typologies supporting population retention and inward investment

and ends with a call to action drawn directly from community data for the local authority and key community partners to maintain momentum and continue opportunities for younger voices in planning decision making.