A STRATEGIC partnership could be formed between the Leamy Foundation and West Dunbartonshire Council to encourage residents to take part in wider community activities.

The charity, which is based in Alexandria, is run by and for local citizens and supports people wishing to create new services important to them and those around them.

During last week’s full council meeting a report was approved which detailed how the council could work with the charity in future.

Speaking about the potential for a strategic partnership with the charity, the council’s leader, Councillor Jonathan McColl, told the June 23 meeting: “Community groups and the third sector in general are going to play a huge part in our economic recovery from Covid and also in terms of the social aspect that has been missing in the last year and a half.

“Organisations that we have experience working with, such as The Leamy Foundation, deliver good, positive outcomes for communities and it will be vital that we work with them.”

Councillor Karen Conaghan added: “A lot of the work that The Leamy Foundation does is not just within our schools and for the council.

“It very much involves the community, and brings the community on board with what they are doing.

“I think a lot of what they do is confidence raising. They raise the confidence of some people within our communities who have been at a distance from education, learning and that community involvement.

“The people they bring on board can look forward to a better future in terms of access to education or access to the jobs market which they didn’t previously have.”

The report recommended that a follow-up document with additional detail is prepared no later than September.

It read: “Council officers will engage with The Leamy Foundation to continue to identify approaches to working together on shared goals.

“It is recommended that a report will be brought back to council no later than September to detail the approaches working together on shared goals although, these would all be subject to overcoming the significant challenges in terms of procurement law.”