In this blog, Iain Johnston, Director of Faith in Community Scotland, reflects on how vital it is for local people to take the lead in building flourishing communities.

I’m balancing precariously at the top of a ladder trying to zig zag several sets of fairy lights across the church hall. For the third year running the small faith community I’m part of is getting ready for the Milton Music Festival – a day when we’re able to celebrate outstanding local musical talent in this part of north Glasgow.

As I try not to fall from the ladder, Mark, the lead singer from The Shuggies, a Milton band, is passing me up pins and tape. As we hang fairy lights, we chat about how many lives have been changed through music, thanks in part to the work of Milton Arts Project. Many people, who have never before picked up a guitar in their lives, are now writing their own songs and performing in front of crowds – something they thought they’d never be doing.

Every Thursday morning a group of local people get together in the church hall to learn guitar and write their own songs. Many of them take to the stage at the arts festival – and are appreciated just as much as the ‘headline’ acts which feature later in the evening.

However, when you talk to a lot of people about Milton in the north of Glasgow, they’re more likely to associate it with high unemployment and poor health than with a music festival. Yes, Milton has its fair share of problems, but it has brilliantly talented people and huge potential too.

In Faith in Community Scotland we work alongside people in communities such as Milton because we believe profoundly in seeing the best in people and places, and doing all we can to support local people to keep bringing out more of their best. It’s an approach known as ‘asset-based community development’ which begins by concentrating on what’s “strong” about a community rather than what’s “wrong” with it.

When people living in communities like Milton come together to form local initiatives such as Milton Arts Project, and actively build on their own strengths, interests and potential, others are inspired to think of possibilities for change rather than be held back by seemingly impossible odds and obstacles.

Organisations such as Faith in Community Scotland can and do add value to this kind of locally-led work by providing support and advice to faith groups and other community organisations on a whole host of things such as funding, strategy, project development and governance. We also connect groups together so they can be inspired by and learn from one another. Over the years we have supported Milton Arts Project in different ways, giving small grants for their work and facilitating a project exploring how communities can come together to build understanding and friendship and reduce sectarian attitudes and behaviour.

But any involvement on our part is to support and build up local people. Fundamentally we are with and alongside them in places like Milton, affirming and encouraging them to take the lead in work which transforms the lives of individuals and whole communities. The socio-economic problems facing communities like Milton can only be overcome when the real experts – those who live there – are trusted and affirmed to take the lead in shaping and implementing the responses.

“From a Milton barrio…to a Possil favelo” sing Milton’s very own The Shuggies in front of a crowd of people rooting for them and loving their music. People watching and listening think ‘If they can do that, so can I’. Families connect together. Music is made, shared and enjoyed - and the community of Milton is a talking point – for all the right reasons. The best is yet to come.