Virtual Focus Group!

Since the beginning of the project, we have been researching information in many forms from:

- Reading books

- Analysing secondary data

- Speaking to the North Ayrshire Council’s sustainability officer

- Reaching out to SWEISC (Scottish North West Environmental Information Centre)

- Creating probe kits/surveys for members of the community

- Talking to industry experts and lecturers

Amongst many more methods…..

However, while all this information has been interesting and in-depth, unfortunately, we are currently unable to verify all of the information matches with the reality of living within Irvine, due to the pandemic.

While the probe kit and survey enables us to gather information on the community, it's impersonal and doesn’t feel as valuable as a face to face conversation. With our concepts and site purpose-focused round the Irvine community, this was an issue.

So our team got thinking…

A VIRTUAL FOCUS GROUP!

The perfect opportunity to ask questions and present a potential concept to hear the impressions of the community members.

Jennifer and Jamie arranged to hold the virtual focus group on Wednesday 25th 2021 at 18:00 and had 3 out of the 4 confirmed attendees, participate.

Jennifer was the moderator, Jamie provided support as an assistant and the session was broken down into multiple question areas with one of our concepts shown at the end.

Below we have taken some of the interesting statements that were said from the questions that we asked the individuals.

Question Page 1:

How do you feel about the community in Irvine?

Do you interact with any community-led systems?

Alternatively, are there any ways in which you wish you were supported by your local community?

“Irvine could be a lot more than what it is.”

“There is a good strong sense of community in Irvine, good grassroots involvement within certain areas.”

“If you know people around here it is fine, but if you’re new then there is no way to go meet new people.”

“Lack of engagement with the youth.”

Question Page 2:

How would you describe living in Irvine to others? Would you recommend it?

If not, what would need to change in order to make it somewhere which you would recommend?

Would recommend:

“Irvine is a great place we’ve got the beach, we’ve got the shops, but the council need to do more to encourage cohesion.”

“Great natural amenities such as the beach or the harbour, lovely parks, good transportation links.”

“Look beyond the first impressions.”

Wouldn’t:

“Beautiful, such as the river, but there is nothing around it to take advantage of, I am from a town that really takes advantage of the river’s beauty around the River Thames, whereas here it’s just the river and that’s it.”

Question Page 3:

A big focus of our project is the climate crisis, how do you personally feel about the climate crisis and do you think it is something which has been properly addressed in Irvine?

(ask about recycling and food shopping)

“North Ayrshire Council have announced there is a climate crisis, but I’m not actually sure what that means in practice. It sounds as if it is urgent and it sounds like we’re doing something about it, but I don’t actually know what that is in practical terms.

I can’t see anything being practically done round about where I live and in the town that really addresses the fact that a climate emergency has been announced.”

“I’m involved in the community meetings and look at the council meeting minutes, but I don’t see anything physical round about me.”

“Crisis to me means emergency and the words don’t match up to what is going on.”

Question Page 4:

What are your favourite places in Irvine and how has this changed or been impacted by the pandemic?

Do you have a new favourite place now?

“There are some great places for walking, but there is a lot of litter.”

“Used to have magnum beach park leisure centre one of the biggest leisure centres in Europe, but that got knocked down.”

“Feels as though people are ignoring that the river even exists.”

“The walking trails aren’t well maintained.”

“The walking trails aren’t necessarily signposted and the beginning and end aren’t always clear.”

(Image Source: http://www.scottishdistancerunninghistory.scot/magnum-beach-park-irvine/)

Question Page 5:

How do you think the world will change in the next ten years?

Think about the impact of technology, the climate crisis and how the pandemic may have changed things going forward.

“The way people work has changed forever.”

“I still feel nothing beats being in a room with someone face to face having a conversation.”

“When you go to Shewalton woods there is nothing there in terms of transportation, you have got to go there by car.”

Concept Enquiry:

One of our concepts is a fully sustainable café that can provide a relaxed environment for individuals, what sort of features would you like to see?

“A café that is at one with nature would be really good.”

“Avoid homogenised brands.”

“I would travel 30 miles (pre-pandemic) for a consistently good cup of coffee.”

“Get the café right and everything else will follow.”

“Make it more of a day out, instead of just a café as it is outside of the city centre.”

While we understand that these individuals don’t represent the whole community, just being able to hear from their perspectives allowed us to gain an insight.

The focus group responses we received have already begun to shift each of the concepts that we have created and look forward to presenting our ideas in the upcoming presentation.