Cornwall's disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Edited by

Police Sergeant David AynsleyHonorary Fellow of the Peninsula Medical School

Gemma Whyatt (17 years)Young Apprentice

18th July 2008

Integration of Children and Young People in Cornwall’s Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods A report by CERES for the Council of Europe’s Committee on Culture and Education

Special thanks to

Carnegie Commission for Rural Development

Integration of Children and Young People in Cornwall’s Disadvantaged Neighbourhoods A report for the Council of Europe’s Committee on Culture and Education

1Contents

Executive summary 3

Local authority action on integration 5

Local case studies for disadvantaged neighbourhoods 6

1. The TR14ers Community Dance Team 6

2. Trelya 8

3. Devon and Cornwall Police Cadets 10

4. Voluntary & Community Sector Youth Activity 12

5. The Bishop’s Forum 14

6. Pool Business and Enterprise College 16

7. The Beacon Project 18

8. Rock Community Land Trust Self Build Scheme 20

9. Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change 22

10. St. Petroc’s Society 24

11. Cornwall Rural Communities Council 26

12. Kernow Youth Theatre 28

Conclusion 29

Contents


2 A report for the Council of Europe’s Committee on Culture and Education



3


Executive summary

The Cornwall area of outstanding natural beauty covers 958 Km² and consists of 12 separate geographical areas. It contains 327 Lower Super Output Areas in which approx 1500 live in each. This new geography came about from the indices of multiple deprivation 2004 in an attempt to focus services below ward/neighbourhood level.

Too often reports about rural communities focus

solely on negatives, forgetting the many advantages

on offer. Often the deprivation indicators do not

reflect the lives of young people described as “living

in disadvantaged neighbourhoods” because they do

not drill down underneath people’s lived experience.

In fact, “disadvantaged” rural communities are

fantastic places to live, work and play and are what

you make them. Many offer:

• Well developed community resources

and valuable local assets

• Healthy environments for leisure,

education and enterprise

• Strong social networks

However, the correlation between living in

social housing and the likelihood of living in a

“disadvantaged” neighbourhood in Cornwall is

higher than in other parts of the country because

Cornwall has less housing stock. As social housing

is allocated on a needs basis, individuals and families

have to be more in need in Cornwall than in other

counties to secure a home. The process whereby

the most disadvantaged people are concentrated

in social housing leads to the spatial concentration

of the poor. That is, poor people re funnelled into

particularly disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

Growing up in poverty can affect every area

of a child’s social, educational and personal

development. Children in poverty are more likely to

get into trouble with the police and more likely to

live in sub-standard housing. Living on a low income

means that children’s diet and health can suffer and

children from the bottom social class are four times

more likely to die in an accident and have nearly

twice the rate of long-standing illness than those

living in households with high incomes.

The long term effects of being brought up in poverty

can be even starker. As adults they are more likely to

suffer ill-health, be unemployed or homeless. They

are more likely to become involved in offending, drug

and alcohol abuse and are more likely to become

involved in abusive relationships.

The official measure of child poverty (households

below 60% median income) is collected nationally

and is currently not available below regional level.

In the draft National Indicator Set (NIS), due for

implementation from 1st April 2008, an interim

measure has been defined as “the proportion of

children who live in households where out of work

benefits are received.” The following figures do not

follow the definition as specified in the draft NIS

guidelines as they exclude pension credit and include

severe disablement allowance. The figures are

Executive summary


4


Executive summary

however judged to be an appropriate proxy measure

until data collection methods are in place to collect

child poverty data to the NIS definition.

At 1st November 2007 there were approximately

14,300 children aged 0-15 living in households where

the family were in receipt of Incapacity Benefit,

Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance or Severe

Disablement Allowance. Based on 2006 population

estimates from the Office of National Statistics this

equates to 16% of the population aged 0-15 living

in benefit dependent households. When we drill

down in to these figures we find that in Wards like

Camborne South 66% of children live in benefit

dependent households. Additionally there are always

about 1000 children aged 16-18 not in education,

training or employment (NEETs) and there is a

direct correlation between the areas with the largest

percentage of children aged 0-15 living in benefit

dependent households and those aged 16-18 that

become NEETs.

Cornwall’s paradox is its areas of outstanding natural

beauty and outstanding poverty. The rugged beauty of

our coastline and our industrial and cultural heritage

are extraordinarily valuable assets, however, in

isolation they do not offer sufficient social provision

for local young people. Young people find it difficult

to integrate in their disadvantaged neighbourhoods

because integration is a social phenomenon. Work

is less likely to take them through the transition into

young adulthood and they are less likely to have the

capacity in later life to look after the environment.

Sustainable communities are built on the three

pillars of the environment, the social and the

economic. Therefore, we must support our young

people to integrate within their disadvantaged

neighbourhoods through investment in the statutory

and voluntary sector infrastructure, whilst being

allowed to do so in a way that we know works best

for us by recognising that rurality brings its own

challenges and treasures.


5


Local Authority action on integration

Local Authority action on integration

In response to the Children’s Act 2004 the Cornwall Children and Young People’s Partnership has continued

its statutory obligation to produce a plan for Children and Young People. The 2008 - 11 Children and Young

People’s Plan sets out in a transparent way eight strategic priorities for the Children and Young People’s

Partnership. These priorities have been identified and agreed through needs assessment, joint planning

processes and engagement and consultation undertaken with children and young people. Through the

involvement processes initiated by the partnership a representative group of children and young people have

democratically agreed the following priority that they have asked us as a partnership to deliver over the

lifetime of this plan and beyond:

Make information, support and opportunities available

and accessible to children and young people in Cornwall

through listening to and acting on their voices.

This priority is pre-potent and is listed as the 1st

priority in the plan.

The 8 strategic priorities that have been identified

within this plan take account of, and will support the

delivery of, the high level priorities identified within

the Cornwall Sustainable Community Strategy.

Our priorities will be delivered through a joint

commissioning process and we will ensure that we

maximise opportunities for investment in the Change

for Children agenda using both mainstream and

additional resources, adding value wherever we can.

The re-positioning of children and young people

within our society is essential to the long term vision

for Cornwall and our ability to achieve our long term

aspirations for an environmental, cultural, social and

economically sustainable community. Developing

a global perspective in young people will be a core

strategy for promoting social cohesion, reducing

discrimination and insecurity as well as contributing

to economic sustainability in the preparation of a

future workforce with the attitudes for participation

in a global market place.

The Partnership has made a commitment to the

children and young people of Cornwall to ensure

that their voices are heard and acted upon by signing

up to the National Youth Agency’s ‘Hear by Right’

standard

Additionality over and above main stream services is

provided by the European Social Fund Convergence

process managed by the commissioning team within

Cornwall’s Children and Young People’s Families

Directorate.

The following case studies are illustrations of how

children and young people are integrated in local

services and provision with no pretence that all the

problems are being dealt with.


6 Local case studies for disadvantaged neighbourhoods

Local case studies for disadvantaged neighbourhoods

1. The TR14ers Community Dance Team Website: www.tr14ers.co.uk

The TR14ers Community Dance Team was formed in August 2005 by the Camborne Police Neighbourhood Team. There were significant local concerns at the rising level of anti-social behaviour and the lack of social provision.

Many of the young people carried a deep sense of

shame about living in Camborne and they needed

a sense of identity and a reason to be proud of

where they lived. The team leader sought innovative

ways to engage with and integrate the children and

young people of Camborne under the guidance of

the Peninsula Medical School. The team formed

strong and creative partnerships with established

community development workers, local businesses,

statutory agencies and voluntary organizations


7Local case studies for disadvantaged neighbourhoods

quickly establishing a proactive rapport with the

children and young people of Camborne. 120

children and young people attended the initial event

in October 2005 and by Easter 2008 there were 465

members.

The TR14ers hold regular 2 day Dance Workshops

every half term and school holiday which are free

of any charge and are aimed at young people aged

11 – 18 living within the TR14 post code. Fresh

fruit is provided for the members to snack on and

healthy smoothies and water are also available.

The members are supplied with free TR14ers tee

shirts to instil a sense of local pride and identity.

Everything is free of charge ensuring that no one will

be excluded from participating due to inability to pay.

The Tr14ers is no longer police led. Over 30

members have naturally emerged as skilled

and talented leaders who choreograph complex

routines which they then teach to the members at

the 2 day Workshops. The Dance Leaders involve

themselves in all aspects of running the team

and mentoring their peers on a variety of issues

with the guidance of skilled and dedicated adult

volunteers and professionals. They receive support

and encouragement from their Royal Patron HRH

Duchess of Gloucester and Lady Mary Holborow,

Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall. The young people have

connected socially within the community and are no

longer anti-social or ashamed of where they live.




2. Trelya - working with children and young people at risk of social exclusion in West Cornwall Website: www.trelya.com

Trelya was formed as a registered charity and company limited by guarantee in November 2001. Trelya aims to enable those children and young people at risk of social exclusion in West Cornwall to develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes and motivation needed to make positive healthy choices about their lives and behaviours and play a full part in their community if they so wish.

To achieve this aim, Trelya sets up and delivers

services that tackle, what can appear at times

to be, an inevitable cycle of social exclusion in

communities. Trelya believes that effective, quality,

proactive, preventative work can make an incredible

difference to the lives and futures of children and

young people at risk of social exclusion.

Trelya is committed to working positively, and in

participation, with children, young people and their

families to break down and reduce the barriers

arising for families living and coping with the effects

of poverty, social deprivation and social exclusion.

Trelya uses community detached youth work

methods to initiate contact with children, young

people and their families and begin to build informal

relationships with them and provide services that

will meet the needs of children and young people.

All projects use a programme of varied

opportunities, challenges, experiences and activities.

The programme is wide ranging, exciting and

engaging. The programme of activities is used both

to educate, inform and develop children and young

people’s awareness of a range of issues relevant to

their lives and to develop their personal and social

skills to enable them to address issues in their

lives that may make them more vulnerable to social

exclusion.






3. Devon and Cornwall Police Cadets Website: www.devon-cornwall.police.uk

In order to meet the requirements of the ‘Every Child Matters’ agenda and support Neighbourhood Policing, officers in Cornwall have instigated a cadet programme for 13 to 16 year olds. The programme which is currently being run in the Camborne / Pool / Redruth, Penwith and St Austell areas, is proving to provide an ideal opportunity to bridge the gaps between the police, young people and the community.

The cadets are supervised by Youth Intervention

Officers, the Special Constabulary and

neighbourhood managers, and provide a visible

presence within their own communities which

ultimately will assist towards reducing fear of crime.

Although the scheme is relatively new, the cadets

have already received awareness training for traffic,

drugs, witness statements, and in team building, and

have become involved in community events such as

remembrance parades and the promotion of crime

prevention advice. Future training will encompass

first aid and radio operation that will be carried out

within one of the bi-weekly meetings.

The cadet programme is not being used as a

recruitment tool. However the Constabulary

recognizes that the provision of skills is likely to

benefit the organization and other employers in the

future and make school-aged children more likely

to challenge instances of anti-social behaviour or

disorder within their community.

The advantages of the programme are recognized by

both the Constabulary and Police Authority and plans

to expand throughout Cornwall are supported. We

currently have in excess of 50 cadets with plans to

further extend the scheme to soon include a group in

St Austell.

Through working on civic events such as

Rememberence Sunday parades and Mayor’s

parades the cadets learn to uderstand events from

a new perspective that helps them to integrate

with a broad spectrum of people within their own

neighbourhoods.Page Heading






4. Voluntary & Community Sector Youth Activity Website: www.ccfv.co.uk

The voluntary sector in Cornwall is too dynamic and changing to reliably list. However the Cornwall Youth Work Partnership is a body that supports young people in Cornwall. It comprises a strategic board of about eight organizations including Cornwall Centre for Volunteers, Youth Cornwall, Connexions and many more. Additionally the various Scouts and Guides clubs and Cadet organizations based across Cornwall offer opportunities for young people to integrate with their communities.

The Cornwall Centre for Volunteers (CCfV) has

developed youth volunteering opportunities across

Cornwall for 30 years. It supports over 1,100

organizations recruiting and cultivating volunteers

and supporting the ability of host organizations to

utilise and develop them as individuals. CCfV runs

vinvolved a local arm of a nationally funded youth

volunteering initiative for 16 to 24 year olds. It will

shortly take on a secondment from Youth Cornwall to

work with 14 and 15 year olds.

Young people have the opportunity to get their

volunteering recognized by undertaking accredited

learning through courses such as the NCFE

Certificate in Volunteering, ASDAN Certificate in

Volunteering and various AQA and Lantra courses.

‘S’ has a history of emotional and physical abuse

and finds learning difficult. She volunteered to work

in the Barnardo’s Charity shop to develop her low

self esteem. She worked for two days a week, her

appearance improved, her confidence grew and her

bubbly personality started to show. She is now at

college and continues to volunteer.

PW volunteered to work on a church restoration

project in the design and manufacture of intricate

and high specification copper objects. He undertook

a 13 week placement with CCfV. Though his

dedication he became a self-employed Coppersmith.

CCfV takes a holistic view about the maintenance

and improvement of the quality of life and wellbeing

in Cornwall’s Communities and the need to increase

the social capital within neighbourhoods, villages

and towns. It reaches out into communities through

its seven offices and through Cornwall’s 270 schools

cultivating volunteers to support children and young

people assisting neighbourhood linkages to develop

community cohesion. Its priorities are based on the

need to develop greater individual ownership of the

changes taking place in people’s lives; it is about

becoming involved in the social, environmental and

economic aspects of community life and becoming

active citizens in the design, development and

delivery of services (co-production).

There is considerable concern about a number

of significant issues like climate change, peak

oil and demographic changes taking place in

Cornwall and the impact these strategic concerns

will have on the future wellbeing of young people.

Cornwall is finalising a new Sustainable Community

Strategy with a focus on prevention, collaboration

and distributed leadership. One approach being

developed rough this strategy is looking at ‘life

events’, seeing how partners can mitigate the

impacts of problems and identifying opportunities to

support aspirations.

CCfV works on many other initiatives such as

working with the Department of Adult Social Care on

supporting vulnerable adults and linking this work

to Children’s Services to develop intergenerational

activity, working with Disability Cornwall on the

development of an Independent Living Centre,

develops health champions within communities,

promotes sports and cultural volunteering and

assists young people into employment through a

number of programmes using volunteering as the

route way. It also runs a significant voluntary car

scheme to enable people in remote rural areas to

access services; it currently undertakes about 45,000

journeys per annum and covers 1.6 million miles

around the rural county of Cornwall.






5. The Bishop’s Forum Website: www.bishopsforum.org/index.html

The Bishop’s Forum is a long-established charity set up to support the Community and in particular the Young People of Cornwall. We have worked with thousands of individuals from across the South West and operate from three sites in Cornwall and also through an extensive Outreach network.

The Bishop’s Forum runs a number of specialist core programmes focusing on the disadvantaged or disabled

young people of Cornwall. Though they are tailored to individual and group needs each of them uses outdoor

activities as a medium to develop vital life skills.

Term time programmes that aim to develop life skills

and build confidence.

A 12-week programme for young people not in

Education, training or employment.

A charity supporting young people in care to develop

independent living skills.

After school activities for young people based in

South Kerrier.

Multi activity programmes for schools and clubs

across the county.






6. Pool Business and Enterprise College Website: www.pool.cornwall.sch.uk

All schools in Cornwall provide a welcoming safe caring environment which recognizes and respects cultural diversity. By way of example Pool Business and Enterprise College has high standards in all areas of learning and recognizes that there are particular factors which may impact upon the attainment and achievement of the pupils.

The school promotes racial equality and the staff

and pupils accept and respect Traveller culture and

lifestyle. Parents are involved in all aspects of their

children’s welfare and with their full support and

involvement with the school the children have settled

well into school.

The children are supported by a Traveller Teachers

Assistant who monitors their attendance.

Consequently, their overall attendance is up 11%

on the previous year. Currently there are 19 Gypsy

Roma children on role. The children feel an integral

part of the school community which gives them a

sense of belonging as is reflected by their positive

behaviour. The school has excellent links with the

Traveller community; all the families are valued. The

children are more involved in Pool’s extended school

provision, for example individuals attended dance

workshops during the holidays and children have

attended school trips and residentials.

In June the school celebrated the Gypsy Roma

Traveller History Month by holding a week long

exhibition which was open to the school community

and the public. The exhibition was supported by

many outside agencies and was a very successful

event. Lord Avebury at the House of Lords sent a

very encouraging letter in response to the exhibition.

Success 2006 - present

In November 2006 a Gypsy pupil completed a week

long army residence at Penhale army training camp

in Newquay accompanied by the teaching assistant.

April 07:

Gypsy pupil and her mum visited Rosewarne College

for an interview to enable her to go to college in

September 07. She was successful and enrolled as a

student.

September 2007:

A Gypsy pupil was chosen as Deputy Head Boy

A Gypsy pupil was given an achievement certificate

for positive behaviour and attitude whilst

participating in School Links at Cornwall College

Three Gypsy pupils were employed by Morrison’s

Supermarket.



December 2007:

Five Gypsy pupils were presented with prizes for

good attendance.

March 2008:

Attendance certificates and Easter eggs awarded to 9

Gypsy pupils for outstanding attendance.

A Gypsy pupil passed hairdressing NVQ Level 1.

March and April 2008:

Five Gypsy pupils attended the TR14ers Dance

Workshop an d were awarded T shirts.

May 2008:

A Gypsy pupil entered GCSE’s Science, Maths,

English, Media and Design Technology. The first

Gypsy Roma boy at school to sit GCSEs.

Four Gypsy pupils made cakes at home and sold

them on the site and at school. They made £35 and

gave the proceeds to Curnow School (for children

with complex needs). This was their own idea!

Five Gypsy children again attended the TR14ers

Dance Workshop (wearing their T shirts).

Attendance percentage amongst Gypsy pupils up to

89.4% compared to end of last May which was 78.2%.

June 2008:

Gypsy pupils led the Gypsy Roma Traveller History

Month Exhibition at School and achieved full

participation in the school activity week.




7. The Beacon Project 1995 – 2008 Website: www.sensorytrust.org.uk/news/newsletters/newsletter_3/beacon.html

‘This community and nurse led project has completely turned around a Cornish estate which was in the grips of poor health, strife and fear.’

Tony Blair, Prime Minister - July 5th 1999 NHS Nye Bevan award

Before

In the mid-1990s, the Beacon and Old Hill Estate in

Falmouth (pop 6000) was in the depths of despair

.Officially the poorest ward located in Cornwall,

England’s poorest county, it was caught in a spiral of

decline.

In a climate of mistrust between the police and

community violent crime, drug dealing and

intimidation were rife. With little central heating,

the cold, damp grey homes housed a community

whose illness rate was 18% higher than the national

average. Largely abandoned by the statutory

agencies, it was an estate that had become isolated

Above all, the community had lost its spirit and its

people were no longer holding their heads high. Now,

thanks to a joint community/nurse led partnership

it has been re-born. Its self-esteem has returned.

Below are just some of the many transformational

outcomes which not only have been sustained but in

2008 improved upon.

After

• By 1999, the overall crime rate had dropped by

50%.

• Affordable central heating and external cladding

had been installed in over 70% of the properties

• Childhood asthma rates decreased 40% and

schooldays lost reduced

• Child Protection Registrations had dropped by

42%.

• Post-natal depression was down by 70%.

• Breast feeding rates increased by 30%

• The educational attainment of 10-11 year old boys

– i.e., level 4, key stage 2 – was up by 100%.

• In 2002 there were no unwanted teenage

pregnancies.

• Unemployment rate fell by 71% amongst both

males and females.



These achievements were recognized by central

government when the community was awarded

the NHS Nye Bevan Award for excellence. The

sustainability of the regeneration process was

further recognized in the form of the presentation

of a Queen’s Jubilee Award in June, 2003, and the

Deputy Prime Minister’s National Award for the

Most Sustainable Community. The estate has been

subject to a Royal visit and has also been visited by 3

Secretaries of State for Health.

The Beacon Community Regeneration Partnership

is now in its 12th year and continues to be the heart

and driving force of this vibrant community. The

partners have not just been content to settle for

sustainability of the remarkable outcomes of 2000

but continually strive to achieve improved services

for the whole community.

By Beacon reducing asthma rates (and school days

lost), increasing academic attainment, reducing child

protection registration and post natal depression

and providing play areas and a skateboard park, the

Beacon Project has improved children and young

people’s access to integrate in their community.

Beacon Project: Before and after




8. Rock Community Land Trust Self Build Scheme Website: www.ncdc.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=25237

Rock is a coastal village in North Cornwall, long favoured as a holiday area and now experiencing increasing levels of second and holiday home ownership which drives the housing market and make it more difficult for young people to live within their historic community in the face of escalating house prices.

Home Sweet Home People at Penmayne

After the organisers have negotiated the bureaucratic minefield that makes community housing schemes so difficult, these pictures taken at the Penmayne Self-build projectshow show what it’s really all about. Above: Electrician Dan Boswell says putting up ceilings makes a nice change. Left: Artist Alan Caswell shows he's as good with a roller as he is with a brush! Right: Mike O'Boyle with wife Debbie and daughter Kila in what will soon be their home and garden. Photos: Martin Broadfoot.

Home Sweet Home People at Penmayne

After the organisers have negotiated the bureaucratic minefield that makes community housing schemes so difficult, these pictures taken at the Penmayne Self-build projectshow show what it’s really all about. Above: Electrician Dan Boswell says putting up ceilings makes a nice change. Left: Artist Alan Caswell shows he's as good with a roller as he is with a brush! Right: Mike O'Boyle with wife Debbie and daughter Kila in what will soon be their home and garden. Photos: Martin Broadfoot.

Above: Putting up ceilings puts a smile on electrician Dan Bosley’s

face. Right: Artist Alan Caswell swaps his paintbrush for a roller.

The high numbers of affluent incomers screen the

poverty within the resident population. A community

self help effort has responded to the affordable

housing problem with the first Community Land

Trust Self Build Scheme in England. It is not shared

ownership or to rent and as a pilot offers a useful

route map for others to follow.

North Cornwall District Council facilitated the project

with a £5000 grant and a loan of £544,000 funded

by increased council tax on second homes. The

loan will be repaid as mortgage advances become

available. The Cornwall Rural Housing Association

is providing advice and guidance throughout the

various processes. The development of 12 properties

on an exception site close to village facilities and

just outside the village boundary received over 40

registrations of interest from eligible self builders

with strong local connections and an income too low

to enable them to buy suitable housing on the open

market.

The design is straightforward, for affordability and

ease of self build. The Trust is enabled to implement

the infrastructure, foundations and timber frame

construction and to purchase materials in multiples

of 12, again for affordability. Values are geared to

31.3% of open market value, which also applies to

future sales to qualifying people.

The 12 self builders are working as a team under

the direction of a retained project manager. Because

they have day jobs most of the work takes place over

weekends and evenings. It is central to the scheme

that the team, rather than individuals, build the 12

properties and that everyone will be in their new

home by Christmas 2008.






9. Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C) Website: www.cn4c.org.uk

Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change is a charity and a social enterprise whose mission is to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Cornwall. Formed out of a partnership of residents and social landlords, CN4C delivers vital services to people, places and communities across Cornwall.

Through its People department CN4C provides a

range of personalized services to individuals. These

focus on increasing disposable income by providing

pathways to employment and learning and training

opportunities.

CN4C’s People services are based on intensive

and customized personal support and guidance,

access to a back-to-work fund, and an innovative

programme of community-based training events.

CN4C’s Places department provides a range of social

housing, neighbourhood and estate support services.

CN4C’s Places services are based on the principle

that neighbourhood improvement is a key aspect of

both empowering and involving residents and making

a real and noticeable improvement in quality of life

on social housing estates in Cornwall.

CN4C’s Communities department provides a range

of community and family focused services. CN4C’s

Communities services are based on the working

with communities and groups who face specific

disadvantages and needs.

Many social housing estates in Cornwall have high

concentrations of young people and children living

cheek by jowl with older and vulnerable residents.

The provision of youth work and play development

are vital to create resources for disadvantaged young

people and children and to improve community

safety.

There are strong links between CN4C’s work with

individuals, the places they live, and the communities

they live in.






10. St. Petroc’s Society Website: www.housingnet.co.uk/housingnet-html/Saint_Petroc_s_Society.html

St Petroc’s Society was the first organization in Cornwall to provide accommodation and social care services to meet the needs of single homeless people. Formed in 1986 at the instigation of the Bishop of St Germans, it has considerable support from all the churches, local communities and dedicated groups of “Friends”.

Single homeless people are those who, more often

than not, fall outside the responsibility of statutory

authorities. Very often they are sleeping ‘rough’

and may have a range of difficulties, including

drug or alcohol dependency, mental ill health,

relationship problems or an offending lifestyle,

which contribute to their homelessness and social

exclusion. Homelessness in Cornwall shows no sign

of slowing down as year upon year demand continues

to increase and chase an all too small number of

vacancies.

St Petroc’s believes that if any impact is to be made

in reducing the problems then this can only be

achieved by partnership working across the county.

Agreements must be made across the sectors,

Public, Private and Voluntary, to provide services

to those most in need and vulnerable. Only by

collaborative work will we as a county meet the

requirements of our communities in the coming

years.

As an organization, St Petroc’s continues to be at

the forefront of promoting partnership work and will

continue to put the needs of our clients at the top of

the agenda. Only this way can we hope to maintain

our role as a support service to the most isolated and

vulnerable members of our communities.






11. Cornwall Rural Community Council (CRCC) Website: www.cornwallrcc.co.uk

Cornwall Rural Community Council is a Cornish charity dedicated to working with, and strengthening, Cornish communities; and to supporting vulnerable groups and individuals within them.

It runs a wide variety of projects across Cornwall for

individuals, for groups, and for communities as a

whole including:

Young People Too (YP2)

This service is designed to develop key skills and

raise levels of self–esteem amongst young people

in the clay area of Restormal. Ultimately, if a young

person wants to do something in their local area,

YP2 will endeavour to make it possible for them,

thus building their self-esteem and showing them

that their local community values them. The Voucher

Scheme, which is central to the project, offers a

set amount of money to year 9s at Brannel School

(the main secondary school for the Clay Area). This

money can be used for an activity of their choice, but

to access it they must demonstrate that they have

organised the trip or event themselves. They must

show that they have researched costs, transport,

organized a date as a group and arranged adult

supervision. This builds key life skills such as

communicating, budgeting and planning.



Social Inclusion

This service works with disadvantaged young people in north and east Cornwall

who have the least opportunity to reach their potential and are in danger of

exclusion from mainstream activities such as work, education, training, social

activities and family and community life. It also provides support to the Cornwall

Independent Poverty Forum and the Black and Minority Ethnic community.

Young Carers

Giving information, arranging time out, giving

practical help and listening to children and young

carers who are living with disabled or chronically

sick adults or children, carrying out caring

responsibilities that may undermine or interfere

with their schooling and social and emotional

development.




12. Kernow Youth Theatre Website: www.kernow-youth-theatre.co.uk

A newly established countywide youth theatre company for 13 to 20 year olds which aims to bring together young people from the whole of Cornwall to work together with a range of professional practitioners to develop their theatrical skills by creating high quality and innovative theatrical projects throughout Cornwall.

The company, which already has support from the

National Theatre in London, aims to bring together

talented actors, aged 13 to 20, from Penzance to

Liskeard under one umbrella organization. The

company will take part in the National Theatre’s

Connections project, which sees youth and school

drama groups performing a new theatrical work.

We will perform a new play called A Vampire Story on

a tour of Cornish supermarket car parks from March

until July 2008, before transferring to Plymouth’s

Drum Theatre.

Kernow Youth Theatre is open to all children and young

people regardless of background or experience. It is

actively looking to establish relationships with schools

and a wide range of youth groups so that it can offer

the experience of theatre to those young people who

may never have thought of joining a theatre company

as well as those who are already involved. The theatre

aims to provide a different opportunity for both groups

by creating links and friendships across the county.

Kernow Youth Theatre - Cornwall.

All potential members are auditioned at various sites

across Cornwall and invited to take part in a series of

workshops/training days. Once accepted as a member

they are eligible to take part in any of the productions/

events that the company stages.

The theatre aims to be part of the creative framework

in Cornwall that will help to discover, develop and

sustain creative talent inside the county. it has just

finished its first production “A Vampire Story” which

saw a group of some 20 youngsters from a wide

area of Cornwall take a new play to the three ASDA

Supermarkets at Penryn, St Austell and Bodmin as

well as The Drum at The Theatre Royal Plymouth and

the Golowan Festival at Penzance.

The theatre aims to build a group that not only reflects

Cornwall by taking on ambitious projects but also

develops our own outreach programme to support

local initiatives across the county.


29


Conclusion

Conclusion

Rich social capital is one of a rural community’s most important assets. Village associations, agricultural shows, community festivals and sports clubs illustrate the wealth of Cornwall’s social capital. It exists within the complexity of the local human ecology. Its existence is independent of the local, regional, national or world economy. It is there to be released given the right interventions dependent upon the prevailing economic conditions.

Children and young people burst with energy

provided they are given opportunities and support

that initiate the release of that energy. Given enough

space and the right social conditions children and

young people can create new possibilities for their

neighbourhoods, disadvantaged or not through

coming together and sharing local concerns across

generations.

Community development workers and voluntary

organizations must support children and young

people to want to improve their neighbourhood and

enjoy doing so. Central to this vision of Cornwall’s

future is fairness for everyone. Fairness values

local distinctiveness and local people’s sense of

place. Local community action alone cannot achieve

social justice and fairness. Local problems are

predominately a product of the failure of public and

private sector delivery systems and of the socio

economic structure of society and not the individuals

in rural societies themselves.

The case studies illustrate the regeneration that

occurs when local young people can access assets

for community wellbeing and public benefit. Asset

Based Community Development builds the capacity

of people to participate actively in finding ways to

enjoy improving their neighbourhoods. However, in

order to release local assets and capacity and enable

children and young people to integrate with their

neighbourhoods, regional and national government

must empower community level democracy and

consequently disempower themselves.

Local people, voluntary and statutory organizations

have been mobilised to offer rights led provision for

children and young people. The relationship between

the statutory and voluntary sector is constantly

improving because we recognize that the Cornwall’s

Children’s services belong to Cornwall’s children and

young people.

Through its case studies this document illustrates

how children and young people are integrated in

local services and provision with no pretence that all

the problems are being dealt with. Explicitly we need

help with:

• Overcoming obstacles like housing benefit

arrangements

• Prevention of problems by anticipation and

upstream funding

• Improving community development through

participative democracy


30A report for the Council of Europe’s Committee on Culture and Education


Page Heading

Main text

Main text

Cornwall's disadvantaged neighbourhoods

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