Havering Voluntary Sector Conference 2013 - LBH Community Engagement Presentation
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Transcript of Havering Voluntary Sector Conference 2013 - LBH Community Engagement Presentation
Community EngagementStrategyClaire Thompson
Corporate Policy & Community Manager
London Borough of Havering21st May 2013
What is community engagement?• Influence
• Networks
• Inclusion
• Identity
• Cohesion
• Localism
Why is it important to the Council?• What matters to local people?• Meeting the needs of our customers • Community leadership
• Cohesive neighbourhoods• Being able to help those people who most need
extra support• Civic pride
• Managing expectations in times of reduced public spending
What do residents of Havering tell us?• They want to be involved only in important
decisions that affect them• They don’t want the council to interfere in their
lives• Easy access to the Council• They want to get involved in their communities• They are proud to live in Havering and think it’s a
nice place to live• Health services, crime and clean streets matter
most to them
Community Engagement Strategy
3 Aims:
• Local people are ‘active citizens’
• Accessible Council
• Voluntary and community sector as enablers and key partners
1. Active citizens• Organise themselves to bring about change with
little involvement from ‘state’• Local people taking responsibility for everyday
problems• Working together to improve the quality of life• Looking out for older people• Volunteering
– From clean-ups to family mentoring
Active Living• A new programme to keep older people
engaged and socially included• A direct result of Over 65s volunteer consultation
project• The Havering Circle• Befriending schemes• Free swimming• Discounted theatre tickets• Volunteering opportunities
2. Access to the council
• Single telephone number
• New website
• Councillors
• Face-to-face
• New consultation methods
• Community groups
3. A successful voluntary sector
• Voluntary, community and faith • 800+ organisations• New social enterprises and not-for-profit• £200m a year into local economy• Delivering services• Tackling social exclusion• Challenging financial times
Council support to VCF sector• Financial – grants, contracts• Cushioned from impact of cuts• Community Chest small grants pot• Support to apply for funding
• Capacity building and training• Discounted rent on premises• Fund networking opportunities • 100% Rate relief
Questions
• How can we work together encourage more volunteer action?
• How well do you think the council works with the voluntary sector?
• How can organisations better engage with each other and with the Council?
• How can we improve understanding and tolerance?