1

Working alongside Communities - being creative, encouraging activity and developing sustainability. A case study of local practice

PAT CARRINGTON

PRINCIPAL / ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT

CITY COLLEGE PETERBOROUGH/ PETERBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL

Our Approach

2

Developing the capacity for “Systems Thinking”

“Systems Leaders are those who are in the front line, wrestling with the complexities of local context, asking better and deeper questions about themselves, of others and “the System”.

Ballantyne et al, 2006

So what’s required?

Collaboration – working across organisational boundaries, operating in networks without clear rules, instinctively making connections, building shared values and trust, drawing on a wide range or perspectives and resources across systems; and building coalitions of support. Cooperation – professionals communicating and working together with communities.

3

So how did we go about doing it?

We went out of their way to make new connections

Adopted an open, enquiring mind set, refusing to be constrained by current horizons

Embraced uncertainty and were positive about change – adopting an entrepreneurial attitude

Drew on as many different perspectives as possible (and we still doing this)

Ensure leadership and decision-making are distributed throughout all levels and functions

Most Importantly, work to establish a compelling vision which is shared by all partners in the whole system

Community Serve - Peterborough

The themes - early help and prevention work focusing on isolation, carers, life limitations and

communities.

Areas – Can-Do, Westwood and Ravensthorpe, The Ortons and Parnwell.

The initiatives - needs based and co-designed by local residents.

A physical hub Setting up of community serve points

Local volunteering Delivery of Skills and Employment programmes

A local time bank Classes to support Health and Wellbeing

A Super- Kitchen Information, Advice and Guidance

Redevelopment of open space Preventative and support work

The approach - positive, use local knowledge and skills, harnessing the goodwill of residents and build on

established networks and groups. Engagement and collaboration with schools, faith communities, GPs and

local pharmacies. Working with partners.

One area we will pilot a programme that supports the weekend discharge of older people from hospital.

4

CommUNITY Meet and Eat

Social Dining experience.

3 course meal for £2.50

Made from Fare Share Food.

• Sharing skills

• Cooking a healthy meal on a budget

• Making new friends

• A community coming together

• Volunteering opportunities

• Pay forward scheme A great way to chat to and gain views of the local community

First one held September 27th

60 attendees

10 volunteers

National Literacy Trust attended

Sponsorship of £300

Menu ◦ Broccoli and Stilton Soup

◦ Shepherd’s pie with carrots and parsnips

◦ Apple and Blackberry crumble

5

CommUNITY Meet and Eat to date Venue Attendees

Brook Street 342 – Sept 16 – March 17

Parnwell 64 – Dec 16 – March 17

Jigsaw Centre 86 – Jan 17 – March 17

Stafford Hall 44 – Dec 16 – March 17

Gladstone Park 153 – Dec 16 – March 17

Total 689

Community Hubs – Gladston Park Opened January 2017

To date visited by 124 local people

Developing dementia drop-ins

Vivacity and Peterborough presents project workshops

Worked with BBC Radio 5live – “My Britain”

Interest from Age UK re a befriending service from the hub

Liaising with local food bank on Meet and Eat

Carers trust – drop-in sessions

Public Health - referral to free exercise classes

Supported Community First for exercise programme for Asian ladies

Specific projects to reduce isolation

Developing work with Gladston school supporting parents and carers with disabled / special needs children.

Working with local Cllrs and residents to support the adoption of local flower beds

Official launch 10th March

Free Computer access

And of course information giving and enrolling on courses

6

Community Courses in the “Can-Do” Area VARIETY OF FREE COURSE RUN IN THE COMMUNITY PLANNED TO HELP IMPROVE HEALTH AND

WELLBEING AND DEVELOP CONFIDENCE AND SKILLS

Programme linked to the JSNA and planned with Public Health. Delivered through Free ESOL courses, tailored to the group.

Themes covered include:

Health – GPs, Doctors, Pharmacists when to visit.

Alcohol, smoking, diet and exercise (higher cardio-vascular, respiratory and stroke risks in some communities).

Women and Children's Health Issues.

Mental Health

Housing: rights and responsibilities as a tenant

Education and Children

Work and Benefits. Contracts and Tax. Health and Safety.

The Law, including driving and anti-social behavior.

Money management.

Information, advice and guidance is offered and progression opportunities to work, further learning or volunteering are promoted.

The Local Action Group were involved in deciding what courses would meet the needs of their communities. Those that have run to date

include:

Radio Production 1

Basic First Aid

ESOL English Classes

Create your own website

Dressmaking for Beginners

To date 87 Enrolments

Planned courses

Introduction to email / internet First Aid

Dressmaking for beginners Wedding Flowers

ESOL Family craft

Indian Cooking Skills Get Blogging

Demographics

VISITS TO HUB

Ethnicity Numbers % Afghanistan 2 1.61

Black African 2 1.61

Brazilian 1 0.81

British Pakistani 69 55.65

Czech 4 3.23

Lithuanian 17 13.71

Portuguese 2 1.61

Slovakian 1 0.81

Polish 2 1.61

White 2 1.61

Indian 4 3.23

Lativian 15 12.10

Romanian 1 0.81

Syrian 2 1.61

COURSE ENROLMENT

Ethnicity No Learners Enrolments %

White British 3 3 4 %

Any Other White

background

9 9 12 %

Indian 5 6 7 %

Pakistani 41 50 55 %

Bangladeshi 2 4 3 %

Any other Asian

background

2 2 3 %

African 3 3 4 %

Caribbean 1 1 1 %

Any other ethnic

group

2 2 3 %

Not provided 7 7 9 %

7

Other Area Activity and Way Forward OTHER AREAS

Hub now established at the Herlington Centre.

Drop in facilities available at the Jigsaw Centre.

Stakeholder engagement taking place within the other areas

Courses are being planned for June and will follow the model already in place within the Can-Do area.

Westwood and Ravensthorpe – working with the Big Local and Cross Keys to support work currently being undertaken.

FOCUS MOVING FORWARD

Plan to be completed for the Ortons which mirrors processes undertaken within Can-do.

Steering group to be established within the Ortons (initial group met in March).

Can-do steering group meeting is being arranged to consult on the planned £7.5m capital project announced in February.

Volunteer scheme to be identified for all areas.

Meetings set up with Public Health to discuss closer working.

The Journey continues… We need to engage with the wider community

We need to establish further partners who have knowledge and experience

We need to start embedding sustainability

We need to develop robust, meaningful impact measures (not just input)

We need to carry out cost benefit analysis

Event though at the start, we need to be formulating an exit strategy

8