insert images *6

You Said - We’re Doing

Neighbourhood Governance programme progress report

This report gives an overview of progress with addressing the top community priorities for Area West as agreed by local people, Councillors and partners through the ‘Your Say, Your Way’ programme.

It also covers area updates on the keys themes of stronger & safer communities, health & wellbeing and environment & economy

Meeting Title West Area Board

Date 9 October 2012

Name of Chair Councillor Aslam Khan

Reporting Adam Divney Officer Updates on Local Community Priorities

Police presence in In response to an increase in burglaries in the Challney Area, Police organised a 'Street Meet' on 27 September with the aim of distributing crime prevention information and equipment, signing residents onto the 'Ringmaster' community awareness and 'Pray' anti theft schemes, collecting any appropriate intelligence that may help lead to a reduction in further burglaries and involving local volunteers, cadets and LBC officers. Outcomes included:

 engaging with over 120 residents  changed number plate screws on 20 vehicles  identified vulnerable residents that require support in future

Exercise & dietary support in

 Working in partnership, Borough Council and the 'Friends of Spider Park Group', has secured £15K Cleaner & greener funding from WREN for McDonalds teamed up with Luton Borough some outdoor equipment Council and a volunteer team from the local to be installed at the park. community to help carry out a 'tidy up'  Public Health is working alongside community challenge day in Lewsey. organisations to signpost residents to their GP for  Over 70 large bags full of rubbish collected. referral into a commercial slimming club (Weight  Very positive comments from local people. Watchers and shortly Slimming World) or an  The event follows on from another volunteer exercise programme. challenge with Thomsons in June that saw  Ramblers Association 'Get Walking Keep Walking' them take gardening and litter picking at project launched Autumn 2012 with 25 short, urban Lewsey Green. walking routes in the West area, including Hockwell  It also follows a community clean up event Ring, Lewsey, Luton & Hospital and in Hockwell Ring organised by the local Chaul End Community Centre. Mosque with LBC Community Development (see PB projects handout for further details).

Better access to GPs in Challney Community Development and Public Health are working closely with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to ensure that the local community remains up to date with changes to the NHS  Patients can contact the Patient Liaison Service (PALS) if they are dissatisfied with the care they receive from their GP.  Public Health are planning to provide a small number of community free NHS Health Checks for people between the ages of 40 and 74 years in the area starting in the Autumn.

Stronger & Safer Communities

National Citizens Service (NCS) Young people in Luton were involved in 'Social Action' Projects in Lewsey and Challney.

 In Challney, the young people helped to arrange the centre’s playschemes, assisted day care services and also Awards for local people and organisations supported the children’s centre The Chaul End Centre all of the good work Hopkins. Winners on stay and play sessions. was the venue for carried out by the night included:  In Lewsey, a group of young Challney’s inaugural individuals, PSCO Lynne people spent a week at the Community Awards volunteers and McNumm for advice centre producing and putting night on 14 September partner organisations and support and Peter together a digital archive DVD 2012. The event was within the Chaul End Smith for exceptional using existing archive material th organised by officers Centre. The event achievement for his to be shown at the centre’s 40 from the centre and was attended by local work with the anniversary celebration to be Cllr Tom Shaw, and ward councillors, the Evergreeners held in November. held to acknowledge Mayor and MP Kelvin community group.

New user Summer activities for Local young people also attended area trips with neighbouring young committee & youth young people people from the north area of Luton to club for centre A busy summer period saw a Herts Young Mariners Base, Thorpe Hockwell Ring Community variety of activities taking place for Park, Fairlands Valley Water Park, Centre has a new user young people. Activities included and Stubbers Activity Centre where committee that, having healthy cooking sessions, media they benefitted from learning sailing, organised the summer BBQ, arts project and music production canoeing, jet skiing and abseiling. are now organising a barn with a DJ Academy. dance. Also new to the centre is a junior youth club, Challney Youth Zone was the which will be run by venue for various activities to volunteers on Wednesday including; music workshops, circus evenings for young people in skills and the ancient Japanese art school years 3 to 6. of origami.

L-Town Bus Upcoming community activities & events The youth-focused L-Town Bus  Saturday 13 October 2012 – Lewsey Annual Awards Night – has been active in the Hockwell celebrating the accomplishments of local people Ring area on Friday lunchtimes  Half term week (WC 26/10) playschemes - will be run at Hockwell, throughout the summer and Lewsey Community Centre continues with its regular  Saturday 10 November 2012 - 40th year Celebration at Lewsey Wednesday evening session. Community Centre To date the bus has attracted  Seasonal events – there will be many events and activities taking the younger age group and staff place at our Community Centres in December (for all ages) have been focusing on some including fayres, parties for older and younger people and also the preventative work on anti social chance to get children involved in the town’s annual lantern parade and risky behaviour.  Health & Wellbeing

Volunteer Health Champions diabetes checks in Leagrave As part of an action plan to address the major causes of low life expectancy in Leagrave, an awareness raising day around Diabetes, for Diabetes Week 2012, was organised at the Hockwell Ring Community Centre in Leagrave. The event took place 13 June and included information stands on preventing and living with Diabetes and Weight Watchers. A diabetes specialist Nurse was on hand to administer the diabetes risk questionnaire. The event was supported by a team of four volunteer Health Champions who helped promote the event to residents throughout the day. Outcomes from the event included  26 People seen by diabetes specialist nurse  one person deemed high risk of diabetes  eight referrals to Weight Watchers  4 referrals to DESMOND (Diabetes support group) Community day. health & Lewsey pool refurbishment wellbeing A Weight event Watchers in information display. Free tea or coffee for people waiting to see the DSN Challney Lewsey pool is about to undergo a major refurbishment A community health & well being event was held on 4 October The planned upgrades include 2012 with the aim of actively re-tiling the pool walls and bringing both male and female installation of new disabled Active Luton’s ongoing members of the community and family changing facilities. commitment to improve the together, giving advice on health Work will begin on the 1 facilities it operates on behalf of & wellbeing. The event was November 2012 and last Luton BC. The Hydra learn to funded through the ‘Your Say, approximately 12 weeks with swim programme and much of Your Way’ participatory the centre re-opening on 26 the current swim programme will budgeting and Downside School January 2013. Much of the merge with Lea Manor in response to local community work is unavoidable but we Recreation Centre. For further priorities. For more information expect the upgrades to provide information, please contact please refer to the community a more pleasant customer Lewsey Sports Park, tel: 01582 projects handout. experience and are part of 60 42 44.

'Heart-wise' workshops Olympic legacy for young people Building on the national Olympic spirit shown this summer, two events were held Barnfield West Youth Zone ran a with children and young people from area series of workshops focusing on west including: health & wellbeing, including ‘Heartwise’ – in partnership with  A post Olympics event held at Hockwell Active Luton (Alive and Kicking Ring Community Centre to celebrate programme). Young people were the end of the Olympics and to encouraged to look at both emphasise the importance of exercising exercise and diet with an aim to and the value of sport. improve their general health and  Young People were also involved in the fitness. Young people also cultural Olympiads 'Godiva Awakes' attended a ‘save a life’ first aid project and dressed up to see the 60ft course giving them basic life Godiva statue make its way through the saving skills. town centre.

Environment & Economy

New play equipment in Challney

Following consultation with local residents through the 'Your Say, Your Way' programme, over a two-year period, new play equipment has now been installed in Chaul End Open Space.  The installation follows on from efforts from LBC Parks, Community Development, Councillors and local groups to gain external funding for the project.  The play equipment is just part of a 'master plan' for the area, which has recently seen new trees planted in various locations.  An official opening is planned for October and further information on this event can be found at the Chual End Centre.

Queen Elizabeth New courses for residents playing fields designation in The Council’s Luton Adult Learning service has unveiled a new look to coincide with an increase in the range of courses and learning Lewsey opportunities on offer, falling into distinct learning strands - ‘business and skills’, ‘community learning’ and ‘leisure learning. Lewsey Park has been recognised as one of Luton's The ‘business and skills’ strand includes apprenticeships, while the best district parks with a new ‘community learning’ strand includes ESOL for living in the UK and Queen Elizabeth II playing confidence building with English and maths and also a range of field designation. community information workshops including preparing for retirement, The project, which has been affordable warmth, money management, democracy and volunteering. organised by Fields in Trust with support from Prince ‘Leisure Learning’ courses are aimed at people looking for a bit of fun William, is designed to and relaxation, or as a new hobby including floristry/flower arranging, honour the Queen’s Diamond various arts and crafts, health and beauty, hair care, fashion, Jubilee by providing dressmaking, stitched textiles, food studies, computing, foreign protection for Britain’s best languages, recreation and exercise. green spaces to ensure that they continue to be enjoyed For more information visit www.lutonacl.ac.uk or call 01582 49 00 33. by future generations.

Hospital travel plan update The Trust board adopted travel plan in July 2012. The overall aim of the travel plan is to increase the number of staff, patients and visitors travelling to the hospital by walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing, whilst reducing dependency on the single-occupancy private car. Updates include:  Bicycle parking project providing additional five secure spaces for staff and 52 additional spaces for the public (of which 34 are sheltered). Bicycle pump installed at the main entrance.  303 members of staff participated in three Travel Luton sessions this summer. Travel Advisors were providing staff with free local transport information and advice to help to plan a more sustainable or active journey to work.  Equipment upgrade to all patients’ car parks is now completed. This includes better communication about spaces availability and installation of variable message signs for St. Mary’s car parkA planning application for the erection of parking spaces on the existing Farringdon Fields car park was lodged with in August. The anticipated date for determination by the Council is mid-November. The application involves the creation of 110 additional spaces. Subject to the application being approved by the Council, the Hospital currently envisage installation of the deck by the end of November 2012.   . 'Your Say, Your Way' ...in West Luton

Your Local Councillors

Challney

 Cllr Khtija Malik [email protected]  Cllr Tahir Malik [email protected]  Cllr Tom Shaw [email protected]  Councillor Surgeries - Every Monday 10am - 12pm - Chaul End Centre, 515 Dunstable Road

Leagrave

 Cllr Waheed Akbar [email protected]  Cllr Desline Stewart [email protected]  Cllr Sheila Roden [email protected]  Councillor Surgeries - 1st and 3rd Saturday (monthly exc. August)10am - 12pm - Hockwell Ring Community Centre, Mayne Avenue

Lewsey

 Cllr Joan Bailey [email protected]  Cllr Aslam Khan [email protected]  Cllr Hazel Simmons [email protected]  Councillor Surgeries - Every Saturday 10am - 12 Community Centre, Landrace Road

West Local Policing Team For further information on this report Leagrave Police Station, High Street, or the ‘Your Say, Your Way’ Luton LU4 9LJ programme please call Community Development Service on 01582 55 87 75 email: LPT.Luton- or email: [email protected] [email protected] www.bedfordshire.police.uk [email protected]

Or visit www.luton.gov.uk/neighbourhood