Choose 4 Greater 2014

ow in its third year the Greater Choose 4 Greater Aylesbury 2014 N Aylesbury Local Area Forum’s enabled residents in the Greater participatory budgeting project Choose 4 Aylesbury local area the opportunity to Greater Aylesbury 2014 ran from 1 September - vote for which of the eight projects they 31 October. would like to see receive a share of 3,077 residents voted from across the Greater £17,500. Aylesbury area (Aylesbury Town, with Run by Greater Aylesbury Local Area Broughton, Park, , Forum (GALAF), Choose 4 Greater , Quarrrendon, , Aylesbury was open to residents of Watermead and Weedon). voting age and also young people who This year fourteen projects applied to take were actively encouraged to vote and part and were assessed against three areas: have their say through organised • Fit with Local Area Forum priorities activities or at school. • Fit with County All the participating projects met Council priorities local priorities which included Reducing • social isolation, Activities and facilities for Value for money. young people aged 11+ and youth The eight projects selected were: unemployment. • Aylesbury Homeless Action Group: Winter Councillors have their say at the Market Stall event Warmth Project • Aylesbury Youth Action • Bucks Play Association: Let’s Play Together • Healthy Living Centre: Community Carnival • Community Unity Projects • I have a Voice Too • CIC MASK Project • SPACE

Some of the projects “All the projects are submitted by local participating in Choose organisations and groups looking to improve the 4 Greater Aylesbury: local area for residents. Community Unity (left) It’s great to see even more residents getting and I have a Voice Too involved again this year, and taking up the (below) opportunity with such enthusiasm.”

County Councillor and GALAF Chairman, Brian Roberts

Voting

Voting was open to all residents in the Greater Aylesbury area, either online at: • Healthy Living Centre— www.choose4greateraylesbury.com or via • paper voting in ballot boxes throughout the Children’s Centre area. • Stoke Mandeville Community Centre • Tesco Extra Broadfields Voting was undertaken by ranking all eight • project choices from 1—3 (with 1 being the The ‘Hub’ at Thomas Hickman School highest). The top three projects received the £4,000, projects four, five and six received £1,500 with £500 for each of the final two projects.

Residents were asked to provide their postcode and name to preclude multiple voting and check that voters came from the area. All ballot forms not containing postcode and name details have been disqualified.

Ballot boxes, provided by AVDC, were placed in the following locations:

• Aylesbury Library • Church of the Good Shepherd- • Budgens • Bierton: The Bell public house • Bierton: The Red Lion public house The Market Square event • County Hall reception took place in Aylesbury • in early September. Buckingham Park Community Centre • Fairford Leys Community Centre • Community Centre

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The majority of the 3,077 valid votes were collected from the ballot boxes.

In addition there were 410 incorrectly completed or invalid forms which were not included in the final result.

• Many of the invalid forms from adults did not contain address or postcode information. This may be reduced in future by providing a FAQ on the other side explaining why this information is required.

• A large percentage of the votes came from

non-residents and these could not be considered. Voting can be online or by paper The form states that voting is open to residents in Greater Aylesbury and lists the youth group or village store, the voting boxes areas covered. were placed in pubs.

There were fewer incorrect forms from the Despite heavy promotion just over three Market Stall, Friars Square and Tesco voting percent of the votes came via the website at events, as there were people on hand to 88 but it was worthwhile as it gave residents check the forms if needed. This also meant another means of voting. that people with literacy difficulties were able to vote as was also the case at Aylesbury A free prize draw to receive vouchers donated by Library and some other locations where staff a local store could be offered. were on hand to assist with voting. Other activities/voting opportunities The busiest ballot boxes were those located at Tesco Extra Broadfields and the Friars Greater Aylesbury Market Square event Square shopping centre. The Tesco box filled An event involving all eight participating within one week, and was emptied several projects took place in Aylesbury Market times. The box had an extremely prominent Square on 15 September 2014. position with large posters publicising the project and the store kept the box in place for Over 500 voting forms were distributed and the whole period. 373 residents took the opportunity to vote, have refreshments sponsored by Aylesbury A wide range of other locations, business Town Council and talk to the participating premises and community buildings were used projects and also the members of the Local to increase the likelihood of residents coming Area Forum (LAF) in attendance, which across a voting box. In one village, without a included the County Councillors LAF

3 Chairman Brian Roberts, Netta Glover, Andy Group offered young people the opportunity Huxley and Bill Chapple. to vote.

Aylesbury Town Council sponsored the Other voting opportunities refreshments at the Market Stall event. Mix 96 All of the projects were given the opportunity publicised the event along with other social to take a stand in Friars Square, Aylesbury and media messages and newsletters in the also at Tesco Extra Broadfields, Aylesbury. relevant areas. Many of the projects valued the opportunity The market stall event could be held during the for further publicity and to promote the holiday period so that young volunteers could important work they do in the community. support and attend the event.

Local School activities

The Project was presented to many “It has been good to have the

Mandeville School pupils during their year opportunity to raise the project’s profile in such a public way. As a re- group assemblies. After hearing about the sult we have a couple of new folk at- projects, the pupils were given the tending our opportunity to vote. drop-ins, a new counselling client referred and I have met with some- Over 702 pupils voted, with 661 eligible votes one to discuss the possibility of vol- counted in the project results. unteering. It has been great for get- ting folk involved in taking ownership Young people’s activities of the project by staffing the stalls. 12 different volunteers have A range of activities were held in conjunction been involved at different stages.” with youth groups in the area. Fairford Leys Kate Lawton, Project Coordina-

Youth group who have an audience of 100 tor, SPACE young people aged between 10 to 16, and who also work closely with Buckingham

“The Students all said how much they valued being asked what they thought/what their opinions were as they felt that they are often ignored because they are ‘only children’. They liked that it was a real choice with real consequences, rather than a hypothetical one.”

Sue Clarke, PSHCE Coordinator at Mandeville School

Councillor Brian Adams and

Mandeville School Students Park Youth

4 Project Results • CIC : MASK Project • Community Unity Projects Points were awarded for each ranking given, with 1 scoring ten points, 2 scoring eight and Previous Years Results 3 scoring six. In the first year of running the project the top The top three projects receiving £4,000 each are: three projects all receiving £4000 were; • Aylesbury Homeless Action Group: Winter Identifying Young Carers, Boomerang Toy Warmth Project Library, Night stop Emergency • Bucks Play Association: Let’s Play Together Accommodation. • Aylesbury Youth Action The next three projects to receive funding of Last year the top three projects to receive full £1,500 are: funding of £4000 were: Aylesbury Homeless Action Group: Winter • SPACE Warmth Projects, Healthy Living Centre: • I have a Voice Too group for Deaf people and Men in Sheds • Healthy Living Centre: Community Carnival Aylesbury. The remaining two projects will each receive £500 funding:

Scores

5 Haydon Hill Community Southcourt Stoke Mandeville County Hall, 1 The Bell, Bierton, 23 Centre, 4 Children Community Youth For Budgens in Red Lion, Bierton, 4 Centre, 4 Centre , 6 Christ, 24 HUB Thomas Hickman Bedgrove, 11 School, 27 Queens Parks Centre, 31 Post, 35 Buckingham Park Website, Community Centre, 102 88 Healthy Living Centre Walton Court, 103

Mandeville School, 661 Healthy Living Centre, 105

Aylesbury, 132

Friars Square, 135

Tesco, 557 Fairford Leys Community Centre , 295

Library, 356 Market Event, 373

The number of valid votes per location or event

Acknowledgements • Buckingham Park Community Centre • Fairford Leys Community Centre On behalf of the Greater Aylesbury Local Area Forum, thanks are given to the following • Haydon Hill Community Centre businesses, organisations and schools for their • Healthy living Centre generous support for this project: • Mandeville School • • Aylesbury Library Southcourt Children’s Centre • • Aylesbury Town Council Stoke Mandeville Community Centre • • Aylesbury Vale District Council Tesco Extra Broadfields • • Aylesbury Vale Youth for Christ Thomas Hickman School, the HUB • Bedgrove Budgens The project was led, on behalf of the Greater • Bierton: The Bell public house Aylesbury Local Area Forum, by Paul Hodson • Bierton: The Red Lion public house and Natalie Judson, Locality Services. • For further information, please telephone 01296 382140 or email • Buckinghamshire County Council 6 [email protected] Aylesbury Homeless Action Group

Aylesbury Homeless Action Group is a project that helps to reduce social isolation, by providing an emergency night shelter in Aylesbury between January and the end of March 2015. The shelter will provide a warm, safe and friendly environment with a hot meal in the evening and breakfast. It will also offer a place for social interaction including games and television.

The night shelter offers one permanent venue for the 3 month period, providing stability for guests. This also has a facility to leave personal belongings in a secure place during the day and is near to the town centre.

The project will include access to case workers who work with the individual to assist guests in resolving issues and securing housing, thus removing them from the spiral of decline. The night shelter project is community focused. As well as supportive staff, AHAG are heavily supported by volunteers from the local community.

There are a number of other organisations working together to deliver this project including Aylesbury Vale District Council; Bucks County Council and .

For more information visit www.ahag.org.uk

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Bucks Play Association : Let’s Play Together

Bucks Play Association (BPA) is a registered charity aimed at promoting, supporting and developing inclusive play services for children, parents, childcare providers, and play providers in Buckinghamshire. Emphasis is on supporting those from disadvantaged areas and with spe- cific educational needs to have the same opportunities as other children in education and as those from more privileged backgrounds.

Funding will be used to support the Let’s Play Together Play Scheme (LPT) from November 2014 – April 2015. The project is open for children aged 5 to 12 years and is available to mainstream children & those with special educational needs.

At least 70% of the children attending the play scheme have additional support needs, e.g. Au- tism, Aspergers, Downs Syndrome. The scheme provides 6 places per day for children with complex medical/physical needs who require a dedicated support worker and provides one to one & two to one support.

A range of activities are provided. All are encouraged to take part in activities of learning/ discovery including sport, games & crafts. Some of children have Special Educational Needs and regularly attend the project. They have little access to other play or respite activities.

Resources will enable the project to offer respite to those families in need.

The project will hire entertainers to improve engagement & learning outcomes, supply addi- tional equipment/resources and giving additional free spaces to challenged families.

For further information visit www.bucksplay.co.uk

8 Aylesbury Youth Action

Aylesbury Youth Action works with young people aged 14-24 to plan and deliver weekly groups that tackle social isolation amongst its users, provide friendship, offer fun activities, and encourage interaction and engagement in the wider community. The activities also provide positive diversionary activities for the young people, developing skills in team work and leader- ship, offering valuable experience.

There are 5 groups running under this programme on a weekly basis: • Griffin Place – For homeless children staying in temporary accommodation. • The Spinal Unit – for children being treated at the paediatric spinal injuries ward, separated from friends and family for extended periods. • After School Club – for children who have experienced domestic violence & isola- tion. Generate – for older people living in care homes and sheltered housing. The Grove – for young people with physical and learning disabilities

The groups are each run by a small team of young people, and managed by a youth management group, supervised on the project at management level. For more information visit www.aylesburyyouthaction.co.uk

9 SPACE

Space started in 1997 and provides support and care to adults throughout Aylesbury Vale many who are going through difficult times so they don’t become isolated but are more inde- pendent and become more confident. These difficulties include relationship breakdown, loneli- ness, bereavement, long term health issues, homelessness, mental health issues and addictions, amongst others. The issues can be quite complex.

Through 4 weekly group drop-ins there will be a space ‘to be’, a place to have a cuppa, meet others, form community, have a head and shoulder massage, & find a listening ear. They will offer 3 hours a week of affordable counselling for those needing to explore issues further.

There will also be plenty of opportunities to become a volunteer to be there to listen at the drop in with all necessary training provided. A listening office will be open 15 hours per week, which guests can use as a place to offload one on one, get advice, and be signposted for further support.

For further information visit www.aylesburyspace.co.uk

10 I have a voice too!

I Have A Voice Too (IHAVT) is a group of parents and carers of adults with learning difficulties and special needs. Formed in 2013 with the intention to provide creative, edu- cational and social opportunities for people in the Aylesbury area so they could develop skills, form friendships and take on constructive challenges and responsibilities in contrib- uting to audiences and the wider community.

They began with a short play, The Christmas Mission , in December 2013. They currently run, with various partners, a series of professional acting tuition and personal skill develop- ment workshops with a group of disadvantaged adults, their families and carers, that will lead to the creation of a theatre production to engage audiences in local theatres, commu- nity centres and old peoples residential homes.

They intend to develop a continuous service, creating brilliant works of art, including inter- active experiences such as ‘murder mystery’ evenings, for local audiences. Sessions will be accompanied by further workshops for the participants on promotion, research, creative writing and fundraising, giving participants the opportunities to gradually take on more re- sponsibilities within the project and take ownership of it.

This project will bring greater visibility, respect and appreciation for those involved and improve personal relations between participants, family members, care staff, audiences, local community etc. They will provide creative developmental activities for people who are otherwise excluded from social and employment opportunities and are at the risk of requiring (more) intensive social care.

For further information visit www.ihaveavoicetoo.org 11 Healthy Living Centre: Community Carnival

The Healthy Living Centre want to run a number of courses, workshops and activities en- gaging young people, particularly from Walton Court and Southcourt Wards so that they are able to make an active contribution to the Community Carnival to run in summer 2015.

A range of courses would run between autumn 2014 and spring 2015. They will engage with young people, asking them what activities they would like. Themes would be along the lines of music, dance, arts, culture, costume design etc. Activities would be run in the local community at times that suit young people. Activities will be not only engaging for the young people, giving a diversionary alternative to hanging out on the streets during the winter months but also giving a positive focus where they can learn new skills, meet new people, have positive influences and engage them in a positive way to making a difference within their own community.

It would be great to have activities available so young people were not hanging out on the streets in winter months and to have the opportunity to try constructive activities in an en- couraging environment. The Carnival will be an opportunity to positively demonstrate to the wider community what young people can do and dispel myths associated with young people in this area.

For further information about the Healthy Living Centre visit www.healthylivingcentre.com

12 CIC : MASK Project

MASK (Martial Arts: Strength of Knowledge) this programme is a way of using the discipline found within martial arts to re-engage potentially aggressive or disruptive youths in education & training, alongside also offering those youngsters who have been victims of the said, with training in methods of self-assertiveness & positive socialisation techniques.

An example of the kind of activity they undertake is their plan for tidying up of World War 1 & 2 soldier's graves in Hartwell Cemetery prior to this year's 'Remembrance Sunday' service.

MASK likewise seeks to re-engage these boys (& where possible their parents too) in friendly social settings, such as hosting a family barbecue, or staging an awards ceremony, to initiate a positive re- sponse to help the tutors achieve their end objective.

In the spirit of 'Encouragement Sweetens Labour' it is hoped that any grant funding awarded will go toward providing their students with a form of MASK scholarship, which will see them receive some free evening training, appropriate martial sports insurances & training suits.

MASK offers its students structured activities, the chance to learn to work constructively with a view to them turning their lives around & then getting them to aim at securing themselves opportu- nities that are both beneficial to their future career path, whilst constructively contributing to our local community in the process.”

For further information visit http://cic-uk.org/

13 Community Unity Projects

Community Unity Projects is based in Buckinghamshire and aim to bring the local community of all ages and ethnicities together under one roof through provision of quality and affordable weekly services, and large community events.

They seek to promote community spirit, positive social interaction and to develop people’s per- sonal skills and talents by facilitating creative and supportive projects within the area.

Funding from Choose 4 Greater Aylesbury will be used towards several projects including: • Providing Music lessons for children who cannot afford fees at school by supplying instruments. • Supporting the ongoing work of the Creative Arts Group giving young people confidence, self- esteem and opportunities to perform and organise arts projects It’s members are junior volun- teers aged 15 years old who are given access to a training and mentoring programme. • A monthly drop in project for youth and families to provide those who normally don’t have the opportunity to take part in activities at the weekend.

GRASPS (Greater Resources for Asperger's ADHD Supporting Parents Siblings) Support group is a voluntary run support group covering a wide area aimed at supporting teenagers to socialise and mix within groups. The project will promote their self-esteem and meet the support needs of the whole family by sharing information and offering further support.

For further information contact www.cuprojects.org

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