WEST HOWE REGENERATION THE COMMITMENT PARTNERSHIP

www..gov.uk/westhoweregeneration 2014 INTRODUCTION P1

West Howe is a well built housing estate, with an attractive layout, several miles north-west of . It is generally a great place to live.

The Lottery funded Fair Share programme that ran over the last 8 years achieved a lot and has provided much to build on.

THE SUCCESSES INCLUDE:

● Supporting over 50 voluntary groups to run activities and increase their funding helping children, teenagers, older people and many others get more out of life.

● Over 800 people took part in new activities and almost 4,000 enjoyed large community events such as the Sunday Best Festival and events in Moore Avenue Park.

● Support was provided for adults and children affected by domestic violence.

● Listening Ear provided counselling to young people.

● Young Citizens helped teenagers volunteer – putting back into their community.

● 90 people were trained through the DOVE volunteering project, many have now returned to work or are continuing to volunteer. AS A RESULT OF FAIR SHARE P2

West Howe now attracts more support from public bodies through the West Howe Regeneration Partnership (WHRP). WEST HOWE STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT 2012 This brings together services, councillors and residents to continue to improve the area. Many people who live in West Howe have a good quality of life. Here are some important facts about West Howe. Having carried out the Strategic Assessment and asked local people, we all agreed on what’s important. This document ● The area has a relatively young population. summarises these priorities, setting out a Vision, with a list ● There is a strong gypsy and traveller heritage. of Challenges, Aims and Actions. ● It is green and leafy, close to both Turbary and Commons. Fair Share developed a group of hard working, dedicated ● There is a high percentage of one parent families. local volunteers undertaking significant work for and with ● There are some good public services - library, youth centre and West Howe residents. So this is not just about what services children’s centre - but there is no community centre or local can do for local people. It’s about the West Howe pub and shopping facilities are limited. community making things happen that they want in their ● Life expectancy is relatively low and long term health issues area. such as obesity, mental health, heart and lung diseases are common. There is already a lot going on, for example: ● Some residents suffer due to low income - being either out of ● A community led Job Club is starting up, helping people work or in low paid work - and there is too much debt and door get back in to work. stop lending. ● Equipment has been bought for the Henry Brown centre ● Young people tend to achieve less well at school than in other so that it can host more activities. areas of the town. ● Loan shark training has taken place and an anti loan shark ● A high proportion of adults have no qualifications. campaign is planned. ● Compared to the rest of the town, there are relatively high ● A scheme to help people who want to set up their own crime rates - including domestic violence and anti-social business is setting up - funded by a grant from Europe..... behaviour. and much more will happen.

For full and detailed progress please visit: www.westhowe.net or WEST HOWE STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT 2012

Many people who live in West Howe have a good quality of life. Here are some important facts about West Howe.

● The area has a relatively young population. ● There is a strong gypsy and traveller heritage. ● It is green and leafy, close to both Turbary and Kinson Commons. ● There is a high percentage of one parent families. ● There are some good public services - library, youth centre and children’s centre - but there is no community centre or local pub and shopping facilities are limited. ● Life expectancy is relatively low and long term health issues such as obesity, mental health, heart and lung diseases are common. ● Some residents suffer due to low income - being either out of work or in low paid work - and there is too much debt and door stop lending. ● Young people tend to achieve less well at school than in other areas of the town. ● A high proportion of adults have no qualifications. ● Compared to the rest of the town, there are relatively high crime rates - including domestic violence and anti-social behaviour.

WHO WE ARE P3

WEST HOWE ACTION GROUP (WHAG) LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM TONY WILLIAMS Chief Executive of Bournemouth Borough Council

WHAG brings together the many organisations and people “West Howe has a great tradition of community activity, as who work or volunteer on the estate, who listen to local seen by the success of Fair Share. The Regeneration people and strive to create positive change for the area. Partnership will build on this, with the Council and partners They meet regularly to share information on their work. working closely with local people to tackle local problems and make life even better for those in the area.” They are an important group with whom the WHRP regularly shares its plans and consults. The Group also has representation on the WHRP.

WEST HOWE REGENERATION PARTNERSHIP (WHRP)

WHRP meets 6 times a year to review progress and make sure things are happening. It makes sure that local services deliver the best possible outcomes for the area.

It brings together people from: ● The Council – Community Regeneration, Community Safety, Children’s Services and Housing Landlord ● Bournemouth and Poole College ● West Howe Action Group ● West Howe Residents ● Local Councillors ● Health Services ● The Police

THE VISION FOR WEST HOWE P4

Residents enjoy good health and a high standard of living, have high aspirations and the resources and opportunities to achieve them. They make use of all the facilities and opportunities that Bournemouth offers. People aspire to live in West Howe because of the sense of community and its great and varied local facilities.

SKILLS FINANCES

People want to create a better life for themselves, their People manage their money well and take up all opportunities families and their community. They can access the training to secure employment and improve their economic situation. and education they need to develop skills and achieve their ambitions, improve their health and take control over their life.

Relationships are respectful and constructive. People have self respect, high and realistic aspirations which they are able to achieve.

PLACE

There are inspiring and entertaining things to do for all ages in high quality buildings and spaces. People make good use of local parks and open spaces and there is a focal point for community activity, bringing people together. SKILLS P5

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

West Howe is served by some good schools, but not enough young people leave school with enough qualifications.

Lots of residents want to improve their lives, but not all adults have the right qualifications or skills.

There are lots of hardworking people in the area, but too many people are unemployed or are in low WHAT ARE THE AIMS? paid and low skilled work. ● We want young people to do well at school, so they have Lots of people do live healthy lifestyles, but too more choices about what to do when they grow up. many suffer from long-term illnesses and die too ● Make sure everyone can read and write. young. ● Increase the number of residents with qualifications in Maths and English. There are good services for families, but in some ● Make sure people have skills that are relevant to employers. families, children repeat the problem behaviour of ● Make sure everyone knows how to use the internet. their parents, for example domestic violence, ● We want the employment rate for West Howe to be the same taking drugs or drinking too much or becoming as for Bournemouth as a whole. pregnant too young. ● Ensure local people take advantage of existing training and employment offers. Generally West Howe is a safe place to live but ● We want people in West Howe to be as healthy as in the rest there is too much anti-social behaviour. of the town and to try healthier activities. ● Reduce levels of domestic violence, teenage pregnancy, addiction and anti-social behaviour. SKILLS P6

WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS? HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES

Achievement For All is a project to work with children who are not doing as well as they could. By involving parents and dealing with issues such as bullying and attendance, we aim to improve outcomes.

Expand the “Rights Respecting Schools” programme to all schools in the area, creating an environment where learning is easier and expand out of schools to create a “Rights Respecting Community” model.

Develop better recruitment, training and support for teachers in the area. Work with local charities and businesses to improve school results, as part of the Achieve Together project.

Make training relevant and accessible to local people, encourage and Continue close working between Council support volunteering and provide facilities for residents to learn about how Anti-Social Behaviour team, Housing and Police to use the internet. Safer Neighbourhood teams to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour. Support the local resident led Job Club. Link local employers to the area and develop routes into better paid work. Support people who want to set Work with Fire and Rescue Service to up their own businesses by offering training, mentors, access to finance tackle deliberate fire setting. and office space.

Make sure that local people are invited to have health checks, have access to local health services and have the opportunities information and advice to improve health and wellbeing. FINANCES P7

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

Although many have a good standard of living, there are also many households dependent on benefits and households with low incomes.

Welfare Reform is putting pressure on some people.

Although many manage their money well, door step lenders and poor money management leave many people in, and unable to escape, debt.

For those out of work, it can be difficult to make the shift from welfare to work.

Although housing is generally of high quality, a high WHAT ARE THE AIMS? proportion of some residents’ income is spent on energy. This can have health impacts, especially for the young and ● We want everyone to manage their money well. old. ● We want people who are out of work to be able to take up opportunities to get into work. ● We want residents to get the advice and information they need on all kinds of benefits. ● We want to divert people from door step lenders to safer options, such as Coastal Credit Union. ● We want to reduce the proportion of income spent on energy and improve take up of renewable energy offers and insulation. FINANCES P8

WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS? HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES

Bring advice services on to the estate, especially in preparation for Welfare Reform.

Provide IT facilities and support for people who will have to make benefit claims online.

Carry out a campaign to tackle door step and illegal money lending.

Bring money management courses and mentors on to the estate and into schools.

Support the Coastal Credit Union to make it easier to use their services.

Make sure that any service that helps get people into training, employment and self employment, also advises on benefits.

Work with Dorset Energy Advice, landlords and others to help upgrade heating and install renewable energy sources. PLACE P9

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES? WHAT ARE THE AIMS?

Local people want activities relevant and interesting to ● High quality local facilities are well used by local people. them. To make things happen more local people need to get More people use the heath and other green spaces, such as involved. parks and recreation grounds. Increased range and take up of community and arts events and activities. There are good community facilities in the area; but a central community point is needed. Shopping and health ● Regular feedback from local people about what they want facilities are limited. and what they think about services. More groups and volunteers helping to plan and run events and activities. West Howe has attractive green spaces. Local people could make more use of the heathland. ● The local environment is safe and in good repair, there are fewer incidents of anti-social behaviour and West Howe is Local people want to be healthy and happy and to feel safe recognised as a good place to live and go to school. and secure in the area. ● Increased use of public transport. Local people use and enjoy West Howe gets bad publicity at times. facilities across Bournemouth.

Public transport routes and costs limit access to the rest of the town. PLACE P10

WHAT ARE THE ACTIONS? HERE ARE SOME EXAMPLES Provide lots of ways for resident’s to have their say e.g drop points. Ask local people for their views on the activities and events and use this information Support local people to set up and run their own groups, encourage to help plan future events. local people to get involved in planning and running events, providing activities for all ages. Work with other organisations to bring interesting Ensure local people know how to contact their local activities to West Howe, for example, the Council’s Arts Team. Councillors and Neighbourhood Development Worker. Publicise interesting volunteering opportunities. Hold regular social activities for all ages. Train local people to help others to make Promote the North Bournemouth Area Forum and healthier choices. Promote or arrange sports and exercise events. the West Howe Action Group.

Publicise the good news about West Howe locally and across Bournemouth. Work together to make good use of existing buildings, for example the Library, Henry Brown Centre, Children’s Centre, Fernheath play and the Tell people about the heath and parks, for example Inspiring Change shop. Work together with Council services to keep the through sources such as local newsletter, website and area tidy and well maintained. schools. Hold more wildlife and history walks on the heath, promote and support gardening and wildlife Ask local people what facilities they want in the area now and in the groups future. Plan to redesign or rebuild existing community facilities and build new facilities. Seek funding to pay for existing buildings to be Let people know what’s available locally and across improved or new ones built. Bournemouth.

Continue close working between Council Anti-Social Behaviour team, Work with travel companies to improve routes. Housing and Police Safer Neighbourhood teams to prevent and tackle Provide more information on bus routes and car parks. anti-social behaviour. Work with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service to Explore combined travel and activity tickets e.g. BH tackle deliberate fire setting. Live Experience Card. HOW WILL WE MEASURE THIS? P11

WE WILL TRACK

School performance Numbers of people completing basic skills qualifications Unemployment rates Numbers of local people starting their own business after accessing advice and support Number of people taking health checks Health outcomes Skills Outcomes for families from the Turnaround Programme Numbers of people accessing addiction and domestic violence services Levels of anti-social behaviour, arson and crime People’s perception of anti-social behaviour

Numbers of people using advice and training services and what those individuals achieve Numbers of people joining the Coastal Credit Union From Bournemouth Opinion Survey we The level of rent arrears The take up of schemes to reduce energy bills will also track: Finance The use of the Food Bank Whether people feel they belong to their local area. The number of people attending local events The number of people volunteering locally Whether people feel the area is a place where people from How many people use buses on local routes different ethnic origins get on well together. Comments from local people

Place The number of positive news stories about West Howe How often people access leisure facilities, libraries, Applications for local school museums, galleries and theatres. WANT TO KNOW MORE? WANT TO GET INVOLVED? P12

CONTACT

Your Neighbourhood Development Worker: E: [email protected] T: 01202 579036 M: 07901 701908

The Police Safer Neighbourhood Team: E: [email protected] T: 101

West Howe Community Enterprises: Diane Humphries, c/o The Inspiring Change Shop E: [email protected] T: 01202 570077

Your local Councillors: Beryl Baxter E: [email protected] T: 01202 773028 Ben Grower E: [email protected] T: 01202 396012 Roger Marley E: [email protected] T: 01202 535383

West Howe Library: (Cunningham Crescent) Housing Landlord: Jean Cooper and the Library Staff E: [email protected] E: [email protected] T: 01202 451915 T: 01202 573665 HOW THIS BOOKLET WAS MADE P13

This booklet was put together by volunteers and residents with support from West Howe Community Enterprises.

It was edited by volunteers at the Inspiring Change shop who made sure it was understandable to all.

We finalized the logo with support from Gazelle design, ensuring features that were liked by residents were included.

Local volunteers held a photography walk to capture local images to use.

Five sessions were held in West Howe Library to support volunteers in branding, design and enabling them to produce the finished document using desktop publishing software.

"I have enjoyed learning these computer skills and would like to learn more so I can help produce posters and other stuff for the community" Wendy t Ho es we W Community Enterprises www.bournemouth.gov.uk/westhoweregeneration