MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organization: 170 Community Project Address 170 New Cross Road, London SE14 5AA Ward located Ward(s) served New Cross New Cross, Telegraph Hill and Evelyn Last AGM held: To be verified. If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Yes, their next returns are due on 31 Dec. 2013 Amount requested: £138,958 Grant level recommended: £140,070 Purpose of grant: The Grant is funded under the Gateway Services Theme to provide legal information & advice at general help with casework level.

Services provided by the organisation The organisation is based in the New Cross Ward. It serves mainly New Cross, Telegraph Hill and Evelyn wards.

This service is targeted at excluded individuals and groups in the local community. Other services provided by 170 include: Literacy and ESOL classes, Black Pensioners Group, Lesbian Support Group, Deptford & New Cross Credit Union and the Domestic Violence Group. They also act as lead organization for the Employment and Training Consortium.

Performance

170 Community Project is a well performing organization. Their service and client statics indicate that In 2012 they provided advice service to 951 new clients not seen in the previous 6 months. The total recorded number of clients seen for the year was just over 4000. This figure does not include casual enquiries. Advice was provided on just over 2000 matters with 25% of the matters involving casework, the majority of which concerned welfare benefits and the other major areas of advice being debt and housing.

In terms of output and outcome targets, the organization is on track and expected to exceed their target in view of the Welfare Reform Act, which is already showing increase in demand for advice services across the UK. Moreover, the organization host services that is not part of their output targets, such as: debt specialist advice on Monday afternoons and advice in Turkish language on Thursdays.

The organization has also reported that from April to August 2013 the footfall for the Advice service at 170 was 1893 and that feedback survey received from clients showed no complaints other than minor demands to ensure clients are admitted into the building rather than left queuing up outside. The organization states that this demand is frequently met when staff are available early enough.

170 Community Project was involved in the Advice Lewisham bid for Lottery Funding, which they believe the additional 10 hours per week of professional support for clients accessing online information and claims will bring 170 Advice clients considerable relief particularly given the pressure the benefit changeover will involve.

For the coming year, the organization has already identified the following areas for implementation:

1. Renewing the Quality Mark which is due late January 2. Implementing the Lottery funded programme so as to achieve the funder's dual purpose of additional services for clients under pressure and gear shifting the advice service to cater for the different demands of the new benefit and new funding regimes. 3. Ensuring collaboration with 170 Works which also benefits from additional funding through advice Lewisham’s lottery bid including an element for use of a newly acquired bus. 4. Considering how to make the drop-in accessible to parents of school age children, some of whom find it difficult to access because of the school run and lack of support with that. 5. Considering whether telephone advice might be viable for some clients and explore the Quality implications that such a delivery method might bring.

The organization adheres to the Advice Quality Standard for general help across the priority areas of law and for casework in welfare benefits and housing.

Proposal

The organisation is applying for funding for 170 Advice Service under the Gateway Services to provide legal information & advice at general help with casework level. The amount of fund applied for is the same level as in previous years. Their services, which targets individuals and groups that are excluded from mainstream economic, financial, social and cultural opportunities, is feasible and value for money in that it meets the needs of individuals in need resident or working or studying in L B Lewisham.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Provide legal advice with • Continue to provide at least 3.500 client-contact casework in welfare benefits & opportunities for new, on-going and follow-up housing work for clients

• General help on general • Assist with basic employment queries, assist to subjects especially for query Bank charges, help with DIY divorce those with language or forms in simple cases, query disputed utilities literacy difficulties bills, interpret official letters for those with language/reading difficulties, help with • Welfare benefits general budgeting, help with filling in passport help : Increase access to applications, Help with filling in school entitlements in 500 cases application forms

• Welfare benefits with • check client benefits and needs, help with casework: Remedy understanding changes in benefit system, incorrect decisions and ensure they have access to IT support for the assist to iron out client digital change up and help them to understand problems with the and to respond to new benefit claim changeover to Universal requirements Credit in at least 105 cases • Review clients’ circumstances and identify errors or misunderstandings in the clients’ claim • Housing: Avoid management or claim related activities; advise Possession proceedings on and assist with reviews and appeals against in at least 50 cases incorrect decisions and help clients with collating supporting evidence and material to • Housing Casework: Avoid present to decision makers or tribunals as repossession in at least 15 necessary in order to correct decisions cases • Early intervention in cases of rent arrears to arrange affordable repayment schedule; provide budget planning support; ensure benefit check to maximise rent support

• Negotiate in possession proceedings, review mitigating circs (mental health, bereavement etc) make outstanding benefit or backdating benefit claims; present a case against repossession –if necessary at court

Conclusion

With the introduction of the Welfare Reform Act and the associated universal credit scheme, benefit cap and bed-room tax, the demand for services provided by 170 Community Project has continued to increase as indicated above. In addition to the provisions of vital services, the organization has been active in fund-raising and promoting partnership work. This is manifested in their active participation in the Employment and Training Consortium and Advice Lewisham through which they feed information to Advice Lewisham to address social policy matters.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £140,070 for 2014/15 be awarded to 170 Community Project.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of Organisat ion: 2000 Community Action Centre

Address: 199 -201 Grove Park Deptford SE8 3PG Ward located: Evelyn Ward Ward(s) served: Evelyn Ward

Last AGM held: • Annual General Meeting Date: 28/0813 • Lead Officer Attendance: Sharonne Harvey

If registered charity /Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: • Registered Charity Number: 1084224 – submitted on time to the Charity Commission. • Registered Company Number: 03924401 – submitted on time to Companies House.

Amount requested: £40,000 Grant level recommended: £20,160 Purpose of grant: The strands funded under this grant-aid programme are: • Building Social Capital

The grant is subject to the organisation: • Improving its financial sustainability • Addressing resources to staff the centre. • Incorporating all outputs and outcomes within the community development plan. • Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the community centre as a whole during 2014/15.

Services provided by the organisation 2000 Community Action Centre (2000 CAC) is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee that was established in 1999 as a part of a regeneration initiative for the Pepys Estate. The centre is situated in the Evelyn Ward which has been ranked as one of the most deprived wards in the borough of Lewisham. 2000 CAC is managed through a team of trustees who host a range of groups and activities fitness classes, martial arts, the Good Retirement Group, Lewisham Disability Coalition, Lewisham Homes (job seekers club), Diabetes UK steering Group, community meetings and private functions.

Performance The overall performance of this organisation has been rated ‘amber/red’ within the council’s traffic light system for grant monitoring. The past year has seen a change in the governance of the centre which has been impacted as a result of the loss of the centre manager; the day to day management of the centre is now through a smaller team with aspects of the service outsourced. The strengthening of its internal business processes within the centre. Future financial sustainability does need to be considered as a priority for the association given the escalation of expenditure during the last financial year. 2000 CAC has engaged positively with an independent consultant who has facilitated the development of a sustainability plan. Steps are now being taken to address its financial operations together with future sustainability.

Although the centre has yet to established a Community Development Plan in order to accommodate the deliverable services in 2014/15

The 2000 CAC financial statement for year ending 31 March 2013 indicated a reserves balance of £33,363 (unrestricted funds). The reserves policy indicates that unrestricted funds ‘should be maintained at a level equivalent to between one and three months expenditure.’

In terms of quality assurance, no quality assurance system is in place.

Proposal Building Social Capital

Community café optimisation - The 2000 Community Action Management Committee has identified the Café area as the focus point for supporting the development of a strong and vibrant voluntary and community sector infrastructure by capacity building the local community. Through a range of community led initiatives and as a conduit for increasing the interest, take up and hire of the centre’s space. The cafe is a focal point that with the right mix of activities in it and targeted work with the community will, improve the use of the cafe and raise local awareness of the opportunities that the rest of the centre has to offer, which in turn will increase both regular and one-off hires.

Increase volunteering opportunities – in partnership with Volunteer centre Lewisham the centre aims to aim to develop the role of volunteers in the centre. Volunteers would be encouraged to volunteer their time in the various parts of the 2000CAC: Café area, IT suite, reception, and administration roles to develop their skills, improve their employability, decrease their social isolation and improve their sense of value and contribution to the society.

Area based community development – 2000 CAC will develop a “pop-up space” within the Grove community café to support the Grove Medical Centre, Lewisham Way Black Fathers Support Group and the local health improvement team based at the Waldron Centre. Through the local medical centre and the more strategic health improvement team, 2000 CAC aims to target local surgeries such as post and pre-natal groups, nursing and specialist clinics that provide services to older people and those with specific needs, to offer opportunities for free group meeting spaces. This space can be used to provide mother and toddlers meeting space, fathers support and activity space, older peoples meeting space, reading group activities, volunteer led opportunities such craft workshops, discussion groups, welfare advice, networking with health related support forums.

ICT provision – 2000 CAC has a dedicated ICT suite (UK online learning centre) within the community café space and aims to extend this offer by using this space as a conduit for increasing employment opportunities, developing existing ICT knowledge, providing and opportunity for learning ICT, increase the use of ICT technology for older people, provide homework support opportunities for young people, enable access for the unemployed to the universal benefits system, increase the local communities opportunity to network socially, CV development, job searching opportunities, skills development & improved employability.

Increased social and economic capital through the support and development of local enterprise - the use of our pop up space for a range of craft based workshops and discussion groups will provide a platform for local people to develop their craft and other marketable skills. The centre will provide a basis on which local people are able to develop, in terms of enterprise for private or social aim.

Office space hire – 2000 CAC also aim to reorganise the large office space in the centre to provide a subsidised rental space for voluntary, community or charitable organisations to rent (Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network has been earmarked for this space). This will have the dual effect of providing a source of income for the centre as well as continuing to support the provision of essential voluntary and community services in the heart of the community.

Enabling voluntary and community groups to assist the council in tackling inequality and supporting vulnerable people - Working with the surrounding social registered landlords, police, ward Councillors, Pepys community forum, the local resource centre, public health, schools, employment services as well as local tenants and residents associations we aim to improve opportunities for the local community to actively engage in the development of housing and services in the area. This work will provide a platform for supporting vulnerable people to be heard, consulted with and empower local residents to feel more in control of their housing, welfare, tackle inequality, community safety and capacity build residents. 2000 CAC will promote the use of the centre by these strategic bodies as well as the local community for the purposes of regular councillor surgeries, neighbourhood meetings, resident group meetings; the centre will develop, influence and connect with its community through consultation events and a range of community activities.

2000 CAC anticipates 400/500 existing users with an increase to 850 beneficiaries for 90% residents of Lewisham.

The budget (2014/15) within the application appears to be achievable and value for money, however, the generation of income from identified sources other than Lewisham Council is limited and does need to increase and form a part of a robust sustainability plan for the centre (currently being developed).

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: 1 A strong and vibrant voluntary and Targeted community engagement with community sector infrastructure the grove medical centre surgery attendees. Beneficiaries-up to 60 people engaged with

Promotion of free community café pop up space for community use- beneficiaries- up to 250 informed by flyers & other promotional means

Development of volunteer led programs including craft, skills development and awareness raising opportunities for the local community. Minimum of 4 activities per week attracting up to 40 participants

Developing local partnership links with the voluntary and community sector organisations- engagement with at least 6 potential partner organisations

Target community engagement work with the scouts’ development officer for Lewisham to provide satellite scout provision for young people. Up to 20 young people taking part in weekly scout activities

We will provide a welcoming, accessible community café pop up activity space for local people through partnership development and increased program offer.

Increase community events, liaison and engagement opportunities to promote consultation and active citizenship increase community café usage by at least 30% 2. Enabling voluntary and community Develop and increase the centre’s work groups to assist the council in tackling and liaison with local social registered inequality and supporting vulnerable landlords, police, ward councillors, Pepys people community forum, the local resource centre, public health, schools, employment services as well as local tenants and residents associations and community groups- up to 10 groups and organisations engaged with Provide opportunities for meetings events and local consultation for the local community to actively engage in the development of housing and services in the area. Minimum 4 community events per year

We will promote the use of the centre by these strategic bodies as well as the local community for the purposes of: • regular community surgeries • ward assemblies, • welfare related surgeries • and a range of areas where its important for statutory providers to accurately reflect community needs up to 60 local people accessing surgeries and community engagement opportunities

3. Support and develop volunteering Strengthen the premises management opportunities committee through the co-opting of specialist volunteers – co-opt a minimum of 3 new volunteer committee members Increase the capacity of the centre to provide services to the community through increased volunteer recruitment and development Recruitment of a minimum of 5 new volunteers 4. Area based community Targeted community development to development local services and community based activities- contact made with at least 7 potential groups

Development of community infrastructure through liaison with services deliverers to expand local access for the community-notes and evidence from at least 10 engagements/interactions

Provision of community engagement opportunities Up to 4 community focused new activities

Increase in pop up space activities and usage –up to 4 per week

Improved health and well being of local residents Discussion & liaisons with community users to gauge improvements

Increased diversity and demography of centre users-increase diversity profile of up to 40% by diverse groups

Improved sense of community Increase range of community activities 4 centre led & 4 community led

Conclusion 2000 Community Action Centre provides a well needed service for the community. Whilst governance processes for the centre has changed, financial sustainability is still a going concern together addressing a new staffing compliment to develop the centre. The budget indicates an excess of income over expenditure by £30,000, therefore, the recommendation would not affect delivery.

Recommendation: That (subject to the conditions as stated below) a grant of £20,160 for 2014/15 is awarded to 2000 Community Action Centre.

Name of Organisation: Accord Community Association

Address: Accord Community Centre 14-20 Accord Road Forest Hill London SE23 1DL

Ward located: Crofton Park Ward(s) served: Crofton Par k and Forest Hill Last AGM held: • Annual General Meeting Date: 27/09/13 • Lead Officer Attendance: Sharonne Harvey If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: • Registered Charity Number: 1097160 – filed on time to the Charity Commission. • Company Registration Number: 04396054 – filed on time to Companies House. Amount requested: £61,072 Grant level recommended: £61,561 Purpose of grant: • Community Centre services and key driver for community development initiatives.

The themes that are funded under this programme are: • Building Social Capital • Communities That care

The grant is subject to the organisation: • Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the community centre as a whole during 2014/15. • Outputs and outcomes continue to form a part of the community development plan for the centre.

Services provided by the organisation Ackroyd Community Association (ACA) is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee that has been delivering community centre services to the local community since 1977.

ACA delivers this objective by supporting community cohesion and community development though the provision of a physical community hub at the Ackroyd Community Centre, which provides a regular and secure home to 15 community services and activities of benefit and relevance to the needs of all sections of the local community – this includes targeting the following services:

• Services for Children and Families • Services for the over 55 year olds (Elder Peoples’ Support Project – EPSP) • Health, physical and dance activities for all ages and gender • Supporting community groups ACA has a membership of 112 - Target to increase membership levels on an annual basis by 15%. ACA occupies the community centre premises according to a 21 year lease with Lewisham Council. Performance The overall performance of this organisation has been rated ‘green/amber’ within the council’s traffic light system for grant monitoring. The past year has seen some change in the board of trustees which has impacted on improving governance arrangements, constitution and recruitment of a new community development manager. Priorities are in place to strengthen the internal business planning processes within the centre and the diverse representation of the board of trustees. The financial statement for year ending 31 March 2013 stated reserves as at 383,277 (73201 – unrestricted funds and 10,076 restricted funds).

In terms of quality assurance, no quality assurance has been established for the community centre as a whole and this will form a condition of grant aid for 2014/15.

Proposal

ACA are requesting funding top enable the association to promote services of the Ackroyd Community Centre which provides a hall space, meetings rooms, office space, a nursery, an outdoor play area, a kitchen and dining area which are all used on a daily basis by our resident user-groups. This enables a number of individual, but holistic services for children and families to share resources promote partnership working and accessibility by the community to a diversity of complementary community services.

The targeted themes during 2014/15 will be:

Building social Capital:

• Neighbourhood partnerships and community development: ACA is currently consulting with local partner organisations as to how we can build on these community partnerships to deliver more to the local community and enhance our sustainability and potentially share resources with other community groups within the locality. As part of ACA’s community development work ACA participates in neighbourhood partnership working through the Crofton Park assembly and ACA will also be participating in newly established Crofton Park Neighbourhood Forum. ACA supports other area-based resident groups including the Honor Oak Residents’ Association and Blythe Hill Fields User Group, by supporting these groups through providing affordable meeting space, along with participation in and the lending of equipment for community events. The Ackroyd Centre also regularly supports the surrounding Big Lunch events.

• ACA services, their impact and relevance to the local community : past market research for the Ackroyd Centre has evidenced its positive impact and strong position in the local community through the community’s multi-use of the centre, sometimes across generations of a family.

• Diversity and inclusion: ACA has Equalities and Equal Opportunities Polices in place. The diverse range of user-groups based at the centre leads to a wide diversity of the local community using the centre reflecting the local population. The centre is open 7 days a week continually hosting services to the community for up to 15 hours a day, used by an estimated upper usage of 350 people per day. To ensure that our user-groups adhere to our policies ACA’s user agreements stipulate the need to promote equal opportunities and encourage diversity and they are encouraged to promote their activities to under-represented target groups in partnership with ACA.

• Community development and volunteering: ACA is currently in discussion with Rushey Green Timebank in regards to how ACA and EPSP can work with the new Timebank being set up in the Crofton Park area, which is an area of work has strong aspirations for development in the future. Volunteering is integral to the daily running of ACA; the Association gets its strategic lead from dedicated volunteers who form the Ackroyd board of trustees who have overall responsibility for managing the Centre. Volunteers also give their time generously to support the community and work at all levels within the Centre.

Communities that Care

The Elder Peoples Support project (EPSP) is a growing and diverse service that falls under the umbrella of ACA and is managed by ACA. EPSP is a member-led organisation that delivers a varied weekly programme of physical and social activities for the over 55 year olds to members and non-members at the Ackroyd Centre and Kings College Sports Ground. ACA considers EPSP as a preventative service to promote health and well-being and are attributed to preserving an older person’s long-term independence at home. This project is partly funded from sources other than Lewisham council through the efforts of the ‘Friends of EPSP; it has a diverse membership of 180 members 55-92 years. EPSP is a Preventative service, it promotes arts and ICT learning, health and wellbeing, physical and social activities, it has befriending and information services, actively engages its membership through the governance of ACA and has successful partnerships such as ‘EPSP SuperTroupers’ (e.g. with the Montage Theatre Arts). All new activities and representation will be targeted and will inform ACA’s Community Development and Business Plan for 2014 onwards.

ACA appears to have demonstrated value for money within the budgeted costs in relation to the overall benefits to the local community. There appears to be a slight excess of expenditure over income, which can be absorbed from the association’s reserves, however, the centre will also need to generate a higher level of funds from sources other than Lewisham Council as this represents 5.5% of the budget .

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes: Outputs: BSC: Strengthen local area and 1 ACA participates in and supports local neighbourhood partnerships between neighbourhood partnerships led by residents of agencies and with local people the Crofton Park ward this includes: Crofton Park assembly. Crofton Park Neighbourhood Forum, Crofton Park Timebank.

2. Continued partnership working with organisations in the Crofton Park ward and Borough of Lewisham.

3. ACA has informal working partnerships with 4 local community premises in the Crofton Park ward to support local sustainability and service to the general public. ACA to increase number of partnerships.

4. ACA will be developing a Community Development Plan for 2014.

5, Increase current ACA membership of 112 people by 15% and increase membership activity in community centre life.

BSC: Increased effectiveness of and 1. ACA participates in and supports local engagement with local initiatives neighbourhood partnerships led by residents of through networking the Crofton Park ward this includes Crofton Park assembly. Crofton Park Neighbourhood Forum, Crofton Park Timebank and local community festivals.

2. ACA to have own community page on Crofton Park’s community website Croftonpark.com and to develop own website so community and user friendly . BSC: Providing competent facilities 1.Delivers quality community centre facilities management at key community open 7 days a week: premises - 5 days a week for 15 hours a day - 2 days a week for 14 hours per day. Used daily / weekly / monthly by 14 local organisations providing services to the local community under one roof

2.The main hall and small hall to maintain a high BSC: Providing relevant community occupation rate (minimum occupancy rate 75%) facilities that work for the areas in between the core hours of 8.30am – 8.30pm which they are based Monday - Sunday

1.The centre as a community hub hosts varied but complementary community services: services for children and families services for over 55’s health, physical and dance activities community groups

Accessed by families and people of all ages from the local area reflecting the local area. (Local area White / Irish 60.4%, Black / Black British 22.2%, mixed 7.8%, Asian / Asian British 7.3% other 2.2% census data Crofton Park ward 2011). BSC: Providing relevant community 2. Facilitates the provision of continued, facilities that work for the areas in consistent and complementary childcare facilities which they are based at one community centre across age-groups, benefitting local working families.

(80 children / families benefitting from childcare at the centre )

BSC: Effective network of area based ACA will be developing a Community community development that Development Plan for 2014 -2015 based on a improves the lives of local people. community needs assessment, our community engagement plan and through our partnerships in local community. The plan will be implemented through the centre but also through our community partnerships.

CTC: Better connections between vulnerable adults and the 1. EPSP provides open and inclusive social communities in which they live. activities for the over 55’s on a daily basis Monday to Friday. Our target for participation in activities quarterly is 960.

2.EPSP members are involved in community outreach activities such as attending events, festivals and club visits.

3. Development of an EPSP 2014 Community Engagement and Community Development plan.

4. EPSP Partnerships with local agencies and health centre to refer isolated older adults to EPSP services. CTC: Better connections between 5. EPSP partnership working with external vulnerable adults and the organisations (schools, support and information communities in which they live. services, performing arts organisations, health).

6. Diverse EPSP membership reflecting the local community they live in. (Local area targets are White / Irish 60.4%, Black / Black British 22.2%, mixed 7.8%, Asian / Asian British 7.3% other 2.2% census data Crofton Park ward 2011).

We have a specific target of engaging more men (currently 8% / target 16%).

CTC: People supported to continue to live active and healthy lives. EPSP delivers on a weekly basis 9 preventative services to the over 55’s of promoting physical health, well-being, arts, culture and socialising. In addition EPSP delivers 7/8 trips per year (average number benefitting per trip 45)

EPSP has thriving membership of 180 members and growing with a target to increase membership by 10%.

Target 960 participants per quarter. CTC: People supported to maintain their long-term independence, choice EPSP delivers on a weekly basis 9 preventative and quality of life. services to the over 55’s of promoting physical health, well-being, arts, culture and socialising

CTC: People supported to live at 1.EPSP delivers 3 preventative physical activities home safely. for all levels of ability and mobility aimed at increasing health and mobility.

2.EPSP delivers workshops and guest speakers about health, home safety, and financial scam awareness.

3.EPSP delivers 2 computer classes on a weekly basis, term time. Average attendance people 10 per class enabling attendees to use the internet, email and Microsoft office in their daily lives.

Conclusion Ackroyd Community Association has achieved much good work within the local community. This organisation has a professional approach to managing the centre and connecting with community processes. The priorities within 2014/15 will be to address sustainability for the organisation.

Recommendation: That (subject to the conditions as stated below), a grant of £61,561 for 2014/15 be awarded to Ackroyd Community Association (including a proportion towards the Elder Peoples’ Support Project).

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation LEWISHAM CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE LTD (lead agency for the Advice Lewisham partnership for this application) Address 3RD FLOOR, DUKE HOUSE, 84-86 RUSHEY GREEN, LONDON SE6 4HW

Ward located Ward(s) served RUSHEY GREEN Borough wide Last AGM held: To be confirmed by organization If registered charity/Company, when r eturns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: N/A

Amount requested: £54,640 Grant level recommended: £55,077 Purpose of grant: funding is sought to support the future development of the Advice Lewisham partnership.

Services provided by the organisation

Advice Lewisham is a partnership made up of organisations that work together to provide effective advice and information services to residents of London Borough of Lewisham.

The partnership seeks to raise awareness of and access to advice services, to develop a more sustainable quality service for clients needing advice, to promote early intervention and to increase accessibility by exploring alternative channels and methods of service delivery.

Performance

Advice Lewisham has continued to act as a collective voice for the advice sector in Lewisham. The partnership is overseen by Lewisham CAB, which is one of the leading advice providing organizations in the borough, which was rated Green in the last TLS monitoring.

Throughout the last year Advice Lewisham continued to play an important role in providing capacity building, advice and information to partners as well as working with the Council on consultation exercises, workshops, collection of relevant data and statistics to inform grant and related social policies.

Lewisham CAB, the lead organization overseeing the work of Advice Lewisham partnership, is a member of CitA, which passports them to the General Help level of the Quality Mark. The organization is audited by CitA every 3 years, and are registered with OISC, level 1.

All members of Advice Lewisham hold at least the General Help level of the Quality Mark.

Proposal

The partnership is seeking LBL funding to employ a part-time partnership coordinator and a part-time administrator, and to achieve the following objectives:

• Creating an Advice Lewisham website and other publicity/awareness raising materials. The website would give details of advice services, including where they are and which areas of law they cover. This would help clients to find the help they need as quickly as possible, without having to visit more than one agency. • Improving the quality of advice by continuing to provide cross agency file reviews. This would involve partner organisations carrying out file reviews for one another, where one agency has a particular area of expertise/specialisation and another may have less experience in that area. • Developing a standardised method of measuring and evaluating outcomes to measure the impact advice has on clients. • Engaging with clients through exercises such as feedback questionnaires and focus groups to ensure they are involved in planning future services and that their needs are met. This builds on work in 2013/14 to identify these methods and to create a suitable programme. • Exploring new methods of service delivery by developing small pilot/prototyping projects.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

Website • Reduction in the number of • Advice Lewisham website developed and goes live. clients who need to visit more than one agency for the advice they need • Non advice giving agencies more aware of where to signpost and refer clients

Quality of advice • Quality of advice will be • 2 file reviews will be carried out by each agency for improved/ sustained the other agencies each month and feedback • Advisers better able to deal provided. with their cases • All partner agencies will have the Quality Mark

Standardised method of measuring outcomes • Agencies able to measure • Standardised framework for measuring outcomes outcomes of advice provided developed for the partnership and use to improve services for clients • Agencies able to use evidence gathered from measuring outcomes to plan future services and apply for various funding streams

Client engagement • Future advice services planned taking into account • Focus groups and other methods developed and feedback from local implemented to look at advice needs in the future. community into advice needs Evaluation report of findings and recommendations • Local community engaged in written. planning of advice services

Develop new services • Clients have better access to advice services. • 2 new methods/channels of service provision agreed by Steering Group and piloted.

Conclusion

Advice Lewisham is expected to play more strategic roles to enhance the capacity of advice service providers and the sustainability of advice services in light of increasing demand due to recent welfare reforms.

The partnership have identified area of focus with clear output and outcome targets for delivery during the funding period 2014/15.

Having developed effective infrastructures and network, it is highly recommended that Advice Lewisham seeks to become more independent with own legal status, organizational structure, and board of directors composed of representatives of partnership members and other stakeholders as appropriate.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £55,007 for 2014/15 be awarded to Advice Lewisham partnership through their lead organization: LEWISHAM CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE LTD .

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15 Full name of organisation Age Exchange Address 11 Blackheath Village, London, SE3 9LA Ward located: Ward(s) served Greenwich Borough wide Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee September 2012 Cllr Klier If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Returns submitted on time Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £50,000 £32,760 Purpose of grant:

Communities that Care

The grant will support the organisation to deliver a programme of activities for older people including reminiscence workshops, creative arts activities, and music and movement sessions. It will also include Counselling, mediation and support groups, interrogational work and a volunteering programme

Services provided by the organisation

Age Exchange delivers a wide range of reminiscence programmes and intergenerational projects from its base in Blackheath. The organisation is widely recognised as a leading authority on reminiscence work, with particular expertise in the use of reminiscence in dementia care.

The organisation provides a range of services from the Reminiscence Centre, Theatre space and café including weekly social/cultural/health activities for socially isolated older people. Age Exchange also provides outreach work in residential care and mental health care settings, intergenerational workshops in schools, training in reminiscence and person centred care and participatory theatre groups for older and young people.

Performance against general criteria

The organisation has a clearly defined vision and has demonstrated that it has effective management and governance arrangements in place.

Age Exchange has been through a huge transition over the past few years – particularly in relation to it building programme, which has resulted in it running at a deficit over a period of years. It does however have a strong track record in securing funding from a diverse range of sources and it believes that this will be the final year that it will run with a deficit. New income stream have been identified, including hire of accommodation. A new 5 year business plan is currently being developed which should be ready for the start or 2014. Strong financial controls and planning mechanisms are in place with financial reports presented at every Board meeting and the Business and Resources Committee reviewing finance and fundraising.

Trustees and staff have a high level of experience and expertise and are able to provide strong support and leadership in this period of change and development. The organisation is very aware of the need to improve its sustainability and the approach to partnership working, fundraising, service delivery is changing in response. There is a good commitment to training and development.

The organisation has a strong track record of partnership working and has clearly outlined how partners will be involved in delivering the services. Consultation with users takes place regularly.

Grant proposal

Health and Well-Being workshops - Outreach Programme of reminiscence workshops, creative arts activities, and music and movement sessions for older Lewisham residents, offering older peoples’ organisations in different wards the opportunity to take part in similar projects. The project will consist of 75 sessions, The pilot project has seen older, isolated people participating in a variety of activities that they would not normally have the opportunity to take part in. This has included painting, pilates, yoga, chair music and movement, creative writing and others. The participants have met other people and groups are forming and they are going out more and taking part in the community, building confidence and self-esteem.

Volunteering Volunteering at AE in the community cafe and Community Library and working with young people in intergenerational workshops instils a sense of purpose for older people who sometimes feel isolated and under-valued. A large group of volunteers have been trained and recruited to run the newly refurbished Number Eleven and Library community centre. Age Exchange has no age limit and has seen many more people wanting to volunteer from a diverse range of communities within the borough. Currently there are 80 - 90 volunteers.

Intergenerational Arts – work in partnership

Working with Trinity Laban and St. Matthew’s Academy and in a range of older people’s care settings and clubs across Lewisham, the organisation will collaborate on an intensive intergenerational arts residency. The residency will use as its theme ‘Children of the Great War’ (an HLF funded project) will take place in different partnership settings and bring local people together to explore intergenerational issues, concerns and life experience, through drama, dance, film-making, and music. The programme will be open to all and each partner organisation would use its own networks to ensure successful recruitment. This idea will enable Age Exchange both extend the range of intergenerational activity it can offer and share learning and creative expertise between the participating companies strengthening the practice of the diverse participating Lewisham organisations. This will increase access of disadvantaged groups to the arts, more social contact and well-being of older and young participants, more understanding between the generations and improve community cohesion.

Building on its experience of running major national and international intergenerational programmes over the last 30 years Age Exchange is seeking to create new work building on the partnerships and practice piloted through its collaborative Lewisham Intergenerational Festival in 2011.

Counselling, mediation and support groups

‘Inspired Caring’; Remember Me; and Care after Caring – are 3 of the groups providing direct support for Carers, who meet each week, or monthly - with stimulating activities for the people that they care for and specific resources ‘tailor made’ for each carer to value their contribution to society and offer them a better quality of life. This group is facilitated by a Senior Occupational Therapist who ensures that issues raised by carers are discussed within the group and strategies are put in place to support individual carers with professional support from Age Exchange and peer support from other carers.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/15: Outcomes Outputs Outreach projects:

• Reduced isolation Provision for 700 isolated people • Increased self-esteem, self-confidence and around the borough to participate wellbeing in regular arts/creative social • Access to high quality artistic/craft activity activities

Volunteering: 75 sessions provided per year in different wards in the borough with • Get out of the house more 8 – 10 people attending each • Increased social contact session. • Feel more part of the community / make a contribution • Increased self-confidence/self-esteem Provision of 3600 volunteering sessions in the Community Café • Develop new skills and another 1800 sessions for

volunteers in the Community

Library. We also provide up to

200 sessions each year to

facilitate educational workshops in

and around the borough.

Carers and people that are cared for:

Carers: • Break from caring/support for continued caring • Get out of the house more Using two qualified Occupational • Access to arts/craft activity Therapists/Project Workers to: • Fulfilling activity for self • Positive shared activity with loved ones Provide support to ‘Inspired • Increased social contact Caring’ 50 weekly meetings for • Peer support Carers deliver 50 Reminiscence sessions for people with dementia • Improved mood/self-confidence or mental health issues. • Integration into main stream activity

People cared for: • 20 carers weekly to be offered Increased social contact ‘tailor made’ support and • Get out of the house more mentoring by trained • Access to arts/craft activity professionals. • Fulfilling activity for self • Positive shared activity with loved ones 20 people with dementia or other • Improved mood/self-confidence/wellbeing mental health issues provided with • Integration into main stream activity stimulating activities whilst their carers participate in group support activities.

Intergenerational Arts:

• Active participation of younger and older An intensive residency 10 days in people in artistic activities total • Improved self-confidence/well-being and skills of participants 25 younger and older people will • Increased understanding by participants and participate and perform. 2 arts audience in diverse generational and cultural professionals will collaborate on view points the residency programme from St. • Increased pride in local community and Matthew’s Academy and 100 local feeling belonging residents will experience the ‘production’ as an audience in the residency venue. Community centre/Café/Library: Filmed documentary of the • Get out of the house more process • More social contact – meet old and new friends • Improve self-confidence, self-esteem and well-being Provision of a Centre/café/library – • Access to information about other AE and 6 days each week providing a safe other local activities and stimulating venue for older • “Having a laugh” people in the borough to visit and

socialise/meet new

friends/participate in health and

well-being activities together with Film Clubs, Tea Dances, Talks, Celebrity interviews, Tai Chi, Yoga, Drama etc

Conclusion

Age Exchange delivers a quality programme of creative activities aimed predominantly at vulnerable older people. The organisation has a strong track record in relation to service delivery.

The organisation is well managed but has been through a huge transitional phase with a large building project to manage and where significant funding streams have been lost. It is now in a strong position to develop a more sustainable approach which will be supported by its new Business Plan.

Recommendation:

The application is for an increase of £17,500 on the grant allocated in 2013/14. The budgetary pressures facing Lewisham Council mean that it is not possible to recommend this increase. The recommendation is therefore that the organisations grant is maintained at its previous level of £32,760.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation – Age UK Lewisham and Southwark

Address - Stones End Centre, 11 Scovell Road, London SE1 1QQ, Catford Office, Catford Broadway, Catford SE6 4RU Ward located – Rushey Green Ward(s) served - All Last AGM held: 14 November 2012 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Due December 2013, previous accounts submitted on time

Amount requested: £106,451 Grant level recommended: £107,303 Purpose of grant: The grant will be used to meet the costs of the Information & Advice service provided including outreach and referrals and to support salaries

Services provided by the organisation

Age UK Lewisham and Southwark (AUKLS) information and advice service has a clear vision of supporting the most vulnerable, social deprived financially excluded older people in Lewisham. AUKLS (previously Age Concern Lewisham & Southwark) based in Rushey Green Ward is funded through the main grants program to provide accurate and up to date legal advice and information services at generalist help level, tailored to older people and has achieved ASA Quality Mark at this level.

Information and advice provided includes pension credit, welfare rights, care at home, equipment/adaptations, housing, transport/travel, consumer matters including gas, electricity and telephone, local services, leisure and social activities, power of attorney and wills. This is achieved through information talks, drop in sessions, office appointments, telephone advice, home visits, outreach visits and referrals.

Performance

The organisations delivers an excellent service in Lewisham and meets its targets regarding visits, calls and referrals as indicated in quarterly monitoring. For example the yearly target to carry out 200 benefit checks for older people, has nearly been met in quarter 1 with a total of 145 benefits checks having been completed (Database Carista, AIMS). Age UK work to the ASA Quality Mark and Age UK National are working with the organization for the renewal in January 2014.

The organisation AUKLS is historically a Green organisation on the TLS and remains so. The AUKLS has an established track record of service delivery, not just advocacy and advice, but as providers of health and social care services.

The only issue of concern is in the area of Governance. AGM’s are not public and by invitation only, hence no transparency in the process. Elections are not held for officers, and there has been no active recruitment of board members to reflect the diversity of the community it serves, although previously there has been no evidence that the organisation is striving to achieve diversity of the board, these issues were raised with the organization and are being addressed by the review and changes to the memorandum and articles currently in progress, around areas that include board trustee term limits, which will help Age UK address issues of board stagnation and diversity going forward.

Although the group previously lost significant funding from Southwark it manages to balance the budget effectively this year. Financial returns to the charities commission for 2012 indicated Income of £1,863,404 with outgoings of £1,845,685 Age UK are actively seeking diversity of funding and have a strong fundraising plan in place. The organization have recently been commissioned to manage a new project for Lewisham as part of ‘Communities that Care’, working with neighbourhood clusters on health and social care and have been funded to deliver this over an 18 moth period.

Proposal

AUKLS wishes to continue to provide legal advice and information services at a generalist help level tailored to older people through the provision of office appointments and home visits, telephone advisory sessions and benefit checks. The organization wish to continue the successful outreach advice session in Bellingham and Deptford as well as at their Catford base and provide information talks to BAEM groups, as well as producing information leaflets and advisory sessions to enable clients to deal with issues themselves or make referrals to relevant agencies.

The proposal is realistic and achievable as has been demonstrated through previous years and current monitoring requirements and targets being delivered.

Considering the number of people in Lewisham who utilize the service and the amount and type of advice given, particularly with the changes made to welfare at a national level, the service demonstrates good value for money.

It is important to note that the Lewisham Advisory Service costs more to run for Lewisham than Lewisham funds, which is why some officers that wok in Lewisham also have a percentage of their time for Southwark as the primary funder. It does seem clear that if Lewisham no longer funds the advisory service in Lewisham then it will not be funded from other aspects of the Age UK budget or reserves and could end.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Will deliver 5 talks to BAEM groups providing information To increase economic wellbeing through on benefits and services for older people benefit maximization raising £750,000 in Will see 150 older people at drop-in session in the most benefits for local older people deprived areas in the borough Will provide 700 office appointments and carry out 300 home visit appointments Will carry out over 200 benefit checks for older people

Supporting older people to remain in their Will negotiate 100 successful repair issues homes will make over 140 referrals to relevant agencies

Empower older people to advocate on their Will provide information, leaflets and assistance to service behalf users to enable them to deal with issues themselves

Increase skills of local people through Will appoint a further 5 volunteer receptionists and providing volunteering opportunities with advisors in the coming year training and support to become receptionists 5 volunteers recruited will participate in the LAC training and advice workers programme to increase the expertise available to older people in the borough

Conclusion AUKLS is part of a well established national organisation and deliver quality services which have a positive impact for older people in Lewisham. They have been working in partnership with other advice agencies in the borough to provide effective services and will continue to do so. In the area of governance, Age UK is making steps to ensure that recruitment to the Board is open to general public through current reviews. The financial position of the group is strong and they are taking steps to fundraise and diversify, Southwark Council is the primary funder.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £107,303 for 2014/15 be awarded to Age UK Lewisham and Southwark

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation – Ageing Well in Lewisham - LCC

Address - Room 16, Goldsmiths Community Centre, Castillon Road, Catford. SE6 1QD

Ward located – Catford South Ward(s) served - mainly in the Whitefoot, Perry Vale and Catford South wards / All Last AGM held: 28 November 2012 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Due December 2013, previous accounts submitted on time

Amount requested: £30,057 Grant level recommended: £30,297 Purpose of grant: Ageing Well , based in Whitefoot ward is funded to provide support and information to isolated and vulnerable older people Themes cover Communities that Care Grant request is a continuation of support towards the costs of the part time Development worker/Coordinator (28hrs)

Services provided by the organisation

As part of ‘Keeping Adults Active, Healthy and Engaged’ and ‘Encouraging Neighbourliness’, AWiL provide excellent services to the older, isolated people in the community. Befriending opportunities and ongoing support to older people in Lewisham to promote mental and physical health, mainly through running social and activity groups. AWiL specialise in running a preventative service and helping vulnerable people to reengage in their community. The befriending groups include Falls Prevention Exercises; Craft; Mixed Medley and an Arts Befriending Group and provide over 160 Befriending Sessions a year and seek to assist over 150 people a year through the encouragement and formation of friendships and peer support in the local neighbourhood. AWiL also liaise with local GP’s, Physiotherapists, occupational health and social services, with regards to referrals. Current Community Development Programme includes a Ferrules Project to reduce the risk of falls and an occasional Inter- Generational programmes. The organisation help people gain access to transport to attend our groups which are held in public spaces including theatres, cafes and community centres, to avoid segregation . AWiL also aim to Increase skills of local people by providing volunteering opportunities across a range of roles including developing group skills and basic finance accounting.

Performance

The organisation delivers an excellent and important service to Lewisham older isolated people. Registers, number of activities and workshop attendances and surveys are provided by way of evidence and targets. The organisation has been able to meet targets comfortably evidenced in quarterly monitoring. Referrals from local GPs has not been as advanced as they would like it to be and therefore they will continue developing relations as best they can. Outcomes from surveys and feedback forms are extremely positive and indicate the importance of the service provided.

Ageing Well’s main strength lies in the quality and diversity of the activities provided on limited resources. Monitoring through the TLS have the organisation mainly ‘Green’ with some ambers in the fields of ‘Development’ and ‘Financial Viability’ however there are a number of Ambers highlighted as issues for the organisation with regards ‘Governance’ and ‘Management’. The last year has been a difficult time within the board and the change to EncourAge which had to be put on hold. AWiL had a lack of continuity with a change to the Chair, Treasurer and had several finance officers for much of the time. However, the group continued to function and manage the situation, have not let service levels drop and have actively engaged in recruitment of new board members. With the appointment of a new Chair, Treasurer and Finance Officer at this years AGM in November, AWiL will be given a fair chance to firm up the board structure of the organisation. The CO and Chair have met and are both hopeful that previous issues highlighted around communication and management of personnel will improve. This officer has asked for details of how the governance is improving as part of quarterly monitoring report and immediate notification of any issues as they arise. With regard management, supervision of staff and volunteers needs more attention as It does not appear to have been at the required level, however this has been resolved with the change of Chair, but will be monitored, reviewed and an agreed supervision structure/timescales are put in place. More open and effective communications needs to flow between the management committee board and CO as previously mentioned, Chair to lead on addressing this.

Regarding the organisation’s development, there is a sustainability strategy in place to take advantage of potential future funding opportunities and partnership working but staffing levels and capacity have been raised as an issue for the group to ensure they are able to enlist and secure the relevant resources to enable them to sustain themselves into the future. The initial plans for this are outlined on the application form but formal adoption of a fundraising, diversifying and partnership working strategy should be in place by the end of the next quarter (October – December).

Currently AWiL do not have a Quality Assurance system in place. Trustees are aware investing time in achieving accreditation status would be extremely beneficial to the organisation and are aware of the importance of securing an additional Quality Assurance standard to get their work recognised. The acting Chair is keen to explore the practicalities of completing the process with trustees and the Council to ensure this process happens as soon as possible, deadlines to be agreed shortly at follow up meeting.

AWiL submitted their accounts on time to the charities commission and most recent filing shows finances to March 2012 with an income of £76,787 to outgoings of£73,552 and currently operate with a minimum 3 months reserves

Funding, as in previous years is mainly from the Council main grants programme. AWiL also have income from projects and alternative funds and in financial year 2014-15 look set to receive £27000 from Bridge House Trust and Henry Smith Fund which shows some positive steps from reliance on Lewisham Council for over 2 thirds of its funding as previously realised. If the organisation wishes to maintain its level of activity it will need address the issue of income generation and / or review its current operations for long term sustainability.

Proposal

The AWiL proposal is a continuation of the current services run as indicated above in services provided section, no new services have been suggested. However AWiL have continued to review and identify needs in the borough ensuring continuation of current

service level. The proposal is realistic and achievable as has been demonstrated through previous years and current monitoring requirements and targets being delivered. AWiL have considerably firmed up their outcomes and outputs for the new year as detailed below. It is a valued and important service as demonstrated by service users. Considering the number of people in Lewisham who utilise the service, the positive feedback attained through surveys of users and the amount and variation of its programme to support and help vulnerable isolated older people in Lewisham the service demonstrates good value for money, although steps need to be taken to improve areas of governance and management as indicated above.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

To reduce isolation by running social and Provide over 160 befriending groups for older isolated wellbeing Befriending Groups in the local people community Provide 300 telephone support responses. Provide over 150 places To support less active older people to access a To complete 30 new applications to accessible transport range of appropriate services in their local providers community To make over 15 referrals to weekend services. To make over 50 referrals to other relevant agencies To make over 50 initial home visits To deliver over 6 publicity talks to agencies To encourage referrals from people/agencies Will provide information flyers for distribution to service working with isolated older people users Will deliver 6 publicity talks to agencies Will provide over 30 telephone support responses to assist referrers to find suitable activities for older people in the borough Increase skills of local people by providing volunteering opportunities across a range of Increase skills of 6 local people by providing volunteering roles including developing group skills and opportunities across a range of roles including developing basic finance accounting . group skills, craft skills and basic financial systems

Conclusion

Under the steer of a new Chair and with the support of a new Treasurer, finance officer and existing team members such as the Secretary and CO, AWiL will expect to be in a much stronger position going forward and should be able to use this new momentum to strengthen areas of weakness and mentioned above in the near future. The group must seek to actively pursue funding opportunities and consider diversification around income. The Lack of a current Quality Assurance system in place is highlighted as a major issue that must be addressed in the immediate future, deadline is to be agreed but suggesting end Q3 to have an appropriate system in place. Updates on actions agreed from the TLS will be expected from the chair in Q3 and Q4 to help monitor progress of strengthening governance and management.

The undoubted service delivery, as testified to by clients, should be supported and the addition of stronger and achievable target outputs and outcomes will help to structure their monitoring going forward and help them deliver their important and valued programme of activities.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £30,297 for 2013/14 be awarded to Ageing Well in Lewisham LCC subject to the following conditions:

• That agreed actions on TLS are completed by end Q4 2013-14 with an update in Q3 monitoring. • Quality Assurance being attained by: Work Pack purchased by end Q3, Update at Q4

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Bellingham Community Project (BCP) Address 14a Randlesdown Road Bellingham SE6 3BT Ward located Ward(s) served Bellingham Bellingham Last AGM held: 28/04/10 Not required to hold AGM’s If registered charity/Company, whe n returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Due August 2014, previous accounts submitted on time Amount requested: £49,605 Grant level recommended: £50,002 Purpose of grant: Building Social Capital & Communities that Care BCP have been working in the local community for many years and have developed strong relationships with key stakeholders. It facilitates the Bellingham Interagency and the Bellingham Health Forum. They organise the Bellingham Festival which promotes community spirit to over 2,000 borough-wide residents and they coordinate Phase 2 of the Well London community health and wellbeing programme in Bellingham.

Services provided by the organisation Established in 1993 Bellingham Community Project Limited (BCP) is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee that operates within the Bellingham Ward. Its business plan declares four strategic objectives which are – ‘To raise funds to sustain BCP, to ensure that BL&LC remains financially viable and meets the needs of the local community, to manage health and leisure activity projects which meet identified needs of the community, continue to consolidate BCP’s position and recognition as an integrated member of the community and ensure that there are appropriate arrangements in place for the proper governance of BCP.’ It also declares a mission to ‘improve the health, well-being and quality of life for people living in Bellingham and surrounding areas of South East London’ – with a key drive towards raising funds in order to sustain the work of BCP .

Performance

The organisation has performed well with no issues identified during monitoring, all outputs are met and returns are submitted on time. The BCP board is diverse, is reflective of Bellingham and has a good range of skills necessary to ensure that the organisation continues to move forward. BCP audited accounts for year ending 31 December 2012 states a reserve as £3,401,521 with £3,168,349 restricted funds and £233,172 – unrestricted funds. BCP has adopted a number of procedures to manage and develop staff and volunteers and where necessary gleans policy guidance through the Trust for London. BCP has established its financial procedures on the Trust for London System. The Leisure and Lifestyle Centre has Quest accreditation, which is a UK quality scheme for sport and leisure. Quest is a tool for continuous improvement, designed primarily for the management of leisure facilities and leisure development. Quest defines industry standards and good practice and encourages their ongoing development and delivery within a customer focused management framework

Proposal

Building Social Capital - Through the Well London volunteers, we are looking to start up a new community health and well-being group run by volunteers by the end of the programme in 2015. BCP facilitate the Bellingham Golden Oldies (BeGO) over-50s group to promote healthy activity and positive living for elderly residents in Bellingham and neighbouring communities. BCP wish to strengthen their role as a community development organisation by becoming an area-based community hub in the south of the borough, in order to try to bridge the gap between north and south Lewisham community organisations. They will seek to promote good practice, disseminate information and improve the flow of information across the south of the borough. BCP will also seek to build new links with groups operating in neighbouring boroughs and to improve their understanding of local Residents’ needs through increased outreach work. Communities that Care – To continue to support existing projects such as the Time Bank, Bike Club, Bring and Fix, recruitment of volunteers and BeGo over 50s group. BCP has also worked on a project transforming a patch of waste ground into a functioning community garden which involves nearly 20 active residents and 5 local schools. The garden now operates as an autonomous community group, Farmstead Road Community Garden, with a management committee of 10 people, including a BCP staff member. The area was formerly a site frequently used for anti-social activities, but now promotes cohesion and well-being by being a popular outdoor community venue. New projects include football sessions, a junior Gym and a golden oldies exercise class.

BCP has constantly delivered upon its outputs and has exceptional links within the community. There is no reason to doubt that they can deliver their proposals.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: The introduction of an additional • An additional BeGO exercise session will affordable over 50’s exercise increase participation and access from session to help increase fitness being once a month to fortnightly. levels improve both physical and mental well being and reduce social isolation

Free Millwall football session for • A weekly free after school football session young people aged 7 -16. Access ran by Millwall FC Community scheme for for all Bellingham young people to 30 children to be held at the Bellingham participate in session at the centre Leisure and Lifestyle Centre and utilise the new multi use games 3G area. Increasing access to exercise and improved health and well being, reduction in o besity. Participation in team games improving confidence.

Empower more people from • Offer interagency and health forum new/excluded voluntary and meetings as a platform for at least 4 new community groups to become more group representatives to present issues active in local community that they are facing

Increase the number of residents • Start up a new constituted community involved in local community groups health and wellbeing group in Bellingham and decision-making processes with its own management committee and bank account

Improve local forum links with • Ensure that local forums are feeding into borough-wide forums and specialist borough-wide and specialist forums and platforms vice-versa, with at least 6 representatives from other forums speaking at Interagency

Increase the number of active • Have at least 20 people volunteering volunteers in the community through the Well London project or signposted to other local opportunities through our sessions with Volunteer Centre Lewisham

Improve the quality and skills base • Offer new training opportunities to of volunteers in the community volunteers, with at least 10 attending and completing training

Increase levels of reciprocal • Develop the Bellingham Time Bank so that volunteering in the community it has 75 members

Local groups and residents with • Carry out evaluation of impact of Time greater value of impact made by Banking and volunteering in the local volunteers community, with at least 70% of respondents reporting a direct positive impact Community volunteers able to • Help 10 volunteers gain useful paid positively utilise skills and employment through volunteering experiences learned

Strengthened capacity of the • 10 local volunteers trained up in Public voluntary and community sector to Health and able to offer support, advice deliver citizen-led services and and signposting to local residents in a solutions through enhanced support range of health areas services and training

BeGO committee members with • Provide free training opportunities for 2 confidence and capability to committee members in subjects such as represent the group at various public speaking, negotiating and meetings throughout the borough influencing and media skills

Improved communications network • Develop a local online hub with 200 local between voluntary and community members sector organisations and local residents

Enhancing community cohesion • Running an annual community festival that attracts individuals and groups from across the borough, with 2,000 attendees, 40 stallholders and 10 performers

Help improve the organisational and • Run a Community Group Development skills capacity of local community training course for 15 local group groups in the borough representatives

Improve borough-wide statutory and • Provide local information and local third sector organisations knowledge signposting through community hub, with of local area at least 30 groups using the service

Effective network of area based • Effective network of area based community development that community development that improves the improves the lives of local people lives of local people

Local residents more informed of • Establish a resident contact database of local services and activities 300 residents through which to disseminate information

Increased sport and fitness • Partnership with Fusion Lifestyle, local opportunities available to Lewisham schools and community projects to borough residents introduce new activities at leisure centre and ensure that 30 sessions are offered per week Reduction of isolation amongst • BeGO Befriending scheme for 20 people elderly people in Bellingham Elderly residents more active and • Help set up an arts and crafts club through skilled in arts and crafts, and aware BeGO with at least 10 attendees of social and well-being benefits of arts Improved well-being of local elderly • Assisting BeGO committee members to conduct a thorough evaluation of over-50s group, with at least 75% satisfaction rate Increased usage of leisure centre by • 50 residents referred through GP referral residents suffering with illnesses scheme More residents with special needs • Run physical activity sessions for 15 and physical and mental disabilities people with special needs and disabilities active and healthy in Bellingham at Bellingham Leisure Centre • Run 10 (monthly) free under 5’s special needs sessions at our dedicated Rascals facility including a Christmas themed session

Conclusion BCP has played a major role in improving the health and wellbeing of people from Bellingham ward. It is now a well established organisation that has excellent links with key stakeholders, community groups, businesses, young people and residents. The board is diverse and reflects the Bellingham community; there are no issues or areas of concern with this organisation.

Recommendation: That a grant of £50,002 for 2014/15 be awarded to Bellingham Community Project.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation: Carers Lewisham

Address: Lewisham Carers Centre, Waldram Place, Forest Hill, London SE23 2LB

Ward located: Forest Hill Ward(s) served: All – borough wide service Last AGM held: November 2012 (next AGM scheduled for 8 November 2013)

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Carers Lewisham is a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity (Charity Number 1073592). Returns to the Charity Commission and Companies House were due in December 2012 and were submitted on time. Amount requested: £32,964 Grant level recommended: £31,091 Purpose of grant: The grant is requested under the Children and Young People strand for the purposes of supporting Young Carers in Lewisham in sustaining their education and supporting them in their role as carers.

Service provided by the organisation: Carers Lewisham was founded in 1988 and has been funded under Lewisham Council’s Children and Young People (CYP) strand since 2011, following the award of a three year grant which ends in March 2014. They work to achieve the CYP aim of improved well-being through universal youth services through work with Young Carers as part of their wider remit to support carers across the borough.

Overall, Carers Lewisham supports people in Lewisham who have caring responsibilities through providing general emotional support, information and advice, and counselling. In its work specifically with Young Carers, Carers Lewisham provides respite, mentoring and other services, and works in schools to raise awareness of the needs of Young Carers within the education system. It supports young carers with issues such as their own health and their caring responsibilities to ensure that the impact of these issues on their lives and education is minimised as much as possible.

Performance: Although this report covers only the first half of the 2013/14 financial year, Carers Lewisham’s performance suggests they will achieve their year-end outputs as defined in the Main Grants Programme report for 2013/14.

Finance, Management and Governance Carers Lewisham has well developed policies and systems and, in June 2013, achieved the Level 2 PQASSO award. The organisation’s governance structure is well developed and rated Green under the traffic light system, and management systems are also comprehensive. However, the organisation has identified that it needs to adapt its current engagement in respect of LGBT groups and is taking steps to achieve this.

Carers Lewisham has set itself a clear fundraising target and is aware of the need to reduce its dependence on funding from the London Borough of Lewisham. The Monitoring Officer has identified a number of possible funding opportunities which have not been pursued and has highlighted to Carers Lewisham that more opportunities should be taken to capitalise on generating additional income and responding to new commissioning opportunities.

Overall, Carers Lewisham is financially viable, with unrestricted reserves of £193,641 as at 31 March 2013.

Proposal: The grant is requested under the Children and Young People strand for the support of Young Carers in Lewisham in education and their role as carers. It includes awareness raising with schools, and delivery of emotional support and information, advice and guidance in the educational setting. The proposal is based on the organisation’s current delivery and builds on their well-established approach to liaising with schools. The funds requested reflect the cost of the service in the previous year and provide value for money as additional outputs will be achieved.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015

Outcomes: Outputs:

Young carers will be formally • New schools signing the Charter. recognised and receive support • A designated senior member of staff is addressing their needs as carers in appointed to support and oversee all aspects of 10 schools. Young Carers support in school.

Young carers in 2 specific • 40 Young Carers receive one to one sessions secondary schools will be provided (each 50 minutes) to take place at 2 locations intensive support to improve their each year. well being. • 6 assemblies to raise student awareness of young carers issues

5 primary schools will gain support • Schools accessing expert support to manage the to help implement the Young Carers needs of their young carers and improve their Charter. well being

Lewisham Schools have improved • A minimum of 30 schools participate in National awareness of young carers’ issues Carers Week. and well-being. • 10 awareness sessions delivered to senior staff members and staff working with Young Carers by Carers Lewisham • All schools in Lewisham contacted termly.

• 4 schools will monitor their Young Carers’ Well Young carers in Lewisham to have Being and attendance improved educational attainment • Advocate on behalf of young carers at TAC/TAF and well being meetings and case conferences as appropriate

Conclusion: Carers Lewisham continue to provide a much needed service across the borough and currently supports 430 under 18s. Within their work with children and young people, Carers Lewisham is continuing to work pro-actively to develop its work with schools, including negotiations with current school contacts to identify possible paid services, such as providing pastoral support to Young Carers to help ensure they remain and progress in education as well as supporting them specifically in their caring role.

Based on the information given above, the organization is expected to exceed its targets for 2013/14. The targets for 2014/15 are more stretching and are coupled with an aspiration that the organization should develop a clear and meaningful fundraising strategy. The organisation’s entire income generating plan and activities will be reviewed in April 2014.

Recommendation: It is recommended that Carers Lewisham receives a grant of £31,091 in 2014/15, subject to agreement to a close monitoring regime, including full review of fundraising activities in April 2014 and agreement of clear progress report targets for next autumn’s monitoring activity.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Contact a Family

Address Contact a Family Lewisham -Leemore Central Community Hub Bonfield Road, SE13 5EU Ward located Ward(s) served Lewisham Central Borough wide Last AGM held: 20 June 2013 If regi stered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Due December 2013, previous accounts submitted on time

Amount requested: £70,952 Grant level recommended: £71,520

Purpose of grant: Building Social Capital & Gateway Services

Funding to support the core outreach family support programme, providing information, advice and support for families with disabled children and young people, aged 0-25, across the whole borough of Lewisham.

Services provided by the organisation

Established over 30 years ago Contact a Family is a national charity that exists to support the families of disabled children whatever their condition or disability. The vision of the charity is that families with disabled children are empowered to live the lives they want and achieve their full potential, for themselves, for the communities they live in, and for society.

Performance

Contact a Family has performed well with all outputs being met. There were no issues identified using the TLS system. Contact a Family implement the PQASSO quality assurance system. They have implemented this system for the past four years and are at the point of applying for the PQASSO Quality Mark which is awarded following a quality assurance audit; they aim to have achieved this accreditation by March 2014.

Proposal

Contact a Family are looking for funding to support their core outreach family support programme, providing information, advice and support for families with disabled children and young people, aged 0-25, across the whole borough of Lewisham. The outreach work ensures that they raise awareness and support those in the most deprived wards, reaching as many families as possible, including single parents, families living on welfare benefits and / or in social housing, and those with drug and alcohol or mental health problems. The funding from this grant pays for a Family Worker specialising in outreach work with BME groups, and for the Manager who oversees the work of the whole service, fundraises for additional funds, leads on production of the newsletter, works in partnership with other agencies including Kaleidoscope in particular, and works closely with the parent forum, and ensures that all policies are fulfilled and that all compliances are met. The funding requested is essentially a continuation of an already successful programme.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: • Better partnership working amongst voluntary sector, and better inter-agency working with other statutory services • Reduced isolation/ social exclusion amongst parent carers of disabled children • Increased take up of services and entitlements amongst parent and carers with disabled children • Greater community cohesion – more families accessing mainstream services • Increased use of volunteers and positive feedback from those engaged GS GS Reduced isolation/ social exclusion 240 families supported by face to face advice, or through of parents of disabled children attending information workshops: Parents reporting increased Support 6 families per week confidence and more informed to Accept approx. 6 new referrals per month make better choices Respond to 24 telephone enquiries per month Parents of disabled children report Organise 2 workshops per term, with an average of 6 improved quality of life and parents attending each improvement to their personal Organise 1 social event per term for parents and carers, circumstances with an average of 8 parents attending each Parents from excluded communities Organise 2 outreach activities per month in term time will overcome barriers to accessing appropriate support BSC BSC Services better meet the needs of • Programme of partnership working and awareness families with disabled children raising activities Greater collaboration amongst • Supporting the development of the Lewisham voluntary sector organisations Parent Carer Forum Volunteers gain valuable experience • Lewisham Manager engaging in strategic and increase skills and confidence representation across borough • Work with 15 agencies in a collaborative partnership • Lewisham Manager to attend at least 4 Lewisham Parent Carer Forum meetings or events • Lewisham Manager to attend 2 multi-agency meetings per term

Conclusion

Contact-A-Family is a well established national organisation with a branch in Lewisham. The services attract referrals from wide range of agencies. Service users are engaged with the organisation through the local Steering Committee and other partnership platforms. Contact a Family is the only UK-wide charity providing advice, information and support to the parents of all disabled children.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £71,520 for 2014/15 be awarded to Contact a Family.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Crossroads Care South East London Address Pier Road Centre,42 Pier Road, Erith, Kent DA8 1TA Ward located Ward(s) served Outside of borough All Last AGM held: 21 November 2012 If regi stered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Due December 2013, previously submitted on time Amount requested: £8,333 Grant level recommended: £8,400 Purpose of grant: Communities that Care

To continue to support the Caring Café in Rushey Green

Services provided by the organisation

Crossroads Care South East London provide a range of services to carers of Children and Adults with support needs in the London Borough of Lewisham, London Borough of Bexley and the Royal Borough of Greenwich. This application is for a contribution towards the running costs of the caring café, situated in Rushey Green which has been operating since 2006 on a Saturday, 48 weeks per year.

Performance

Crossroads Care has performed well with no major issues identified in monitoring and it meets its outputs and outcomes. It is PQASSO level 3 Quality Assurance compliant and Investors in People compliant, CHAS Registered and Investor in Volunteering (pending 2014) There is an appropriate Quality Statement in place which is reviewed and adopted

Proposal

The application is for continuation funding of the caring café. They are exploring additional streams of funding to see if they can open up a second café within the borough and are making contact with like-minded organisations to look at potential partnership working . The café facilitates a safe environment with good transport links for up to 50 carers and the person they care for to reduce their social isolation, enable them to access relevant information/advice, participate in appropriate activities to stimulate their continued physical health and well-being. Attendees also have the opportunity to purchase a nutritious meal cooked on the premises that supports them in living well.

There are no apparent issues with this project as this application is for a continuation of something that is already very successful.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Reduce isolation of up to 50 carers Provide access to a café in central location (Catford) on a and the person they care for (adults Saturday with appropriate transport links and safe and older people) environment.

48 weeks per year x 5 hour sessions for up to 50 users The nutrition of users at the caring Provide a minimum of 12 different menu choices throughout café is enriched through attending the year for up to 50 users to ensure healthy nutrition that the caring café supports the living well agenda

Users of the service have access to Provide a one stop shop with up to date information for up up to date information on other to 50 users who require information on additional services services including welfare/benefits in the borough

The users physical health and well- Provide a range of activities for up to 50 users in being is enhanced through 1:1 and consultation with users to support their physical health and group activities well-being.

Conclusion

This is an excellent project that meets all its key outputs and is keen to expand in the borough.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £8,400 for 2014/15 be awarded to Crossroads Care South East London

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation – Deptford Action Group for the Elderly (DAGE)

Address - 71 Deptford High Street, Deptford, London, SE8 4AA

Ward located – Evelyn/New Cross Ward(s) served - All Last AGM held: 28 November 2012 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Due December 2013, previous accounts submitted on time

Amount requested: £40,600 Grant level recommended: £40,925 Purpose of grant: Support to keep adults active, healthy and engaged, to contribute to running costs of shops drivers and drop in centre

Services provided by the organisation

The daily pop-in centre and activities is an important resource for older people who would otherwise be isolated in their homes. It also to give older people an opportunity to volunteer within the pop-in centre and furniture shops and involves a befriending service for more isolated people living alone offering friendship and support. DAGE give a general advice & Information service and provide help with signposting to specialist agencies for specific personal advice and casework. Monthly crime prevention surgeries are held, and information sessions with Pension Service, Age UK and Citizens Advice Bureau. Quarterly health promotion sessions by NHS health improvement team and the Fire Service are also held. DAGE runs 2 furniture re-use shops which collect donated items for sale at discount prices to pensioners. DAGE Actively campaign for pensioners in Lewisham on diverse issues that effect older people from fuel poverty to issues affecting carers.

Performance

The organisation delivers an excellent service in Lewisham and as indicated in quarterly monitoring, meets its targets regarding number of volunteers and volunteering sessions, 30 volunteers take part in the befriending scheme which helps to increase social inclusion, creating life chances and increasing self-confidence. On average 60 users per day come through the drop in and a strong use of surveys show the impact of the help and advice given by DAGE through sign posting people to information and services. An example of this was survey data indicating that without the sessions arranged and information given by DAGE, users would not known about the ‘Warm Home Discount Scheme’ which entitled eligible pensioners to a rebate on their energy bills of up to £130. For the furniture reuse, an average of 2.2 tonnes are collected by DAGE every month from Lewisham postcodes, achieved by advertising on Lewisham Council’s website, the Council’s quarterly Lewisham Life , in the South London Press and on DAGE’s borough-wide twice-weekly radio programme on Resonance104.4FM

DAGE is a green organization as demonstrated in the Traffic Light Monitoring Document. There are some ambers and areas of action required around the following areas governance and the dissemination of information, minutes outcomes of meetings to staff and volunteers and active recruitment and training of board members. Another area of action is around more active encouragement of training and development opportunities for staff and volunteers particularly around equalities, more formality and less fluidity around supervision and support to staff and volunteers DAGE has procured the PQASSO quality assurance system and regular updated on progress of attaining the relevant level to be build into the quarterly monitoring

Although DAGE have experienced some issues this year regarding works happening outside the Deptford High Street shop (DHSS) that has had some impact on takings, and a more significant issue of costs of managing the second shop on Evelyn Street which has been pulling resources from the DHSS, these issues are not ongoing and are in the process of being addressed. DAGE also got a significant boon in achieving funding from the Big Lottery to pay for the wages of the CO and one other member of staff (part time tbc) for a 5 year period which started in February this year. DAGE have excellent procedures in place for fundraising and contact a minimum of 10 charitable trusts per week, often having success and also have income from the furniture shop and other financial diversification methods they are exploring. Financial returns were submitted on time.

Proposal

The DAGE proposal is a continuation of the current services run as indicated above in services provided section.

The proposal is realistic and achievable as has been demonstrated through previous years and current monitoring requirements and targets being delivered.

Considering the number of people in Lewisham who utilise the service, the positive feedback attained through surveys of users and the amount and type of advice given, particularly with the changes made to welfare at a national level, and increasing pressures on utility and energy bills, the service demonstrates good value for money.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Overleaf Outcomes: Outputs: The output of attending will be to access information on Through keeping older adults active, healthy services through leaflets and visits by local advice agencies, and engaged, they will have increased levels Age Concern, Pension Service and Citizens’ Advice, and of mental and physical well being and through Police Services and quarterly outreach by Fire Service and their engagement in DAGE’s services will have NHS health promotion specialists. increased income, safety and social welfare Another output of an average of 65 pensioner users per and health benefits. day outreaching to DAGE’s centre, will be to create physical exercise in attending and aiding mental health through older volunteers befriending otherwise more isolated older users so breaking down social isolation and depression.

To encourage neighbourliness, older adults The output of 5 older people’s volunteering placements a will take up 25 volunteering placements a day will increase mental and physical health through the week. activity of befriending in the pop-in and becoming more physically active and gaining a sense of contribution to their local neighbourhood through placements in DAGE’s furniture re-use project.

Encouraging neighbourliness through 50 local The booking diary will show an average of 50 people on people on low incomes able to furnish their low incomes a week accessing low cost furnishings for their homes as well as contributing to protecting homes. the environment and so their long-term neighbours. The booking diary will show an average of 50 donors a Local people through aiding the environment, week donating re-useable furniture and accessing low cost can help an average of 50 low-income furnishings for their homes. neighbours by donating re-useable items that can be accessed at DAGE so aiding Lewisham’s The tonnage statistics will show, based on earlier records, contribution to sustainability by tackling waste 2.4 tonnes a quarter collected from Lewisham residents, of through reuse/recycling. which 85% of items will be show to have been re-used or taken for recycling at Lewisham’s recycling centre.

Conclusion

DAGE provides an important service for older people in Deptford which is beneficial to users in many ways. This enhances both their physical and mental wellbeing. DAGE has demonstrated the impact of their service for users through their campaigning around issues important to older people such as influencing the outcome of free carers permits in the recent Lewisham Parking Strategy review and in many other ways. DAGE continue to actively source and secure alternative funding streams and diversifying their income and are showing results from actions taken. Lewisham have previously been DAGEs largest funder however the 5 year Big Lottery Fund has adjusted this. The result of the monitoring gave an overall rating of Green. However a few performance issues mentioned earlier on need to be addressed and will be monitored as part of the current quarterly monitoring arrangements.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £40,925 for 2014/15 be awarded to Deptford Action Group for the Elderly (DAGE)

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Deptford Methodist Mission Disabled Peoples’ Contact

Address Deptford Methodist Church, 1 Creek Road, Deptford, London SE8 3BT Ward located Ward(s) served Evelyn All Last AGM held: 16/08/12 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to re gulatory body and have they been submitted on time:

December 2013, previously submitted on time Amount requested: £7,250 Grant level recommended: £7,308

Purpose of grant: Communities that Care To fund the Care Coordinator who is responsible for coordinating the day to day activities of the day centre and the Monday evening club, and for liaising with Social Services and other agencies to enrol new members and to ensure that members receive the best care possible, both on and off our premises.

Subject to Deptford Methodist Mission Disabled Peoples’ Contact reviewing the Equalities Act and developing an Equality and Diversity policy.

Services provided by the organisation

The Disabled People’s Contact (DPC) is a social contact day centre for disabled and / or vulnerable older people; meeting on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and serving the Boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham. It facilitates friendships and provides support and a sense of community to those who otherwise would be isolated by their personal circumstances. Transport to and from the centre, a nutritious 3 course meal and various activities designed to promote and improve physical and mental health are provided. In addition to the day centre they run an evening club for adults with learning disabilities (also from Greenwich and Lewisham) and support for volunteers through providing work experience, assistance with job applications and gaining of life skills.

Performance

To date the organisation has been timely with their returns and meet their targets comfortably. Clients and volunteers report high levels of satisfaction with the services provided. The TLS rating for Disabled People’s Contact is overall green. For its small size, Disabled People’s Contact has been consistent on all of the TLS areas and although there are some amber areas it is important to recognize that Disabled People’s Contact is a very small organisation that does not have the capacity to function in the same way that the larger organisations do. The organisation is well supported by an effective board with trustees who have business backgrounds, but ideally the board should have some BME representation.

Whilst Disabled People’s Contact is a small organisation (2 full time staff and 6 part time) that receives only a small grant from Lewisham it does need to ensure that it complies with the Equalities Act 2010 and that it has an appropriate Equality and Diversity policy in place, ultimately this will benefit the organisation and ensure that it is better equipped to approach funding providers. Disabled People’s Contact has the PQASSO system in place.

Proposal

Funding is to cover one year of the Care Coordinator’s Salary. The Care Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the day to day activities of the day centre and the Monday evening club, and for liaising with Social Services and other agencies to enrol new members and to ensure that members receive the best care possible, both on and off our premises. Their role is vital in helping Disabled People’s Contact to make a positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of elderly and disabled people in Lewisham and Greenwich.

The main activities which contribute towards fulfilling the aims and objectives of Disabled People’s Contact are as follows: • Older People’s Day Centre: Aimed at disabled and/or vulnerable older people living in Lewisham and Greenwich the club provides friendship, support and community to those who would otherwise be isolated by their personal circumstances. Includes transport, morning / afternoon tea, a nutritious three-course meal, gentle exercise classes, musical entertainment, bingo, computer classes, and frequent outings. • Monday Night Club: An opportunity for adults with learning disabilities in Lewisham and Greenwich to socialise, do arts and crafts and outings etc • Volunteer Training and Mentoring: • Information and Guidance: Available to members and volunteers to help answer any queries they may have about benefits, housing, access to training and further education as well as general wellbeing and healthy living. • Charity Shop: Accepts all donations of clothes, mobile phones, and bric-a- brac and all funds raised go to the running of the Disabled People’s Contact.

Disabled People’s Contact is an excellent organisation performing a vital service in ensuring that elderly / disabled people are looked after and cared for. Only recently the Health Secretary identified care for the elderly as a ‘national disgrace’ and it is organisations such as Disabled People’s Contact that can help to address this issue by providing a wide range of services centred around tackling isolation.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Reduction in feelings of isolation • Attendance of up to 24 members per day, three days experienced by DPC members per week (Tues, Weds, Thurs) over 48 weeks per year. • Majority of people surveyed to report feeling less isolated as a result of visiting the club • Members to continue attending and request additional days at the centre. • Members to comment on their feelings about the centre. Positive contribution to the health • Provide nutritious 3 course lunch in a communal setting, and wellbeing of DPC Members including at least 3 portions of fruit or veg. • Provide a programme of activities such as dance, chair exercises, massage, bingo, DVD sessions, wii, and quizzes each afternoon. • Provide 10 outings per year covering a range of activities including shopping trips, museum visits, seaside visits, pub lunches etc. Increased wellbeing of DPC • Families of Members report relief from pressure of full Members families and full time time care. carers. • Families of Members report increase in wellbeing. Reduction in feeling of isolation and Attendance of up to 20 members at Monday Club, over 30 increased opportunities for social weeks per year (Monday Club operates during school term inclusion for Monday Club Members time only). Monday Club members to report increased feelings of social inclusion. Monday club members to enjoy attending the club. Families and careers of Monday Club Members to report positive impact of club.

Conclusion

The application is a continuation of an already successful programme and therefore there are no reasons to question whether the outputs can be met. Whilst there is no doubt that Disabled People’s Contact performs extremely well and provides an essential service to some of our most isolated people, it does need to look at urgently reviewing the Equalities Act and developing an Equality and Diversity policy to help ensure that it is appropriately structured and geared towards being in a good position to attract funding providers in the future. Most of whom will consider appropriate equalities policies as essential.

Recommendation:

That subject to a review of the Equalities Act 2010 and the development of an equality and diversity policy, a grant of £7,308 for 2014/15 be awarded to Deptford Methodist Mission Disabled People’s Contact

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation – Deptford Reach

Address Speedwell Street, London SE8 4AT

Ward located New Cross Ward(s) served Borough wide

Last AGM held: 03/10/2013 Paul Gale present

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time:

Due December 2013, previous accounts submitted on time

Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £44,700 £41,957 Purpose of grant: Communities that Care, Social Capital & Gateway Services

Encouraging neighbourliness, increasing services that can be provided by volunteers and general advice and information services

Services provided by the organisation Established in 1979 and based in New Cross ward, Deptford Reach provides support for homeless clients based around providing welfare and advice and managing health and well being. It also helps to provide alternative accommodation and tenancies for clients.

Performance

Quarterly Service Delivery report and statistics submitted indicate that the organisation is on track to achieve their outcomes and output targets, for example 27 volunteers have been recruited in the last quarter and 60% of clients keeping engaged with the organisation.

No major issues were identified with governance although ideally there should be better BME board representation.

There were no significant issues identified under the management, development or finance strands.

Quality is monitored throughout, evidenced with feedback from clients, partners and funders. There is a good level of training in place and sharing of good practice with other organisations. Deptford Reach is registered with relevant organisations such as Homeless Link and the Chair is a trustee of Crisis.

Proposal

Social Capital - Deptford Reach will increase the numbers of those that wish to volunteer, whilst providing an environment where volunteering is accessible to the diverse community with various opportunities to gain a variety of skills. Provision of training, support and management.

Communities that Care - Encouraging neighbourliness (new service for Deptford Reach – Safer Community Approach, need identified by the New Cross Assembly). Deptford Reach runs activities to promote physical and mental health and also social groups and activities. They have also run cultural activities to promote integration and cohesion, and will continue to do so. Adults are supported to continue to live active and healthy lives and maintain independence long term, provide choices and improve quality of life. There will be a Safer Community Approach – this is outreach work to create a safer and healthier community by reducing anti-social behaviour in the local area in particular Deptford High St, Comet Street, Watson’s St, Elgar Close and Reginald Rd, by reducing the number of people loitering on the streets, drinking and causing a nuisance to local residents and shops during the day. The need for this work was identified by the local community - 2012-13 New Cross Assembly. There were 5 New Cross Assembly priorities and Deptford Reach applied under the Crime and anti-social behaviour theme and was successful. The work involves working in partnership with various organisations as part of Lewisham’s strategy to tackle crime and antisocial behaviour including PCSOs, local health

Gateway Services - General advice and information services. Located in the council’s priority wards Deptford Reach will provide general help estimated to take an average of 20 mins from initial diagnosis with no follow up action, provide help with case work taking up to 60minutes including letter writing, completing forms, making telephone calls and general advocacy. There is also case work that requires follow up action and support i.e. budgeting. This is provided by trained staff with at least NVQ3 in Advice and Guidance or NVQ level 2 Customer Care. Bi-lingual volunteers and staff are used for translation.

Deptford Reach has a good record of delivery and it is good to see the organisation reacting to an issue raised by the New Cross Local Assembly.

Key Outcomes 2014/15: Key Outputs 2014/15:

Increase access and the quality of Structured programme to recruit a minimum of 20 volunteering opportunities for the volunteers per quarter varying in age gender, ethnic, volunteers across the borough and disability etc. for Deptford Reach (DR) Provide an environment where Support volunteers with in-house training and external volunteering is accessible to the training and monthly supervision sessions, lasting a growing and diverse population of a minimum of 30 minutes. deprived area New Cross and Evelyn ward By providing a variety of opportunities for volunteers to gain skills for development in a minimum of 2 areas i.e. catering, Provide effective volunteering customer care, and administration, advice and guidance opportunities through training and sessions, facilitating activities etc. management of volunteers Linking the volunteers and Deptford Reach (host organisation) with other organising for development and networking and partnership working within the boroughs and cross borough networking, concentrating on 2 deprived locations; New Cross and Evelyn. Host organisations to recruit at least 10 organisations per year

Keeping adults physically and Provision of a minimum of 3 weekly different sessions run mentally healthy and active through at Deptford Reach, facilitated by volunteers and or a structured programme of weekly professional agencies. Sessions lasting up to 60 minutes activities at Deptford Reach and in per session at Deptford Reach partnership with other professionals Deliver a minimum of one summer activity lasting up to one and half hours outside the centre per week, i.e. walking group around the local area to improve fitness whilst gaining knowledge

Local people (adults from the ages Open access daily advice session at DR from 9am until of 18 and above) who are vulnerable 2pm by a minimum of two advisors daily through homelessness, social exclusion, substance misuse, Specific sessions to last up to on a hour with 430 people deprivation, etc, and new comers to seen per quarter with recorded notes on data base for case the community are supported work. through generalist and specific advice at Deptford Reach to enable General sessions minimum of 20 minutes per session to improve their quality of life, in recorded on data base with up to 1,000 people seen per partnership with Specialist Advice quarter Services who do satellite sessions at Deptford Reach weekly. 130 new clients to be seen per quarter to accommodate the Particularly in the deprived pockets new comers and increase in population in the deprived of Lewisham New Cross ward and wards Evelyn ward where the population is expected to increase by over 10.5%. 80 sessions delivered by Specialist advice sessions per quarter in partnership with specialist agencies attending DR

Encouraging neighbourliness Weekly outreach sessions reaching the local streets in through the Deptford Reach Safer Evelyn and Newcross wards, namely Elgar Close, Reginald Community Approach with street, Comet street, Deptford High Street, Watson Street to volunteers and the local community prevent antisocial behaviour, lasting up to 2 hours per helping out to improve their local session. neighbourhood by reducing the number of people who hang around in the streets drinking and causing a nuisance to local residents and local shops during the day.

Conclusion Deptford Reach is one of several agencies addressing the needs of the homeless and vulnerable and therefore fulfils an important vital role in meeting demand.

As one of the main agencies providing basic advice as well as support with ‘moving on’, it is also acknowledged that a creative use of resources and staff time are required to make a sustained difference to the client group.

The amount requested by Deptford Reach is above the £41,264 that they received in 2013/14, I have spoken with the organisation and they can re-submit an application based upon this sum.

Recommendation: That a grant of £41,957 for 2014/15 be awarded to Deptford Reach

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation: Downham Community Association (Wesley Halls)

Address: 2 Shroffold Road Downham BR1 5PE

Ward located: Downham Ward(s) served: Downham

Last AGM held: • Annual General Meeting Date: 12/11/12 (AGM minutes received 16/09/13) • Lead Officer Attendance: LBL not notified

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Registered Charity Number: 275373 - submitted on time to the Charity Commission

Amount requested: £20,000 Grant level recommended: £20,160 Purpose of grant:

The themes that are funded under this programme are: • Children and Young People • Communities That Care

The grant is subject to the organisation: • Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the community centre as a whole during 2014/15. • Clarifying specific outputs and outcomes within its Community Development Plan for the community centre. • Establishing a Sustainability Plan for the community centre.

Services provided by the organisation Wesley Halls was originally built through the Methodist Church in the early 20 th century and launched as a community facility (Downham Community Centre) in 1977. The centre is situated in the Downham Ward which has been ranked as one of the most deprived wards in the borough of Lewisham. Downham Community Association (DCA WH) was formed with a remit to manage the community centre and is now a registered charity. The centre features a number of meeting spaces and halls and hosts a range of community groups including:

• A children’s choir • A children’s sport activities over school holiday times • Educational classes • A leisure club for older people • Lewisham Sport Club for people with disabilities (local authority services) • Performing arts project (dance) • Sport activities

The building is currently leased (21 years) from Lewisham Council.

Performance The overall performance of this organisation has been rated ‘amber/red’ within the council’s traffic light system for grant monitoring. The past year has seen little development in terms of the business planning process for the centre in terms of sustainability. Whilst the centre continues to remain open, a significant amount of space is used by the Council, a service which is being withdrawn. In terms of the independent consultancy support that was offered (from Lewisham council) to this organisation to strengthen its options for sustaining the community centre services – this offer was declined by the association due to alternative sources being identified.

The current condition of the premises (in terms of aesthetical improvements and maximising the potential use of the space) is an ongoing concern. The financial statement for year ending 31 March 2013 indicated a balance reserve of £65,865 (unrestricted funds of 63,488 and restricted funds of £2,377) together with a reserves policy to ‘maintain funds at the highest possible level.’ DCA (WH) have submitted a Community Development Plan to the Council, however, the Association would still need to qualify significant community need in order to determine realistic proposals. This plan is currently being revised. In terms of quality assurance, no quality assurance system has been established for the community centre as a whole and this will form a condition of grant aid for 2014/15.

Proposal WDCA (WH) proposes to deliver services under the following themes:

Children and Young People Children’s Sport activities over the school half term – due to the loss of supported young people’s provision through the local authority, the centre has identified the need to continue sports activities at the centre.

Children’s Choir – the centre has identified that there are no similar groups within the area and would like to support local people in establishing this.

Communities that Care Sport/Leisure Club for older people – the centre has identified the need to establish support services for ‘middle-aged disabled men. This group would need to be completely inclusive in addressing needs.

Lewisham Sports Club For People With Disabilities – the centre will facilitate and support the Lewisham Sports Club for PWLD.

Café – as a result of the council’s use of the premises to support the day opportunities service, the centre has identified a need to launch a café that acts as meeting place for day centre clients. This service would create opportunities for participants to work alongside their carers in developing an inclusive programme of activities whilst offering refreshments and light lunches.

Although the centre anticipates 162 existing users and 620 new beneficiaries, have still not declared the percentage of Lewisham Residents that will access the service.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Children and Young People theme Sports activities 25 or more children shall meet daily - To enable children to undertake activities in a over the half term to undertake sport safe and caring environment activities. - To develop team building, to develop understanding of various sport rules, - To enable children to have choices in selecting the appropriate sport activity to suit their lifestyles - To develop children’s and young people’s fitness levels - To improve their health and well-being. - To enrich children’s and young people’ s lives . Children and Young People theme - To develop signing skills Choir – 12 or more children shall meet - To develop team participation and to enrich regularly to learn singing skills children’s lives and well being - To support the group by offering a safe and secure environment

Children and Young People theme -Teach children and young people discipline to Developing dancing skills - 95 children devote their time to training regularly. aged 3 – 16 years of age shall train -Teach children and young people dancing skills regularly on a weekly basis and and to develop their health and well-being. perform 2 shows at the Broadway Theatre in Lewisham in July 2014 Children and Young People theme -To enable and facilitate a self-help group to set The number shall be variable however, up a Parent and Toddler Playgroup. The there shall be a minimum number of 10 parents/carers shall have an opportunity to meet pre-school children at anyone time. and network whilst their children learn to play and There shall also be the children’s socialise in a safe and secure environment parents and/or carers.

Communities that care theme - Keeping vulnerable adults active, healthy and 24 young people with disabilities shall engaged by supporting and facilitating a self- meet regularly to participate in sport help group. type activities. The group shall call - Being part of a group shall enable them to themselves the ‘Lewisham Sport Club meet people and empower them to make For People With Disabilities’ choices and develop their self-worth. - Help them to organise themselves and we shall provide a safe and secure environment for them to meet and develop their skills. - To enable the participants to network Communities that care theme Improving economic well-being and Start a Café – in order to teach 7 young employability of young vulnerable adults. people, with disabilities, skills that are To enable people to meet and make friends in a necessary to work in a catering safe and caring environment. industry.

Conclusion Whilst Downham Community Association has maintained a consistent space for community activity, the future sustainability of this community centre service is a going concern and will need to be prioritised over the next year. The association will need to generate income from sources other than Lewisham Council during 201/14; whist a significant proportion of income is generated through centre hirings (58.5%), there area only two strands of income. DCA WH does need to prioritise ways to diversify its income over the next year.

Recommendation: That (subject to the conditions as stated below) a grant of £20,160 for 2014/15 is awarded to the Downham Community Association (Wesley Halls).

The grant is subject to the organisation: • Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the community centre as a whole during 2014/15. • Clarifying specific outputs and outcomes within its community development plan for the centre. • Establishing a sustainability plan for the community centre (over and above identified fundraising training).

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation The Employment & Training Consortium (ETC) with 170 Community Project as lead organization. Address 170 New Cross Road, London SE14 5AA Ward located Ward(s) served Evelyn Borough Last AGM held: To be verified. If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: N/A

Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £65,093.00 £65,614 Purpose of grant: ETC is a VCS consortium, set up in 2009 we are applying for funding under the Gateway Services to supply services aimed at improving economic well-being and employability to Lewisham residents.

Services provided by the organisation

The Employment and Training Consortium is composed of North Downham Training Project NDTP, REETA (Pepys Community Forum), and Friends of Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust. All ETC members are bound by a Memorandum of Understanding and all aspects of the partnership’s programme will operate as the existing Consortium arrangement for the LBL main grant funding.170 Community Project will also continue to be the lead body.

The ETC programme is primarily targeted at Lewisham’s most disadvantaged residents, the long-term unemployed, people with no/low skills, individuals with complex health and individual support needs, refugees, NEETs, lone parents, BAME communities and social housing tenants.

Performance

Throughout the year the partnership has delivered the following Project Activities: 1. First Contact/Engagement IAS: 245 evidenced via completed client Information, 2. Employability IAG : 200 sessions evidenced through signed action plans 3. Basic Skills Assessments and training opportunities: 77 evidenced via class registers, and accreditation certificates and providing, - vital aspect of needs assessment - to assist clients improve IT skills to enable them to apply for jobs and register on the universal jobmatch site - to provide accreditation in specific areas such as Food Hygiene, First Aid and Presentation skills that will increase their ability to access employment.

4. Volunteering/work experience placements : 77 evidenced via placement confirmation forms and providing: - skills enhancement - CV building - source of references particularly for long term unemployed.

5. Employment retention : 27 jobs secured evidenced via employment confirmation form: - on-going support and advice to ETC clients who gain employment to retain jobs for a sustained period

Overall the ETC is rated Green with relevant documentation and governance systems in place.

ETC members are quality assured as follows:

- 170 – MATRIX accreditation until July 2014.Advice work quality standard in welfare benefits in housing - OISC – Level 1 - Lewisham Healthcare – covered by the Healthcare Trust’s standards - Pepys Community Forum – Matrix accredited until June 2013 undergoing reaccreditation

Proposal

Grant is requested to cover the running cost of the Partnership’s activities. In addition to promoting collaborative work among members, the partnership’s focus on employment and training plays an important role in alleviating poverty in general and complimenting the work of advice services. Hence the proposal is value for money and meets LBL grant aid criteria and conditions.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes: Outputs:

Engagement and signposting 245 people receiving Initial Information and service for Lewisham’s signposting interviews. disadvantaged communities. ------ 200 Guidance interviews carried out. Improved employability IAG service for local priority groups; 77 training opportunities/assessments lone parents, BAME, long term unemployed, people with no/low completed skills. 77 Volunteering/ work placement opportunities secured. ------ 27 unemployed clients obtaining Increased number of IT training, full time employment

basic skills assessments and 1 x Findings report produced basic skills training opportunities. Increased volunteering and work placement opportunities

Increased employment opportunities secured

Improved knowledge of barriers to training and work to help shape services and inform providers and funders of local needs

Conclusion

ETC continues to provide vital support to the community both direct and through the partnership’s membership. They are on track with their output and outcome targets, and are expected to be a vital source of support to their membership through more strategic work at the policy and fundraising levels.

During the last TLS monitoring exercise there were areas identified for further verification and clarification. They include more meetings with ETC member organizations to ensure they too have governance and finance management systems compliant with the Council’s Conditions of Grant Aid.

Recommendation : That a grant of £65,614 for 2014/15 be awarded to ETC through the lead organization - 170 Community Project subject.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15

Full name of or ganisation: Entelechy Arts

Address : The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG

Ward located: New Cross Ward(s) served: All Borough

Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee: 28 th November 2012 LBL officer present If registered c harity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Fully compliant with legal requirements Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £39,511 £39,827 Purpose of grant:

Entelechy Arts (EA) is funded by the Building Social Capital and Communities that Care strand of the main grants programme to deliver a range of programmes that: o * provide creative programmes to enhance the wellbeing and social and cultural lives of isolated and excluded groups of older people and people with profound and complex disabilities in Lewisham. * work in partnership with other local organisations to pass on skills and experience and disseminate models of practice and procedures to wider audiences.

The current themes are: Building Social Capital • Increased capacity for leaders of small voluntary sector groups to provide imaginative and sustained active ageing programmes in their communities • Opportunity for leaders and key members of small voluntary and communities organisations to access high quality and diverse learning and training opportunities supporting active ageing in their communities Communities that Care • Better connections between isolated older people and vulnerable adults and the communities in which they live • People supported to continue to live healthy active lives (including older people, vulnerable adults, older people with disabilities, and those that have dementia. • Supporting active older people to maintain their long-term independence, choice and their quality of life.

Services provided by the organisation

Entelechy Arts have been developing artistic activities, programmes and events for older people and people with profound and complex disabilities in Lewisham for 23 years. These have included this year the ongoing events for older people; the 21st Century Tea Dance which are co-curated by isolated older people. The weekly Seven Ages programme of dance, music and story-telling and projects, Little Box of Memories project which opened up reminiscence opportunities in care settings. They also have a new programme ‘Meet me at the Albany’ running every Tuesday.

For people with profound disabilities EA provides enriching sensory and creative workshops, events and experiences via the Ambient Jam programme.

Performance against general criteria

Entelechy Arts perform well against general criteria. The board is well established, though key skills within the trustees have been identified as a recruitment objective. The post of treasurer is currently being sought. The board have worked closely with a private business expert from the independent charity ‘Pilotlight’ to review and update the Business Development Plan (2013-2018). The organisation works within a strong policy and procedural framework and legal and financial responsibilities are clearly understood.

EA have diversified funding sources this year and are looking to increase this in the next financial year with the addition of a fundraiser on the staffing team. Actions taken have included charging some participant groups for work programmes that are now part subsidised from their personal budgets. The organisation over achieved its reserves target reaching £30K from an original forecast of £24K

EA have embedded user-led programming and have robust consultation and monitoring systems. Practitioners have the expertise to co-author with some participants that have difficultly with communication. The new initiative ‘Little Boxes’ programme engaged an external evaluator from the adult social care sector to monitor the impact of the programme on isolated groups of older people. EA are currently looking to develop a long-term relationship with a research team from an academic institution to investigate the impact of their programmes further.

EA have numerous links and partners internationally, nationally and locally with assistance from the Lewisham Older Peoples Arts Network. They share best practice and build local social capital as part of their funding commitment and also are able to gain income from training nationally and have recently been commissioned by Artworks to develop a ‘Continuing Professional Development’ programme for artists working in a participatory setting at the Barbican.

Proposal

1. Communities that Care To deliver:

• Weekly programmes of creative work including dance, theatre, singing, tea, biscuits and conversation, poetry and spoken word. • Quarterly larger-scale events including the ground-breaking 21st Century Tea Dance series • The development of specific one-off projects co-led and devised by project participants.

This reaches the funding targets of: • Supporting isolated and vulnerable Lewisham residents to Connect and Engage with people, events and opportunities within their community. • Supporting isolated and vulnerable Lewisham residents to Express and Communicate their skills, interests, experiences and concerns to others from their communities within safe and supportive contexts. • To Empower isolated and vulnerable Lewisham residents to actively contribute to the life of their communities as recognised and valued citizens with the attendant mental and physical well-being benefits that come with such engagement.

2. Building Social Capital

To work in partnership with other organisations to both leverage new skills and experience and disseminate models of practice and procedures to wider audiences. Proposed to be achieved by:

• consolidating partnerships with the Albany to support the co-delivery of work with isolated older people through the development of programmes such as Meet Me at the Albany and the 21 st Century Tea Dance series. • consolidating relationships with families, residential care providers and adult social care teams supporting adults with profound and complex disabilities. • consolidating relationships with health and social care teams supporting isolated and vulnerable older adults living home alone and with residential care providers and hospital teams. • consolidating and developing new relationships with arts organisations across south east London including Southbank Centre and Siobhan Davies Dance Studios to increase opportunities for targeted groups of Lewisham residents. • continuing to take an active role in the development of the Lewisham Older People’s Arts Network (OPAN)

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: st Better connections between 21 Century Tea Dance Programme co -curated by isolated older people and isolated older people vulnerable adults and the communities in which they live – X4 events staged in Albany Theatre for capacity increased visibility and social audiences of isolated and hard to reach older adults 160 engagement pr event X 16 2hr planning and devising sessions with 20 older participants

People supported to continue to live active and healthy lives Better connections between Personalised support programme isolated older people and Person Centred Programming support for 80 isolated vulnerable adults and the older adults and adults with learning disabilities and communities in which they live – sensory impairment increased visibility and social engagement Individually tailored engagement programmes that support individual development pathways People supported to continue to live active and healthy lives Increased physical and mental x42 week programme of x2 large-scale creative sessions health and well-being of isolated pr week for total of 60 isolated and homebound older older adults adults delivered through Meet Me at the Albany programme in collaboration with the Albany. People supported to continue to live active and healthy lives Increased physical and mental x36 week 2hr pr week creative contact programme with health and well-being of isolated older adults living in residential settings working with older adults Lewisham residents living in Brymore House and Manley Court reaching a total of 70 participants. People supported to continue to live active and healthy lives

People supported to continue to X 6 2hr session inclusive improvised dance programme at live active and healthy lives Siobhan Davies Dance Studios 30 older adults and adults with learning disabilities and/or physical and sensory impairments Increased opportunities for X45 week 3hr pr week theatre programme for 12 active volunteering for active older older adults working on national and international adults collaborations with older people in Bradford and Stockton on Tees, Brazil and the US.

People supported to continue to X42 week 2 sessions pr week programme for 20 active live active and healthy lives older adults volunteering opportunities through the Meet Me at the Albany programme.

X8 volunteer support ½ day sessions Increa sed physical and mental health and well-being for adults X30 week programme for 24 adults with learning with learning disabilities and/or disabilities and/or physical and sensory impairments physical and sensory X 2hr sessions pr week impairments

People supported to continue to live active and healthy lives

Conclusion

Entelechy Arts have got robust plans in place to develop their work and also remain financially buoyant in a difficult environment for the sector. The organisation has benefitted greatly from the ‘Pilot Light’ scheme in relation to their business plan and general management of the organisation. Their innovative creative practice is being developed further with strong partners and also shared locally and nationally and new initiatives and partnerships are being sought to develop further from already significant successes.

Recommendation:

That Entelechy Arts be awarded a grant of £39,827

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15 Full name of o rganisation Equaliteam Lewisham Address F5: Leemore Central Community Hub Bonfield Road Lewisham SE 23 5EU Ward located: Ward(s) served Lewisham Central Borough wide Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee New organisation If registered c harity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: New organisation Amount requested: £160,410 Grant level recommended: £161,502 Purpose of grant: To fund a programme of work supporting the Building Social Capital

Services provided by the organisation Equaliteam is a new organisation that will provide services under Building Social Capital theme under the following headings: • Equalities Advisory Support Service • Critical Friend & Scrutiny Service • Satellite Community Engagement & Consultation • Thematic Research Campaigning & Support

Performance against general criteria Equaliteam Lewisham is an organisation in development and as such no formal monitoring has taken place. The newly appointed Operational Director and the management committee, supported by Council officers are currently going through a process of establishing a robust organisation that is able to deliver effective equalities services.

Internally, work is taking place to strengthen the management committee through both a process of training and development for current members and identifying individuals with key skills that could join the group. A strategic plan is currently being developed that will shape the work of the organisation in the coming years and identify roles for new members of staff. Appropriate policies and procedures are currently being developed

Strategic partnerships are developing and opportunities for collaboration being identified. Equaliteam Lewisham is keen where possible to share resources so as to make best use of them. This has resulted in the organisation reaching an agreement for Voluntary Action Lewisham to provide key financial services.

Grant Proposal Equaliteam Lewisham will deliver a range of services including:

Equalities Advisory Support Service We will work with organisations within the Borough to support & improve the way they think and develop policies and procedures relating to recruitment, training and employment process. Work with the Compact Steering Group for example - will enable this element of proposed services to contribute to improvements in the way social inclusion, and fairness is continually discussed and actioned within this strategic group.

Critical Friend & Scrutiny Service The organisation will provide analysis, scrutiny and think tank activity designed to ensure services delivered to communities are inclusive, accessible and fair in relation to how they are planned and delivered. ETL has already commenced the process of supporting the work of the following strategic groups within the borough;

• LCPCG – Sub Group, Hate Crime • The Compact Group • Stronger Partnership Board

Satellite Community Engagement & Consultation To ensure the organisation is listening to the voices of communities it will provide a consultation service that aims to engage with members of communities from each of the 18 wards within Lewisham.

Work is currently being carries out with Coordinators of Local Assemblies to ensure ETL can gain access to this and other Community Engagement Platforms – with a view to informing our understanding of local needs relative to the equalities agenda.

Thematic Research ETL aims to be a credible organisation that both; conducts and commissions themed research - designed to identify if equality / fairness gaps are increasing or decreasing locally. The organisation has already begun the process of identifying academic institutions local and nationally with a view to them possibly working with us on research specific data gathering and analysis.

Campaigning & Support The organisations work will also involve supporting existing local organisations to improve their voice and to increase the profile of their work. The focus of this strand of work is also to ensure meaningful & positively impacting equalities improvement - in the way local services are developed, delivered & evaluated - takes place. Where this is not happening purposely for organisations ETL will assist them to campaign for progressive improvement and change.

Equalities – Community Learning and Empowerment Programme Thematic equalities focused - educational programme of activities to be delivered in local schools & community venues- designed to promote awareness and improved understanding of the causes of social conflict

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

ETL will conduct borough wide community Planning, delivery and evaluation of 18 consultation to identify local need around ward specific consultation workshops the equalities and fairness agenda. designed to capture local perspectives on community experiences / encounters of Specific outcomes from this process will equality / inequality within Lewisham. include: Each workshop will include a tripartite data • Increased understanding of local gathering & evaluation process; including perspectives around experiences & encounters relating to social • Direct community consultation – equality. engaging with Local Assembly attendees • Increased access to local communities that will provide a • Creation of an ETL online survey – platform to enable their concerns designed to include the perspectives and aspiration to be heard. of local people not able to attend the ETL -Local Assembly consultation activity.

• Creation of a themed Questionnaire – that will complete the process of ETL data gathering.

• Partnership working with local assembly coordinators & local community workers

Hosting of an equalities conference – possibly in partnership with VAL and NCVO

Increase understanding of how the 2010 Planning & coordination of an ETL Equalities Act is impacting on the sector Equalities conference that will explore and measure the impact of the new 2010 Produce data outlining key challenges and Equalities Act on local communities. continued experiences of inequality Work in multi agency partnership with VAL • Planning of Governance Training and other orgs in Lewisham to establish and Activity for targeted services evolve strategies to improve Vol & Com sec designed to improve local services orgs services and governance activity. delivery, management & governance process Increase the sectors understanding of what is needed to improve the quality third sector • Identify the state of play governance • Monitor & assess progress of orgs Produce – data / report that detail the involved in project barriers to effective governance within the sector

Delivery of capacity building activities for Vo & Com sec org trustees and service managers

Continue to engage and work with a view to Work in partnership to increase the capacity supporting the boroughs’ strategic groups- & ability of local strategic boards to be including able to work more inclusively and to also increase their ability to understand where • LCPCG: sub working group -Hate inequality is being experienced and to Crime implement action planning / responses • Compact Steering Group designed to reduce those encounters. • Safer and Stronger Partnership Boards

Improve equalities themed information Create ETL dedicated website and sharing within the sector Newsletter

Conclusion Equaliteam Lewisham is in the development stage and will soon begin to deliver key equalities services in the borough. It is important that funding is maintained as the organisation goes through this process.

Recommendation: To approve continued funding of £161,502 for Equaliteam Lewisham

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Evelyn 190 Centre Address 190 EVELYN STREET, DEPTFORD, LONDON SE8 5DB Ward located Ward(s) served Boroughwide Evelyn Last AGM held: 13 June 2013 – attended by LBL officers: Miranda Patterson and Palmela Whitter If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Yes, returns submitted to Charity Commissions on 31/07/13. Amount requested: £267,752 Grant level recommended: £230,478

Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under the “Gateway Services” theme to cover the running cost of delivering advice and advocacy services, including representation and support at tribunals and county courts.

Services provided by the organization

The Evelyn 190 Centre is a Community Advice Centre providing advocacy, advice and representation in social welfare law including, benefits, debt housing and employment. The grant will be used to meet the costs of running a full time specialist advice service; contribute towards social policy work and enable the Centre to lever in funding from other sources

Performance

Throughout the year the Centre has performed well in the following areas:

• Tribunal Appeals Representation with high success rates – DWP Benefits, Employment, Debt and Housing. • Approved as Representative for Housing and Council Tax Benefits at Tribunal Services with continuation of 97% success rate. • Demand for the services for Disability Rights is very high with high success rate in the award of benefits for fresh claims, appeals and representations. • Employment Appeals and Representation at Tribunals continue to increase substantially with high level of awards. • The Centre’s achievements are demonstrated in the income generation forms, which are submitted to the Local Authority on a bi-monthly and quarterly basis. • Representation at County Court to defend possession proceedings and stay evictions.

The organization have relevant governance systems in place with active board of trustees.

Their quarterly and TLS monitoring reports indicate that the organisation is on track to achieve output and outcome targets. There is expectation that demand for their services will increase as a result of Welfare Reform. However, this can only be evidenced through future quarterly monitoring reports and TLS.

The Centre holds the Specialist Quality Mark in Four Specialist Area, Welfare Benefits, Housing, Debt and Employment, which is valid for three years.

Proposal

Funding is requested to cover the running cost of delivering services composed of advice, advocacy and appeals representation on the following areas: Welfare Benefits, Disability Rights, Housing, Employment, Housing and Council Tax Support, Debt, financial sustainability and general advice, and provision of support to clients making small claims through the County Court, develop volunteers and students on placements and work with affiliated groups and organisations.

The services provided are in high demand and are considered value for money.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

• Increase financial benefits • Users 7,957 per year (seen at the Centre, to user; reduction of poverty telephone advice, Home visit and Outreach). and social exclusion

• Users 557 will be from Outreach Services. • Preventing homelessness

• We will undertake Home visits where appropriate. • Prevents unfair dismissal and

discrimination at work

• About 687 will be Tribunals and Court • Reduction in social exclusion; Representations. learning skills; self

development

• 2 VOLUNTEERS - we make use of Volunteers to • Providing skills and activities; ensure we can provide the best service and give reduction of social exclusion them support and training to increase their and deprivation knowledge.

• Internal & external training, self development and employment opportunities.

Conclusion

In general, and as evidenced by the TLS and quarterly monitoring reports, the organization is well managed with all the appropriate governance documents and systems in place. Their performance in terms of delivering services and meeting targets is well on track.

The only concern is related to fundraising and financial sustainability. From the financial information provided in the grant application, it seems that LBL is the main source of funding for Evelyn 190 Centre. In the current climate of funding uncertainties the organization is strongly advised to consider diversifying their sources of funding to maintain service and address future sustainability as well as anticipated increase in service demands and accommodation.

The organization sought slight increase to the level of LBL funding awarded last year, but this is not possible on this occasion due to funding restrictions. Hence, funding is recommended at the same level as last year.

Recommendation:

That, subject to the organization agreeing to develop and work on a fundraising strategy, a grant of £230,478 for 2014/15 be awarded to Evelyn 190 Centre.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15

Full name of organisation: Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre

Address : The Tramshed, 51-53 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6ES

Ward located: Out of Borough Ward(s) served: Bellingham, Grove Park, Downham, Catford South and Whitefoot Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee: None If registered charity/Company, when retur ns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Fully compliant with legal requirements Amount requested: £96,631 Grant level recommended: £97,404

Purpose of grant: CYPP: GLYPT will deliver a programme of activity for children and young people. GLYPT will provide inclusive and positive arts-based activity engaging young people from across Lewisham, with a focus on the south of the borough, enabling them to achieve their full potential, increase well-being and make positive contributions to their community. At least 3,000 young people from Lewisham will benefit during the course of a year.

Services provided by the organisation Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre (GLYPT) aims to advance education for the public benefit by the promotion of the arts, in particular but not exclusively the art of drama. GLYPT was established in 1971 and makes relevant, inclusive and challenging theatre for, with and by young people in the borough of Lewisham and across South East London. Engaging children and young people aged 4 to 25 with high quality creative experiences with a strong focus on supporting, engaging and empowering vulnerable and disadvantaged young people. In particular by: o Offering theatre and arts opportunities in the form of after school groups and weekend and holiday activities. o Delivering artistic projects for young people who are at risk of exclusion.

Performance against general criteria

The organisation has a strong board which works within an appropriate policy and procedural framework and legal and financial responsibilities are clearly understood. Roles and responsibilities are clearly defined and the board and management regularly discuss any potential risk involved in change and have been able to manage these effectively. GLYPT's staff team has mostly been in place for several years. It is an experienced team, and one which is flexible and able to respond to change

A 30 year lease has recently been granted to GLYPT for its premises by LB Greenwich. This gives important stability to the organisation and also makes capital fundraising a more realistic proposition. Being based in Greenwich does not appear to have any detrimental effect on proving services to Lewisham as evidence suggests that young people are happy to travel, with more service users in the 16+ age range come from Lewisham than Greenwich.

GLYPT offer a diverse range of activities which are regularly reviewed to ensure they meet current priorities. The organisation seeks to respond to new initiatives and agendas and continues to strengthen its work around mental health. The organisation has a range of strong partnerships - Police, local NHS trusts and educational institutes that provide a range of income streams.

The organisation has appropriate and relevant financial policies and procedures in place, appropriately qualified staff and experienced trustees. Financial systems are regularly reviewed and are effective and transparent.

The organisation has gone through a considerable financial ‘squeeze’ over a relatively long period of time, which has intensified in recent years as funding streams have become more stretched. GLYPT is actively engaged in fundraising and has recently successfully bid for Lottery funding

Grant Proposal

Youth Led & Volunteering Opportunities All services will be developed according to need, involving all users in stages of planning, delivery and evaluation. The organisation will develop young people as active citizens by encouraging involvement in its Youth Council, steering and focus groups, as well as a range of youth engagement and volunteering opportunities, encouraging participants’ development through their involvement. This will range from encouraging participants to make suggestions about their youth theatre activity and contributing to decisions about the development of new programmes, to training them as a Peer Motivator to support other young people and lead activities. Young people will also engage creatively in the development and delivery of activities through contributing to the development of GLYPT’s professional theatre work, and opportunities to present a positive image of young people through performance and advocacy work. These activities will develop participants’ transferable life skills, and create a culture of positive engagement with their community.

The organisation will offer a range of structured volunteering opportunities for young people, and will ensure volunteers receive specialist training in communication skills, Safeguarding, Health & Safety, and Equal Opportunities.

Universal Youth Activities / Improve Well Being GLYPT will run affordable and inclusive year-round participatory arts activities for young people across Lewisham, working from ‘hubs’ and community centres in the south of the borough (Downham, Bellingham). This work will be in partnership with other organisations, and networks groups ensuring a spread of activity with no duplication. We will also deliver workshops in school and community settings to increase the reach of our activities and engage young people who may otherwise not have access to the arts.

These activities will improve well-being through giving young people a safe, supportive environment in which to make friends, develop creative skills, confidence, self esteem, and life skills in communication, team work, creative thinking, problem solving and presentation. Opportunities to perform additionally give participants a sense of achievement and raise aspirations. Master classes will offer older young people opportunities for further personal and career development.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes Outputs CYPP: Develop young people to Tutors encourage all young people to become active citizens through have a say in developing their activities increased opportunities to be involved through regular consultation with the in leading and developing activities - group, at start / end of each session this Recruitment of young people to is central to all our work and relates to all participate in project focus / steering delivery areas. groups to develop specific activities and Enabling young people to take an programmes of work, and influence the active role in developing activities direction of the company’s work. (MPC1) Participation Manager to facilitate, and Young people empowered to actively support the progression of young people contribute to decisions about their through focus groups activities, and the company’s ‘Youth Engagement Programme’ open professional work; develop key to transferable skills in decision-making, participants of all activities, to include communication; critical capacities; and opportunities for young people to see increase self-esteem and confidence in professional work, engage with work in voicing opinions (MPC1) progress, and voice their opinions and Children & young people feel more constructive criticism to directly influence confident in leading and developing the activities (MPC1 / EA1) development of theatre and project / Empowering young people with participatory work. influence in the company’s management Young people (under 25) invited to with access to board meetings (MPC1 / observe board / management meetings EWB3) and engage with the decision-making process of the company CYPP: Develop young peop le to Recruitment of Peer Motivators to become active citizens through support increased volunteering opportunities participatory activities, in particular young and developing leadership and people from disadvantaged backgrounds transferable skills: GLYPT involves Recruitment of volunteers for specific young volunteers in all areas of work. programmes, in particular young people Enabling more young people to make from disadvantaged backgrounds a positive contribution to their community Recruitment of interns to support the through Peer motivating and mentoring company’s work and develop leadership other young people, and developing key and transferable skills and career skills (MPC1) development Increased opportunities for young Delivery of training to Peer Motivators, people to actively engage in leading & volunteers and interns to enable them to developing activities through develop their skills volunteering, particularly those from Core staff supporting individuals disadvantaged backgrounds (MPC1 through /EWB2 & 3) progression in youth-led roles (e.g. from Young people more able to fully contributing ideas for activity to assisting engage and enjoy in activities, especially tutors in planning, to delivery of activity). more vulnerable young people, through Providing work experience / placement receiving support from Peer Motivators opportunities for school and college (SS5 / EA1 / EA4) students increased positive image of young Supporting GLYPT participants to people in Lewisham; strengthened engage with other appropriate ambassadorial role of young people volunteering and engagement contributing to their local community opportunities such as in their local communities. CYPP: Improving well -being through Delivery of accessible and affordable universal youth activities: GLYPT’s youth theatre programme for ages 5-7, 8- participatory programme 11 and 11-14 and 14- Enabling young people in Lewisham to 19 in south of the borough benefit from increased well-being through Delivery of holiday workshop actively engaging in positive participatory programme, based in the south of the arts activities that enable them to achieve borough, to ensure year-round provision their full potential (BH6 / EA4) (4 week-long courses; possibility for this Raising aspirations of young people to significantly increase subject to through provision of performance securing additional funding) opportunities and progression routes for Delivery of Master class programme young people to develop creative skills, for young people aged 16-25, with from ages 5 – 25 (BH6 / EA4 / access to professional artists and career EWB4 / EWB3) development opportunities. Increasing career development Engaging young people in design, opportunities for young people aged 16- delivery and evaluation of these projects 25 and opportunities to develop their to ensure they reflect needs and interests skills and talent at a high level of participants (EWB2 & 3 / EA1) Young people promoting participatory Reduction of inequality in young programmes in schools and at people being able to access cultural and community events leisure opportunities Young people’s performances / film Raising aspirations of young people by screenings for families & friends enabling families to see young people's demonstrating positive work achievements through performances / Liaison with local press to cover sharing events positive news stories Strengthen ambassadorial role of young people by enabling them to portray a positive image CYPP: Improving we ll being through Delivery of accessible mainstream universal youth activities: GLYPT’s participatory programme, and promotion targeted activity and integrated work of subsidised / free places for FSM to support young people who are less pupils, Looked After children, and others likely to access services, including with financial difficulties disabled young people, vulnerable Increased access to arts activities and through disadvantaged young people and provision of additional free places; young women. increased to 90% of places in Increase access of engagement in participatory programme being free of positive charge. activities by disadvantaged young people Use of diverse and accessible publicity (including FSM pupils, BME, disabled (created in liaison with young people), children and Looked After Young people) carrying access statement and promotion (EA4 / EA5 / EWB2 / BH2 / BH6) via partner agencies e.g. CAMHS, school Increasing access to arts activities SENCOs etc. through Delivery of outreach workshops / provision of additional free places; projects delivered in schools (inc. SEN increased to 80% of places in schools) and other community settings participatory programme being free of (e.g. PRUs) to positively engage children charge less likely to access services ,e.g. Increase learning through removing disabled children, children with learning barriers to learning, and reducing or behavioural attainment gaps of young people from difficulties, EAL, low self-esteem, and at- different backgrounds (EA1 / EA2 / EA4) risk of / involved in youth crime Increasing well-being through provision Delivery of ‘Whatever Makes You of targeted activities to ensure vulnerable Happy’ and other targeted workshops to young people enjoy arts activities, learn engage vulnerable young people e.g. and achieve, and develop key resilience with mental health issues, learning capacities (EA4, EA2, BH6, SS5) difficulties & disabilities Development other inclusion programmes based in the borough of Lewisham (EA4 / EA2 / EA6) CYPP: Improve well -being through Delivering a programme of young people accessing cultural professional theatre that positively events through attendance at engages young people in exploring and performance, and positive activities challenging issues that are relevant to that contribute to wider discussions their lives and their local communities, of community issues and encouraging them to make positive Improved well-being and raising choices that can improve their personal aspirations through more young people prospects and community resilience in Lewisham accessing cultural events Working in partnership with local / and performances (BH6 / EA4 / MPC1) statutory agencies such as the Removing barriers to learning by Metropolitan Police, Families United, enabling young people to engage in NHS Trusts, CAHMS. creative learning (EA1 / EA2) Delivery of new participatory theatre Empowering young people to programme to schools (2-4 weeks contribute to wider discussions about touring) community issues and to develop key Establishing strong and relevant communication and decision-making partnerships to deliver projects skills and make informed decision about Facilitating and empowering young their lives (MPC1 / MPC3) people to create their own performances Empowering young people to act as (theatre, film, radio) that deal with issues ambassadors for positive image of youth relevant to their lives and their culture and to contribute to community communities, and performing to their resilience (MPC1 / MPC2 / EA1) peers / communities, provoking Reducing problems within the discussion around issues community through promotion of positive and a positive image of young people ways to change; e.g., reducing Youth Crime, mental health issues and bullying (MPC2 / LAA 7&8) Increasing young people’s awareness of cultural identity; citizenship; and community. (EA1 / EA2 / MPC1)

Conclusion

Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre is a robust and well managed organisation and an example of best practice in the sector. The proposed services will deliver real and measurable benefits to residents of Lewisham in an area where engagement is low and deprivation is generally high. The service outcomes are well targeted to maximize impact on priority groups alongside relevant partners, both local and national and will deliver across the full scope of the service specification for the theme Children and Young People Programme.

Recommendation:

That, Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre be awarded a grant of £97,404

FOR 2014-15

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of Organisation: Goldsmiths Community Association Address: Goldsmiths Community Centre Castillon Road London SE6 1QD Ward loca ted: Whitefoot Ward(s) served: Bellingham, Catford South, Downham, and Grove Park Wards. Last AGM held: • Annual General Meeting Date: 21/09/13 • Lead Officer Attendance: Sharonne Harvey

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory b ody and have they been submitted on time: • Registered Charity Number: 1141475 – submitted on time to the Charity Commission. • Company Registration Number: 04097035 – submitted on time to Companies House.

Amount requested: £25,000 Grant level recommended: £20,160 Purpose of grant: Community Centre services and a key driver for community development initiatives. • Building Social Capital • Communities That Care

Special conditions: The grant is subject to the organisation improving its financial sustainability and addressing resources to staff the centre.

Services provided by the organisation Goldsmiths Community Association (GCA) is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee that manages the Goldsmith Community Centre which was established in 1939. GCA supports a range of opportunities for participation in education, recreation, and health and leisure activities by ensuring that activities and services are balanced and focused on the needs of the community; meeting spaces, ensuring affordability through its membership within the North Downham area and neighbouring wards. The centre is situated in the Whitefoot Ward which has been ranked as one of the most deprived wards in the borough of Lewisham.

The centre also collaborates with a wide range of local community organisations, clubs and groups to manage premises and share resources and expertise to enable delivery of services that are relevant to the local community and to support emerging groups that meet our aims. The centre does not form a part of the council’s portfolio of community buildings, therefore, the responsibility of maintaining the community centre falls under the association.

Performance The overall performance of this organisation has been rated ‘amber’ within the council’s traffic light system for grant monitoring. The past year has seen a change in the governance of the centre which has been impacted as a result of the loss of the centre manager; the day to day management of the centre is now through the trustees. The strengthening of its internal business processes within the centre. Future financial sustainability does need to be considered as a priority for the association as steps required to be taken in order to address its financial operations together with future sustainability. GCA’s financial statement for year ending 31 March 2013 states a reserve as £36,920. No reserves policy has been declared in this year end financial statement.

The recent AGM declared that the current economic climate has experienced a number of community groups losing funding which has had an impact on the centre.

In terms of quality assurance, the Pre-Visible Standard (Community Matters) is being undertaken by the association over the past year.

Proposal GCA’s Community Development Plan targets the Building Social Capital (Area based community development) and Communities that Care (Keeping adults active, healthy and engaged and Encouraging neighborliness) strands of grant funding for 2014/15. The centre achieves this through strengthening partnerships with the local community, organisations, groups and agencies through membership, volunteering opportunities, events and steering groups to drive access, developments at the centre, engagement with local people with activities and events. The association is also working towards position the centre as a hub in anticipation of the new community as a result of regenerating the Excalibur estate.

GCA has a strong web and social media presence represented by two websites, two blogs and Facebook and Twitter accounts. The community centre website has attracted nearly 100,000 visitors since 2009. The Downham & Whitefoot Interagency was set up at the community centre with initial support from Community First, match funded by GCA. The interagency website is a portal for information about events, activities and services across the wards of Downham and Whitefoot and beyond and is open to submissions of relevant events in neighbouring areas. The interagency has strong links with local assemblies and works with a wide range of partners. It is currently supported by public health funds via Downham Nutrition Partnership, who are now based at the community centre. Social events like open/fun days, themed events and summer fairs are advertised to raise awareness of local, accessible activities that promote community cohesion. We anticipate using these technological tools to inform the local population, organisations and agencies.

Development of the community garden at Goldsmiths Community Centre - This garden was reclaimed from an overgrown and neglected part of the grounds on the corner of Boundfield and Castillon Roads when the former health visitors’ room was refurbished for the assembly-funded hubbub project. Supported by volunteers, donations and a small community garden grant the area is now used regularly for health-related, garden-based and sensory projects by different groups.

GCA has been working with representatives of partner organisations and local people on the Creative Citizens project, an AHRC funded project, in conjunction with the Open University and Helen Hamlyn Centre at the Royal College of Art. GCA is one of two organisations in London selected for the community-led design strand, based on the work we did in 2009-11 to identify improvements to the centre including a community cafe. The project has involved asset mapping the local area, with the community centre as the hub, to link people, places and green spaces across Whitefoot and Downham with the aim of promoting health and wellbeing through interactive technology – an app or interactive section of the website to engage local people, currently titled ‘Downham Outdoors’.

GCA appears to have demonstrated a realistic approach to delivering community development initiatives (200 existing users increasing to 1,200 beneficiaries) through these funding strands. Good value for money has been allowed within the budgeted costs in relation to the overall benefits to the local community.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

Local residents engaged with their Further develop membership of the community centre increasing local Association: voice and sense of belonging 200 x new members recruited by March 2015 2 x membership events (summer, winter 2014) planned, organised and delivered 2 x newsletters sent to all members

Improved links between organisations A community centre forum in Whitefoot, across the south of the borough to Downham and Grove Park to explore share resources and expertise premises management, staff, governance, publicity and marketing and sustainability 3 x steering group meetings will take place at Goldsmiths, Wesley Halls and Ringway 1 x joint funding application submitted Improve facilities at and increase use Steering group formed with of the community centre to meet the representatives of user groups and needs of the new population members Stage 2 of Reaching Communities – Buildings submitted 2 x local community presentations/meetings planned Improve the health and wellbeing of 1x Interactive media tool codenamed local residents through development of Downham Outdoors co-created and partnership activities that promote produced by GCA, OU & RCA Timebank volunteering e.g. community gardening Local Hub established and awareness of green spaces 4 x partnership activities planned at the community garden 2 x partnership funding applications submitted for community gardening activities related to health and wellbeing Services specific to older and disabled people 4 x weekly groups Activities that promote fitness and health that include all generations 10 x weekly groups Activities for children and young people and supporting family services 1 x preschool/family learning centre 6 x weekly discrete youth provision Activities that promote adult learning 2 x weekly ICT groups Activities that promote wellbeing 1 x wellbeing service 1 x community choir 4 x joint DNP health and wellbeing events Activities that promote diversity 3 x annual events Downham Tamil Association 4 x weekly classes supplementary school Activities that promote faith 2 x services 2 x Sunday School classes Local agencies , organisations and housing associations 3 x councillors’ surgeries 16 x community meetings per year Activities that enable local residents to access affordable, accessible hall hire 60 x hall hire per year Activities that promote services at the centre in the area 2 x websites 1 x Facebook account 1 x Twitter account.

Conclusion Goldsmiths Community Association delivers a key service to the local community. In terms of financial sustainability, this is a going concern together addressing the engagement volunteers and staff at the centre. The grant recommendation is based on the current level of funding with no growth increase. The budget within the application can allow for this recommendation without any significant impact on the association due to the budget also breaking even.

Recommendation: That (subject to the conditions as stated below) a grant of £20,160 for 2014/15 be awarded to Goldsmiths Community Association.

The grant is subject to the organisation improving its financial sustainability and addressing resources to staff the centre.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation GROUNDWORK LONDON Address 18-21 Morley Street, London SE1 7QZ Ward located Ward(s) served Based out of borough All Last AGM held: 16 th September 2013 - No If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Yes Amount requested: £23,669 Grant level recommended: £10,080

Purpose of grant: Groundwork London will work in partnership with Lewisham Council Environmental Services and the corresponding supply chains, including Glendale Grounds Management for horticulture and grounds maintenance and Bywaters for waste management and recycling. Groundwork will also work alongside local voluntary sector organisations such as Eco Communities and provide opportunities within our own green economy project and services in Lewisham. The partnership with Glendale will allow us to deliver a bespoke vocational routeway linked to their seasonal recruitment and training programmes. We also work in partnership with local and regional RSLs, such as Amicus Horizon, Family Mosaic, Hexagon Housing Association and L&Q, which enables us to engage social housing residents, as well as facilitating links to community recycling and horticulture/food growing projects. .

Services provided by the organisation Groundwork London works alongside local communities, public bodies, private companies and other voluntary sector organisations to support communities in need. We help people and organisations make changes in order to create better neighbourhoods, build skills and job prospects and live and work in a greener way.

Groundwork has thirty years experience in delivering bespoke projects that use the environment as a catalyst for building a more sustainable future. They deliver projects across London, helping improve the quality of people's lives, their prospects and potential and the places where they live, work and play

Performance Groundwork London is a well established trust and has robust organisational, business and financial policies and procedures in place. In terms of performance they meet the requirements for green on the Lewisham “traffic light” scoring matrix.

Groundwork London operates a consistent range of bespoke quality systems, which apply to Trusts and business units as part of the Federation of Groundwork Trusts. These systems are based on the development of delivery standards and measures for each of our thematic areas, and are relevant to Groundwork’s delivery.

In order to demonstrate the quality of our work and highlight the difference our work has made to people’s lives we monitor both the outputs, and outcomes of our work, using Groundwork’s quality and impact evaluation framework. This incorporates: Project Performance Measures (PPMs), Impact Evaluation Measures and a Social Return on Investment calculation (SRoI) which provides useful information for our partners and funders.

Groundwork’s Quality Policy and evaluation and impact evaluation framework is available upon request.

Proposal The proposed programme builds upon and enhances local services delivered by Groundwork in partnership with employers, RSLs and the voluntary sector and responds to skills needs in the local and regional economy. Groundwork London have identified needs in terms of demand amongst unemployed Lewisham residents for training and employment opportunities in the Green Economy, as well as the skills and recruitment needs of local and regional employers operating in the sector.

In particular, the horticulture and grounds maintenance industry has an ageing workforce (the average age of a trained Grounds Maintenance operative is approaching 50) and we know, from several years of experience of delivering similar programmes in London, that they can secure vacancies with local employers, including via our existing partnership arrangements with Glendale.

Industry trends in waste management and recycling/reuse that at least 195,950 people will be employed in the sector by 2020 and key current recruitment and skills needs at local and regional skills gaps include: (1) the need to attract young new entrants as the industry workforce ages; and (2) a requirement for technically skilled employees to work in repair and reuse of white goods, smaller electrical items, bicycles and furniture. They have existing partnerships with employers in this sector, including major employers such as Serco and Bywaters, local social enterprises such as Eco Communities and a vast network of voluntary sector recycling and reuse organisations across London via our work with London Reuse and the London Community Recycling Network.

As they are already working locally on Green Economy employment and training schemes in Lewisham we are that there is significant demand for access to these opportunities amongst local unemployed people. Based on our experience, although a significant proportion of applicants have a specific interest in the Green Economy, the most important factor motivating local people to participate in these opportunities are the links to local vacancies that offer a realistic opportunities to progress into sustainable employment.

The project is feasible and realistic and offers good value for money.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: .

Outcomes: Outputs: 50 unemployed Lewisham residents are 50 unemployed Lewisham residents are engaged and supporting in moving into or closer to supported via employment support and training the labour market, with those not programmes for the Green Economy progressing into employment or further training achieving demonstrable improvements in their employability. 30 unemployed Lewisham residents Groundwork provide locally based training courses in achieve accredited qualifications Horticulture, Sustainable Recycling Activities and Domestic Appliance Engineering alongside Employability & Personal Development and Functional Skills 20 previously unemployed Lewisham Job brokerage service provided for all residents residents progress into employment accessing the service with partnerships with Green Economy employers facilitating preferential access to local vacancies 20 unemployed Lewisham resident Employment support and IAG service provided for all progress on to further training residents facilitating referral to further training opportunities

Conclusion

• Groundwork London are an experienced trust capable of meeting the set outcomes and delivering outputs. • There are no special condition applied to the recommendation

Recommendation:

That a grant of £10,080 (payable in monthly instalments) for 2014/15 be awarded to Groundwork London

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15 Full name of organisation: Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre

Address : The Tramshed, 51-53 Woolwich New Road, London SE18 6ES

Ward located: Out of Borough Ward(s) served: Bellingham, Grove Park, Downham, Catford South and Whitefoot Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee: None If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Fully compliant with legal requirements Amount requested: £96,631 Grant level recommended: £97,404

Performance against general criteria

Grant Proposal

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes Outputs CYPP: Develop young people to Tutors encourage all young people to become active citizens through have a say in developing their activities increased opportunities to be involved through regular consultation with the in leading and developing activities - group, at start / end of each session this Recruitment of young people to is central to all our work and relates to all participate in project focus / steering delivery areas. groups to develop specific activities and Enabling young people to take an programmes of work, and influence the active role in developing activities direction of the company’s work. (MPC1) Participation Manager to facilitate, and Young people empowered to actively support the progression of young people contribute to decisions about their through focus groups activities, and the company’s ‘Youth Engagement Programme’ open professional work; develop key to transferable skills in decision-making, participants of all activities, to include communication; critical capacities; and opportunities for young people to see increase self-esteem and confidence in professional work, engage with work in voicing opinions (MPC1) progress, and voice their opinions and Children & young people feel more constructive criticism to directly influence confident in leading and developing the activities (MPC1 / EA1) development of theatre and project / Empowering young people with participatory work. influence in the company’s management Young people (under 25) invited to with access to board meetings (MPC1 / observe board / management meetings EWB3) and engage with the decision-making process of the company CYPP: Develop young people to Recruitment of Peer Motivators to become active citizens through support increased volunteering opportunities participatory activities, in particular young and developing leadership and people from disadvantaged backgrounds transferable skills: GLYPT involves Recruitment of volunteers for specific young volunteers in all areas of work. programmes, in particular young people Enabling more young people to make from disadvantaged backgrounds a positive contribution to their community Recruitment of interns to support the through Peer motivating and mentoring company’s work and develop leadership other young people, and developing key and transferable skills and career skills (MPC1) development Increased opportunities for young Delivery of training to Peer Motivators, people to actively engage in leading & volunteers and interns to enable them to developing activities through develop their skills volunteering, particularly those from Core staff supporting individuals disadvantaged backgrounds (MPC1 through /EWB2 & 3) progression in youth-led roles (e.g. from Young people more able to fully contributing ideas for activity to assisting engage and enjoy in activities, especially tutors in planning, to delivery of activity). more vulnerable young people, through Providing work experience / placement receiving support from Peer Motivators opportunities for school and college (SS5 / EA1 / EA4) students increased positive image of young Supporting GLYPT participants to people in Lewisham; strengthened engage with other appropriate ambassadorial role of young people volunteering and engagement contributing to their local community opportunities such as in their local communities. CYPP: Improving well -being through Delivery of accessible and affordable universal youth activities: GLYPT’s youth theatre programme for ages 5-7, 8 - participatory programme 11 and 11-14 and 14- Enabling young people in Lewisham to 19 in south of the borough benefit from increased well-being through Delivery of holiday workshop actively engaging in positive participatory programme, based in the south of the arts activities that enable them to achieve borough, to ensure year-round provision their full potential (BH6 / EA4) (4 week-long courses; possibility for this Raising aspirations of young people to significantly increase subject to through provision of performance securing additional funding) opportunities and progression routes for Delivery of Master class programme young people to develop creative skills, for young people aged 16-25, with from ages 5 – 25 (BH6 / EA4 / access to professional artists and career EWB4 / EWB3) development opportunities. Increasing career development Engaging young people in design, opportunities for young people aged 16- delivery and evaluation of these projects 25 and opportunities to develop their to ensure they reflect needs and interests skills and talent at a high level of participants (EWB2 & 3 / EA1) Young people promoting participatory Reduction of inequality in young programmes in schools and at people being able to access cultural and community events leisure opportunities Young people’s performances / film Raising aspirations of young people by screenings for families & friends enabling families to see young people's demonstrating positive work achievements through performances / Liaison with local press to cover sharing events positive news stories Strengthen ambassadorial role of young people by enabling them to portray a positive image CYPP: Improving well being through Delivery of accessible mainstream universal youth activities: GLYPT’s participatory programme, and promotion targeted activity and integrated work of subsidised / free places for FSM to support young people who are less pupils, Looked After children, and others likely to access services, including with financial difficulties disabled young people, vulnerable Increased access to arts activities and through disadvantaged young people and provision of additional free places; young women. increased to 90% of places in Increase access of engagement in participatory programme being free of positive charge. activities by disadvantaged young people Use of diverse and accessible publicity (including FSM pupils, BME, disabled (created in liaison with young people), children and Looked After Young people) carrying access statement and promotion (EA4 / EA5 / EWB2 / BH2 / BH6) via partner agencies e.g. CAMHS, school Increasing access to arts activities SENCOs etc. through Delivery of outreach workshops / provision of additional free places; projects delivered in schools (inc. SEN increased to 80% of places in schools) and other community settings participatory programme being free of (e.g. PRUs) to positively engage children charge less likely to access services ,e.g. Increase learning through removing disabled children, children with learning barriers to learning, and reducing or behavioural attainment gaps of young people from difficulties, EAL, low self-esteem, and at- different backgrounds (EA1 / EA2 / EA4) risk of / involved in youth crime Increasing well-being through provision Delivery of ‘Whatever Makes You of targeted activities to ensure vulnerable Happy’ and other targeted workshops to young people enjoy arts activities, learn engage vulnerable young people e.g. and achieve, and develop key resilience with mental health issues, learning capacities (EA4, EA2, BH6, SS5) difficulties & disabilities Development other inclusion programmes based in the borough of Lewisham (EA4 / EA2 / EA6) CYPP: Improve well -being through Delivering a programme of young people accessing cultural professional theatre that positively events through attendance at engages young people in exploring and performance, and positive activities challenging issues that are relevant to that contribute to wider discussions their lives and their local communities, of community issues and encouraging them to make positive Improved well-being and raising choices that can improve their personal aspirations through more young people prospects and community resilience in Lewisham accessing cultural events Working in partnership with local / and performances (BH6 / EA4 / MPC1) statutory agencies such as the Removing barriers to learning by Metropolitan Police, Families United, enabling young people to engage in NHS Trusts, CAHMS. creative learning (EA1 / EA2) Delivery of new participatory theatre Empowering young people to programme to schools (2-4 weeks contribute to wider discussions about touring) community issues and to develop key Establishing strong and relevant communication and decision-making partnerships to deliver projects skills and make informed decision about Facilitating and empowering young their lives (MPC1 / MPC3) people to create their own performances Empowering young people to act as (theatre, film, radio) that deal with issues ambassadors for positive image of youth relevant to their lives and their culture and to contribute to community communities, and performing to their resilience (MPC1 / MPC2 / EA1) peers / communities, provoking Reducing problems within the discussion around issues community through promotion of positive and a positive image of young people ways to change; e.g., reducing Youth Crime, mental health issues and bullying (MPC2 / LAA 7&8) Increasing young people’s awareness of cultural identity; citizenship; and community. (EA1 / EA2 / MPC1)

Conclusion

Recommendation:

That, Greenwich and Lewisham Young People’s Theatre be awarded a grant of £97,404

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Grove Centre Address 2 Jews Walk, Sydenham, London SE26 6PL Ward located Ward(s) served Sydenham Ward Sydenham, Forest Hill & Perry Vale wards Last AGM held: 30 March 2012 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Charity registration number is 1129070. Last Annual returns were submitted to Charity Commission on 11 November 2012. The current returns will be submitted within the 10 months of 31 March 2013 Amount requested : £21,910 Grant level recommended: £22,085 Purpose of grant: Funding towards supporting elderly people to become more active and healthy under the following themes: Communities that Cares & Building Social Capital Keeping adults active, healthy and engaged and development of personalized services for the lonely and the elderly.

Services provided by the organisation The Grove Centre is a community centre supported by The Grove Centre Church. The centre serves the local community by facilitating and organising various activities and events which help to meet the needs of all people represented in the community. One of the organisation core services is a Coffee Bar and Lunch Club operating Monday to Friday. The service serves mainly retired people but is also open to any other age groups. New and regular visitors to the Centre can enjoy tea, coffee and tea 2 course meal at very affordable prices. Many of the individual only have this service as a point of contact with others.

The Centre also have a Nursery (Cornerstone Nursery for babies and pre-school toddlers), operating weekdays on the premises as well as a variety of other groups facilitated by the centre which includes: Art & Craft group for the elderly, Brownies / Beavers / Cub Scout and Scout groups, After school club, Reminiscence group, Carers and toddlers group where mums / dads and carers can bring their under fives to play so they can relax and socialise.

Performance The Grove Centre is a constituted charitable trust. The Centre is registered with the Charity Commission under the charity number 1129070. The organisational structure comprises of charity trustees who are responsible for the general control and management of the Centre. The trustees have the experience and expertise to oversee the delivery of effective services to the client group and fulfil the vision for the Centre. The Grove Centre delivers a much needed services to the elderly people residing in Sydenham, Forest Hill and Perry Vale area. Typical activities include the provision of a daily luncheon club and social activities for the elderly. The Centre also provides an important volunteering resource to both their faith and community work.

At the end of last year, the Centre reviewed their programming and managed to find space for an after school club (Giggles). This activity has been running smoothly for over a year, serving a need and also making productive use of the building. In their effort to regenerate the usage of the lunch service the Centre teamed up with an Irish Community Group to run the Wednesday lunches offering entertainment and an advice services for users. Unfortunately the group has recently withdrawn as a result of loss of their funding but the Centre maintains the Wednesday entertainment session which was incorporated in the service to meet the needs of the Irish group.

Previous evidence shows target are being met. The organisation has been able to deliver a daily lunch service to its target groups. Activities and new initiatives are continually being sought and developed to enhance the services provided by the Centre. Partnership work has been forged with Ageing Well (LCC) and Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT)

The Centre encourages members and local people to be involved in volunteering work sharing their skills with others or gaining valuable experience necessary to enhance their employability prospects. The Centre has a core group of volunteers who assists with various aspects of services including painting and decorating, kitchen work, offering assistance in running the mother toddler and after-schools club. The Centre is currently supporting a volunteer with educational needs to develop their skills as a painter decorator, developing their confidence and the necessary experience to encourage employability.

A recent TLS conducted graded the organization overall grading as Green with some areas of improvement measures identified. A course of actions that needed to be taken to address those actions under the Governance and Development strands and deadline for completion has been proposed. The organisation envisaged that those measures will be put in place within the next 6 to 12 months from the date of monitoring exercise.

Financial returns to the Charities Commission for 2012 indicated Income of £145,852 with outgoings of £140,214. The total income carried forward to 31 March 2013 is £2,705,104. The Centre has a robust fundraising strategy in place and continues to seek diversity of funding to progress and inform the Church’s vision to develop and link the two building on site to maximize usage and increase income. Their current reserve is £124,210. Income for the Centre comes from a range of sources including charges for services e.g. lunch club, nursery, lettings and donations.

Proposal Funding is needed to provide a daily coffee bar and lunch club service, providing opportunities for vulnerable and lonely people to meet and enjoy companionship in order to remove feelings of isolation. The funding will also enable the provision of a range of activities that can promote volunteering opportunities for people seeking to return to the workplace, engage and provide opportunities for users to remain healthy and active.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: • Provision of a daily coffee bar and Lunch • 85 people per week attending Lunch Club service providing adult with affordable Club and receiving a healthy meal and healthy meal 5 days a week increasing by 5%

• Provision of opportunities for vulnerable • Result from surveys on how the food and lonely people to meet and enjoy served meets customer expectations companionship and remove isolation. and value for money aim to achieve 80% satisfaction and above. • Delivery of a balanced and affordable meal in a friendly welcoming environment to • Increase organised social activities meet the needs of the client base linked to Lunch Club to 8 hours per month • Provide increased opportunities for people to meet and socialise • Increase clubs / groups by a further 1 session per week, which engage and • To provide adults with a range of activities work to keep older adults active and / groups that can engage and provide healthy opportunities to remain healthy and active • Retain existing groups • Networking with clubs, groups and other voluntary and statutory agencies • Recruit / support and retain a bank of volunteers to meet the various roles • To continue to be supportive of existing within the Grove Centre groups to assist in promoting and developing activities • Monitor % turnover of volunteers per annum • To provide volunteering opportunities to assist individuals maintain a fulfilled role • Monitor and record volunteers who and to assist in maintaining people’s self find their way back into the workplace esteem and preparedness for a return to workplace if still seeking employment

• Maintaining links with various networks and bodies looking for placements and seek to provide a range of volunteering roles

Conclusion The Grove Centre is one of many successful independent churches - led community facilities providing vital services to key clients and local groups in the Sydenham, Forest Hill and Perry Vale area.

The organisation has clearly demonstrated its ability to successfully adds value by maximising their funding, space and volunteers in support of their vision.

Recommendation: That a grant of £2,085 for 2014/15 be awarded to the Grove Centre.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of Organisation: Grove Park Community Group

Address: Ringway Community Centre 268 Baring Road Grove Park London SE12 0DS

Ward located: Grove Park Ward(s) served: Grove Park Ward

Last AGM held: • Annual General Meeting Date: 03/12/12 • Lead Officer Attendance: Sharonne Harvey

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: • Registered Charity Number: 1046082 – submitted on time to the Charity Commission.

Amount requested: £20,000 Grant level recommended: £20,160 Purpose of grant:

Community Centre services and a key driver for community development initiatives.

The strands funded under this grant-aid programme are: • Building Social Capital • Communities That Care

The grant is subject to the organisation: • Improving its financial sustainability and addressing resources to staff the centre. • Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the community centre as a whole during 2014/15. • Engaging with all aspects of the council’s grant monitoring process.

Services provided by the organisation Grove Park Community Group (GPCG) is a charity that manages the Ringway Community Centre which was established since 1972.

GPCG is a small organisation that has a strong and vibrant voluntary and community infrastructure. It acts as a hub to bring together representatives of local voluntary groups, residents, health centres, schools and local businesses in order to share information about local issues. It monitors and acts as watchdog in regard to local planning and environmental issues in the Grove Park area.

The centre does not form a part of the council’s portfolio of community buildings, therefore, the responsibility of maintaining the community centre falls under the association.

Performance Although the centre has established a Community Development Plan, the overall performance of this organisation has yet to be determined through the traffic light system - grant monitoring process. The past year has seen a change in the governance of the centre which has been impacted as a result of the loss of the centre manager; the day to day management of the centre is now through volunteers. GPCG has engaged positively with an independent consultant who has facilitated the development of a sustainability plan.

In terms of quality assurance, no quality assurance system is in place; however, GPCG is considering the PQASSO quality assurance system.

Proposal GPCG acts as a community hub through managing the Ringway Community Centre which consists of meeting spaces that are used to bring together representatives of local voluntary groups, residents, health centres, schools and local businesses in order to share information about local and community development issues. It monitors and acts as ‘watchdog’ in regard to local planning and environmental issues.

A range of events are run throughout the year, which includes the Friday Café, community choir, folk workshop, music, keep fit, yoga, bridge, lace making, art club, GPCG walking groups, joint management of the nature reserve, an annual fair which is to be themed around literacy next year, an art show and a newly developed diverse cultural related film club. An archaeology dig took place which involved children from the local primary schools encouraging them to be proud of where they live by learning about their diverse past and the future.

GPCG is working towards building a stronger community, through a Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) supported neighbourhood plan, GPCG offers support and advice to all members of the community, supporting their physical and mental well being, breaking down barriers and building on their social and educational skills.

GPCG engages older and more vulnerable members of the community, through fitness, social activities and general wellbeing.

GPCG is also an active member of the federation of city farms and community gardens providing access to all ages to a unique, quiet woodland green space and community garden in an urban environment, providing sustainable technologies classes for renewable energy.

In terms of new initiatives within Grove Park, GPCG plans to support: • A bid to the Big Lottery (The Peoples Millions) to develop a community engagement facility (“Shed Heaven”) to provide a designated workshop space to allow isolated members of the community to work together (0-70+ years). Working alongside Age Concern we hope to provide a social environment for mentoring, with a focus on sharing skills – the project will focus on musical & creative art • The film club – aim is to bring different cultures together and break down barriers through [providing an opportunity for local residents to come along and learn about different countries and their cultures. This will be achieved through themed food nights and film shows. • GPCG Cycling initiative – providing a safe family outlet for cyclists utilising the unused environments that connect areas of deprivation. The site will store cycles for free community access, encourage their use for cycling for leisure, health and wellbeing for all ages and develop opportunities for people to gain skills in cycle maintenance and proficiency, with the opportunity for certification. • Shed Heaven & Music Project - GPCG have identified that there are two distinct groups of the local community, Statistics show that there are a high proportion of men and women of various ages that are vulnerable to isolation and a sense of disconnection and these projects aim to combat this. • Future aspirations for GPCG include launching a campaign recruit younger volunteers to set up a Children & Young Peoples Forum.

GPCG appears to have demonstrated a realistic approach to delivering community development initiatives (359 existing users, 2,500 new beneficiaries) through these funding strands. Good value for money has been allowed within the budgeted costs in relation to the overall benefits to the local community.

The budget (2014/15) within the application appears to be achievable and value for money, however, the generation of income from identified sources other than Lewisham Council represents 0% and does need to increase and form a part of a robust sustainability plan for the centre (currently being developed).

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

BUILDING SOCIAL CAPITAL • Neighbourhood Plan (20,000 users) 1. A strong and vibrant community sector • GPCG Planning & Environment advisory infrastructure service (15,000 users) 2. Enable voluntary and community • Special rehabilitation exercise (500 users) groups to assist the council in tackling • My Time Health (400 users) inequality and supporting vulnerable • Young carers (350 users) people • Nature Class rooms (60 users) 3. Support and develop volunteering • Community Garden/woodlands (200 opportunities users) 4. Area based community development • Friday café (900 (users) opportunities • Community Folk Workshop (360 users) • Community Choir (300 users) • Bobby Dazzlers (600 users) • Lacemakers (300 users) • Scouts (120 users) • Philately (150 users) • U3A (bridge, art, lip-reading) (1500 users) • Lewisham Society of Arts (150 users) • Fitness & wellbeing classes (2000 users) • British Micromount Society (60 users) • Belmont Production (400 users) • Community Events (2000 users)

COMMUNITIES THAT CARE • Neighbourhood Plan (20,000 users) 1. Keeping adults active, happy, and • GPCG Planning & Environment advisory engaged service (15,000 users) Encouraging neighborliness • Big Local/ChART (supporting the demographic in the Chinbrook Estate area – refer to Local Assembly for ward for exact figures) • Heritage & literary trail (350 users) • Literary festival (500 users) • Facilitate a varied range of exercise classes to suit different ages and abilities - zumba, yoga, Pilates special rehabilitation classes, walking & cycling groups (see above) • Community gardens (Member of the Federation of City Farms) (2000 users) • SLAM (100 users) • Friday café (1000 users) • Shed Heaven/Music Project (45 users) • Cultural Film Society (500 users) • Exploring diverse food cultures (500 users) • Tutoring (280 users) • Faith Groups (1200 users)

Conclusion Grove Park Community Group is a key driver to change in developing service for the local community. In terms of financial sustainability, this is a going concern together addressing a new staffing compliment to develop the centre.

Recommendation: That (subject to the conditions as stated below) a grant of £20,160 for 2014/15 is awarded to Grove Park Community Group.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15

Full name of organisation: Heart n Soul

Address : The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, London SE8 4AG

Ward located: New Cross Ward(s) served: All Borough

Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee: 15 November 2013 no monitoring officer present If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Fully compliant with legal requirements Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £37,498 £37,798 Purpose of grant: This funding is to support a range of services for learning disabled residents outlined in the organisation’s application to the main grant programme. Specifically:

GATEWAY SERVICES Improving economic well being and employability through two programmes: 1. ‘People Skills’ course where beneficiaries will be helped through a bespoke programme that will enable them to develop the tools and confidence to secure consistent and better-paid employment in areas of personal interest. 2. Volunteering Volunteering activities that create opportunity with the potential to progress through several ‘levels’ of activity to gain a wider range of skills to increase employability.

CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE : Improving well being through the provision of universal youth activities 1. Do Your Own Thing a participatory creative programme 2. Squidz Club a regular showcase and participatory event.

COMMUNITIES THAT CARE Keeping adults healthy, active and engaged 1. ‘The Beautiful Octopus Club’, a regular multi media arts event 2. Allsorts Where adults with learning disabilities have access creative experiences, as well as the chance to socialise and get advice from local service providers. Allsorts also meets the criteria of Development of Personalised services to provide alternatives to day centres with support to use personal budgets.

Services provided by the organisation

Heart n Soul has been operating since 1986 and has well-established local partnerships and networks. Over 95% of beneficiaries have learning disabilities. Heart n Soul:

• Support people with learning disabilities to produce outstanding art for diverse audiences, including music, dance, drama, digtal art and visual art. Work made by artists is presented live, recorded, distributed online, toured to community festivals in the borough or shared at multimedia events. • Encourage people to take part as participants, volunteers or audiences in workshops, activity days and open club events • Offer training to enable people to learn new skills and move forward in their lives and careers including creative skills development, accredited courses, one to one coaching sessions, apprenticeships, mentoring, on the job training and being supported into work

They are also working towards Sharing their approach to work with people with learning disabilities especially around the Allsorts project and the changes in adult social care and personalised budgets.

Performance against general criteria

Heart n Soul perform extremely well against general criteria. The organisation shows a clear management structure and an ability to articulate clear lines of authority, responsibility and communication. There is wide and varied experience and skills on the board and trustees are involved actively in steering the organisation.

Participants requests and artistic visions drive the work planning and other opportunities to be involved in planning are accessed through the steering groups for each work stream and a growing volunteer programme. The partnership with Lewisham Adult Social Services has been working successfully, Allsorts sessions have increased significantly with many participants choosing to use their adult social care personal allowances to attend. The new ‘Project Access Officer’ is a former experienced social worker which has allowed further social care expertise onto the organisations staffing.

The pace of new and innovative work being developed is rapid and the experienced and effective staffing team are capable of delivering and supporting through all stages.

Heart n Soul has numerous new partners including Catalyst Arts and still works effectively with Goldsmiths Computation Arts to develop digital possibilities in all areas of work. Other strong partnership include for Allsorts: London Symphony Orchestra, Apples and Snakes, Upswing Circus and for Beautiful Octopus Club: Random Line and Hellicar & Lewis.

Heart n Soul has a range of funding sources and shows a track record of active fundraising in its accounts and business plan. This year has continued to be one of significant growth for the organisation with income increasing by 38%. New and diverse streams of fundraising have been secured for example ‘Trust for London funding for new People Skills Programme’ and new initiatives taken up and piloted such as crowd funding. Individual giving raised a total £12,000 last year and crowd funding was piloted for Lizzie Emeh's new album and the Catalyst target of £2,000 was met.

A new database to streamline the thorough and extensive monitoring and evaluation has also been acquired.

Heart n Soul achieved a Green rating for all elements of the Traffic Light Monitoring System.

Proposal

1. Gateway Services: Improving economic well being and employability through two programmes:

• People Skills A bespoke training programme for adults with learning disabilities (AWLD) to enable them to develop the tools and confidence to secure consistent and better-paid employment that they have personal interest in. Participants will work with specialist tutors to develop specific skills, undertake work placements and apply for jobs. Heart n Soul will liaise between candidates and employers, guiding candidates through the processes of job seeking, and work with organisations, locally and regionally, to encourage them to consider candidates for available vacancies.

• Volunteering To improve employability for residents including adults with learning disabilities. (11% of volunteers last year were AWLD). Volunteers gain confidence, develop new skills and become more employable. The scheme has various levels including work placements.

2. Children and Young People Improving well being through the provision of universal youth activities through two programmes:

• Do Your Own Thing A programme of regular half-day participatory creative sessions, which are tailored to the choices and talents of young people with learning disabilities aged 10 to 25. Participants engage in self-determined arts-based activities covering music, dance, drama and digital art (VJing and DJing) provided on a monthly basis, with 60 three-hour creative sessions offered each year. Professional artists facilitate and help participants develop their creative talent, make new work and learn team-working skills.

• Squidz Club a regular showcase and participatory event. The Squidz Club is a mixed media event held every six months and the only nightclub designed to meet the needs of young people with learning disabilities, with the programme conceived and delivered by disabled young people working alongside professional artists and technical crews. It provides opportunities for Do Your Own Thing participants to share their skills and learning in front of families, friends and a wider audience of up to 250-300 learning disabled young people per event

3. Communities that Care Keeping adults active, healthy and engaged

• The Beautiful Octopus Club

The Beautiful Octopus Club is a creative club night and offers AWLD a unique cultural and social activity where they can enjoy themselves, be part of something and have opportunities to take part or support the club through volunteering. Over 2500 people attended the Beautiful Octopus Club at the Royal Festival Hall in September 2013. In 2014/15 a Beautiful Octopus Club will be held at the Southbank Centre attracting an estimated 500 Lewisham-based AWLD.

• Allsorts To help to continue this regular open club event that allows AWLD to have access to a greater range of creative experiences on a regular basis, as well as the chance to socialise and form friendships. There are at least two creative sessions and a ‘lucky dip’ room with drop in activities such as DJing and space for local service providers to promote their work and offer advice, with facilitated social time throughout supported by a team of experienced staff and volunteers. The programme also developed into roadshows and events in partnership with the Lee More Day Centre and Mencap Gateway Club, reaching 230 members of the public and 10 local organisations over three events.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Gateway Services

People Skills 14 AWLD have average of eight x 3-hour training AWLD are more confident applying for sessions with People Skills Associate/specialist tutors to work develop skills and CVs - taking place in Deptford

AWLD have improved economic 14 AWLD have three x 1-hour sessions to receive prospects through developing skills in industry specific job search training in Deptford work experience and placements Heart n Soul will offer 15 work opportunities to AWLD in Lewisham or wider London

4 AWLD will receive work experience outside Heart n Soul in Lewisham or wider London

Volunteering Adults with learning disabilities gain A minimum of 5 AWLD undertake activities as Project experience of volunteering (levels 2 Volunteers or work placements at Heart n Soul in and 3), gaining basic skills useful for Deptford progression into training or work

Child ren and Young People

Do Your Own Thing 60 x 3 hour sessions of arts based activity delivered in Young people with learning disabilities Deptford (12 events with 5 sessions per event) for 54 are more independent and have young people with learning disabilities improved confidence and self-esteem from taking part and being valued 14 learning disabled young people involved in the Young People’s Steering Team and as peer mentors Young people with learning disabilities are more resilient through developing 90% participants perform and/or progress to performing support and friendship networks and/or volunteering in other events e.g. Squidz Clubs

Life chances improved for young people with learning disabilities, with raised aspirations and developing skills transferable to other contexts such as engaging with training opportunities

Squidz Club Young people with learning disabilities Two Squidz Club events per year at The Albany, experience music, dance and theatre in Deptford, reaching 550 people annually a mainstream environment - many for the first time - leading to greater resilience and well being 250 learning disabled young people attend participatory Life chances improved for young zones at the Squidz Club each year independently of people with learning disabilities, with parents/carers raised aspirations, increased confidence and independence, and more options for progression. Communities that Care

CTC: The Beautiful Octopus Club 500 Lewisham residents attending a large-scale cultural AWLD engaged in cultural events, event at the Southbank Centre’, Southwark helping to prevent isolation and increasing social confidence

CTC: Allsorts AWLD are more independent through 24 events (of 8 hours creative sessions and 7 hours drop exercising personal choice in their in activity) delivered to 45 AWLD plus c15-20 families and daytime activities carers, activities taking place in Deptford (The Albany)

AWLD are more active, engaged and 60 ALWD, families and carers attending summer event in socially confident through involvement Deptford (The Albany) in regular activities

Conclusion

Heart n Soul have moved forward significantly as an organisation again this year and they continue to provide groundbreaking services and artist support and have often over exceeded targets. There is a culture of constant research, development and assessment and strong participant involvement in planning. Staff and board members also have wide and considerable experience and expertise which along with participant development has allowed for this success. They provide a real and measurable benefit to Lewisham residents with learning disabilities and with the Allsorts programme have developed regular high quality sessions that allow use of personal budgets.

Recommendation:

That Heart n Soul be awarded a grant of £37,798

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of Organisation: Honor Oak Community Centre Association

Address: 50 Turnham Road London SE 4 2JD

Ward locate: Telegraph Hill Ward(s) served: Telegraph Hill

Last AGM held: • Annual General Meeting Date: 10/06/13 • Lead Officer in Attendance: Sharonne Harvey

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: • Not applicable – unincorporated association.

Amount requested: £20,000 Grant level recommended: £20,160 Purpose of grant: Community Centre services and a key driver for community development initiatives (towards employing a Community Development Worker to promote activities at the Centre).

The strands funded under this grant-aid programme are: • Building social capital • Children and young people • Communities that care • Gateway services

The grant is subject to the organisation: • Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the community centre as a whole during 2014/15. • Consider appropriate options for reconstituting its legal structure. • Developing a Community Development Plan. • Quantifying user statistics of the centre with appropriate measures in place.

Services provided by the organisation Honor Oak Community Centre Association (HOCCA) is an unincorporated community association that was established in 2004 (prior to that time the centre was managed through the Honor Oak estate Neighbourhood Association – a tenant and resident-led organisation as a part of the Honor Oak Estate. The Honor Oak Community Centre is situated in the Telegraph Hill Ward which has been ranked as one of the most deprived wards in the borough of Lewisham; it is managed through an elected Premises Management Committee (PMC) who oversees the functions of the centre and has appointed staff. The centre currently provides meeting spaces to support the local community including, a food bank, sports activities, performing arts, local resident meetings and consultation, faith activity, community events and private functions.

Performance The overall performance of this organisation has been rated ‘amber’ within the council’s traffic light system for grant monitoring. The past year has seen a change in the board which has impacted on governance and legal structure of the association, staffing resulting in the recruitment of a new community development & centre worker and the need to strengthen its internal business processes within the centre. In terms of service delivery, this has been unclear in terms of the service delivery of stated outputs and outcomes. Whilst the PMC have concentrated on consolidating its finances as a priority, the annual statement for year ending 31/03/13 will need to be revised due to inconsistencies with a change in auditor. HOCCA has engaged with independent consultancy support and a sustainability plan is being developed. A community development plan has yet to be determined.

Given the current need to prioritise tasks to increasing use at the centre, the statistics stated as 8,640 existing users and 11,800 new users does need to be re- visited.

No quality assurance system is in place for the centre as a whole; however, HOCCA is currently investigating systems that would be the most appropriate – starting with BSI 9001/2 (health and safety).

Proposal HOCCA requests funding to support the following strands: Building Social Capital To employ a Community Development Worker to promote activities at the Centre, Community development work will consolidate community cohesion whilst reducing social isolation using the Centre as a community hub for area based development on a sub-borough basis to: • Provide services and facilities that meet local needs • Strengthen neighbourhood partnerships between agencies and local people • Increase the effectiveness and engagement with local initiatives through networking. • Cookery classes in partnership with Living Waters Christian Centre • Resident workshops in partnership with Lewisham Homes, including cookery classes and benefits advice and guidance • Parenting classes in partnership with Lewisham Dads • A re-start of the Community Gardening Project. Gateway Services To establish an Internet cafe with including ICT training sessions targeting members of the community – particularly older people and offenders Children & Young People A social Enterprise programme for young people, starting with workshops to explore the concepts of social enterprise

Communities that Care HOCCA’s will be facilitating a new and more diverse elders’ club with an emphasis on activities which promote health and well-being while reducing social isolation. *HOCCA also aspires to launch an information and advice service and parent and toddler activities separately to this application.

The budget (2014/15) within the application appears to be achievable and value for money, however, the generation of income from identified sources other than Lewisham Council represents 0% and does need to increase and form a part of a robust sustainability plan for the centre (currently being developed).

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes: Outputs:

Tackling inequality and supporting vulnerable Older people will feel less isolated people by initiating and continuing elder people’s and have access to activities and activities at Honor Oak CC including: learning which will improve their chances of sustaining healthy, • 1 x two-hour social session per week for independent lifestyles up to 30 older people at any one session • 2 x one-hour exercise sessions per week for up to 50 older people at any one session

- these sessions will provide ICT learning opportunities for elders and access to the internet, email and Skype

Local residents will be able to inform Initiate an internet cafe with support, for two hours themselves more readily around the once a week. Sessions to be open and free of options which affect their day-to-day charge, including sign-posting, for those who wish life and the decisions they make to gain accreditation, e.g. ECDL

Local young people will have a Initiate Social Enterprise club and classes: 3 sets better understanding of the creative of 10 one hour sessions – An introduction to social process, successful social enterprise – providing participants with an enterprise management and its awareness and introduction to what is needed to connections to the community and run a successful business to start in January 2014 wider society

Parent mentoring for fathers: Weekly, two-hour Fathers will develop positive role sessions for fathers and male carers to explore models for their children and in the positive fatherhood process strengthen their relationship with their children and the family unit’s relationship with the wider community

Local residents will improve their Re-start of Community Gardening project with health through exercise whilst weekly three-hour gardening sessions. gaining a better understanding of the role of horticulture in society

Additional activity: Toddlers will Additional activity: Provision of facilities for one have learning activities and their three-hour weekly Chatterbox parent and toddlers parents socialising opportunities in a playgroup at Honor Oak Community Centre during supportive caring atmosphere term time

Conclusion The past year has seen a change in the board, a re-organisation of staffing resources resulting in consistencies in managing the centre and its finances appropriately. The governance arrangement with the PMC has recently changed and the centre has positively engaged with an independent consultant in order to improve sustainability in the areas of governance, income generation and the use of centre resources. Whilst a Community Development Plan has yet to be determined the concentration of developing community initiatives within this area of the borough will be a priority.

Recommendation: That (subject to the conditions as stated below) a grant of £20,160 for 2014/15 be awarded to Honor Oak Community Centre Association.

The grant is subject to the organisation: • Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the community centre as a whole during 2014/15. • Developing a Community Development Plan • Consider appropriate options for reconstituting its legal structure • Quantifying user statistics of the centre with appropriate measures in place.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation – Indo-China Refugee Group Address - 33 Clyde Street, Deptford, Lewisham, London SE8 5LW Ward located – Evelyn Ward Ward(s) served – Borough-wide Last AGM held: 19 May 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Returns were submitted to the Charity Commission and Company House on 04/06/2013. Amount requested: £48,242 Grant level recommended : £47,086 Purpose of grant: Gateway Services / Children & Young People Funding is to contribute towards the cost of salary for the full time Centre Manager and the running costs of the Chinese Community School and Self Help Services

Services provided by the organisation The Indo-Chinese Refuge Group was established in 1982 to cater for the needs of Indo- Chinese and Vietnamese families in Southeast London. Located in the heart of Indo- Chinese and Vietnamese community concentrated in New Cross and Deptford area this service is easily accessible to the target clients.

This Group has excellent track record of service delivery designed to meet the needs of the Indo-Chinese community. Their services are accessed by youth, elderly members of the community and young children. Their provisions are delivered in a culturally conducive environment to the Indo-Chinese community. Many members with language barriers are enabled to access and benefit statutory services they are entitled to through interpretation services provided by the organisation. Young members of the community learn to appreciate both the British and Chinese cultures, which contributes to nurturing future adults with better job opportunities in an increasingly inter-dependent and integrating world economy. Some of the services delivered by the organisation include: • Advices on Welfare, Housing, Health, Education etc & form filling. • Interpretation & translation services. • Co-ordinate and management of Elderly Home Care project which provide home care services for house bound elderly people • Delivering of Day Centre and Luncheon Club services for elderly Chinese people. • Runs Saturday School, Summer Play Scheme, Youth Club, Mini Library & Traditional Dance Group and a Worship place for the local Chinese community • Develops and support a fully equipped on-site Day Nursery Centre accessible to the all members of the community in the Deptford and New Cross area • Delivers various events and community engagement activities

Performance Result of the TLS monitoring process scored an overall rating of green within all areas of governance, management, sustainability, development and financial competence. The organisation has recently developed an impact assessment process to monitor quality of service in relation to their Equality and Diversity policy following advice offered at their last monitoring. The organisation has continued to perform well achieving their stated output and outcome targets. Their Home-Care project continued to be accessed on average by 50 persons a day. The organisation runs 9 projects that include mini library, youth club, self-help project and Chinese Community School. The latter two projects are funded by Lewisham Council to provide the following activities:-

Self-help Project : The project enables refugee families to obtain information on welfare, housing, education and employment matters, in addition to translation and interpretation services. These activities run Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5.30pm. During the first quarter – April to June 2013 - 591 clients were able to access and receive advice and referrals under this project.

Chinese Community School : provides Mandarin language classes for Indo-Chinese children living in the Borough of Lewisham, Greenwich and Southwark. These classes are held on Saturdays - 9.30am to 3.30pm - and pupils can take courses leading up to GCSE examinations. There are currently 267 pupils registered and a total of 11 classes ranging from Nursery to year six level. The total number of staff consists of 14 teachers and 5 volunteers. Other classes have been organized for after school in Chinese dance, Kung Fu and adult mandarin classes.

Their financial management system is efficient. The organisation regularly produces and submits quarterly financial statements and annual audited accounts on time. Their finances indicate income generated through fund-raising, members’ contributions and charges for services where applicable. The organisation maintains a reserve policy of restricted fund for building maintenance. All funds are restricted to the purpose of the individual project concerned. The organization reserve fund is £1.7m, of which £1.4m is earmarked for the building of a new elderly sheltered accommodation and £300,000 set aside for general building maintenance. The organisation advice service is “Quality Marked” and inspected by CQC and Ofsted.

Proposal Funding is sought to contribute towards the cost of salary for the full time Centre Manager and the running costs of the Chinese Community School & Self Help Project as explained above. These two services provided by the organisation are in high demand and are considered value for money.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes Outputs Chinese Community School Chinese Community School

• To provide leisure & education functions • Mother tongue education & culture for children / youths and their family. study, 276 pupils attended to benefit.

• To provide Bi-lingual education to children • Provision of Day Nursery Centre - 30 and young people of Chinese parentage to children from 6 months to 5 years old. enable them to have a good foundation abilities in Chinese Mandarin language and • Outing, Summer Playscheme & for a good future employment aspect. Cultural Activities - 2350 people benefiting. • Improve the Indo-Chinese refugees’ employment & training opportunity. • To provide the employment services & training services (only for our own staff & workers) for the whole borough of Lewisham 450 families will benefit from it.

• Youth Activities 200+ members attended.

Self help project Self help project

• To improve older people qualities of life. • Welfare, Housing, Education, Health advices & form fillings 400 members • To identity and eliminate generation gap, are served. to enhance future employment aspect. • To operate the elderly services & • To reduce isolation and depression Luncheon club. A Day Centre for amongst older adult of Chinese heritage. disable & wheel chairs users 260

• members are served. To assist older adult to live independently.

• Home Care Services 30 frail elderly • To prevent from crime attempts & to live in members are served. a healthy and safe environment.

Conclusion The Indo-Chinese Refugee Group has an excellent track record of service delivery designed to meet the needs of the Indo-Chinese community in Lewisham and beyond. Their services are accessed by youth, the elderly and children and young people. The organisation continues to play an important role in enriching Lewisham’s cultural diversity through visible contributions to annual cultural events such as People’s Day, Refugee Week, Chinese New Year and Black History Month. The organisation has delivered on the recommendation outlined at last year monitoring. A business plan and funding raising strategy and an impact assessment process has been developed to monitor quality of service in relation to their Equality and Diversity policy. The organisation is on track to deliver the programme as agreed in the funding agreement.

Recommendation: That a grant of £47,086 for 2014/15 be awarded to Indo-China Refugee Group to continue delivery of services for the Chinese Community School and Self Help Project based on the same level awarded last year.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organization: Irie! Dance Theatre

Address: The Moonshot Centre, Angus Street, Fordham Park, New Cross, London SE14 6LU

War d located: New Cross Ward(s) served: All – borough-wide service Last AGM held: Last AGM held in January 2013.

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Charities Commission return submitted in January 2013. Companies House return submitted in December 2012.

Amount requested: £56,905 Grant level recommended: £57,360 Purpose of grant: The grant application is submitted under the Children and Young People’s and Communities that Care strands, with a focus for young people on improved well-being through the provision of universal youth activities to encourage social interaction, cognitive skills and fitness levels for children and young people, and improved access to citizenship through an arts based volunteering and ambassadorial programme to increase work, decision making, planning and communication skills. Activities for older residents under the Communities that Care strand will be through the provision of social and physical activities to reduce the need for users to access long term/future adult social care, and provide and facilitate creative networking to improve social cohesion and neighbourliness .

Services provided by the organization: Irie! Dance Theatre was founded in 1985 and provides services in Lewisham which meet the criteria of both the Children and Young People and Communities that Care strands of the Main Grants Programme, through the delivery of creative, educational and artistic activities based on stimuli derived from Africa and the Caribbean. The organization works with both children and adults with the following aims: • Develop children and young people to become active citizens • Improve well-being through universal youth activities • Support children and young people to engage in decision making • Keep adults active, healthy and engaged • Encourage neighbourliness

These aims are achieved through a wide range of activities, including dance workshops for young people, engaging local residents in physical activity events, such as the Big Dance event held in June 2012, work with schools and further work with children with special educational needs. In the last year, the organization has also increased its work with older residents through the Elders Programme.

Performance: Irie! Dance Theatre’s grant in 2013/14 is the final year of a three year grant originally approved in July 2011. This recommendation report takes account of activities throughout the grant period and particularly in the six month period from April to October 2013, against which progress towards year end targets has been measured. The key expected outputs and outcomes for the 2013/14 financial year are summarized below, together with the progress being made towards their achievement:

Irie! Dance Theatre is aiming to achieve the improvement of well-being through the provision of universal youth activities to encourage social interaction, cognitive skills and fitness levels for children through two key areas of activity: Steps Together and Bean Bugs. Both areas of activity involve the provision of workshops to relevant target groups, with Steps Together culminating in an open public performance for 20 young people. Good progress is being made in all these areas of activity.

Irie! Dance Theatre also works within the Children and Young People strand to improve access to citizenship through an arts based volunteering and ambassadorial programme that increases work, decision making, planning and communication skills. Its key targets in achieving this aim were to work with 20 local schools (12 primary and 8 secondary) to undertake a range of activities to develop Young Ambassadors and ultimately Community Ambassadors through the delivery of engagement events and workshops, coupled with training and work experience.

The organization has reported that it is making good progress and is particularly pleased with the work being done on its Elders Project under the Communities that Care Strand, where Irie! is working specifically with older residents to achieve the aim of providing and facilitating creative networking activities to improve social cohesion and neighbourliness. Under this strand, the organization is also delivering a comprehensive fitness and engagement programme, entitled Dance Yourself Fit, involving the provision of Zumba/Soca, Pilates and African Dance classes, and general public information sharing events. Further health and physical fitness activity has involved work with the Waldron Health Centre to provide health and fitness checks for 50 Dance Yourself Fit participants. Part of this delivery involved the organization of a Family Learning Open Weekend which attracted over 200 individuals.

Overall, Irie! is expected to achieve its outputs and associated outcomes for the year.

Finance, Management and Governance Irie! Dance Theatre has undertaken significant work in the last year or so to strengthen its management and governance. Although the organization’s management structure still incorporates a small management team supported by a wide range of freelancers, this has been seen to be supporting the organization in terms of the range of skills and experience accessible through this arrangement. At the same time, improvements in the Board structure and levels of expertise provide the required reassurance that financial management and other key skills, including legal and marketing, are incorporated into the organization at the highest level and are capitalized on throughout the organisation. This approach has been further strengthened by the organisation’s access to funding and support from the Deptford Challenge Trust which has provided a comprehensive mentoring programme for trustees and staff.

The organization has previously achieved Investors in People (IiP) status, although reaccreditation is not currently being pursued as part of a cost-saving exercise. However, IiP principles continue to be worked towards.

Proposal: The current grant request is for funding under the Children and Young People and Communities that Care strands to achieve similar outputs to those currently being delivered. This appears to be a feasible and realistic proposal for 2014/15 as it will allow the organization to consolidate its delivery and build its networks. The grant request provides value for money because it will deliver high quality services to local residents and provide opportunities for residents to progress to a range of additional programmes.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015

Outcomes Outputs

CYP IRIE! Young Performers (IYP) Improve well being through the Deliver 30x2hr dance workshops for 80 young provision of universal youth people ages 8-16 to improve their general fitness activities to encourage social levels through dance and movement. interaction, cognitive skills and fitness levels for children. Produce 3 x open public performance for 20 + young people from the IYP Programme

IRIE! Young Performers (IYP) Deliver 30x1.5hr dance workshops for 60 young people ages 5-12 to develop their cognitive skills in listening, communicating and understanding.

Produce 3 x open public performance for 20 + young people from the IYP Programme

10 children with SEN to participate in 20 workshops to develop their basic cognitive skills in listening, speaking, understanding through movement. 44 children to improve their general fitness levels through dance over 10 weeks.

CYP IRIE! Schools Education Programme Improve access to citizenship through an arts based (A) Work with 20 local schools (12 Primary and 8 volunteering and Secondary) to identify Young Ambassadors by ambassadorial programme that asking them to refer pupils and/or promote the increase work, decision activity from Year 6 to Year 11) making, planning and communication skills. (B) As part of the school holiday’s programme, deliver 32 participatory and skills based programmes workshops for 240 young people in arts project planning, problem solving, volunteering, leadership skills, communication skills and performance.

(C) 20 young people from the above 32 workshops will be chosen and trained to take on the role of IRIE! Community Ambassadors. At the end of the programme the young ambassadors will act as mentors to encourage/support other young people to take on future participatory and skills based workshops with, each ambassador leading on at least 1 skill.

(D) 20 young people to volunteer or participate in FLOW

(E) Provide accredited & non-accredited training for 30% of IRIE! programme users ages 16-25 including "Arts Council Arts Award for Young People" and “Foundation Degree”

(F) 20 individuals (young people) to gain 5 days work experience in one of the following areas: arts project planning, problem solving, volunteering, leadership skills, communication skills and performance. i.e. 1 day = 6 hours.

(G) 600 children & young people gain a basic understanding of citizenship, diversity, and volunteering through these topics underpinning all aspects of the participatory and skills based programmes in arts project planning, problem solving, volunteering, leadership skills, communication skills and performance

(H) Provide education information sheet to all participants, which will include details on Citizenship, diversity, and volunteering advice.

CTC Dance Yourself Fit (DYF)

Provide social and physical Caribbean Dance: Provide 30 x 1hour classes activities to reduce the need for users to access long Pilates: Provide 30 x 1hour classes term/future adult social care. African Dance: Provide 30 x 1hour classes

(A) Work NHS Lewisham/Lifestyle Hub to provide information on health and well being for 50 Dance Yourself Fit Participants.

(B) Produce 2 X DYF public introductory sharing events for the local community (March 2014 & September 2014)

Family Learning Open Weekend (FLOW): 50 families engaged in FLOW to support healthy living by engaging in physical activity and having access to information on health issues relating to diabetes; arthritis; and/or digestion.

CTC Family Fun Day: A minimum of 100 local people engaged in outdoor physical activities including Provide and facilitate creative games; dance; football, drumming, face painting networking to improve social and other activities cohesion and neighbourliness. 2000 IRIE! programme information & Lewisham Lifestyle Hub leaflets to be distributed, supporting healthy, creative and participatory lifestyle to users and the local community.

IRIE! Elders: Recruit 12 older people 55+ from local communities and/or community groups to provide volunteer support for Family Fun Day in Fordham Park SE14 by collaborating with 3 LBL voluntary groups.

(A) Encourage a minimum of 20 older people aged 55+ to attend the Moonshot Centre as part of an elder’s forum to assist in designing movement, social and health programmes specifically for this age group as part of IRIE!s annual programmes.

(B) Provide information to inform 40 older participants about the importance health checks.

Conclusion: Irie! Dance Theatre is on target to deliver against its outputs and outcomes for 2013/14 and has submitted an application which builds on experience to deliver quality services to residents across the borough in 2014/15. Monitoring of the organization indicates that it will make effective use of the grant and that it has well-established community links. Their recent development of the Elders programme indicates that they have the ability to innovate and reach new areas of the local community.

Recommendation: That a grant of £57,360 for 2014/15 be awarded to Irie! Dance Theatre. MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Lee Fair Share Address Lee Green Community Centre, Unit 3, Leegate, London SE12 8SS Ward located Ward(s) served Lee Lee, Hither Green Last AGM held: 8 March 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Annual Return for 03 Apr 2012: received 28 Jan 2013 Amount requested: £13,540 Grant level recommended: £9,274 Purpose of grant: Communities that Care To continue to deliver a varied set of opportunities for local people to become involved in community volunteering. The aim is to enrich people’s lives by giving them the means by which barriers of limited income and social isolation can be broken down and to encourage them to contribute to the activities e.g. helping with planning, making refreshments, publicising events and recruiting participants. To this end, Lee Fair Share would like to pilot and develop some new activities, which it is hoped will benefit the community, including a new Fit and Trim programme for older people.

Services provided by the organisation To develop the local communities skills, self-confidence and capacity and in particular people disadvantaged socially and/or economically, who live in the Lee and Hither Green areas of the London Borough of Lewisham.

The charity encourages general activities in mutual volunteering, befriending and social events.

Performance The organisation is on track to deliver the targets as agreed for 2013-14.

The Traffic Light System Monitoring report highlighted that the organisation continues to make strides to ensure good governance, management, development and financial systems in place.

The organisation is rated as predominantly Green, with some Amber mixed in mainly due to the fact that they’re currently waiting to have their 3 year plan adopted. For those gaps that still exist, they have requested some templates and support to ensure that they rate Green moving forwards. The Monitoring officer is sourcing these via NCVO.

Up until now the organization has used the TLS process as a quality assurance scheme and a minimum operating standard for a Lewisham Voluntary Organisation as no sector specific scheme has existed. However, Time Banks UK have now announced a QAS and Lee Fair Share intend to investigate going through this process when available. Proposal The grant is requested to further develop Lee Fair Share as a time bank that is a hub for the community, particularly involving further outreach work to engage with those in hard to reach areas and young people. They hope to run new classes aimed improving peoples level of fitness and health through their Fit and Trim pilot. They also want to further utilise the Lewisham Time Credits to help reward those that get involved in volunteering and to attract new members to the Time Bank.

The proposal is both feasible and realistic and continues to build on the good work currently being done by Lee Fair Share. IT is noted that they have asked for additional funding, which in the current climate can’t be provided, however they should be applauded for their desire to expand and seek to become even more involved within the local community.

The application appears to represent value for money, particularly if they can deliver all elements for the grant level recommended

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Improved social network for • Running the Time Bank to nurture friendship disadvantaged people. and promote a wider network and involving members in doing this. • Increase activities and exchanges by which Lee Fair Share membership can earn Time Credits Integration of local people who • Recruit members from hard to reach groups e.g. experience barriers to Leybridge Estate and people with mental health involvement. issues . Engage young people in • Make further links to local schools and the partnership with SPICE, LGL, Lewisham Youth Services. Lewisham Youth Service and • Encourage the use of SPICE/Lewisham Time local facilities. Credits notes. Provide opportunities for Lee Fair • Engage members in buddying and involvement Share members to increase the in participation and also in facilitating activities. sense of well-being. To encourage involvement in the running of Lee Fair Share.

Fit and Trim All ages with emphasize on the elderly to increase their fitness • 8 taster sessions over 52 weeks. For example:- and adopt a healthier life style. • 4 sessions of yoga This would include exercise • 4 sessions of Pilates classes, workshops on motivation, positive thinking, and nutrition. • 2 workshops over 52 weeks. Involve Lee Fair Share • For example: Motivation, nutrition, membership in the planning of the project.

Conclusion Lee Fair Share have spent a lot of time and effort over the past 12 month getting the policies and procedures in place, and are now in a better position to further develop and seek additional funding from external sources.

Recommendation: That a grant of £9,274 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lee Fair Share.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Lewisham Ethnic Minority Partnership (LEMP) Address 2nd Floor Showroom HE Olby, 307-313 Lewisham High Street, London SE13 6NW Ward located Ward(s) served Lewisham Central Ward Borough wide Last AGM held: 30 March 2012 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regul atory body and have they been submitted on time: Returns were submitted to Companies House and to the Charities Commission on 27 September 2013. Company registration is 05944675. charity registration number is 1147680. Amount requested : £15,000 Grant l evel recommended: £15,120 Purpose of grant: Building Social Capital LEMP is seeking funding to cover running cost to deliver services that supports black and minority ethnics (BME) organizations to build capacity and develop their potential.

Services provided by the organization Lewisham Ethnic Minority Partnership (LEMP) is a network of black and minority ethnic (BME) led groups operating in Lewisham. The organization is a charitable company limited by guarantee without a share capital. It provides representations for its member groups at decision making processes level of statutory agencies in the borough. LEMP offers support and advice to enable member groups meet their aims and objectives and thus contribute to the Council’s Community Cohesion Strategies. LEMP delivers a range of services including: • Organising workshops, conferences and seminars for the benefits of its members • Consulting with member groups to obtain their views and opinions and to be informed of their needs • Attending meetings of statutory agencies and responding to consultation documents to represent the views, needs and aspirations of BME • Hosting events to celebrate and commemorate BME achievements • Representation on the Lewisham Local Involvement on Health-watch contributing to health and social care matters • Reflecting the views and concerns of BME communities in the borough • Disseminating relevant information to its members.

Performance LEMP has demonstrated that it has effective management and governance arrangements in place at its recent monitoring. The organisation has worked hard to put in place policies and procedures recommended as part of conditions of grant aid and those that have been identified for improvements of their services and stability. Those improvements implemented includes, the incorporation of financial implications statements and fundraising strategy into their business plan in order to increase funding capacity necessary to meet the growing demands of their target service recipients. Although a fundraising strategy has been developed, further measures are necessary to progress this action as currently the organisation relies mainly on the grant award from Lewisham Council to deliver its services.

A number of sub-committees have been established including Economic Development / Fundraising, Education and Training, Health and Social Care, Culture and Heritage and Policing and Community safety to further enhance the work of the organisation so that they become more responsive to the needs of recipients.

Due to a reduction in their funding, LEMP has had a reduction in paid staff supporting the work of the organisation and is mainly reliant upon the goodwill of volunteers to continue much needed service provided by the organisation. However, this change has had no adverse impact upon the performance of the organisation in terms of their outcomes and outputs.

The organisation has demonstrated progress and improvements throughout the year. This was evidence in their recent TLS exercise where most of the areas rated as red and amber has now been graded green. LEMP has submitted its quarterly monitoring statistics on time and continues to exceed its targets.

Proposal Lewisham Ethnic Minority Partnership (LEMP) is an important umbrella organisation for BME community, providing relevant services through advice and information sharing and networking events. The service aimed to provide the tools necessary for smaller BME groups in developing their capability to become more effective in their role whilst acting as their collective voice.

An important part of this proposal is to enable the organisation to continue in its role to offer guidance, information and signpost services to BME groups and individuals where they can access further specialist help and advice. The quality of publication and dissemination of information widely distributed by the organisation has been invaluable to many BME communities across the borough who found the quality of the materials they receives from LEMP very informative and useful especially in keeping up to date with changes that may impact on their services delivery. The organisation has up to 55 members registered on its membership. Some of their partners include: • Action for Community Development (AFCD) on training, development and volunteering • Back-home Assembly Support for African-Caribbean Association (BASCA) for administrative, managerial, advocacy and publication services.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes: Outputs: • To enable BME organisation to be • Publish monthly e-bulletins and bi-annual better informed about changes that are briefings / newsletters likely to impact on their service delivery • Hold 4 themed networking events / seminars • To enable members increase their sending invites to 56 members awareness of the steps they can take • Conduct 25 needs analysis to remain sustainable • Guide and disseminate information as well as • That advocacy will deliver desired signpost up to 100 enquirers to other services outcomes for those who seek solutions • Work in partnership with others to find to perceived wrongs solutions that address particular identified • That generally the diverse communities needs will be more aware of each other’s • Participate in 2 events that focuses on needs in a meaningful way celebrating and commemorating different aspects of Lewisham diverse communities

Conclusion LEMP is an important umbrella organisation for BME community groups in Lewisham. The organisation has continued to provide relevant services to the local BME community through advice and information sharing, advocacy, signposting and networking events. LBL officers were able to see evidence of continued organisational improvement and well organised and attended events with qualified speakers invited to address issues of relevant and interest to the BME community in Lewisham.

Smaller BME groups have better and greater understanding of their immediate community through the assistance they get from an umbrella organisations like LEMP who plays an important role in sharing and signposting them to resources to improve the capacity of their groups and services whilst acting as their collective voice.

LEMP services are promoted and publicized through various medium including seminars, conferences, publication of monthly newsletter and the development of a well resourced websites where their services is accessible to the community.

Recommendation: That a grant of £15,120 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Ethnic Minority Partnership subject to acting upon the actions outlined in its fund raising strategy to ensure its stability.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation LAMP – Lewisham Action on Mediation Project Address 340 Lewisham High Street, London SE13 6LE Ward located Ward(s) served Lewisham Central Borough wide. Last AGM held: To be verified. If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: To be verified.

Amount requested: £70,000 Grant leve l recommended: £27,717 Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under “Communities that Care” to provide mediation services delivered across the borough

Services provided by the organisation LAMP provides mediation services to local residents, including work with local schools. They maintain close working relationships with relevant agencies and receive referrals and enquiries from Housing Associations ,Housing Co-ops, Police, Social Services, Schools, Victim Support, YOS, Youth Services, Solicitors, MARAC and CAMHS.

Performance LAMP continues to provide vital mediation services to Lewisham residents, training and development for volunteer mediators.

The organisation expects significant increase in the number of their existing users. They have already recorded substantial increase in family self-referrals, increase in disputes between neighbours, and are expecting more increase due to the Welfare Reform Act.

LAMP is on track to achieve their output and outcome targets.

The overall TLS rate is green with minor areas marked “amber” to indicate work in progress and or area for further improvement.

In the meantime, the organization continues to maintain relevant governance and finance management systems, including a business plan.

LAMP’s main source of income comes from the main grants programme, SLA agreements with Housing Agencies and local schools, and also from book sales.

In terms of quality assurance, LAMP has successfully completed the National Family Mediation, which is a government regulated accreditation scheme. They are currently working with LCMC (London Community Mediation Council).

The organisation is currently considering increasing the charges for their services as well as build on their successful Service Level Agreement (SAL) with Centrepoint by entering into similar agreements with Housing Associations. They are also considering tendering for legal aid cases from next April to enhance their overall financial sustainability.

The organisation has a reserves policy. Restricted funds are identified and policy continually reviewed.

Proposal Grant is requested to contribute towards the cost of delivering mediation services. The services provided by the organization are vital and in high demand. Although the organization has asked for a substantial increase in the level of funding received from LBL, it is however not possible to award the requested level of fund due to budget constraints.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

People that go through the Up to 130 mediations will be facilitated with sessions mediation process feel satisfied lasting 2 hours. 300 that they have been listened to. A minimum of 10 venues (community centres/children Neighbours in dispute will centres) from across the borough will be used to become more neighbourly and no accommodate the mediations (usually held close to longer feel victimized or where the parties live). vulnerable and able to feel safe where they live. Families in dispute – improved communication, better quality of life.

Young people to express Peer mediation training/life skills training/positive themselves safely, communicate communication skills/restorative training for 250 in positively understand that asking groups of up to 20 lasting 3 days within Schools. for help is OK. 1:1’s for parents and/or their children that require Parents & YP more confident in further support after mediation – 4 sessions lasting 1 communicating their feelings to hour each. These would take place in the LAMP Office each other and others outside of the family

Conclusion LAMP is a well-established organization providing highly needed mediation services to the community. It has appropriate governance and finance management systems in place as well as the experience and willingness to enter into service level agreements. This is a very good way of diversifying sources of funding to ensure long term financial sustainability.

Recommendation: That a grant of £27,717 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Action on Mediation Project.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Lewisham Bereavement Counselling Service (LBCS) Address Methodist Mission, 1 Creek Road, Deptford, SE8 3BT Ward located Ward(s) served Evelyn Borough wide Last AGM held: To be verified. If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: To be verified.

Amount requested: £25,500 Grant level recommended: £25,704 Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under “Community that Care” theme to provide counselling support for bereaved residents across Lewisham.

Services provided by the organisation The organisation’s services include the following: - provision of a confidential counselling for up to six months if needed to individual bereaved adults (from age 18) residing in the borough of Lewisham by a team of professionally trained and supported volunteer counsellors. - Providing support and help at an early stage after bereavement to lower and reduce the risk of the development of serious health problems. - The provision of relevant information, advice, and telephone counselling to other individuals not proceeding with counselling but needing help in numerous ways connected to their bereavement.

Performance LBCS has relevant policies, practices and procedures in place, which include: Complaints procedure for clients and staff, recruitment policy with equality and diversity statement and Recruitment of ex offenders; Supervision policy and Agreement for volunteer counsellors.

For the last 15 years the organization has relied mainly on two major funding sources: LBL and NHS (Formerly PCT). However, they have recently taken steps to change this by working on a fund-raising strategy that will outline possibilities for diversifying sources of funding, which will involve: - fundraising from Trusts and Lewisham Clinical Commissioning Group - introducing charging/fee policy taking into consideration their clients financial circumstances and ability to pay for such services - Expanding their bereavement training to other professionals who do not wish to join the organisation as a volunteer bereavement counsellor but who, nevertheless, would welcome the training as part of their continuing professional development and/or to enhance their own professional roles (e.g. Social workers, nurses, health visitors, occupation therapists etc. who come into contact with bereaved people - Developing a wider donor base through the organisation’s website Although the organisation currently has no Quality Assurance System (QAS) in place, since the recent monitoring meeting they have agreed to review and adopt a system that is appropriate to their particular needs. In the meantime, LBL officers were satisfied to learn that the organization’s counsellors and supervisors work under the guidance of the Statement of Fundamental Ethics for counselling and British Association of Counselling Psychotherapy, which is considered a quality assurance system in its own right. LBC had also undertook a Quality First Assurance programme with Voluntary Action Lewisham some years ago.

Proposal

Grant requested is value for money as the organization still continue to provide a unique service that addresses the needs of bereaved people in Lewisham.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: The key impact of our work is the To accept between 140/160 new referrals for individual relief of mental, emotional and counselling from a wide range of referring agencies physical suffering and distress (including both statutory and voluntary bodies , caused through the death of community groups, employers etc. and to provide this someone close. After a period of service in an individual’s own home if required or in counselling (up to six months) suitable v enues for up to six months or more if needed. bereaved people have a noticeable improvement in overall health and well being and daily functioning, This is evidenced by:

A return to work/employment To provide information and brief telephone counselling and/or an improved work to approximately 100 other individuals who may not performance wish to proceed with counselling but who need help for (e.g. focus, concentration, managing their bereavement. efficiency)

Improved relationships with To achieve a wide as possible profile both in the family, friends and colleagues. borough of Lewisham and in greater London to ensure This is particularly important for full accessibility for those needing our services. those who care for young children who find it very difficult to provide the level of attention and care needed following bereavement.

Ability to socialize rather than To recruit, and professionally train between 10 - 15 continue to be isolated and new volunteer counsellors to replace those who have withdrawn) able to re-engage in left the service (either permanently or temporarily) in leisure and other activities order to ensure a sufficient number to meet demand. especially those that enhance To ensure that a wide range of counsellors are health and well being. This is recruited in order to meet the diversity of the client particularly important for elderly group. To provide them with regular support and people who may already be living supervision from a team of professional supervisors, with long term illness and To enhance their professional development, conditions which are much knowledge and skills with a programme of up to four exacerbated by bereavement of training events per annum. an adult child or spouse/long To undertake regular performance reviews with their term partner. supervisors.

A return to a healthier, well balanced diet instead of either over/comfort eating or not able to eat properly due to loss of appetite

Reduced consumption of harmful substances, e.g. Cigarettes Alcohol, recreational drugs or stopping altogether.

Reduction of prescribed medication such as sleeping pills (which are addictive) and anti depressants and their unpleasant side effects.

Conclusion

LBC is a well established organisation with committed staff, trustees and volunteers. They have been providing high quality specialist counselling service to bereaved individuals living in the borough of Lewisham. They have good connections with VCS and statutory organisations, including health and social care agencies. Their staff and volunteer counsellors are professionally trained to deliver the organisation’s services.

Recommendation: That a grant of £25,704 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Bereavement Counselling.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation LEWISHAM CITIZENS ADVICE SERVICE (LCAS) LTD Address 3RD FLOOR, DUKE HOUSE, 84-86 RUSHEY GREEN, LONDON SE6 4HW

Ward located Ward(s) served Rushey Green Borough wide Last AGM held: 18 January 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Yes, they were submitted by due date on 27/03/2013.

Amount requested: £496,951 Grant level recommended: £500,927 Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under the Gateway Services theme to provide a holistic legal advice and information service in all areas of social welfare law with specialist advice in Immigration and Debt.

Services provided by the organisation

LCAS have a long established track record in delivering generalist services in the borough. The provision is based on giving diagnostic advice, presenting clients with options on possible courses of action, which includes taking action or negotiating with agencies on clients’ behalf. The Money Advice Service offers specialist money advice, including debt relief orders and negotiating repayment schedules. The organisation provides second tier support for other generalist advice agencies.

Performance

LCAS quarterly reports show that they are on target to achieve their output and outcome targets of 5,100 for Assisted Information and 7,450 for Advice. LBL officers have recently agreed for the organization to extend the completion deadline for their training programme for volunteers from end of October to end of December. The organisation believes extending the deadline to end of year will enable them to ensure better take up of the training, which will make up for the low take up during the summer holiday.

Overall the organization is TLS-rated Green with sufficient governance and management systems in place. They hold membership of CitA, which allows them to access General Help level of the Quality Mark. CitA audits LCAS every three years. LCAS is also registered with OISC, level 1, and their paid advisers hold the Citizens Advice Certificate in Advice Work, while their money advisers are members of the Institute of Money Advice and are registered Debt Relief Intermediaries. Volunteers are provided with adequate training to become certificated Gateway Assessors and to gain CitA Certificate in Advice Work.

The organization has a reserve policy in place with adequate financial management systems.

They are currently reviewing their strategic plans and implementing a re-structuring process to ensure sustainability at times of change, which will enable them to reduce management costs and to focus resources on front line service provision. They are also in the process of implementing a new case recording system known as “Petra”, which is required by CitA membership. The new system will introduce improvement and easier use for reporting purposes. Further, the Trustee Board have developed a Funding Strategy that include financial risk analysis and setting targets and priorities for fundraising. Implementation of this strategy is expected to lead the organization to diversify more their funding sources.

Proposal

Funding is requested to provide holistic advice services to residents of the borough. The organisation’s services are in high demand, especially in light of welfare reform, reduction to benefits and budget cuts to Legal Aid.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes: Outputs: Clients enabled to take the next 6,300 unique clients offered assisted Information step towards resolving their through our reception service problems themselves.

Clients problems resolved or Offer 10,000 activities to 3,500 unique clients. moved towards resolution, Activities include Gateway diagnostic interviews through our generalist advice offered face to face and on the phone, appointments, service. Outcomes will include home visits and casework. clients accessing correct benefit entitlements, setting up affordable payment plans for debts, getting debts written off, stopping bailiffs action, stopping court action, securing and maintaining housing, solving employment issues, getting compensation etc.

Clients’ debt issues resolved or 200 unique clients will be offered specialist debt advice moved towards resolution. service as detailed above. Outcomes include setting up payment plans at affordable rates, debts written off, bankruptcy and Debt Relief Orders

Clients immigration issues 80 clients offered specialist immigration advice service resolved or moved towards provided by Southwark Law Centre, as detailed above. resolution. Outcomes include

Volunteers receive training, gain 40 volunteers trained, supported and supervised as experience and skills, move into detailed above. employment or further training and gain social contacts, greater satisfaction with life and better health.

Conclusion LCAS is a leading advice service provider in the borough. The organisation has well established track record in delivering good quality generalist advice services and collaborative work with other agencies within the Advice Sector. In view of the Welfare Reform Act and changes to Legal Aid, it is clear that demand for LCAS’ services will continuously increase. LCAS Board of Trustees and management have already embarked on a strategic fundraising planning and re-organisation to save costs and while maintaining quality and delivery of services.

Recommendation : That a grant of £500,927 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Citizens Advice Services Ltd. MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014–15 Full name of organisation Lewisham Community Transport Scheme Address Room F6 , The Leemore Centre Community Hub, 29-39 Clarendon Rise, Lewisham, SE13 5ES Ward located: Ward(s) served Lewisham Central Borough-wide Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee: 21 September 2013 Cllr Carl Handley If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory bod y and have they been submitted on time: Organisation Compliant. Returns submitted on time Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £71,583 £47,965

Purpose of grant: Application made under the Building Social Capital theme and Communities that Care.

The grant is to support the organisation in providing affordable minibuses for use by community groups. It is also for running a volunteering programme of support and training for MiDAS (Minibus Drivers Awareness Scheme) and to train volunteer drivers to assist organisations who do not have their own drivers. The grant also provides the administrative support for the running of minibuses of groups which have a minibus of their own and have given to LCTS to operate.

Services provided by the organisation

LCTS provides affordable, safe, accessible transport to any voluntary/charitable organisation in Lewisham on a not for profit basis. It also provides MiDAS driver training and passenger assistant training (PATS) to all drivers and escorts. All services are covered by the grant request.

Performance against general criteria

Clear lines of responsibility & management exist and staff meet weekly to discuss operational details, past and future work and areas for development. The CEO meets regularly with the Chair and reports on a quarterly basis to the Management Committee.

LCTS has had limited success at securing funding and is therefore heavily dependent on LBL support. The organisation has been funded through the Investment Fund for the past year which has resulted in an increased use of services and discussions around the possibilities of taking on more LBL non statutory transport.. For the past two years the organisation has generated a small surplus but there is concern about the organisations ongoing financial vulnerability and it has been asked to develop a fundraising strategy.

The organisation has a strong partnership approach which includes working closely with community transport schemes in other boroughs. LCTS also manages minibuses belonging to other organisations including the Ahoy Centre, Goldsmiths College and the Jimmy Mizen Foundation.

The organisation operates a clear process of evaluation based on feedback from service users

Grant proposal

The proposal involves provision of affordable minibuses for community groups’ use thereby supporting voluntary and charitable groups within the borough to provide and extend their services to a wider range user who are able to travel together, safely to any of their events. such as lunch clubs, community meetings, shopping trips, day trips, respite care etc This promotes and increases active citizenship for over 15,000 passengers per year, who, without this transport, would not be able to take part in these activities.

Volunteering sits at the heart of LCTS’s operations. The scheme continues to run a strong volunteer programme of support and training,. All user groups are entitled to have one of their own staff/member/volunteer trained to the MiDAS (Minibus Drivers Awareness Scheme) standard which is a nationally recognised standard of minibus driving. All drivers of the LCTS vehicles must undergo this training. LCTS has a pool of specifically trained volunteers to assist members who are not able to acquire their own driver due to the nature of their group (e.g., groups of elderly and or disabled people).

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes

Outcomes: Outputs: • Strengthened capacity of • LCTS will monitor the amount of groups who are voluntary sector members (currently 180) and actively encourage • Voluntary Sector able to those who do not currently use the service to do so influence policies and plans of • LCTS will attend all meetings at which are deemed to decision making bodies be relevant to keeping people active and helping • Deliver citizen led solutions themselves • Develop the capacity of the • LCTS will keep active members informed via email, voluntary sector through website and also direct prospective members to support and training these, and/or send out literature to them • Increase opportunities for • 200 volunteer drivers per year will receive training to communication within the nationally recognised MiDAS standard voluntary and statutory sector • LCTS will actively aim to recruit 15 new volunteers for • Increase volunteering across use by groups who cannot provide their own driver the borough • LCTS will continue to achieve high standards in • An environment where volunteering opportunities volunteering is accessible • Vehicles downtime will be kept to a minimum • Effective volunteering • Passenger numbers will continue to increase from the opportunities current 15,000 per year. • Increase the quality of • Group members will increase above the current 180 volunteering per year. • LCTS will monitor the amount of existing lunch club/elderly/disability groups and monitor the increase of this • 1,700 journeys per year • There will be an increased number of individual users accessing the service

Conclusion

The organisation delivers important services to the borough supporting a large number of vulnerable people including disabled and older people to play an active part in the community. The scheme carries over 13,000 passengers per year.

Recommendation:

The application is for an increase of £24,000 to funding awarded to the organisation last year. The budgetary pressures facing Lewisham Council mean that it is not possible to recommend this increase. The recommendation is therefore that the organisations grant is maintained at its previous level of £47,965

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15

Full name of organisation Lewisham Disability Coalition Address 2 Catford Broadway,Catford, London, SE6 4SP Ward located: Ward(s) served: Rushey Green All Wards Last AGM held: LBL reps on manageme nt committee: None If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Returns submitted on Time Amount requested: Grant level recommended: 201,731 158,993 Purpose of grant: Themes

Building Social Capital Gateway Services Children & Young People Programme Communities that care

LDC provides a borough wide service to disabled people. The grant is to enable the organisation to continue to provide advice information and support services as well as working with other organisations to ensure that their services are accessible and welcoming to disabled people.

Services provided by the organisation

The organisation was established in 2002. The main services provided are advocacy, issue-based casework, independent living advice and training for disabled people. Other services include specialist welfare benefits advice, information dissemination and the facilitation of disability forums which champion and promote equality and equal citizenship for all with an emphasis on disabled people.

Performance against general criteria LDC is a well established organisation with clear decision making processes and management structure. The majority of trustees are disabled and have the experience and expertise to oversee the delivery of effective services to the client group.

LDC has an effective financial management system in place with regular reporting to the Management Committee. Annual returns are up to date. The organisation is heavily dependant on Lewisham Council funding and needs to develop a fundraising strategy that helps it diversify its sources of funding.

The organisation currently uses PQASSO as its quality assurance measurement. It is able to demonstrate effective working relationships with a range of partners including links with LMLAS and other advice providers such as ACLS. LDC acts as an advisor to the sector on disability issues through participation on a range of forums and Partnership Boards.

LDC has an effective process in place for training staff and volunteers and keeping them up to date with what is a fast changing area of work. There are also effective processes for monitoring and evaluation.

Grant proposal

LDC is one of the five infrastructure voluntary and community sector organisations in the Borough and a combination of individual members and disability groups and organisations from within the Borough. Its core activities are:

• Provision of a high quality welfare benefits advice • Provision of representation at tribunal hearing where required • Support for service users to represent themselves at tribunal hearing • Home visiting service for service users who are housebound or have poor mobility • Working closely with LBL to ensure their services are disabled friendly. • Work closely with a range of organisations across Lewisham to ensure their services are disabled friendly. • Work in partnership with other voluntary and community sector bodies to develop and provide services that empower disabled people. • Accessible, easy to read Information. • Influence decision makers locally and nationally.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2011/2012:

Outcomes: Outputs:

An accessible advice service. Three Drop-in services at separate locations

To improve the financial position of That disabled people see a financial benefit from the advice disabled people they have received.

To empower disabled people to An additional 50 members to join LDC manage their own well-being. Provide 4 workshops on disability and well-being.

Provide 6 training courses related to welfare reform and well-being.

Ensure that advice services are Three Drop-in services in the most deprived areas. accessible in the most deprived areas of the borough. Three peer to peer sessions linked to each deprived area

Ensure that advice services are 95% of all service users seen should be disabled. reaching a wide range of disabled people, their families and their That monitoring data include recording the nine protected carers. characteristics.

Regular home visits to housebound disabled service users, up to four per week.

An accessible appointments service offering 10 office appointments per week.

To involve volunteers in the To support and empower between 1 and 3 volunteers per operations of LDC. day.

To ensure volunteers receive Volunteers have access to the same training as staff training and personal development. Volunteers to be involved in team meetings

To ensure that the LDC trustees are Attendance at 10 trustee meetings per year. effective and embrace good governance. 75% attendance at trustee training events

The operation of drop in services in Operation of drop ins in three or more areas the most deprived communities.

The operation of peer to peer Operation of peer to peer support in at least three areas. support in the most deprived areas.

Work with a range of organisations Operating of our brokerage service at the 4 hubs created by at the local level through our the Connecting Communities consortium. Communities that Care consortium work.

High quality advice. Through a range of approaches provide 75 sessions of 121 advice per week.

High Quality information To produce a range of information relating to the needs of disable people

To make available information from a range of disability, council and government bodies.

To operate a website with links to other sources of relevant information.

To develop over time access to video and film.

To publish an Annual report for 12/13

Run two member forums.

Establish a new website

Introduce a weekly e-zine for members and partners

Re-introduce a newsletter twice a year.

Conclusion LDC provides an important service for disabled people in Lewisham. The organisation is well managed and is seeking to explore new opportunities ass they arise. There are some concerns around the extent to which the organisation is dependant on Council funding and as a result of monitoring has been asked to develop a funding strategy. Services are well thought through and are provided at a high quality.

Recommendation:

The application includes a proposal to include current funding which has previously been awarded through the Council’s Investment Fund. This will be dealt with through a different process and £44,000 has therefore been deducted. It is recommended that funding to the organisation is maintained at £158,993.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014–15 Full name of organisation Lewisham Education Arts Network Address The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford London, SE8 4AG Ward located: Ward(s) served New Cross Borough wide Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee . No If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Submitted on time Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £37,952 £37,937

Purpose of grant:

Building Social Capital

The grant will support the organisation to deliver services that provide support to organisations working within the arts education sector and those involved in arts education.

Services provided by the organisation LEAN was established in July 2000 to advocate for the arts across a range of educational settings, to develop and facilitate arts practice and to provide a network for the arts education sector in the borough. The organisation provides a unique range of arts education projects and services including advice and training to artist educators and employers (e.g. teachers), disseminating information online, through events and network meetings, brokering partnerships and supporting funding applications, representing the sector (e.g. LSP and CYP Joint Commissioning Group), encouraging investment in the borough by national organisations, running arts projects and providing independent evaluation of projects.

The application is for a range of services under the Building Social Capital theme. Specifically: • A strong and vibrant voluntary sector able to respond to the challenges of local and national agendas through effective representation on key decision making groups, a range of support services and training and strong networks. • Area based community development through supporting arts and non arts VCS and statutory partners in Deptford and Downham to deliver festivals and events.

Performance against general criteria

LEAN has demonstrated that it has effective management and governance arrangements in place and in recent years has pursued a deliberate strategy of strengthening its board. There is a strong commitment to training and development.

The organisation has demonstrated a strong track record of securing funding and continues to take a proactive approach to fundraising – currently exploring the option of using some of its reserves to employ a fundraiser. One of the issues that the organisation has identified is that a large proportion of it income comes from project funding which does not contribute in a strong way to supporting the core.

Good financial management is in place and financial reports are considered at every Board meeting. The Board has a dedicated Finance, Personnel and Business Planning subcommittee and appropriate financial control systems are in place. Planning is robust and the organisation has a prudent level of reserves in line with its reserves policy (3 months running costs)..

The organisation demonstrates a strong track record of delivering services in Lewisham and has evidenced the impact of its work. LEAN has demonstrated that effective evaluation mechanisms are in place. The organisation provides advice to other organisations on monitoring and evaluation and has experience of delivering robust evaluation projects for a number of organisations including Lewisham Council.

Grant Proposal

Lewisham Education Arts Network (LEAN) champions arts education in Lewisham fostering high quality creative opportunities for children and young people.

LEAN acts as a support organisation for the arts education sector and works with all those involved in arts education with and for children and young people in Lewisham. Our members include: • Primary and Secondary teachers • Those who teach in further education and universities • Artists and arts organisations • Arts education officers • Advocates and supporters of arts education • Youth Workers • Community workers • Health and social care professionals • Policy Makers • Arts Administrators

LEAN’s aims embrace the main functions of a support organisation: develop; connect; influence.

Aim One: Develop To provide direction, practical support, information and guidance to all those involved in arts education in order to develop and increase the frequency of high quality creative opportunities by and for children and young people.

Aim Two: Connect To empower and inspire our members to collaborate through the development of active networks, brokered support and the promotion of working in partnership.

Aim Three: Influence To work strategically and consultatively with key investment partners and decision makers to lobby for, represent and secure access to creative opportunities for children and young people.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outputs Outcomes A stronger arts VCS, able to influence Facilitate opportunities for statutory partners to the policies and plans of decision communicate with the arts VCS: making bodies, and provide effective i. Make use of electronic methods of representation on key decision communication: website, monthly bulletin making groups and email, to connect arts VCS to VCS • The views of the arts VCS will be representatives on key decision making brought to key decision making groups.12 bulletins, 50 tweets, 12 entries groups more often through on site. communicating directly with arts ii. Research and create new electronic and non arts VCS representatives methods of exchanging and commenting resulting in stronger representation. on information speedily such as polls, twitter and social media. 1 new efficient • Statutory partners will know more method of sharing information and about the arts VCS and how to use commenting on information pre and post its skills and knowledge to develop key decision making meetings local policy. iii. Disseminate upcoming key decision

• Maintain representation of the arts making group meeting dates and agendas VCS on local partnership groups via the site, inviting comment. 12 meetings resulting in greater influence on per year. 1 arts sector message for each policy and plans meeting. iv. Use the youth arts network as a source of • Local arts VCS capitalise on debate around the issues to take to national arts education strategies partnership meetings. 4 meetings per year and the new curriculum; are x 20 people connected with strategic v. Continue to represent the arts VCS on: organisations and can influence the LSP, CYP JCG, VCS strategy group, CYP agenda VCS steering group and stronger communities partnership board. X 4 meetings per year per group. vi. Invite statutory partners to Youth Arts Network meetings and other arts sector events as speakers or guest participants. 6 partners invited per year. vii. By developing relationships with the statutory sector, maintain representation by the arts sector. Arts VCS has representation on Health and Well-being Board. viii. Provide sessions for education stakeholders so they understand the ACE national arts education strategy and are more likely to use local the arts VCS. 1 sessions x 25 people

An increase in the arts VCS who i. Maintain an informative and up to date access high quality and relevant website that sign posts visitors to local and support services and training to capital wide opportunities: enhance their service delivery, Increase avg. visits to 1000 per month strengthen their capacity and are in a Increase no. uploads to 600 per year stronger position to face the changes Increase registered members to 400 in local and national agendas • Increase twitter followers to 400 The arts VCS respond to and Increase total no. of recipients of services over the pursue more local and capital wide year to 6500. opportunities and lever in additional ii. Provide monthly bulletins to members via the funds site. 12 per year • The arts sector will gain access to iii. Provide monthly youth arts bulletins to assist new partners and they will be able members to reach young people and those to create a targeted offer based on that work with them. the needs of citizens 12 per year and increase schools receiving it to • The arts VCS have increased skill 15. and knowledge to deliver services iv. Market the benefits of registering on the that will enhance their sustainability website to existing members who have not yet registered on-line. 3 new strategies. v. Provide access to other stakeholders and cross sector networking sessions via the youth arts network and annual arts education event. 75% of participants agree they have made new and useful contacts vi. Send 150 items of information electronically to 6099 people vii. Provide access to one to one advice sessions. 50 one to one sessions. 150 new contacts provided. viii. Provide one to one/peer to peer and small group monitoring and evaluation support. 25 people. ix. Use surveys and networking meetings to ascertain the needs of the sector. x. Provide specialist training to ensure artist educators are able to respond to the needs of their local community, specifically deliver sessions to arts educators to strengthen their ability to work with the statutory education sector, in community settings and with the non arts VCS Deliver 4 training courses to 60 people

The arts VCS have greater i. Provide Youth Arts Network meetings with opportunities to communicate, invited guests, speakers and networking develop effective connections and opportunities collaborations between each other, 4 sessions x 20 people statutory and private partners and the ii. Provide a high quality annual event that non arts VCS brings in relevant and appropriate • An increase in effective connections speakers for arts education stakeholders and collaborations between the 1 session x 60 people arts VCS, statutory partners and iii. Develop the sub groups, continuing to explore non arts VCS. group specific issues and connect to other

groups for the benefit of all. • More arts VCS organisations and 3 meetings per year x 20 people statutory partners will be iv. Work with the arts VCS, non arts VCS and the supported to collaborate to statutory sector on stakeholder groups, deliver interconnected and including the Early Years Arts stakeholders streamlined activities that are appropriate to the needs of local groups, Lewisham Music Hub, Lewisham citizens. Live, 4 meetings per year each Prepare and share arts sector information for each meeting Give practical support inc. evaluation to: Lewisham Live 1 visual arts showcase v. Continue to support complimentary and interconnected early years arts activities by managing stakeholders and provide networking opportunities. 4 meetings and 3 networking/sharing sessions for early years professionals. Support health partners and arts VCS to form effective partnerships. 1 event for 40 people Strengthen local area and . neighbourhood partnerships between • Work with and consolidate a group of arts and agencies and with local people and non arts VCS and statutory partners in Increased effectiveness of and Downham to continue to deliver 2 local festivals engagement with local initiatives per year through networking 4 meetings, 2 festivals/events • The arts VCS will connect with local area partners, public and non arts VCS to deliver enriched local initiatives.

Conclusion The organisation is well managed and provides services that are strongly valued by the arts sector in Lewisham. An active fundraising strategy is being pursued which involves exploring ways of being more enterprising.

Recommendation: The application is for a small increase to funding awarded to the organisation last year. The budgetary pressures facing Lewisham Council mean that it is not possible to recommend this increase. The recommendation is therefore that the organisations grant is maintained at its previous level of £37,937

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation: Lewisham Irish Community Centre

Address: 2a Davenport Road Lon don SE6 2AZ

Ward located: Rushey Green Ward(s) served: Borough-wide

Last AGM held: • Annual General Meeting Date: 15/12/12 • Lead Officer Attendance: Sharonne Harvey

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: • Registered Charity Number: 1014852 - filed 159 days late to the Charity Commission. • Company Registration Number: 02752450 - filed late to Companies House, with a penalty incurred.

Amount requested: £25,650 Grant level recommende d: £20,160 Purpose of grant: Community Centre services and a key driver for community development initiatives.

The themes that are funded under this programme are: • Building Social Capital (area based community development) • Communities That Care • Gateway Services

Special conditions: • Addressing all aspects of its finances and submits on time, the published annual financial statement for year ending March 2014 by no later than 30 November 2014.

• Submitting on time, the Charity Commission returns within the required deadline.

• Submitting on time, the Companies House annual returns are submitted within the required deadline.

• Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the community centre as a whole during 2014/15.

• Clarifying specific outputs and outcomes within its community development plan for the centre.

• Quantifying volunteering opportunities (including safeguarding procedures).

Services provided by the organisation Lewisham Irish Community Centre (LICC) is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee which has been established since 1992. The centre promotes the benefit of the community, primarily but not exclusively, persons of Irish descent within the London Borough of Lewisham. It advances education of the public in Irish culture and heritage and promotes its facility in the interests of social welfare, recreation and leisure. The community centre is a base and focal point for the Irish community from all parts of the Borough. The community centre (council premises) is open throughout the week, occasionally at weekends and delivers an advice, information and counselling service, an outreach services for Gypsy Roma Travellers (GRT), a Childminders Club, Parent & Toddler club, the Lewisham Irish Pensioners Club, Social Clubs and Social Events. The centre is also provides a meeting space for a diversity of community groups. LICC is one of a number of Irish Community projects affiliated to ‘Irish in Britain (IIB - formerly Federation of Irish Societies)’ which is an umbrella group based in London tackling the needs of the Irish community including the elderly Irish and Irish Traveller communities .

Performance The overall performance of this organisation has been rated ‘amber’ within the council’s traffic light system for grant monitoring. The past year has seen a significant change in the board which has impacted on governance, the appointment of a new services manager and strengthening of its internal business processes and overall management of the centre. The centre is now in a better position to plan its future and priorities. The completion of its annual accounts did not meet the council’s required deadline and this has had an impact on financial planning which is currently being address in term of the day to day financial operations of the centre. The financial statement for year ending 31 March 2012 indicates reserves at £64,226 (£40,291 restricted funds & £23,935 unrestricted). LICC has a reserves policy which ‘aims to cover cash flow shortfalls due to uncertainty in the timing of future grant awards.’

LICC also took a decision to work alongside independent consultant in order to strengthen is business processes; it is now finalising a sustainability action plan which was a requirement of council funding for 2013/14. This community centre has worked towards changing its perspective to focus on delivering services that promote community development and as a result, a community development plan that has been developed.

In terms of quality assurance, the advice service was awarded the community Legal service Quality mark since 2005 and currently holds the Quality Assured Standard, the Gypsy Roma Travellers project is measured against the quality Assessment Framework, however, no quality assurance has been established for the community centre as a whole and this will form a condition of grant aid for 2014/15.

Proposal LICC are requesting funding for a contribution of the services manager’s salary which is part funded by the Emigrant Support Programme. This post is responsible for staff management, community development and advice service provision. LICC appears to have demonstrated value for money within the budgeted costs in relation to the overall benefits to the local community under the following themes:

Building Social Capital LICC consistently works in partnership with IIB on launching the effects of Welfare reform on Irish families in the UK; this is the only specific service in Lewisham supporting Gypsy Roma Traveller Community and has initiated the Lewisham Travellers (inter-agency) Forum to promote the needs of the local Gypsy Roma Traveller Community within the borough.

Through the area based community development agenda, LICC supports the development of childcare services through organising a weekly childminder session. LICC is now working to support Lewisham Childminders Association to run monthly information and sign-posting surgery at the Centre to support local childminders. In terms of the playgroup, this offers a safe learning environment for both local parents and children to engage and socialise. The group is run by volunteers and managed by two members of the board of trustees who work closely with the services manager.

LICC has a volunteer project and currently recruits volunteers to work on reception, helps with the playgroup and junior youth project (8-11 years which target the most the most deprived young people in the local community.

Gateway Services LICC offers client specific advice and specialist advice services to the Irish community (the specialist advice service is targeted particularly but not exclusively at the older Irish community). This service also delivers advocacy and representation at appeal tribunals based on housing welfare benefits, repatriation to Ireland as well as making appropriate referrals to specialist local statutory and voluntary services. The service aims to enable clients to enforce their rights, help prevent and reduce homelessness, ensure clients with disabilities have access to appropriate benefits, enable older clients to live independently in the community, support resettlement and reduce isolation. This project supports 150-170 clients annually .

The outreach project serves the Gypsy Roma Traveller Communities. Since 2008, LICC has been working in partnership with supporting People Lewisham to provide a full-time Outreach service to the GRT community. LICC provide a range of information, support/advocacy including housing related support to authorised, unauthorised and housed travellers. The project aims to assist Travellers to access services including healthcare, education, housing and welfare benefits. This project supports in the region 100 clients and their families annually.

Both advice services have longstanding working relationships with Ewings & Company Solicitors who provide monthly legal surgeries at the centre.

Communities That Care LICC provide a number of activities during the week to help keep older adults healthy and actively engaged - this includes a weekly drop-in group offering light lunch, creative craft, tea dances, yoga, well-being workshops with Lewisham IAPT and a luncheon club. LICC also collaborates with Lewisham Irish Pensioners Association who organises weekly social activities. All older people’s activities have full access to the advice service and are attended by 70 participants on a weekly basis.

LICC appears to have demonstrated a realistic approach to delivering community development initiatives through these funding strand. Good value for money has been allowed within the budgeted costs in relation to the overall benefits to the local community.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Raise awareness of the needs of the Work collaboratively with local groups to design Irish and GRT communities’ borough and run new services including, youth provision -wide. Raise profile of LICC. Increase community garden project an expansion and service provision at LICC. development of existence services.

Provision of a safe stimulating 20 young people from 2 schools will attend junior environment for 8-11 year olds to youth project weekly. We are aiming to increase learn and engage. Increasing sense this to 35 youths from five schools within the first of health and well-being six month period.

Empower 250 local vulnerable people to access their rights and 250 people will avail of the advice and GRT entitlements. This will enhance outreach services support services. independent living; improve financial circumstances for disadvantaged families and older adults. Increase access to services among the older Irish and GRT Communities.

Provide facility for Lewisham childminders association to share 45 Adults and 70 children will attend weekly good practice, access professional playgroup and childminders groups. This will help advice n careers and return to work reduced social isolation, increase networking options. Provision of safe creative opportunities. Increase community engagement environment for toddlers t learn and among parents, childminders and their children. play together and parents to network Provide creative and educational opportunities for and engage in community activities. toddlers. Opportunities for volunteers to enhance Volunteer opportunities. their skills and increase access to employment opportunities. Improve health, enhance 70 older people will attend LICC weekly to engage psychological well-being, reduce in health, social and cultural events. social isolation , increase community involvement and participation among older adults. Increase independent living within the community.

Celebrate Irish Culture and heritage, Create a programme of cultural and social events raise profile and celebrate GRT to engage the local community. cultural heritage . Integration and increase diversity among membership and centre users.

Conclusion The past year has seen a change in the board, the appointment of a new services manager and strengthening of its internal business processes. LICC are to prioritise completing its annual accounts, increase income generation and develop services that benefit and engage the local community. Over the past year, the centre has been working with a business mentor in order to improve sustainability in the areas of governance, income generation and the use of centre resources.

The budget within the application can allow for this recommendation without any significant impact on the association due to the associating needing to generate more income from the use of the centre, this will not only increase maximising use but will bring in financial resources over at above 14% contribution of the income budget.

Recommendation: That (subject to the conditions as stated below) a grant of £20,160 for 2014/15 be awarded to the Lewisham Irish Community Centre.

The grant is subject to the organisation: • Addressing all aspects of its finances and submits on time, the published annual financial statement for year ending March 2014 by no later than 30 November 2014.

• Submitting on time, the Charity Commission returns within the required deadline.

• Submitting on time, the Companies House annual returns are submitted within the required deadline.

• Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the community centre as a whole during 2014/15.

• Clarifying specific outputs and outcomes within its community development plan for the centre.

• Quantifying volunteering opportunities (including safeguarding procedures).

MAIN GRANTS PROGRAMME : REPORT FOR 2014/15

NAME OF ORGANISATION: Lewisham Mencap

Grant purpose

The organisation is based in the Lewisham Central Ward and provides a borough wide service.

The organisation “campaigns to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities by working with parents, carers and other organisations”. It has taken a position of being a campaigning group, as opposed to a contracted service provider. It has one paid officer, a number of volunteers and sessional workers, and a volunteer management committee. The organisation is funded to support the continuation of its work in terms of evening social activities 3 nights a week, and other social activities such as holiday support, the development and promotion of volunteering opportunities for local people, and through this activity influence policy makers. It also supports case work through drop in advice, practical support around benefits, housing etc, and some complex case work including support in legal proceedings,

Performance

The organisation has performed well on all criteria. Although it is small, with almost complete reliance on the Council’s grant, it has a committed voluntary committee of management, who, along with their paid officer have a history of being active in local policy and decision making. It has a good track record of delivery on the services listed in this submission and therefore represents value for money to the council. The submission has a clear set of inputs and outcomes, and it has worked hard to review its own policies and procedures, and in particular to ensure that the volunteer committee is educated and fit for purpose. They are delivering against the outputs. The change in management committee 18 months ago has resulted in a more focussed and timely attendance at Partnership Boards and reports, and has also supported an empowering approach to people with learning disabilities in decision making about the range and type of social events being supported.

There is an ongoing concern about the absence of a formal quality assurance system. However, a ‘refresh’ of the monitoring systems has gone some way to managing down concerns on this item.

Accounts for 2011/12 show that the organisation had an income of £97,670 and expenditure of £92,451 giving a surplus of £5,219; the reserves stand at £243,387 of which £169,258 is unrestricted, equating to just under 18 months operating costs. They are almost entirely dependent on Council funding for its running costs.

Due documents to the Charities Commission were received on time this year in October 2012, although they have been late in the preceding 2 years.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

Parents and carers of people with 50 clients/families per year receiving learning disabilities can access advocacy; Of those 40 will be long term practical support (writing letters, support and practical advice. phone calls) and advocacy

Parents and carers to have a Attendance at all LD Partnership Boards; voice in local service at least one Unicup Meeting; informative development and advisory newsletter articles; use of AGM as a vehicle for the Council to inform members regarding proposed changes of service.

People with learning disabilities Club membership sustained or improved in Lewisham can attend evening at 300 people. Hours provided sustained social activities designed for or improved at 5,000 per annum. Theme them nights and targeted activity opportunities to be part of the offer

Parents and carers of people with 50 clients/families per year receiving learning disabilities can access advocacy. Of those 40 will be long term practical support (writing letters, support and practical advice. phone calls) and advocacy

Conclusion and Recommendation

Lewisham Mencap is a pivotal voice and player in the Learning Disability Pathway in Lewisham. Its role in commenting on and monitoring the impacts and effects of policy implementation is key in holding the Council to account for how it supports its learning disabled citizens. Its social clubs offer opportunities for preventative work with people who do not meet FACs eligibility and also offer a quality assurance/ 3 rd party opportunity for those people in receipt of services. They play an increasing role in supporting events to socialise to offset the potentially negative impacts of day service changes. The paid officer role is very active in the support to people’s families in both a practical and advocacy role.

The organisation is heavily dependent on funding from Lewisham Council with a very high percentage of their turnover coming from council sources. As part of the initial grant recommendation in July 2011 it was stated that in order to sustain funding at the current level the organisation will need to demonstrate that is has fully considered all options for resourcing their activities. This is still the same, and therefore this should be a condition of grant, with the second 6 months funding being released only on evidence that they have done this.

Recommendation: That a grant of £58,642 for 2014/15 be confirmed to Lewisham Mencap subject to the condition outlined in the paragraph above.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Lewisham Multi-Lingual Advice Service (LMLAS) Address 2 Catford Broadway SE6 4SP Ward located Ward(s ) served Catford South Borough wide Last AGM held: 10 th Dec 2012 – Cllr Joan Millbank attended as a guest speaker. If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Yes, returns submitted by 18 Dec. 2012, before the due date on 04/01/2013. Amount requested: £25,000 Grant level recommended: £25,200 Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under the “Gateway Services” theme to cover the running cost of providing Information & Advice service.

Services provided by the organisation

Lewisham Multi Lingual Advice Service (LMLAS) provides a holistic advice and information service to meet the needs of people in the borough for whom English is not their first language.

The organization uses both volunteer and paid staff to deliver services in different languages, including: Tamil, Albanian, Turkish, Arabic/Kurdish, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali and Spanish.

Performance

LMLAS continues to deliver important multi-language services to a client group who would otherwise find it difficult to access services they are entitled to due to language barriers. They are on track to achieve their output/outcome targets. During the first quarter of the year LMLAS assisted a total 117 clients, 64 of them were new clients while the remaining 53 repeat clients. In the second quarter 113 benefit claims were made with a total financial gain to the client of £149,551. 21. Demands for the organization’s services have continued to increase. Services are provided by trained bilingual and multiannual volunteers who work under the supervision of a supervisor.

Overall the organisation maintains a good standard of governance and service management systems as well as appropriate policies and procedures. Their TLS rating is Green with few areas marked Amber for improvement and completion purposes.

LMLAS are currently working under the Advice Quality Standard for General Help and Casework, which is awarded after an audit of services. Their policies and procedures are in line with the Quality mark and are reviewed annually. The Quality Mark is valid until December 2013 and the process for the review is currently active.

LMLAS has a reserve policy to comply with requirements of its charitable status with a clear distinction between restricted and unrestricted.

Proposal

Funding is sought under the “Gateway Services” theme to cover the running cost of providing Information & Advice service. As evidenced by the organization quarterly and annual reports and statists, there is continued high demand for the unique multi-lingual service the organize provides.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: At least £75,000 received in full- To provide benefit claims for 25 users. year benefit payments by service users, reducing poverty and increasing security.

Users’ wellbeing, family stability, To provide advice to 150 users with 400 issues. health and confidence in accessing services for themselves.

Volunteers speaking community 2 volunteer receptionists supported every 6 months languages gain workplace skills and 1 volunteer trainee advisor supported per year. and become more employable.

Conclusion

LMLAS is a well managed organization with adequate governance and finance management policies and procedure in place. Their multilingual advice and information service is well needed, especially in light of the Welfare Reform Act and the associated need to adopt to online benefit claim processes, which can potentially deprive people with low or no language and computer skills.

At present the organisation main sources of fund are limited to LBL and the National Lottery. It would therefore be advisable for the organization to consider developing and implementing a fund-raising strategy to maintain current levels of service and ensure future financial sustainability.

Recommendation: That a grant of £25,200 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Multilingual Advice Services.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15

Full name of organisatio n Lewisham Pensioners Forum Address The Saville Centre, 436 Lewisham High Street Lewisham, Lewisham, London SE13 6LJ Ward located: Ward(s) served: Rushey Green Borough-wide Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee: 28 November 2012 None If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: LPF is currently an “Unincorporated Association” and therefore do not need to submit returns to the Charity Commission or Companies House. However, the organisation is in the process of their registration for charitable status Amount requested: £72,751 Grant level recommended: £55,036 Purpose of grant: Themes: Building Social Capital (BSC) Communities that care (CTC) Lewisham Pensioners Forum (LPF) provides a borough wide service to pensioners giving a voice to older people on local and national issues. The grant is sought to contribute towards the cost of staffing and running cost of the Forum services to ensure that their services are accessible to older people.

Services provided by the organisation Established in 1986, Lewisham Pensioners Forum is an independent campaign group which has worked steadfastly to provide a voice for older people, challenging local and national policies that negatively affect the daily lives of older people.

Run by volunteers aged 55 upwards, the Forum has held many activities and participated in various campaigns to raise awareness of older people’s issues at local and national level. Some of the activities carried out by the group include:

• Fuel poverty protest to address issues around rising cost of fuel to ensure older people can live in a warm home without having to choose between eating or heating. • Campaigning for a decent state pension that is linked to earnings and is above the official poverty level • Free UK wide travel on all forms of public transport • Save our Lewisham Hospital Campaign – a campaign to save A & E and Maternity Services at Lewisham Hospital • Holding events and activities that would directly benefit older people in Lewisham such as the “Will Writing Workshop”

Performance Lewisham Pensioners Forum (LPF) is a well established organisation managed by dedicated members of management committee and staff. Their quarterly reports indicate that they are meeting their output targets. Throughout the year the organisation has maintained an up to date database of their service users, sending them regular bi-monthly newsletter, which is also received by local groups. The newsletter is a useful resource as it contains profiled information about a variety of other voluntary and statutory agencies as well as leisure & social activities that are available in the borough specifically for older people.

LPF continues to progress sponsorship discussions with partners in the private sector to generate critical income to support the production cost associated with the Forum newsletter. An ongoing discussion has been initiated with the Co-operative Funeral Care about sponsorship and production of the Forum’s bi-monthly newsletter. The Forum had set aside £20,000 as contingency fund.

The Forum is presently in the process of channelling an application for a charitable status. Closely linked to this is the proposal to introduce a membership fee as an income generator to cover the cost of postage of newsletter to members and groups. LPF is mindful of the challenges that the introduction of this fee may cause to their members and is focused on developing strategies to minimise any negative impact that may occur.

Result of the TLS monitoring process scored an overall rating of Green within all areas of governance, management, sustainability, development and financial competence. Acting upon the proposed improvements suggested at last year’s monitoring, the Forum has developed various strategies and guidance around volunteers who help the organisation with coordination of events and activities, policy around declaration of conflict of interest and fundraising strategy to explore and diversify their sources of funding.

LPF is seeking further guidance advice from the Greater London Forum and Voluntary Action Lewisham on whether it is necessary for the organisation to carry out DBS checks on all staff and volunteers who deals with older adults some of which are vulnerable.

Grant proposal Lewisham Pensioners Forum serves older people throughout the borough. The group is seeking funding to contribute towards staffing and running cost of the Forum’s services under two themes - Building Social Capital and Community that Cares strands.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: • Detailed discussion and consultation with NEW Outcome for 2014 Management Committee on with the LPF to become a registered charity Forum’s membership and revised To Build Social Capital by facilitating constitution fundraising and enabling local businesses • A workshop co-ordinated to take place and residents to gain the benefits (tax relief before the AGM allowing members and etc.) non members to find out how what is involved to become a trustee and a charitable Forum • Revised Constitution to be to be adopted at Forum AGM in November 2013.

• Establishing a Social Committee to run NEW Outcome for 2014 parallel to our application for charitable Establish a Social Committee status to meet the statutory charitable To address the Communities that Care purposes strands of “Keeping adults healthy, active • Recruiting a minimum of 5 volunteer and engaged” and “Encouraging members to plan and coordinate monthly neighbourliness social activities. • Organizing monthly low-cost / no-cost social activities including FREEDOM PASS Days to London’s iconic places of interest (including the hidden gems, museums, theatres, galleries) Tea dances, Craft workshops, Theatre trips (local) much more. • Access to the social activities will be linked to membership of the Forum

• Meet with up to 500 older people living in New Outcome for 2014 Lewisham during 2014 to raise Houses of Parliament Outreach awareness about the Houses of Programme – Raise awareness amongst Parliament. Lewisham’s older community about the • Register as a partner for National Houses of Parliament and how to engage Parliament week and co-ordinate an with it. Keeping adults healthy, active and event that raises awareness about the engaged. Houses of Parliament and how older people can engage with MPs and Lords.

• Co-ordinate 2 separate events – each New Outcome for 2014 event to target up to 80 older people from Co-ordinate two Financial Fairs Lewisham’s diverse community. LPF will co-ordinate two Financial Fairs • Improve financial awareness/wellbeing with professional speakers on specialised with speakers from both the public and topics to improve the financial wellbeing of private sector. older people living and working in • Improve financial awareness/wellbeing Lewisham. Tackling financial inequality with Information Stalls from both the and supporting vulnerable people. public and private sector • Promote financial fairs and financial wellbeing through LPF core activities

• Co-ordinate Term time Techy Buddy Addressing Digital Exclusion - ongoing projects with students at Goldsmiths Working with partners in the public and University private sector address the digital exclusion • Explore new FREE IT initiatives that of older people and the consequent support accessible venues with exclusion from society and the decision professional supportive trainers to include making process. Keeping adults healthy, social media active and engaged. • Raise awareness of the FREE Online tutorials available on LPF’s own website • Continue ongoing discussions with Curry’s to explore initiatives that address digital exclusion and affordability.

• Revise first edition for second print cross Older Persons Information Directory checking the data content and including In partnership with funding partner PAC new data received. and network contributors, co-ordinate and • Agreeing in partnership with the PAC the produce a second print of ‘ The Older distribution pattern for the second print. Persons Information Directory’ that • Development of the Directory into an locates voluntary and statutory services accessible format on LPF’s website. and activities for older people in Lewisham.

• Undertake a qualitative survey of Enhance our engagement strategy with Lewisham’s black minority ethnic minority elders so that we can identify and communities (BME) to identify any issues address specific needs/issues. regarding managing their money in retirement. • Using information extracted from this and future surveys to ‘design in future LPF events and activities to address specific issues and challenges facing Black Minority Elders.

Develop a Fundraising Strategy & • Develop a Fundraising Strategy to set out Business Plan our future development and support funding requests to a variety of sources

Conclusion Lewisham Pensioners Forum is well managed organisation with services that reaches out to older people across Lewisham each year. The Forum’s events are popular and often attract large number of pensioners. Their quarterly monitoring reports show that the Forum is effectively meeting the needs of local pensioners and their output targets.

LPF maintains a robust system of governance and finance management. Their financial position is stable although the bulk (over 80%) of their income still comes from Lewisham Council. There is a difference in the estimated income and expenditure budget provided by the organisation on the application submitted. The reason given for this variation is attributed to possible rise in rent and staff salaries.

Recommendation: That a grant of £55,036 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Pensioners Forum.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation LEWISHAM SHOPMOBILITY SCHEME Address Unit 46-46a Lewisham Centre, London SE13 7EP Ward located Ward(s) served Lewisham Central Borough-wide Last AGM held: To be held on 21 st November 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Charity Number – 1065889; Company Number – 3404339 - Details on website indicate compliance with filing requirements Amount requested: £39,744 Grant level recommended: £40,062 Purpose of grant: Seeking funding under the Communities that Care theme: • Keeping adults active, health and engaged

Services provided by the organisation Lewisham Shopmobility is a mobility vehicle hire service for people of all ages and ethnicity with either permanent or temporary impaired mobility. The provision of mobility vehicles enables someone with a disability to access the facilities of Lewisham Town Centre or have use of the vehicle on a short term hire basis.

Performance • Assist 1000 people with impaired Mobility – Client Booking Numbers indicate increase on last year – April-June = 305; July – Sept = 310 – mainly due to the introduction of Saturday opening and warm summer. 12% increase on last year for the same quarters. • Increase contact with local shops – continue to make contact with retailers in the Centre, disappointing response • Increase publicity in the borough – Regular announcements made over the Shopping Centre PA system advertising Lewisham Shopmobility, plus 4 A1 posters (to survey users to find out the most effective publicity method) • Increase the number of mobility scooters/replace old ones – Received 2 nearly new/reconditioned ‘Colt’ scooters plus self propelled wheelchair • Training/Induction of new volunteers – no new volunteers since April

Lewisham Shopmobility is managed by a small group who oversee operations and the decision making. The Board has been able to demonstrate that sufficient skills are in place, which has help to address issues around the ill health of some members that has previously caused problems in trying to achieve a quorum. The organisation has a process in place so that all publicity, information, newsletter invites people to consider becoming trustees.

As a small organisation, relevant policies, procedures and resourcing are in place. Lewisham Shopmobility is also affiliated to the National Federation of Shopmobility UK and therefore works within this quality assurance framework. Trustees actively involved in the management and delivery of services.

Revised Business, Fundraising & Marketing Plans are in place. Shopmobility recognise that they need to be proactive in engaging with other voluntary sector organisations that interact with likely service users – through the marketing strategy Shopmobility will actively continue to develop links.

In response to demand for the shop to be open on Saturdays – there has been an increase in the number of weekend hire; also use of wheelchair for people coming out of hospital.

Need to undertake more detailed customer feedback to determine which method of advertising services are most effective – Shopmobility need to have clearer idea of how people are accessing their service.

Organisation works to a simple income generating format which complies with the minimum requirements; work has been done to explore the options for generating income from other sources, however it is clear that these are limited and are likely to take a significant amount of time to generate sufficient income to improve the organisations overall sustainability. Lewisham Shopmobility’s funding is also dependent on the local authority for the co-ordinator’s post. Land Securities provides in-kind support with the rent (Valued at £60k).

Efforts to promote online donations has been disappointing – the Shopmobility website invites people to sign up to the ‘Big Give’ however, take up has been very low – possible reason ‘invisible nature’ of what they do – not dynamic enough to attract support. Accounts for 2012 indicate a small surplus on the year balance carried forward just over £5,000.

Proposal Funding is requested to contribute towards costs of the organisation’s services, which continue to be in demand as evidenced by quarterly and annual monitoring reports and statistics :

• To provide mobility scooters, power chairs and manual wheelchairs to hire for use in Lewisham town centre. The vehicles are available to the public between our opening hours of 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday – which will enable people to access the facilities of Lewisham town centre with ease, including shops, cafes, restaurants, leisure centre and library. To have choice in what they want without continuous dependence on others • To provide a longer-term manual wheelchair hire scheme for service users to be able to take a wheelchair home – to enable people to take a holiday, have a day or a weekend outing, visit family and friends. To hire a wheelchair for use whilst recovering from illness or an operation or for use during the later states of pregnancy. This will include being able to attend hospital and GP appointments. • To provide information resources, leaflets, brochures and magazines on issues to do with disability; also source goods and services on the internet; supporting people to access services and recommend where to buy/have vehicles serviced – Signposting service enables people to find out about to find or access what they need, goods or services which help to sustain or improve their quality of life.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: The organisation will be monitored against this in the following year.

Outcomes: Outputs: Assist 1000 people with impaired mobility Take advanced bookings Increase contact with local shops Arrange open day as festive occasion near Christmas Increase publicity in the borough Complete review of marketing strategy Increase the number of mobility scooters / replace old ones Purchase scooters either new of reconditioned Training/Induction of new volunteers Recruit new 4 volunteers

Conclusion The overall rating for Lewisham Shopmobility is Green – the organisation is able to evidence strong management systems in place; trustees who are actively engaged in supporting the development of the service; work has been done to raise the profile of the organisation. The key issue of the organisation is how to find ways to improve the level of diversity in funding – i.e. reduce the level of dependency on Lewisham for funding.

Recommendation: That a grant of £40,062 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Shopmobility Scheme

MAIN GRANTS PROGRAMME: REPORT FOR 2014/15

NAME OF ORGANISATION: Lewisham Speaking Up

Grant for 2012/13: £102,393

Grant purpose

Based in New Cross, Lewisham Speaking Up is funded to provide borough wide services to enable a strong user voice at the Learning Difficulties Partnership Board, through support to Board MPs, and also the wider LD community through the People’s Parliament. They also support other self-advocacy groups and contribute to 1:1 Citizen Advocacy.

Performance

Its governance structures are fairly robust given that its articles require it to be user led. Towards the end of the year, it makes serious efforts to extend its council of management which seem to be coming to fruition. It routinely reports on Equalities data and shows significant understanding and awareness of equalities in its work.

The organisation has a strong track record in monitoring its own work, delivering quarterly activity reports on time and to target. Allowing that it is in the nature of advocacy work to be ‘adversarial’, the organisation has also evidenced sound partnership working. During the year the Project Director had long term absence, the services were maintained as they were able to appoint an extremely good interim project Director.

The organisation has historically delivered a strong performance on all work undertaken for the council. The organization has strong financial management procedures in place but there is little evidence of fundraising and 96% of the projected turnover for 2012/13 is from Lewisham Council.

The organisation’s financial records up to March 2012 had an income of £140,055 with expenditure at £139,399, showing a net income of £656; they hold reserves of £51,598 of which £46,532 are unrestricted. The organisation are almost totally reliant on Council funding, either through grants or commissioning and therefore needs to diversify its funding base to make it less vulnerable.

Returns were submitted on time to the Charity Commission on 28 th January 2013.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2013/2014:

Outcomes: Outputs:

PWLD will gain access to Number of people offered advocacy to services…improving Quality of resolve issues; numbers of people with life and social well-being increased social inclusion; increased number of self advocates; maintenance or increased number of PWLD employed on a sessional basis;

PWLD well be better connected Improved ‘offer’/ sensitivity for people and less excluded, and have from BME communities; the impact of more confidences to assert their LSU support to access non-segregated rights and views leisure/ education etc opportunities; increased number of people who can speak up for themselves; increased accessible information on a range of rights issues; increased involvement of PWLD as sessional staff in more general community based activity

PWLD with a wide range of Increased number of people supported abilities and needs will have with complex/ high needs; support to improved independence choice PWLD to identify and report issues of and control over their lives risk and abuse; increase in numbers of self advocates; evidence of increased independence/ reduced dependency in the way PWLD live their lives; focused sessions for self advocates to explore issues related to personal safety/ freedom from abuse.

LSU will strengthen the voice of Evidenced pathway of collective issues PWLD in local policy and practice raised by PWLD through to the Board and other statutory sector bodies as appropriate; the involvement of ‘experts by experience’ in forums/ meetings where there are issues of interest

In addition to these historical outcomes and outputs, officers have discussed with LSU the need to develop unpaid long term advocacy support roles to support people to have a voice when they are not in crisis, but need help with little things. LSU have responded positively to this request and we will agree formal outputs and outcomes over the next quarter .

Conclusion and Recommendation

Despite staffing problems the organisation were able to meet all targets and continued to achieve their organisational objectives.

There is some concern that the organisation continues to be overly reliant of Council funding even though their funding was conditional that they should “attract a percentage of their turnover (to be agreed with officers in Year 2) from sources other than Lewisham Council”. This has yet to materialise. It is therefore recommended that the second half year being released subject to the organisation demonstrating how it has sought external funding for 2013/14

Recommendation: That, a grant of £102,393 for 2013/14 is confirmed to Lewisham Speaking Up subject to the condition outlined in the paragraph above.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Lewisham Toy Library Address 41 Rushey Green, The Old Coach House, Catford, London, SE6 4AS Ward located Ward(s) served Rushey Green Borough Wide Last AGM held: 6th July 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due t o regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: 7th August 2013 Amount requested: £5160 Grant level recommended: £5,201 Purpose of grant: Lewisham Toy Library are funded under the strands; Building Social Capital- Support and develop quality volunteering opportunities, Gateway Services- Improving economic well-being and employability, and Children and young People Programme- developing children and young people to become active citizens, and improving well being through universal activities. The grant is subject to further discussions with monitoring officer on outcomes and outputs are agreed.

Services provided by the organisation

Lewisham Toy Library is funded to provide a wide range of simulating, educational toys and play equipment on loan, targeting families on low incomes across the borough. Families, child minders and groups of children up to and including the age of 8 are able to borrow equipment from the Library enabling them to access a wide variety of toys.

Performance

Lewisham Toy Library have achieved most of targeted outputs for April-September due to the summer holidays, but will be on target to meet the overall for the year 2013-14.

Lewisham Toy Library hold a membership of 276 families/careers/groups. Since April 2013 there have been 68 new members. The organisation have had 958 visits from families/careers or groups visiting the library and 3,433 toys have been borrowed since April. This is slightly below target due to the summer holidays.

The organisation have increased partnership working and are working closely with Kaleidoscope supporting a number of clients referred to the Toy Library. The organisation have also took part in events at John Ball School, the Irish Centre and Beecroft Garden Nursery.

The overall monitoring rating is Green. Lewisham Toy Library have maintained standards from 11/12 monitoring and have continued to grow in all performance indicators. The organisation have increased fundraising and raised over £1000. Lewisham Toy Library have increased awareness in the community and had research conducted by external sources to identify gaps in reaching potential users to the service. Reserves have increased and due to funding have been able to extend opening hours.

Lewisham Toy Library’s Annual General Meeting took place on the 6 th July 2013.

The organisation is a registered charity, charity number 271496. Annual returns were submitted to Charity Commissions on 7 th August 2013.

The organisation were a part of The National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries. The association went into administration in March 2011, and as a consequence of not being refunded, need to raise funds for the new scheme, PQASSO, which they are working towards.

Proposal

The service has the capability to positively impact the lives of children living in Lewisham borough, in the following ways:

• Attainment – Increase language and numeracy skills in children by engaging with age appropriate toys the toy library stocks, with the ultimate goal of helping children prepare for school. • Friendship – Service extends from toy lending by being involved with community events and offering trusted information for signposting and referrals to other community services and activities. • Basic skills – Develop social and communication skills in children and within their families. Our members include children who have English as a second language and children who have special educational needs (SEN). • Aspiration – Learning though different types of play enables the child to acquire skills to use in life. Providing opportunities to volunteer, especially young people with SEN, gives vital work experience needed for future employment. • Wellbeing – Being part of a vibrant community service and having access to a wide range of toys can alleviate the stress and anxiety families can feel, including those from poorer socio-economic backgrounds, many of whom can access our service free of charge.

The organisation is small in size and funding, but have large membership numbers continually growing, targeting large groups/children/families and careers, the organisation show they are good value for money.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes: Outputs: Increase mental health and well- • Providing 3 sessions per week, 2 Saturdays per being in children and their month (4 hours) where members can borrow a families living in Lewisham wide range of toys at either a low cost or no borough. cost. • Extended opening hours to accommodate the growing number of members and to give the service flexibility for our users. • Involvement in community events and family fun days. Increase literacy and numeracy • Providing high quality number of toys which can attainment of children. improve numeracy and literacy skills in pre- school children. • Providing games, puzzles and other toys that facilitate the family communicating. Improve school readiness in pre- • Access to a new functional website, a quarterly school children. newsletter, Facebook and Twitter account updates with news and events. Increase social and language communication skills in children. • Employing targeted outreach methods to reach ‘hard to reach’ groups. Using online marketing of the services and contacting specific organisations that work with these groups. Increase children’s fitness levels • Providing a wide range of outdoor fitness toys, to improve their health. and organising occasional activity days using different types of bikes and equipment. Increase access to SEN- • Partner with other community groups who reach appropriate toys. out to ‘hard to reach’ groups. Links to our organisational website posted on different groups websites or forums. • A large range of toys specific to SEN children. Collaboration between us and Kaleidoscope children’s services has been created. • Provide volunteering and work experience opportunities to young people and young people with SEN.

Conclusion

Lewisham Toy Library provide a valuable service and are unique in the services offered. The overall traffic light rating established the organisation are green in the robustness of the organisation under governance, management, development and financial viability. The organisation is small in size and funding, and provide good value for money. It is recommended that the monitoring officer and the organisation have further discussions on proposed outcomes and outputs.

Recommendation: That, subject to negotiated outcomes and outputs agreed, a grant of £5,201 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Toy Library.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation LEWISHAM YOUNG WOMEN’S RESOURCE PROJECT Address 308 Brownhill Road, London SE6 1AU Ward located Ward(s) served Catford South Borough-wide Last AGM held: To be held on 5 th November 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Company Number – 3070807; Charity Number 296013 (March 2012 accounts filed 20 days late) Amount requested: £68,134 Grant level recommended: £68,679 Purpose of grant: LYWRP is seeking funding under • Children and Young People Programme • Building Social Capital Providing support, training and develop quality volunteering opportunities for young women

The grant is subject to LYWRP: • Providing confirmation of change to Constitution • Completion of PQASSO • Completion of Business Plan incorporating Fundraising & Marketing Strategy • Copy of Accounts March 2013

Services provided by the organisation Lewisham Young Women’s Resource Project provides a range of in-house and outreach services for young women across the Lewisham Borough, aged 8-25 years. The services include development of emotional well-being and self-esteem through counselling and informal education programmes. The Project work is directed at girls and young women only and has a borough wide brief. Service users are diverse, and reflect the local community.

A broad range of services are provided through partnerships with other providers, such as schools, colleges and Lewisham Youth Service - including advice, information and guidance, and work programmes concerned with issues such as emotional well-being, sexual health, teenage pregnancy and family relationships. Service users are actively supported to participate in local youth forums and other participatory structures and are able to access peer mentoring schemes and volunteering opportunities.

Performance LYWRP delivers a range of activities for girls and young women in the borough of Lewisham. It operates Monday to Friday with weekend activities as well as Holiday schemes during the Easter and summer school breaks. LYWRP provide a range of programmes of accredited learning for young women young women with special education needs and those classified as NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training). Evidence presented at the monitoring visit shows that a lot of progress has been made in the last 12 months to move the organisation forward. The completion of the work that LYWRP is currently doing with PILOTLIGHT is pivotal to presenting a clear picture of the sustainability of the organisation – primarily through the Business Plan and Fundraising Strategy. The initial reports from meetings with the consultants are positive signs that the organisation will be able to address the outstanding points from last year.

The organisation has financial policies and procedures in place and is currently working alongside VAL’s Community Accountant on an interim basis to address some of the financial concerns. The new Treasurer brings expertise to the Trustee board to better manage finances. The fundraising strategy will be incorporated into the wider Business Plan for the organisation.

Proposal Funding is requested to contribute towards core costs of the organisation, which will enable the deliver of services if LYWRP are successful in securing a Youth Services Commissioning contract.

LYWRP has an annual Service Level Agreement with Lewisham Youth Service, which was extended until March 2014. A tendering process is being put in place by the Youth Service for funding from 2014/15 and the organisation will need to ensure it is robust enough in order to compete in the process.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: The organisation will be monitored against this in the following year.

Outcomes: Outputs: 1. Theme CYPP General youth work • To provide young women • For 40 young women to participate in the aged 9-16 years old with groups and workshops that are provided workshops and group • For 4 young women to assist in the sessions that will focus on planning and delivering of the sessions life skills and building self- that will improve young women’s confidence and esteem decisions making skills and increase and cover issues that their knowledge affect young women on a • For 40 young women to be accredited for daily basis, for example various activities undertaken within the bullying, school transitions groups and friendships

2. Special Needs • For 15 young women aged 11-16 years • To provide a variety of old to participate in activities provided by groups which explore an after school group delivered at subjects and issues LYWRP, this group will explore life skills, relating to young women encourage friendships and working with disabilities aged 11- together as a team, including future 25 years old planning activities for the group • For 15 young women aged 16-25 years old to participate in a Friday evening group, this group will encourage friendships, equip them with life skills for independent living, this includes planning trips out to the Theatre, etc which includes using budgeting skills • For 15 young women to attend monthly Saturday clubs, this will enable families to have much needed respite time away from their caring duties 3. Holiday Provision • For 30 young women to participate in a • To provide Holiday varied educational but fun programme of Provision for all young activities that will encourage team work, women including young leadership, achievement and develop women with disabilities friendships during the school holidays, • For 30 young women to gain underpinning the Every accreditations in all activities provided Child Framework keeping young women safe and giving the young women positive activities to participate in

4. Youth Forum (BSC) • For 10 young women to complete their • To provide a Volunteer ASDAN ‘Leadership’ Award Forum delivery by a volunteer coordinator and helped by our 2 young trustees. The forum would actively help us enrol new volunteers and trustees and promote the ASDAN award in ‘Volunteering’

5. Counselling Service (CTC) • For 15 young women, within a year • To provide a counselling period to benefit from a counselling service for young women service to enable them to move on in age 14-25 in partnership their life with the Cassel Centre • To build and expand the service and partnership with Cassel Counselling Service 6. Mentoring Service • To provide an informal ‘Big Sister’ • To develop and fund a mentoring service for 20 young women Mentoring service for aged 12-25 years old young women who are • To recruit from agencies such as Social socially excluded and Services, Children in Need, Probation need extra support in their Services and Key worker Programmes life whether it’s at school, • For 15 young women who have received family life or friendships. mentoring to choose to establish healthy This programme will relationships and boundaries in their life enable the young women to find ways of developing strategy to cope with the difficulties to cope with the difficulties of their life

7. Teenage Pregnancy/Young • To provide support and an educational Mums Education and Support programme for 20 young mums with the Programme Lewisham borough

Conclusion Lewisham Young Women’s Resource Project continue to deliver a full programme of social and educational activities and provide a wide range of targeted resources for girls and young women in Lewisham, and are on target to achieve outcomes and outputs for 2013/14

A number of issues identified from the 2013 TLS monitoring visit identified a number of concerns which, as a condition of grant, LYWRP will need to show how with the support of Pilot Light these concerns will be addressed, particularly what contingency plan in place pending the decision on Youth Service commissioning

Recommendation: That a grant of £68,679 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Young Women’s Resource Project.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014–15 Full name of organisation: Lewisham Youth Theatre

Address: Broadway Theatre, Catford Broadway, Catford SE6 4RU

Ward located: Ward(s) served: Rushey Green, Rushey Green Blackheath, Crofton Park, Downham Bellingham Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee Cllr Fletcher If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: All submitted on time Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £42,800 £43,142 Purpose of grant: A grant to provide free drama activities to young people of Lewisham, using theatre as a mechanism for change and to develop and empower of young people.

Services provided by the organisation Lewisham Youth Theatre (LYT) was established in 1987 to provide free and universal drama activities to young people in the borough. The organisation works with children and young people and their families, carers and peers to build confidence, creative and transferable skills and active citizens.

Services include free youth theatre for 8 to 21 year olds to build key social and life skills linked to ongoing well-being and storytelling for under 8s and families. Users are encouraged to actively contribute to the company through opportunities to become trainee workshop assistants/directors, join the members committee, work placements and sitting on interview panels. A high percentage of members are referrals from primary or secondary schools, Connexions, PAF (to refer from the NEET register), Careworkers, Youth Clubs and Housing Associations. All groups work towards a full-scale performance in a professional theatre. The projects conclude with a week intensive in a school holiday and performance in the Broadway Studio for family and friends. The projects help build community cohesion between young people from different areas and communities, raise the ambitions of the participants and allow participants to promote a positive perception of young people to the Lewisham community. The organisation aims to integrate the wider community into its work by expanding collaborations with the Positive Aging Council (for intergenerational work) and the Young Mayor.

Projects aim to: • Improve the life chances of Lewisham young people aged 3 to 21 through participation in high quality theatre projects that raise ambitions and help develop key life skills; • Empower participants to positively contribute to their community through their artistic activity; • Support progression in employment and education, particularly for disadvantaged participants. • Work with referring agencies and other professionals including schools and pupil referral units to target those most in need. • Seek out partnerships with high quality, professional creative organisations to create innovative and ground breaking theatre projects for and with the young people of Lewisham. • Include our members in the planning and development of the organisation. • Promote community cohesion by bringing young people from across the borough together to create and participate in a collaborative theatrical process

Performance against general criteria LYT has a strong board and a strong and experienced management team. Regular skills audits are made of the governance team and any gaps identified are addressed. The organisation has a commitment to working in partnership and is meeting or exceeding the agreed outcomes for current funding

The organisation’s financial position is strong and continues to diversify its income with a focus on developing charitable giving through newly expanding networks over the coming year.

Young people continue to be involved in sustained theatre projects aimed at building well-being, resilience, social skills & emotional literacy. Outcome monitoring is good, with the majority of participants taking part in verbal and/or written evaluations. Young People note that the project and mentoring help with “meeting new people, having nowhere to hide, and becoming more open to participating.” Tutors document the social skills worked on in each session such as confidence, communication, teamwork, & Self-Control/Self-Management. Young people respond well to the.

The organisation has a clear system in place for monitoring progress that includes user feedback and tracking. The evaluation of which, will not only demonstrate the impact but will inform the following years of the programme in order to improve the service.

Grant proposal

Lewisham Youth Theatre provides free drama activities to young people of Lewisham, using theatre as a mechanism for change. The programme is based on the approach that participation in theatre leads to the development & empowerment of young people. Our programme for 2014-15 aims to: • Improve the life chances of Lewisham young people aged 3 to 21 through participation in high quality theatre projects that raise ambitions and help develop key life skills; • Empower participants to positively contribute to their community through their artistic activity; • Support progression in employment and education, particularly for disadvantaged participants. • Work with referring agencies and other professionals including schools and pupil referral units to target those most in need. • Seek out partnerships with high quality, professional creative organisations to create innovative and ground breaking theatre projects for and with the young people of Lewisham. • Include our members in the planning and development of the organisation. • Promote Community Cohesion by bringing young people from across the borough together to create and participate in a collaborative theatrical process

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: 1. Improved well being, • 100 young people take part in sustained youth resilience, social skills and theatre projects emotional literacy through • Delivery of 3 week-long intensives and 3 full scale participation in positive performances drama activities for 8 to 21 • 100 Participants developing team work, social year olds skills, decision making • 100 participants report increased wellbeing through taking part. • 50 sessions delivered linked to SEAL outcomes, curriculum and LYT’s aims and objectives

2. Improved well being, • 50% of members are identified as low income, resilience, social skills and special educational need or ‘at-risk’ by teachers, emotional literacy through learning mentors or other professionals. participation in positive • 200+ participants in 10 LBL schools in areas drama activities for young identified as high on the indices of deprivation people from low income participate in free recruitment sessions. and hard to reach families • Outreach & Participation worker undertakes feedback sessions with school, home and participant to enable progress • Work with early years settings and primary schools to deliver 4 early years sessions and 6 primary sessions to 200 under 8’s and families

3. Improved active • Members committee x 10 sessions citizenship of young • 1 x member-led project with 50 participants. people, including • 10 x members represent LYT at fundraising/profile increased decision making raising events, including borough events (i.e. skills and improved view of People’s Day), LAA meetings, and local/national young people in local conferences community • 20 Members run “LYT Review” event. • 1 x Arts Admin skills member placement • 1 x Intergenerational or community project • 2 x members sit on interview panels

4. Improved attainment & • 4 x work experience placements for 14+ members. aspiration for young • 6 x Work Placements from Higher/Further people aged 14+ through Education Establishment mentoring, work • 6 Youth Theatre Practitioners and 4 Design and experience and training Back stage tutors provide mentorship in creative opportunities. industries • 12 young people aged 11+ take Bronze Arts Awards. • 5 16+ members take part in Youth Touring Company, managed by Dedicated worker (3rd yr of post)

5. Increase in the number of • Work intensively with 10 NEET or otherwise ‘at risk’ NEET or otherwise ‘at risk’ young people to support them to access sustained young people accessing theatre projects at LYT, training and employment training, education, opportunities. employment or sustained • Offer 2 x projects targeted at NEET or otherwise ‘at theatre projects at LYT, risk’ young people (18-25 years) to develop particularly through the confidence and life skills Step-Up programme. • Provide mentoring and individually tailored support for NEET or otherwise ‘at risk’ young people • Identify progression routes within LYT and across the borough for further training and employment.

Conclusion

Lewisham Youth Theatre (LYT) delivers a quality creative programme for young people, which offers a strong match to the service specification. The organisation is well managed, has a clear vision and effective governance processes.

Recommendation:

That Lewisham Youth Theatre be awarded a grant of £43,142

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Lewisham Greenwich and Southwark Samaritans Address 1-5 Angus Street, New Cross, SE14 6LU Ward located Ward(s) served New Cross Borough Wide Last AGM held: 19 th June 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Annual Returns submitted 3 rd October 2013 Amount requested: £9,000 Grant level recommended: £4,318 Purpose of grant: Samaritans is funded under the strand Communities That Care- Counselling, Mediation and Support.

Services provided by the organization

Lewisham, Greenwich & Southwark Samaritans is funded to provide confidential, non-judgmental acceptance and emotional support to people who are suffering from feelings of distress and despair, which may lead to self harm or suicide. This is done through a telephone crisis line, email service, a text line, and face to face meetings. The organisation also provide outreach sessions at homeless charities, and prisons, building close connections with St. Mungos. Provide services in offsite locations, raising awareness of the services provided , and to encourage a broader range of people to become Samaritans volunteers particularly young people, and people in prisons and young offenders institutions.

Performance

Samaritans have achieved and succeeded all of targeted outputs for April- September 2013 quarterly returns, and are well on target to meet the overall for the year 2013-14.

Samaritans extend outreach to St. Mungos or other homeless charities, Belmarsh prison, ISIS or Thameside prisons. Samaritans have started a referrals project with Oxleas NHS Trust and have developed partnership arrangements with LESOCO, Harris Academy, Dulwich College and Network Challenge. Samaritans have also applied to four external bodies for funding.

The number of telephone calls, texts and emails received and face to face meetings reached 14,062 contacts from April – September, 56% more than target. Face to face contacts during outreach also exceeded target, 56 contacts were made outside the branch, 87% more than target.

Samaritans overall monitoring rating is Green. The organisation have completed all action points from 12-13 monitoring report. A strategic review was conducted by Samaritans (National Charity) which is assessed on an annual basis. Areas for improvement focused on financial policies which the organization have addressed through a sub committee. The organization have increased outreach and have identified funding streams for the continuum of the outreach post.

Samaritans Annual General Meeting took place on the 19th June 2013 where the most recent board was elected.

Lewisham, Greenwich and Southwark Samaritans are a registered charity, charity number 258798. Annual returns were submitted to the charity commissions on 3 rd October 2013, accounts have not yet been submitted.

Proposal

Funding is requested for core running costs and towards the cost of the community outreach programme. Funding is to provide non- judgmental emotional support by; • Telephone contacts through the telephone helpline. • SMS and email contacts • Face to face contacts within the branch • Outreach contacts with hard to reach communities.

The organisation received funding of £4,284 for 2013-14 and have requested £9,000. This increase is to fund the Outreach Programme which will be rolled out as part of the main activities of the branch after a successful pilot. This focuses on supporting people with particular vulnerabilities by; • Deliver outreach services at homeless hostels • Provide support to inmates in ISIS, Thameside and Belmarsh prisons. • Maintain referral partnership with Oxleas NHS Trust.

The organisation provide good value for money and have a high turnover of volunteers. The services outlined for the additional funding is not new services as the organisation have delivered this as part of 2013-14 outcomes and outputs.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes: Outputs:

Reduce isolation among • Respond to at least 18,000 contacts through Lewisham residents so that fewer telephone helpline. people fie by suicide. • Respond to at least 50 face to face contacts from Branch in New Cross.

Improve emotional wellbeing • Run outreach sessions in partnership with St. among Lewisham residents at Mungos at two homeless hostels in Lewisham high risk of suicide. by providing on-site emotional support for residents for 2 ½ hours every week. • Attending 12 events to raise awareness of the services • Work in partnership with Oxleas NHS Trust to contact 250 individuals

Improve emotional health and • Develop partnership arrangements with at least wellbeing among young people in 3 school or youth groups Lewisham • Continue working with Network Challenge Lewisham

Improve emotional health and • 20 sessions each year at Belmarsh, ISIS or wellbeing among prisoners n Thameside prisons southeast London.

Conclusion

Samaritans are ahead of targets and will exceed outputs for 2013-14. Samaritans are a large organisation with robust systems and an active board. The organisation have applied for additional funding, it is recommended the organisation receive the same level of funding as 2013-14 as there are no additional services being proposed to be delivered than that to 2013-14.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £4318 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Greenwich and Southwark Samaritans.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation: Lewisham Opportunity Pre-School (LOPS)

Address: Longbridge Way, Lewisham, London SE13 6PW

Ward located: Lewisham Central Ward(s) served: Borough-wide

Last AGM held: 18 July 2013, Lead Officer (Petra Marshall) attended.

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: 2012-13 accounts submitted 29 August 2013, and annual return submitted 26 September 2013, both on time.

Amount requested: £78,004 Grant level re commended: £78,628

Purpose of grant: To continue to provide pre-school services for under 5’s to integrate children with disabilities/special needs into the mainstream education system.

Theme: children and young people

Services provided by the organisation

Lewisham Opportunity Pre-School (LOPS), established over 30 years ago, offers an inclusive education where children with and without special needs learn and play alongside each other. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, the service is recognised as providing high quality provision much in demand. Registered for a maximum 25 children at each session, up to 51% of places are allocated to children with special/additional needs including complex needs.

Pre-school is delivered Monday to Thursday, and a support group and drop-in session for families of children with special needs is delivered on a Friday morning. This session is for newly diagnosed children and children who may be awaiting a pre-school place.

The staff team are all highly skilled and trained. They are qualified to a minimum NVQ Level III. In addition all staff are trained in Makaton, PECs, Portage, and Speech and Language. Staff work with children on a 1:1 basis or in small groups i.e. 1:3. They deliver programmes devised by each child’s Health professional i.e. Speech & Language Therapy and Physiotherapy.

The pre-school is ‘Lead Setting’, sharing good practice with other childcare settings.

Performance

Governance Traffic Light Rating: GREEN Good governance arrangements in place. Business planning needs to be more robust (see development section). Conflict of interest policy to be in place (and submitted to LBL) by end of December 2013.

Management Traffic Light Rating: GREEN Good management arrangements. Equality and diversity training and legislation outstanding; lone working policy to be completed (and submitted to LBL) by end of December 2013.

Development Traffic Light Rating: RED / AMBER LOPS have a very clear focus for what they want to deliver, and deliver it well. However, LOPS face financial uncertainty, with reliance on grant aid and small streams of fundraising and donations. Merger with Pre-School Learning Alliance (PSLA) may solve the situation but this is not yet agreed and should it fall through then LOPS do not have robust alternative plans.

Financial Viability Traffic Light Rating: AMBER / RED LOPS has good financial procedures day to day, but faces an uncertain future financially. The PSLA merger may solve this but is not assured, and alternatives are short term only.

Overall Traffic Light Rating: AMBER / RED LOPS provides an excellent (rated outstanding by OFSTED) and much needed service for the borough. It is generally well managed and governed on a day to day basis, and has clear policies and procedures in place. However, LOPS faces financial uncertainty and is reliant on a potential merger with PSLA to ensure its future. Council officers believe that this would be a good solution for the organisation; but until this is confirmed and in place LOPS cannot be certain about its future.

LOPS does not currently have a quality assurance system in place.

Proposal

The grant of £78,004 is requested to continue to deliver pre-school activities for children with and without special needs. The grant is specifically to deliver four pre- school sessions per week for up to 25 children; one special needs drop-in parent support group per week; and two Makaton training courses per year for parents, carers and professionals. The service delivery and outcomes / outputs remain the same as 2012/13.

Based on previous performance this grant request is feasible and realistic. The grant funding will be for the April 2014 to March 2015 period. The pre-school’s academic year does not follow this pattern, and so the pre-school may face a financial shortfall for the final summer term in 2015, following the end of this grant.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

Promote social inclusion by bringing Provide 4 opportunity sessions each week together children with and without special for up to 25 children each day. needs for good quality play and early education

Improve parents and carers knowledge and Provide a weekly special needs drop-in and understanding of the needs of a special parent support group for families of children needs child with additional needs

Improve skills and knowledge in sign Provide 2 Makaton training courses for language. parents/carers, health and education professionals with up to 15 people attending each course.

Conclusion

LOPS deliver a highly regarded and much needed service in the borough for pre- school children with special needs. The grant application for 2014-15 seeks to be able to continue to deliver this.

However, LOPS are highly dependent on this grant and whilst fundraising has been successful it is not on a large scale. As such LOPS have entered into discussions with PSLA to form a merger, to provide more sustainability to the organisation going forward. This proposed merger, however, is not confirmed yet, and should it not happen then the pre-school does not have alternative plans for fully funding the pre-school beyond April 2015.

An added issue that LOPS face is that the site on which they are located, Ladywell Leisure Centre, is subject to demolition over the coming months, and redevelopment longer term. Whilst LOPS have chosen to stay on site during demolition, long term they will have to find alternative premises which will come with a cost, which further adds to the financial pressure this organisation faces.

Recommendation

That a grant of £78,628 for 2014-15 be awarded to Lewisham Opportunity Pre- School (LOPS).

The grant is subject to the following two conditions:

1.) Developing, implementing and submitting the following two policies by December 2013: • conflict of interest policy • lone working policy

2.) Regular reporting on the potential merger with PSLA (as a minimum at each quarterly return). Should this merger fail then an alternative sustainability business plan should be developed and submitted to the council.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN) Address Parker House, 144 Evelyn Street, London SE8 5DD Ward located Ward(s) served Evelyn Ward Borough wide Last AGM held: 30 November 2012 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Returns to Companies house was submitted on 18/10/2013 and the Charity Commission submission is due on 31st January 2014. Amount requested: £87,223 Grant level recommended: £87,921 Purpose of grant: Building Social Capital & Gateway Services Funding is required to meet the costs of core services which are advocacy, advice and information, client support and to foster collaboration work with other refugee community organisations. Funding awarded by Lewisham Council will be used exclusively to support works with refugees and asylum seekers across the borough.

Services provided by the organisation Established in the 1980s to support both established and newcomers migrant and refugees from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ivory Coast, Kurdistan, Liberia, Rwanda, and Uganda etc in the Lewisham borough. The organisation receives grant aid from Lewisham Council to enable the deliver of various core services it offers to clients across the borough. Listed below are the services offered by LRMN:

• Offers independent and confidential advice and information on a range of issues such as immigration, health, housing, education, welfare benefits, training and employment. • Personal development programme – provides individuals with tailored development support to meet specific individual needs • ICT Training programme – working in partnership with Southwark Refugee Communities Forum and Greenwich Action for Voluntary Service to deliver digital and social media training to BME organisations in the borough of Lewisham, Southwark and Greenwich • Provides counselling and therapeutic support to refugee and asylum seekers on issues such as human trafficking, domestic and sexual abuse such as female genital mutilation (FGM) • Health Access project - delivers health project aimed at increasing access to health services and healthy living activities and identifying barriers to access. Raising awareness on prevention of diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer etc,. • Provision of emergency food and clothes to clients with no recourse to public funds • Facilitates the development of Lewisham Refugee Forum (a forum of refugee community organisation in Lewisham

Performance LRMN has continued to perform well and has exceeded on many of its outcomes. The organisation continues to improve relationships and understanding between and amongst Refugee Community Organisation (RCO) in Lewisham and beyond. Evidence and statistics presented during a recent monitoring exercise showed an increase in engagement of RCOS in public events to enable for their voices to be heard by statutory agencies, public service providers and local employers.

The database created for local refugee community organisations (RCOs) continues to form a valued resource across the sector. The organisation continues to work with AFRIL and Lewisham CAB to deliver advice services to the community, and with REETA and other advice agencies for reciprocal referrals.

The organization has demonstrated progress and improvements throughout the year. This was evidence in their recent TLS exercise where most of the areas rated as red and amber has now been graded green.

Overall, the organisation has good governance, management development and financial viability in place. Their financial management system is efficient. The organisation regularly produces and submits quarterly financial statements and annual audited accounts on time. Their financial reports indicate income generated through a number of sources including fund-raising, members’ contributions and charges for services where applicable. LRMN continues to strengthen their partnership work with voluntary and community organisations in and outside of Lewisham. The organisation is an active member of Advice Lewisham which successfully secured funding from the Big Lottery for advice work. The organisation current reserve is £84,955.

There are currently ongoing issues with the premises occupied by the organisation which has been earmarked for demolition. The organisation is being supported through the Council for relocation to alternative office space. Assurances have been given that this will have very minimal impact on service delivery and in reaching desired output and outcomes. A sum of up to £15,000 has been set aside to cover the cost of rental of a new office space.

Proposal Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN) are seeking funding to cover the costs of the core services it delivers to Lewisham Refugee and Migrant which are advocacy, advice and information, client support services to foster community cohesion and integration. The fund will also cover the work that the organisation delivers to support other refugee community organizations in the borough to raise awareness of the positive contribution of refugees and asylum seekers in society. LBL funding is exclusively for working with refugees and asylum seekers.

LRMN are funded under themes: Building Social Capital and Gateway Services .

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: BSC BSC • Improved engagement of diverse • 1 Refugee week celebration communities in public and civic life. • 2 multi-cultural community events held • Improved community cohesion and or social interactions e.g. meeting with • 10 volunteers recruited teachers, making appointments with GPs • ESOL classes 4 x week

• Improved relationships and • understanding between and amongst 6 Lewisham Refugee Forum meetings held refugee and migrant organisations in • Lewisham. At least 2 refugee organisations working collaboratively • Improved image of refugees and asylum seekers in the borough • 1 conference held

• Increased/maintained services • 4 newsletters distributed to community delivered to address the needs of groups refugees, asylum seekers and migrants • At least one social medial tool created and or maintained e.g. facebook

• A service addressing the needs of young Gateway refugees and migrants developed. • Improved immigration status (ILR, LR, Refugee, etc) • 8 funding applications developed

• Improved awareness of immigration options and legal rights and situation Gateway • 4 days a week immigration sessions with at least 15 clients seen every week, including representation to tribunals

• Telephone and online advice provision

• Clients referred to specialist agencies e.g. Freedom from Torture

Conclusion LRMN has continued to perform well with their service delivery and organisational management. They have secured funding from a variety of sources, whilst maintaining partnership work with local organisations as well as organisation in neighbouring the boroughs. Whilst the expansion outside the borough is recognised as positive, there are valid concerns that the expansion may outstretch the organisation and constrain their ability to continue delivering effective services to refugees and asylum seekers. These concerns were raised and discussed during a recent monitoring exercise.

The organisation has competent and committed trustees with varied skills necessary to progress the works delivered by LRMN. The organisation continues to look for trustees who can bring new skills to the organisation. The staff and volunteers are fully supported and they operate in an environment where they can reach their full potential. LRMN have the necessary office systems, policies and procedures in place to guide them in their operation and delivery of services and a good monitoring system to monitor their outputs and outcomes.

Recommendation: That a grant of £87,921 for 2014/15 be awarded to Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network (LRMN)

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation MakeBelieve Arts Address 1 Creek Road, Deptford, London SE8 3BT Ward located Ward(s) served Borough-wide Last AGM held: TBC

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Charity Registration Number – 1113312 Company Number – 5087027. Evidence shows that compliant with filing requirements Amount requested: £15,000 Grant level recommended: £15,120 Purpose of grant: MakeBelieve Arts is funded through the CYP strand of the main grants programme to deliver a range of services under the following themes: • Improved participation, wellbeing and decision making skills of children • Children and young people are better able to engage with learning, with peers, and with their community. • Improved empathy, understanding of responsibility and decision making.

Services provided by the organisation MakeBelieve is based at the Deptford Mission in Evelyn, but delivers its services in schools borough-wide, with satellite services operating in Kent & Bristol

There are 5 strands to the work delivered by MBA: • The Helicopter Technique – to empower children from as young as 2 years old to tell their stories and to act these out around a taped stage; • Creative Approaches – to deliver programme that use drama, play and storytelling to bring subjects from across the curriculum to life in the classroom; • Moving on Up – supporting pupils and their families as the experience transition from reception into Year 1 and Year 6 into Secondary school; • In Your Own Time – participatory theatre programmes for children, young people and their families • First Theatre – touring shows to schools, that will bring a first theatre experience to new audiences aged from 3 years old

Performance The organisation is on track to deliver the programmes as agreed in the funding agreement. Schools are the organisation’s primary client, and there continues to be some challenges in getting schools to engage, hence spreading out beyond Lewisham to deliver services in Greenwich and Tower Hamlets. In addition, MBA is taking proactive steps to develop tools and strategies to mitigate risks where possible.

An external evaluation of the Helicopter Technique was conducted by the Open University funded by Esmee Fairbairn Foundation. The findings from the research and evaluation are due to be launched in the autumn in Tower Hamlets and Lewisham, which will help raise the profile of MBA who are pioneers of this technique.

366 children this year received support on the Moving On Up programme in the transition from Year 6 to secondary school.

Since last year MBA have worked hard to strengthen the Trustee Board, the introduction of new trustees has greatly increased the level of involvement that trustees have with the project. This will be a key factor next year when the Director goes on a sabbatical next year. Steps are already being taken to upskill existing staff to act up during the period. Returns are due to the Charity Commission by October each year for the year ending 31 March. All returns are up to date and submitted before the deadline

MBA have 3 years funding from the Paul Hamlyn Foundation which provides the core financial stability for the organisation enabling them to look at how to lever in additional resources to improve the long term sustainability of the organisation. A marketing strategy has helped the organisation to review its publicity materials and begin work on raising MBA’s profile to promote and sell its services.

As a social enterprise MBA are members of Social Enterprise UK as well as members of ITC – Independent Theatre Council, who provide legal support, CRB checks, run training, etc. Also hold the Learning Outside the Classroom quality badge. Previously held the Social Enterprise Mark – but the cost of accreditation has more than doubled, so have decided not to go for re-accreditation at this time.

In February 2012 a £25,000 loan was given to the organisation to enable them to reassess their business model. This has now been cleared due to generous donation. The accounts for March 2013 show a healthy balance Restricted funds - £2,823; Unrestricted funds - £93,038. There is also evidence of a solid track record in attracting funding from other sources such as the Ironmongers Foundation; Shine Trust; Paul Hamlyn Foundation.

Proposal Funding is requested to contribute towards costs of the organisation’s services, which continue to be in demand as evidenced by quarterly and annual monitoring reports and statistics

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: The organisation will be monitored against this in the following year.

Outcomes: Outputs: 1. Improved participation, 720 children aged 0-7 engaged in wellbeing and decision making MakeBelieve Arts Creative Education skills of children aged Programmes. 0 – 7 • 100% improved confidence and enhanced wellbeing • 90% increase in participants group working, turn taking and social skills • 120 children under 5 benefiting from enhanced speaking and listening and choice making skills

2. Children and young people 1700 children aged 7-12 engaged in aged 7-12 are better able to MakeBelieve Arts Creative Education engage with learning and to Programmes. manage relationships with both • 100% given the opportunity to practice their peers, and their immediate strategies that support them in managing community, particularly during relationships with their peers. times of upheaval in their lives Additional Outputs will include... • Predicted end of year grades, in literacy, rising by at least 1 level for 20 boys. • 3,000 children engaged with creative education, with 100% gaining an increased understanding of the curriculum. • 200 twelve year olds to develop their skills as decision makers and active citizens in their new secondary schools. 3. Improved empathy, 150 young people aged 12+ engaged in understanding of responsibility, MakeBelieve Arts Creative Education decision making and mentoring Programmes. skills from young people aged • 100% developing in confidence. 12+ • 75% demonstrate stronger communication skills. • 3 x 15-18 year olds per year gaining work experience at MakeBelieve Arts. • 10 x young people under the age of 25 receiving one hour mentoring slot on developing a social enterprise.

Conclusion MakeBelieve Arts has worked very hard over the last 12 months to enable the long term future of the organisation to be much more sustainable. The new trustees have strengthened the management base of the organisation. The marketing plan has been incorporated into the day to day work of the organisation and has helped to shape the implementation of the Business Plan.

Recommendation That a grant of £15,120 for 2014/15 is confirmed to MakeBelieve Arts

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation MARSHA PHOENIX MEMORIAL TRUST Address 90-92 Tressillian Road, Brockley, London SE4 1YD Ward located Ward(s) served Borough -wide Last AGM held: Please put date of AGM & whether LBL officer attended. If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Charity Number – 1063698; Company Number – 02552186. Records indicate compliance with filing requirements Amount requested: £25,000 Grant level recommended: £25,200 Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under themes – Communities That Care to meet the costs of supporting young, single women in temporary/short term accommodation.

Services provided by the organisation Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust (MPMT) is a supported housing project serving young women in housing difficulties aged 16 to 25. The Trust manages 2 properties – a 21 bed roomed hostel in Brockley and 6 bed second stage hostel based in New Cross. The accommodation in New Cross is managed by the Trust on behalf of London & Quadrant Housing Association and the larger hostel is owned by the Trust.

As well as accommodation, the Trust also assists with the provision of hot meals, welfare support and educational/training opportunities.

Performance Marsha Phoenix have been able to clearly demonstrate that the processes for decision making are sound and contribute to a strong strategic approach in how the organisation is managed, with the trustees, staff, and volunteers committed to the same vision of what the organisation is aiming to achieve for their tenants. The Board has actively sought to implement changes/improvements, keen to ensure that staff involved in the process

The management structures within the organisation operate effectively. Staff and volunteers are aware of their responsibilities. Managers ensure that training requirements are met for both the Board and staff. Review of how things operate are done on a regular basis and any required changes/improvements are implemented

It is evident that there is a process in place to ensure that the aims and objectives of the organisation are implemented in delivering services for residents; feedback survey indicates that there is a high level of overall satisfaction with the service provided by Marsha Phoenix.

The organisation has been able to demonstrate strong and effective processes in place to manage its finances; also evidence of being proactive in forward planning in recognition of the changing funding environment, as well as the changes due to welfare reforms on their residents. The accounts for March 2013 show balances of £168,708 Restricted Funds; £502,098 Unrestricted Funds (this is mainly the evaluation of the property).

In terms of quality assurance MPMT hold a Housing Multiple Occupancy licence, renewed for 5 years in 2012 (although, subject to annual inspections). Supporting People QAF reviewed in March 2013 all areas rated grade A.

Proposal Funding is requested to contribute towards costs of the organisation’s services, which continue to be in demand as evidenced by quarterly and annual monitoring reports and statistics:

• To run a meal service so each resident has access to breakfast and a hot meal every day, learns about healthy eating, the social aspects of food and eating and is able to eat even though they may be living in poverty • To run an education service to provide increased opportunity to young people to participate in training and education, receive help at home with study and have the opportunity to study topics they may not have had access to e.g. Art, Cookery, Self Development • To provide a welfare service to residents who are unable to live at home with access to the money and help families usually provide whether this be money to travel to college, help with school trip costs or even something basic like clothes • To run social and educational events to broaden the horizons of the young people, to give them the opportunities to experience things like theatres, eating out, socialising as a group

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: The organisation will be monitored against this in the following year.

Outcomes: Outputs: Food service. To improve health Meals to 21 residents, 7 days a week. of up to 21 young women. Employ a cook to provide a hot meal 4 days per week. Ensure relevant staff trained in food safety. 15 staff in possession of food safety certificates. Training to residents in cooking and food safety. Welfare and social: to improve To provide a series of events (4 per year) 27 life chances for people involved residents to build social skills and tackling To make available a resettlement grant and barriers to progress placed by welfare fund to those without access to circumstances. other funding. To use rent subsidy fund to support residents stating work (up to 5 per year) To fund resettlement education activities. Counselling service: To improve To have a trained counsellor available mental health for clients in – To make the service available to 27 house by providing a counselling residents and offer weekly sessions of one service. hour for each client. To provide emergency referrals services if required. Education project: To employ staff and volunteers to run To improve participation in services. training and improve To run at least 4 courses per year including employability through providing a Maths and English made available to 27 range of educational activities residents with a target of 5 participants in throughout the year. education classes each week. To work in partnership with other agencies to improve educational participation. To provide financial support (exam fees, travel costs etc) to enable people to participate. To be made available to 27 residents aiming to benefit minimum number of 7 people through the year. To support the target of having at least 80% of residents to be in training work or employment at any one time. IT Room available to 27 residents plus an estimated 10 ex residents.

Conclusion Marsha Phoenix continues to demonstrate strong management of the organisation with the trustees, Director, staff and volunteers working well together to ensure a high quality of service delivery; able to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to staff training and development. Monitoring information shows that on track to achieve outputs/outcomes for the year.

Recommendation: That a grant of £25,200 for 2014/15 be awarded to Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Millwall Community Trust Address The Den, Zampa Road, SE16 3LN Ward located Ward(s) served New Cross Sydenham, New Cross, Downham, Catford South, Rushey Green Last AGM held: December 2012 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Due in December each year. Continue to be submitted on time. Amount requested: £21,500 Grant level recommended: £21,672 Purpose of grant: Children and Young People

To continue the support and delivery of the Premier League Kicks (formerly Kickz) programme – which aims to increase the participation for 12-19yr olds in regular sporting and physical activity, as well as engaging them to become active citizens, utilizing training and qualifications

Grant will also help support the Millwall Community Football and Education Scholarship Programme which builds on the training element above to deliver a BTEC Sports qualification to young people aged 16-17.

Services provided by the organisation Millwall Community has been providing opportunities for over 25 years to the local communities of Lewisham and Southwark to take part in sport, learn new skills, make new friends, improve their health and find employment, delivering against their vision;

‘To provide sporting, educational, social and healthy lifestyle opportunities to the local communities of Lewisham and Southwark at affordable prices’

They deliver high quality coaching and education programmes built on a positive, inclusive and fun approach to sport. Their work has given people of all ages, from all backgrounds and of all abilities the opportunity to take part in sport. It has helped them to realise their potential, to be proud of their achievements and, ultimately, to build a stronger community.

Their work is built around four key areas: sports development, social inclusion, coach education, and our leisure facility, the Lions Centre. Within this structure, they: deliver schools coaching sessions in a range of sports including football, basketball, athletics, netball and rugby; run community clubs in a number of these sports; organise coaching activities on estates and at community venues; offer holiday soccer courses at different locations around the two boroughs; train people to become sports coaches and develop their communication skills, and manage the Lions Centre and its 3rd generation indoor Astroturf training facility for community use.

Performance The organisation continues to hit or exceed targets, and has indeed begun to further develop the opportunities for young people with the creation of the Millwall Football and Education Scholarship Programme in September 2013.

The Traffic Light System Monitoring report highlighted that the organization continues to have good governance, management, development and financial systems in place.

The only possible areas of concern relate to the board make up not being truly representative of their wider community and target audience, however strides have been made since last year with a new female Chair in place. The board will continue to pursue opportunities to ensure that it has an even more representative trustee make-up.

The organisation has achieved the Premier League Capability Status, which is a forensic look at their governance, finances, operations and strategy, conducted by the Premier League and Football League and takes place annually in July.

Proposal The grant request will help part fund the Premier League Kicks programme as well as support young people into the Millwall Football and Education Scholarship Scheme. The proposal appears realistic, continuing and building on previous funding received, and offers good value for money in terms of engagement and education.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Children and young people • A year round programme of weekly increase their physical activity sports and physical activities for 300 levels to improve their health and children and young people aged 12 – well-being. 19 will be delivered. 400 sessions (each a minimum of 60 minutes long) will take place in locations across the borough (Sydenham, Downham, Catford and New Cross) throughout the year. Young people participate in a two • A two year education programme year education programme and delivering BTEC qualifications at Level gain qualifications that lead to 2 and/or 3 to 80 young people aged further and higher education 16-18 years. 38 young people opportunities and/or employment. progressing to second year of the programme, and 42 new enrolments in September 2014. Young people gain a national • 20 young people to achieve a Level 1 governing body sports coaching sports coaching qualification and to qualification and voluntarily commit 12 hours (each) to volunteering deliver sports activities in their at local activities local area.

Conclusion The organisation continues to perform well in terms of monitoring and against the TLS criteria. They have continued to move forward over the past twelve months. Their application for 2014-15 shows that they want to continue to build on this and are looking to attract further external income and funding.

Recommendation: That a grant of £21,672 for 2014/15 be awarded to Millwall Community Trust.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Montage Theatre Arts Address The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG Ward located Ward(s) served New Cross Sydenham, New Cross, Lewisham Central, Evelyn, Forest Hill Last AGM held: October 2013 – LBL Officer in attendance If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body a nd have they been submitted on time: Annual return for year end March 12, submitted December 12 Amount requested: £5,000 Grant level recommended: £5,040 Purpose of grant: CYP and CTC

To deliver a range of services under the following themes: • Developing life-long learning skills and experience they can take into the work place with advice from professional tutors all working in the industry. • Develop confidence and social ability, targeting under-represented groups as outlined in LBL’s CYP Plan. • Develop Youth committee and Youth-Led work • Develop Older adult based work to help keep adults active, healthy and engaged

Services provided by the organisation MTA provides a wide range of community courses for ages 3 - 86 years in acting, singing and dancing in south-east London, produces art and performance work with non-professional performers and creates new professional artwork specialising in physical and digital performance.

Performance The organisation is on track to deliver the programmes as agreed in the funding agreement and in some cases will exceed predicted outputs. The Traffic Light System Monitoring report highlighted that the organisation continues to have good governance, management, development and financial systems in place.

Having their own premises will provide new opportunities and challenges. It will be important for the organisation to continue to strengthen the skills and the diversity of the board and maintain the important role of volunteers.

Quality is maintained through: MTA is a member of quality assurance organisations, currently the Independent Theatre Council and Voluntary Action Lewisham. MTA uses publications and guidance from the Charities Commission to ensure best practice. Highly experienced teachers with child protection and health & safety experience a priority and Enhanced Disclosure CRBs work within a supervisory structure with regular planning and evaluation meetings, feeding back on individual students and group development. Artistic Director attends one class per course per term to monitor teaching quality, progression and student behaviour and meets regularly with office staff, tutors and partnership leaders. Students feed back by completing forms (adults and older teenagers), younger students write on paper pinned on the wall and younger students give verbal response. Video is also used to collect comments and volunteers’ responses can be viewed on the website, to encourage others. Feedback from parents is encouraged especially at end of term shows. Teachers and the Courses Managers are always available to parents/guardians when needed and any concerns are passed on to the General Manager. Parents also encouraged to phone to discuss issues. MTA events and shows are filmed and made into DVDs for students, families and for office use. Parents and students agree to photographic and filming policy on joining and any wishes to opt out are noted and respected

Proposal The grant is requested to continue to develop the organisation volunteer programme, deliver a broad cross section of opportunities to cater for all members of society, but focused on CYP and Older People to become actively involved in performing arts, including opportunities to perform at a high level in well respected venues and productions. The proposal is both feasible and realistic and continues to build on the good work currently being done by MTA The application also represents excellent value for money.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: CYP - Develop confidence and • Provide 33 weekly classes for 400 participants social ability, targeting under- of 3 – 86 years old in the performing arts represented groups as outlined in resulting in up to 5000 attendances per term LBL’s CYP Plan. • Provide 3-week summer holiday programme for 200 CYP. • Provide master classes throughout the term in specialist areas over weekend and holiday periods • Develop relationships with existing referral partners and create up to 5 new partnerships • Develop a fundraising strategy for the year for core programme. CYP - Students gain opportunities to • Continue to produce and participate in an perform quality pieces of work in average of 34 shows, demonstrations and professional arts venues. events and 10 public events to audiences of 7000 • Youth Dance Company to take part in UDance festival at Sadlers Wells • Youth Drama Company to take part in NT Connections project • Develop up to 3 new relationships with institutions across London CYP - Develop Youth committee • Engage an additional 5 members to the youth and Youth-Led work committee. • 1-3 Youth Leaders apply for funding for 1 -2 youth courses with MTA as umbrella organisation. Adults and Older People - Continue • Provide 2 weekly dance/drama class for adult to provide provision for Keeping & older people at Greenwich Theatre adults active, healthy and engaged • Produce new flyer for adults and older people • Provide 4 weekly dance classes for adults and older people at TNG centre in Sydenham • Registers taken for each session. • Fundraising strategy for the year for core programme. • Number of partner organisations maintained • Develop adult holiday programme and continue a 1 week programme at Greenwich Theatre in Summer Term • Sheltered Housing Project with Waverly House in Sydenham and White House in New Cross Adults and Older People - Offer new • 5 additional adult volunteers recruited through Volunteer Placements to older the year. people • Register for volunteer attendance taken every session • Recruitment drive at beginning of each term and ahead of each event. • Contracts offered to each volunteer after 4- week trial period. • Number of organisations referring older people Performance - Provide performing • Continue with NT project NT connections at events for large-scale audiences; Greenwich Theatre and UDance, Sadlers Raise the profile and access to Wells, provision so that MTA is a creative • Continue to work with our older people’s destination for Lewisham residents performance group and develop members who are interested in furthering their • Headcount at each event. skills in performance; Continue to • Measure response to activities and secure partake in performance events new opportunities and repeat invitations each which demonstrate the arts bringing year to attend high profile public events. together the wider community in • Recruit through local press, flyers, listings, families and friends of performers in partner organisations, Pensioner’s Forum and a safe, supportive environment MTA members promoting well-being and • New group opens with initial celebration of achievement workshops/rehearsal programme • Continue relationships with Temple Hill Trust for opportunities for more commission performances

Conclusion Montage Theatre Arts is optimistic about the future and appears to be well placed to continue to grow its ‘offer’

Recommendation: That a grant of £5,040 for 2014/15 be awarded to Montage Theatre Arts. MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture Address Macaroni Wood, Eastleach, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 3NF Ward located Ward(s) served Out of Borough Borough-wide Last AGM held: AGM held in Council Chamber, Civic Suite on 14 th November 2013. If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Charity Registration Number – 1061676; Company Number - 3325597 Amount requested: £63,956 Grant level recommended: £64,469 Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under themes: • Children & Young People • Communities That Care

Services provided by the organisation Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture at Macaroni Wood are funded to provide low cost, high quality short- stay residential facilities set in 18 acres of woodland in the Cotswolds for a wide range of groups, based in Lewisham. The project offers a safe, secure and rural setting for children and young people to experience life in the countryside.

Working with people from disadvantaged backgrounds, young people, young carers, and disabled young people, the organisation offer stimulating learning and physically active experiences both indoor and outdoor and ensure all groups are aware of the range of opportunities available in the local areas. Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture have two buildings - Bazley House able to accommodate up to 27 young people, as well as Castree House designed and built specifically for the needs of up to 15 disabled young people.

Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture is based in Gloucestershire and provides a borough-wide service for residents in Lewisham

Performance Noah’s Ark has a well developed Governance system which is regularly reviewed and updated. Evident trustees are actively engaged in the work of the organisation – involved in building repairs and setting up and running activities.

During 2012-13, 52 different Lewisham groups (765 individuals ) used our facilities in Bazley House, all benefitting from our policy of not charging visitors from the Lewisham Borough for accommodation. Lewisham groups also have priority use of our centre during all school holiday periods. This is made entirely possible through the funding we receive from Lewisham Council

NACV have PQASSO Level 2 and there is evidence that this effectively implemented across the organisation and subject to regular review.

The organisation has continue to maintain its strong ‘Green’ status from the September 2013 TLS Monitoring Visit.

The accounts, as at 31 March 2013 show the organisation with reserves of £158,342 - £3,077 general funds, £125,270 designated funds and £29,995 restricted funds.

Proposal Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture at Macaroni Wood exists to provide free, or low cost, high quality, short stay residential facilities at their unique woodland outdoor centre. NACV are submitting this application to request a further year’s continuing funding from the Council to support this valued and well established service.

Priority users are drawn from a wide and diverse range of groups from the London Borough of Lewisham. The groups span the voluntary, community and statutory sectors of Youth and Community provision

Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture are funded under the Children and Young People Programme theme, strands, developing children and young people to become active citizens, improving well being through universal youth activities, and supporting children and young people to engage in decision making

Activities, which have been developed in response to needs of users, include: • A range of fully-maintained bicycles and three and four wheel bikes for a wide range of users and a BMX track and riding around woodland tracks and paths. • An adventure playground area with ropes and swings; trampolines • Involvement with care and maintenance required to look after animals: a range of small animals including chickens, micro pigs, and rabbits. We also have wildlife cameras linked to computers in both buildings with views inside bird boxes and surrounding wildlife which can be accessed from any computer using the Internet. • Indoor activities, pool, table tennis etc. Castree House has its own play/therapy room. Books, educational toys, art materials. • Access to the woodland, including wheelchair access, midnight walks, BBQs and campfires and we also offer woodland sessions for all ages and all levels/abilities. • A large indoor sport/play area. • A very wide range of activities in the local area.

The ethos of Macaroni Wood – through the careful stewardship of the highly experienced Wardens - is always one of actively engaging and empowering users to develop their confidence, independence and resilience for life, as well as improving their physical and emotional wellbeing.

The current level of funding from LB Lewisham represents 48% of total income, which NACV have been proactive in using to lever in funding from other sources, average of £20,000 per year.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Much of this can be lifted direct from the application form. The organisation will be monitored against this in the following year.

Outcomes: Outputs: Improve wellbeing through the Provide at minimal cost a 17 seat mini-bus which can provision of universal youth be used by Lewisham groups to help solve expensive activities. transport costs. We enable Lewisham organisations working with children and young people Available 52 weeks of the year, we will ensure use of to carry out residential activities that will the centre by a minimum of 90 different groups enhance and develop their programmes (minimum of 1500 people) each year. Ensure a of work aimed at improving physical and minimum of 75% of Bazley House usage is made by emotional wellbeing for young people by Lewisham Groups. building resilience, developing independent living skills, promoting We ensure a safe and secure, traffic-free environment healthy lifestyles, and engaging with to allow children to develop through play and others to resolve issues & differences. exploration. Robust risk assessments are maintained & published on our web site, along with other key policies Our Centre offers a different & financial /management data. environmental experience, free from the socio-economic challenges of inner city We have recently opened an indoor sports facility to life, and provides a relaxed and positive encourage healthy lifestyles, to complements our environment for group workers to work outdoor play areas, intensively with young people, for relationships to build and develop and Provide woodland learning sessions, using a local for many everyday basic skills to be trainer, to develop young people’s understanding of this developed. environment.

Ensure children & young people with We provide a purpose built facility, Castree House for special needs and disabilities are those with disabilities, with wheelchair access to the enabled to fully participate at the surrounding woodland. Centre. Supporting children & young p eople We provide a purpose built facility, Castree House for to engage in decision-making those with disabilities, with wheelchair access to the Activities at our Centre, exposure to surrounding woodland. new ideas, making decisions, self- catering, improving relationships & understanding, will enable young people to better engage, and strengthen their involvement, and potential leadership in decision-making processes & active participation in their local communities or services. Developing young people to become We have also provided a heated classroom teaching active citizens All experiences at area in the new activities building, complete with Macaroni Wood give young people kitchen and toilets, which is used for workshops, learning opportunities which, in turn, discussion forums and training events including music develop a range of skills which allow workshops with young people. them to become active citizens, for example, by making use of social Continue to raise additional funds from external media, & by taking part in our user charitable / grant making sources / fund raising to forum. match (as a minimum) our grant from London Borough of Lewisham. We have an extensive on-going fundraising raising programme to “add value” to the Lewisham grant, to provide both capital and revenue needs.

Conclusion Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture is efficient, dedicated, and committed to supporting their user groups from Lewisham. The organisation continues to perform well against their outcomes/outputs and are continually expanding and evolving to offer a high quality service to a range of users in Lewisham. The organisation has a strong fundraising strategy in place accessing a wide and varied source of funding.

Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture is financially viable and stable with no deficit.

Recommendation That a grant of £64,469 for 2014/15 be confirmed for Noah’s Ark Children’s Venture subject to the submission of quantifiable outputs/outcomes.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation PLATFORM ONE (Forest Hill Youth Project) Address 2-4 Devonshire Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3TJ Ward located Ward(s) served

Last AGM held: To be held on 4 th December 2013

If registered charity /Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Charity Number - 272763 Amount requested: £26,000 Grant level recommended: £23,660 Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under themes • Life Skills Reconnect Programme • Youth Support Service

Services provided by the organisation Based in Forest Hill, the organisation is funded to cover the running cost of the Forest Hill Youth Project to provide young people borough wide with effective and comprehensive advice and information service, counselling and a group-work service in a caring environment. The organisation provides youth-focused activities to enable young people to identify their own needs and interests, and to contribute towards addressing them.

The organisation is funded through Children and Young People Programme theme under strands: developing children and young people to become active citizens, improving well being through universal youth activities, and supporting children and young people to engage in decision making.

Performance The organisation continued to provide refurbished building and office space, meeting and training facilities, resources and equipment for young people to engage in activities. The main users of the organisation’s facilities are young people involved with the Mayors NEET project. In May 2013, the NEET project moved to new premises. In addition the future of the music project is uncertain going forward as the Youth Service worker is due to soon. The intention it to continue with the project via Lite-Waves, possibly retaining current worker to deliver sessions

Platform 1 manage the building and facilitate support to projects that deliver services to local people – the procedures in place seem to work well, accessibility is compromised by the layout at the front of the building.

The organisation has done a lot over the last 15 months to strengthen the Management Committee. Now have someone with the skills to carry out risk assessments; also trustees with business skills. There is a commitment to train and develop trustees.

Whilst Platform 1 are able to demonstrate that they have sound financial practices in place and suitably qualified and experienced trustees, there is uncertainty about the long term viability of the organisation; currently awaiting a decision on transition funding Lewisham, in the short term able to continue to provide some services with contingency. Have been proactive in seeking funding from other sources – Application pending with Forest Hill Assembly; potential bids to Santander (Community Plan) and also L&Q and Family Mosaic

Platform 1 does not have a formal quality assurance system in place, regard the TLS process as going through a quality audit.

Proposal Funding is requested to contribute towards costs of the organisation’s services, which continue to be in demand as evidenced by quarterly and annual monitoring reports and statistics.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: The organisation will be monitored against this in the following year.

Outcomes: Outputs: Life Skills Re -Connect Programme • Build young people’s resilience, self esteem and boost ability goals and objectives • Overcome obstacles through one to one and group activities: - Film & Media Workshops - Personal Development & Movement thru’ dance - Reading and understanding music form and participating in group practice sessions - Collaborative workshops to write and produce an online youth newspaper - Group Art & Drama workshops

Youth Service • Provide advice, support and guidance and general counselling and mentoring: - Drop-in services – Counselling, advice, support and information - Peer Mentoring - Support Groups

Conclusion Platform 1 is now stable after a period of change. We have a strong committee of management with a good range of skills and experience. We are on target to achieve our agreed outcomes for 2013/4. Now that the NEET project has finally left our building-after a drawn out exit because of the delay in getting the TNG building ready- we are planning new activities and looking at wider use of the building. Our Easter projects, open day in July and the summer project were very successful.

Platform 1 – overall TLS rating is Green, however, the decisions to be made by the Council in the next couple of months will have a big impact on the future viability of the organisation. The Management Committee is fully aware of the situation and has taken steps to identify potential options, specifically the partnership with Lite- Waves

Recommendation: That a grant of £23,660 for 2014/15 is confirmed to Forest Hill Youth Project – Platform One, the grant is subject to the organisation

• Informing the CSU of any changes to any fund they receive from the Youth Service and how that may affect their service delivery capacity to meet their output targets. • Improving its financial sustainability and addressing resources to staff the centre. • Establishing an appropriate quality assurance system for the Centre during 2014/15.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation PRE- SCHOOL LEARNING ALLIANCE Address The Kabin, Forster Park School, Boundfield Road, London SE6 1PQ Ward located Ward(s) served Whitefoot Borough-wide Last AGM held: Held on 8 th October 2013 If reg istered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: PSLA members of a national organisation (1096526) – check of Charity Commission website indicates compliance with filing requirements Amount requested : £100,000 Grant level recommended: £100,800 Purpose of grant: The grant will be towards PSLA offering second tier infrastructure support to voluntary and community sector early years organisations in the borough

Services provided by the organisation Lewisham PSLA is a local branch of a national organisation that provides childcare through a nursery and pre-schools. PSLA Lewisham supports 120 groups across the borough by providing advice, information and support to pre-school staff and support to their management committees, including quality assurance, training, payroll services and rent payment services. PSLA Lewisham also directly manages 2 pre-school groups, which altogether provide 300 part-time childcare places for children aged 0-5years. The organisation has always worked closely with the whole family and is now expanding services to include advice and support services, family learning and family support projects that improve family well-being. Parental involvement is actively encouraged as is volunteering and community participation. Services offered are: • support and development for community pre-schools • volunteering opportunities • childcare and family services, including Limelight Children’s Centre • family learning and family support services • a fathers project – involving fathers in their child’s learning and in their local community • advice and support for parents of children with SEN – empowering parents to feel informed and confident to work in positive partnership with schools and the LA • holiday provision for children up to 11 years old to support them to play and develop within their local community • cooking workshops and courses to support the development of healthy lifestyles in families

Performance

Provide details of the organisation’s performance in relation to service delivery.

Summarise the organisation’s performance in relation to governance, management, development and finance as detailed in the monitoring report.

PSLA has been able to evidence a strong and sound management structure. Trustees are active and engaged with the activities of the organisation, which will be enhanced now that trustees will have a link with a project and visit to raise awareness of the impact of the services for users. Acknowledge that works needs to be done to improve the diversity of the Board, particularly encouraging parents.

PSLA have a good track record of providing quality infrastructure support to agencies which is reflected in the way their organisation is run with systems, policies and procedures in place, which operate effectively, which they are able to share with their member organisations. Coming under the umbrella of a larger national organisation helps to ensure that key policies, practices are kept up to date and the system of cascading information down from the Senior Management Team to staff, trustees and volunteers seems to be working well.

The Service Review carried out by Lyrah has enable PSLA to look at the services, activities delivered to direct service users through the Children’s Centre and Dad’s Group, as well as the support provided to agencies to ensure that the provision of pre-school services in the borough is of a consistently high standard

PSLA are able to demonstrate sound financial practices. The level of reporting on finances means they are able to adjust the working budget in line with actuals, which means they can forward plan. There appears to be a large deficit on the year 2012/13 due to Direct Service Provision not as many children signed up so the projected income that could be recouped from Central Government was less than anticipated. The change in provision for 2 years old which has recently been introduced means that PSLA were much better prepared to respond and adjust the budget accordingly.

Financial support appears to be one of the key areas of support provided to the pre-schools, particularly through the payroll service. PSLA are exploring a number of income generating options and from the Service Review a more robust fundraising strategy has been developed a funding tracking grid.

PSLA have both internal and external quality assurance measures – PQASSO – the Service Review will enable PSLA to revisit the current self assessment standard; Peer Review of Quality Assurance by managers of other services (local protocol); External – Ofsted; Matrix – IAG valid to 2015; National organisation has Investors in People, which includes PSLA in the assessment

Proposal We are requesting continuation of the Lewisham Community Sector funding – as it is a key component of our organisations’ funding structure, providing core bedrock finance and acting as match funding to other funding sources to enable delivery of a wide range of services which support local communities, children and families. PSLA Lewisham is an infrastructure organization which builds social capital in the borough in the following ways:

A strong and vibrant • We support a wide range of voluntary voluntary and organisations through sub-contracting them to community sector deliver services for our Family Pathways and infrastructure Children’s centre programmes (making connections to avoid duplication of services and plug identified gaps) • We deliver a free training programme across the voluntary sector to support learning and development in partner organisations (to build their organisational capacity and development potential) • Enable voluntary and We support community pre-schools to provide a community groups to service to vulnerable families in their local assist the council in communities; we train and support voluntary sector tackling inequality and partners to give support to vulnerable families supporting vulnerable people

Support and develop We have an extensive volunteer programme, placing volunteering over 46 volunteers in 2013 so far. opportunities

Area based community We are working with partners across the south of the development borough to develop funding bids and joint area initiatives to support the development of healthy outcomes in children.

Funding from this CSU grant supports Pre-school Learning Alliance in Lewisham (PSLA) to exist, providing funding for the core management team, and contributing towards office running costs; this in turn enables PSLA draw down other funding to: • Deliver community-based childcare services to support vulnerable families • Advise and support other community-based childcare providers to meet legal obligations • Provide training for multi-agency practitioners working with children and families (including training on safeguarding, safe professional practice, impact measurement) • Provide opportunities for volunteering, including the development of the ‘Community Parents’ programme – training for local parents to enable them to give peer support to other parents in Children’s Centres and in the community. • Commission wide range of services from local community sector organisations to support their sustainability and help develop their capacity for future service delivery • Represent pre-schools, children’s centres and the voluntary sector on a range of Boards and Working Groups including the Healthy Child Programme Board, the Domestic Violence Forum, The VAL CYP Steering Group; the Compact Steering Group; the Healthy Weight working Group; Children’s Centres Advisory Boards and Partnership Forums • Support pre-school volunteer committees; troubleshoot problems and support long-term sustainability in pre-schools • Provide sector conferences, workshops and events • Provide a range of family learning opportunities, play schemes, holiday activities • Provide a programme of activities and support for fathers and their children • Work with voluntary sector partners across the borough to put together joint funding bids, work together to support service delivery across Children’s Centres and support area development and initiatives

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: The organisation will be monitored against this in the following year.

Outcomes: Outputs: Strengthened capacity of the • A minimum of 2 partnerships formed voluntary and community sector which result in submission of a to work in partnership with minimum of 3 joint funding bids. statutory, other voluntary and private sector partners and to be • At least 4 voluntary sector partners are a partner and influence policy commissioned by PSLA to deliver and service development. This services locally in 2014-2015. includes effective representation by the voluntary and community sector on key decision making • At least 2 voluntary sector partners are groups. part of the Children’s Centres Advisory Board for Areas 3 and 4. A strengthened voluntary and community sector, able to • PSLA sits on a minimum of 3 external influence the policies and plans boards or decision-making groups to of decision making bodies represent the sector.

Strengthened capacity of the • PSLA delivers a minimum of 2 training voluntary and community sector sessions for community pre-school to deliver citizen-led services and committee members; solutions through enhanced support services and training • PSLA delivers 4 quarterly newsletters offering information and advice per Develop the capacity of the annum; voluntary and community sector to meet the challenges of • PSLA offers minimum of 3 training changing local and national days per annum for community pre- agendas, e.g. personalisation, school early years practitioners community volunteering, cuts to public services • PSLA delivers a minimum of 3 Strong networks and employability courses for local parents; collaborations through increased opportunities for communication • PSLA delivers a strong volunteer within the voluntary and programme with a minimum of 20 community sector and statutory volunteers per annum on the sector programme

Conclusion PSLA has a strong track record of effect deliver over the past 10 years both as direct service providers through Children Centres and the infrastructure support given to pre-schools in the borough, with services ranging from payroll, CRB/DBS checks, training. PSLA also benefits from being part of a national network which able to provide policies, procedures and good practices, which PSLA can adopt and develop as local protocols.

Recommendation That a grant of £100,800 for 2014/15 be awarded to Pre-School Learning Alliance Lewisham

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Refuge Address International House, 1 Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1UN Ward located Ward(s) served The project is based in Evelyn Ward but Borough wide support women and children borough-wide Last AGM held: 26 September 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Last Annual report was submitted to the Charity Commission on 22 nd October 2012. This year’s annual report has been submitted but has not been processed yet.

Company number is 1412276 and Charity Number is 277424 Amount requested : £31,621 Grant level recommended: £31,874 Purpose of grant: Gateway Services and Building Social Capital Funding is sought towards supporting BAMER women experiencing domestic violence.

Services provided by the organization Refuge was established in 1971 and has since grown to become the country’s largest specialist provider of domestic abuse services. The organisation supports over 2,800 victims of domestic abuse and their children daily, through their nationwide portfolio of services including outreach, refuges resettlement, IDVA, sanctuary, culturally specific BME services, Freephone and 24 hours National Domestic Violence Helpline run in partnership with Women’s Aid. The organisation offers a range of support for women and children empowering them to rebuild their lives free from violence and fear. It also provides a range of lives saving services and a voice for women and children who have been victims of domestic abuse.

Performance Evidence submitted at the last monitoring demonstrates that Refuge has an effective management and governance arrangements in place. There is a strong commitment to training and development. In spite of the funding cuts the organisation successfully retains all services they provide in 19 local authority areas by restructuring their operational staffing structure for the London based services.

As a national organisation, Refuge works to a robust business model and is in a good position to draw on a range of resources at its disposal. Refuge last year filings to the Charity Commission shows finances nationally to March 2012 with an income of £10,449,256 to outgoings of £10,268,315 in comparison to an income of £10,769,200 to outgoing of £10,779,833 in 2010/11, reflecting on squeeze on funding for serviced provided to women and children. Refuge has a reserve of £2,699,902 of which £1,140,726 is restricted and £559,176 is unrestricted. In spite of all this changes the organization continues to provide excellent service to recipients. The organisation receives £31,261 for a community outreach worker of Vietnamese heritage based in the heart of Vietnamese community concentrated in New Cross and Deptford. Typical activities include individual needs assessments and capacity building to 16 Vietnamese women experiencing domestic violence. All returns submitted to council to date were on time and demonstrates that the organisation can meet its targets comfortably.

Evidence witnessed during monitoring visits includes support plans which has been put in place to support clients, various events delivered to improve recipients self esteems and continued partnership developed with other organisation delivering similar activities to address gaps in service. Refuge has recently developed collaboration with The METRO Centre to support women suffering abuse in same sex relationship. A gap in service which was recently identified within the Vietnamese community. The success of the service it delivers in Lewisham is shown by the number of self-referrals. Record provided showed that from September 2012 to August 2013, 63% of referrals were self-referrals. This was attributed to the measures put in place to support the outreach worker. Greater working relationship has also been developed with key stakeholders in Lewisham which has enabled the organization to established a wide range of referral routes ensuring services are accessible to all women from target group.

Refuge works to high quality standards (ISO: 9001) and as a result robust systems and infrastructure are in place. A particular emphasis on training and development of staff ensures the highest of standards are maintained. The organisations TLS rating is green overall.

Proposal Refuge is seeking funding to continue the service it delivers to provide outreach service for Vietnamese women from Lewisham escaping domestic abuse. The fund is required to cover the cost of a bilingual outreach worker (Vietnamese and English) and focuses on accessing women and children affected by domestic abuse, who due to cultural and language barriers would be unlikely to engage with generic/mainstream services. The service will support 16 clients per year. The aim of the support is to help women and children overcome the negative effects of domestic violence and empower them to become independent thus increasing their quality of life by:

• Providing practical information and support to women, increasing their options (e.g. financial, immigration etc. • Providing emotional support • Linking women to relevant and appropriate Lewisham Services where they can get further support • Providing advocacy on their behalf • Supporting them to overcome language and cultural barriers

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: • Increase the safety and reducing • Providing (number of 16) Vietnamese women the vulnerability of Vietnamese with information about the police and criminal women experiencing domestic system and help expected from the police. abuse • Undertaking individual needs assessment and • Increasing economic wellbeing support planning with women to increase their of Vietnamese women economic well-being experiencing domestic abuse • Minimum of 1 presentation and 3 meetings • Building capacity of the local statutory services and community groups to support BAMER women experiencing domestic abuse

Conclusion The local team operates as a strong unit which in turn receives support from the organisation as a whole. Refuge continues to provide a quality led service to local Vietnamese women in need across the borough.

Recommendation: That a grant of £ 31,874 for 2014/15 is confirmed to Refuge

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Second Wave Youth Arts (SWYA) Address First Floor, Deptford Mission, 1 Creek Road London SE8 3BT Ward located Ward(s) served Border Evelyn Ward (Greenwich) Whole borough Last AGM held: 20 th July 2013 monitoring officer not present If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Yes as a registered charity and company limited by guarantee, Second Wave regularly submits an annual return before 31 January each year Amount requested: £59,890 Grant level recommended: £60,369 Purpose of grant: Second Wave Youth Arts are funded by the BSC, CYP and CTC strand of the main grants programme to deliver a range of services under the following themes:

1. Building Social Capital • Increase community safety • Tackle inequality and support vulnerable young people • Strengthen a vibrant voluntary sector • Address area-based priorities 2. Children and Young People • Build active citizenship of young people • Increase well-being through creative activities • Strengthen participation in decision-making • Enhance levels of community engagement 3. Communities that Care • Build community cohesion • Build person-centred approach • Offer specialised support

Services provided by the organisation

Second Wave is a Youth Arts organisation established in 1982 and has been a registered charity since 1992. SWYA is a venue and a meeting place for young people and holds regular workshops and sessions for young performers and writers aged 12-24 years. This work often evolves to the production of plays, performances and events. Responding to concerns of local young people SWYA currently work with many crime and policing partners to carry out safety themed programmes and training and facilitate discussions around issues of crime, safety and policing for young people and the wider community.

There is also a volunteering, training, employability, debating and citizenship work stream designed to empower the young people that participate.

Performance

SWYA has reached agreed outputs for 2013-2014. The TLS monitoring report had an overall rating of Green.

The organisation has a strong board of committed and experienced trustees that steer the organisation stay true to its aims and members are actively involved in the planning and delivery of events and programmes. Two young constitutional board members were voted in at this years AGM.

The management’s relevant policies and procedures are in place and staff understand their duties, roles and responsibilities and those of the board. Quarterly monitoring has been received.

The organisation is constantly developing and taking opportunities for further partnerships and enrichment to the current work streams. There is a strong sense of identity for SWYA and purpose to the work and substantial meaning for the staff, trustees and participants. Participant involvement, planning and ownership are central to all programmes and projects. The new business development plan and financial plan are being drafted for approval by the December board meeting and implementation in January 2014.

Partnerships have increased this year with new links made with the Convoys Wharf developer Hutchinson Whampoa and the US Embassy. The advisory and training work with London Borough of Lewisham and the police continues to be successful and meaningful.

There is regular training offered to trustees and staff on financial reporting. The team are looking to diversify funding and current fundraising partnership bids include the College of Policing in the development of a new national community- based training programme. There is also a move to share community resources and partner with organisations to cut costs. SWYA is in a sound financial position with reserves estimated to increase from £23,000 to £29,000 by March 2014 with a forecasted surplus for 2013/14 of £5,870. They have a spread of different funders and also are targeted to make £14,000 from other income streams including workshop fees.

SWYA is a member organisation of Community Matters the National Federation of Community Organisations and aims to fulfil quality standards using ‘Becoming VISIBLE - Operating Standards Framework’. SWYA is recognised and monitored by the Office for Security and Counterterrorism (Home Office) for delivery of Prevent programmes and is recognised as a centre for delivering National Qualifications through the National Open College Network.

Proposal

The proposal is to deliver: Building Social Capital The use of dedicated space at Second Wave for a programme of regular youth- centred activities & youth engagement; working across boundaries & challenging stereotypes between young people, the police and the wider community; increasing perceptions of Lewisham as a safe borough; increasing awareness of different types of hate crime with new partnerships; improving young people’s perceptions of fair & reasonable policing. Work on this theme includes developing community safety initiatives in partnership with LCPCG; new intergenerational & new citizenship programmes to create safer neighbourhoods; local young activists campaign focussing on Convoys Wharf /Hutchison Whampoa new urban development in Deptford; and continued development of our innovative ‘Critical Encounters’ programme and accredited training. Children and Young People Use of Second Wave as a creative learning space & meeting place for young people; facilitating youth-led workshops & outreach sessions where the views of young people are clearly expressed & heard; strengthening communication /collaboration between different generations and professional agencies; organising community events informed by local priorities; increasing the power of Lewisham young people in decision-making; increasing their awareness of civic roles & collective responsibilities; increasing their sense of engagement in youth-centred community activities. Work on this theme includes youth leadership & advocacy skills training programmes; wide range of youth arts workshops, performances & activities; & involvement of local young people in positions of influence in Lewisham (e.g. in community meetings/events & advice to the police). Communities that Care Consolidation and extension of key partnerships with Lewisham-based organisations & schools; increasing collaboration with professionals through the development of a multi-agency approach; provision of specialized mentoring and group support for young women and also local young people caught up in youth- on-youth crime and gang participation; increasing levels of trust in local neighbourhoods; increasing the confidence and self-esteem of young women; increasing awareness of gang-related crime and the effects of aggression among young men. This work will involve strengthening our partnerships with local schools, Crime Reduction Agencies, Youth MARAC, and Lewisham’s Domestic Violence Practitioners’ Forum.

This proposal is a continuation of currently successful and meaningful work that Second Wave is carrying out.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes: Outputs:

Ongoing Regular Centre-Based Programme: Increase community safety – Deliver 12 regular sessions & workshops (average 2.5 hours) Improve safety & well-being of young people through involving 140-150 regular participants per week; plus occasional collaboration with police & crime reduction service; public events, performances, conference events & community Tackle inequality and support vulnerable young people activities involving average 150 additional local residents (in all age (e.g. victims of Hate Crime); groups) per month.

Strengthen a vibrant voluntary sector through Building Social Capital (BSC): partnership work; - Deliver ‘Critical Encounters’ neighbourhood safety initiative (with 80 Address area-based community safety priorities. participants) including young people, police, local residents & Building role of young people as active citizens - volunteers. Provide leadership and advocacy skills training -Design, promote & deliver new community volunteers project for programmes for local young people. 40+ young people. Increase active engagement of young people in local - Deliver multi-agency outreach initiatives in partnership with 30 other local groups and representatives e.g. Lewisham Community decision-making Police Consultative Group, Lewisham Borough Police and Lewisham Enhance levels of community engagement involving Borough Crime Reduction Service. local MPs, councillors, local schools mainstream agencies (including police and local & community centres authority) - Deliver ongoing participation of 40+ young people in collaboration with Hutchison Whampoa re new creative skills project for Deptford Build the participation of young people as citizens and area. volunteers in regular community events. Deliver min 180 BSC sessions/workshops per year Increase well-being through creative activities - 100 existing participants + 60 new users. Develop programme of youth arts activities addressing issues of safety & well-being with young people & Children and Young People (CYPP): - Deliver regular youth arts programme of workshops, platform wider community events & performances addressing issues of safety & wellbeing for Use innovative arts-based methods to reach & engage 120+ young participants (aged 12-21years) people, facilitate communication & strengthen - Deliver specialised mentoring support & risk-reduction service for community relations 20+ young women (aged 13-20yrs) - Deliver ongoing creative workshops for 20+ local young women (aged 14-24years) addressing intimidation, sexual violence & safety Build person-centred advice & guidance linked to issues. specialized support agencies (e.g. mental health, - Deliver leadership, citizenship & advocacy skills training programme housing, sexual health, policing issues & legal rights) for 25+ local young people (aged 15-24) with opportunities for Develop specialised support, mentoring & risk-reduction accreditation. services for young women - Deliver peer support groups for 25+ young people (aged 13-19) at risk of youth-on-youth crime, violence & gang activities - Deliver participative programme promoting young people’s Provide of peer-leadership skills programme for young involvement in local democracy and decision-making (aged 14+ people at risk of youth-on-youth crime, violence & gang years) activities. - Deliver programme of writing, lyrics, performance material, testimonials, citizen journalism, photographs & performance work created by 30 young people involved in 5 community & outreach Strengthen participation in decision-making - events, addressing issues of health, safety and wellbeing involving Increase participation of young people in community 180+ participants (all ages). Deliver min 250 CYPP sessions/workshops per year events, public meetings and advisory roles working with 280 existing participants + 140 new users. police and other professional agencies Enhance levels of youth and community engagement in Communities that Care (CTC): neighbourhood decision-making - Deliver ‘Hate Crime’ project, working with marginalised communities (through active consultation with SSLC, Lewisham Increase the engagement of young people and older Islamic Centre, Lewisham Tamil Association, Lewisham Gipsy, Roma residents in community events organised by Second & Travellers Outreach Service, and Afghan (AACO) Association), Wave volunteers. other agencies including Lewisham Disability Coalition, and involving Build community cohesion - 80+ local people (all ages) Strengthen of relationships between young people, the -Deliver programme tackling issues of inequality & support vulnerable people through their participation in ‘safe space’ initiatives & local police and the wider community by active partnership decision-making involving 100+ local people (all ages). work - Deliver professional mentoring & career advice to 30 young people (aged 16-24) in community & youth leadership skills & advocacy; Reduce local tensions and increase social cohesion 4 work placements for local young people; through community initiatives led by young people 4 paid traineeships per year - Delivery of employability/skills training & events for 20+ young people (aged 16-24); Promote active citizenship, well-being and belonging in - Establish collaboration/dialogue with JobCentre Plus to offer Flexible community settings Support Programme for 12-15 local unemployed people Deliver min. 120 CTC sessions/workshops per year Increase peer outreach and youth mentoring support in relation to the risk-taking behaviour of young people 140 existing regular participants + 100 new users.

Increase long-term delivery of volunteering opportunities for young people - Establish collaboration/dialogue with JobCentre Plus re Flexible Support Programme for local unemployed people - Create employment and training opportunities for young people.

Conclusion

SWYA are a unique organisation in Lewisham and deliver services and programmes that are extremely innovative and have been recognised nationally as best practice. (Including ‘Critical Encounters’ work between police and young people). Staff include extremely dedicated and experienced practitioners, management and board members that provide a high quality service that benefits young people and the wider community.

Recommendation: That Second Wave Youth Arts receive £60,369 of requested funding.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation: Seniors (previously known as Lewisham Elders Resource Centre)

Address: 260 Stanstead Road, London SE23 1DD

Ward located: Perry Vale Ward(s) served: south of borough

Last AGM held: December 2012, LBL lead officer attended.

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time:

Accounts and annual returns have been regularly late for the previous five years. 2012-13 returns still to be filed, but anticipated to be on time.

Amount requested: £45,269 Grant level recommended: £45,631

Purpose of grant:

Deliver a programme of activities and events from the Seniors building which are aimed at the over 60’s living in Lewisham at nil or low cost which will be focused on contributing to: • improving health and fitness • reducing loneliness • increasing social cohesion

Services provided by the organisation

The Lewisham Elders Resource Centre (Seniors) is a Registered Charity established in 1999 which is based in a unique Grade II Listed building on Stanstead Road with substantial indoor and outside space from which it delivers a varied programme of health, arts, cultural and wellbeing activities for the over 60s. The programme is designed to reduce isolation and improve physical and mental health and wellbeing for older people in Lewisham. The Centre includes a community café, theatre space, meeting/training rooms, sun lounge and a suite of first floor offices. It also includes a large rear garden space.

Seniors has recently entered into a partnership with local social enterprise Eco Communities which has resulted in additional capacity being provided in business planning, fund-raising and project delivery. For 2014/5 the proposal is to implement an expanded programme of activities designed to cater for the needs of this age group whilst also providing Seniors with a basis to look to become financially fully self-sustaining in the longer-term.

Seniors currently has 74 female and 21 male registered members many of which regularly attend its activities which are open to both members and non-members and which take place on week days between 9am and 3.30pm. The trustees are planning to expand opening hours from April 2014 onwards to include weekends and some evenings.

Seniors aims to provide a welcoming environment where older people can come and engage with others and take part in a varied programme of activities designed to help them retain their mental capacities, keep fit, meet friends and engage in their local community. They are also aiming to introduce training and work experience into projects at the centre which will enable young unemployed people to gain qualifications and crucial work experience to help them back into work.

The existing Phoenix community café is being re-vamped into a self-sustaining element of the centre which is open to all and which will offer a varied menu of healthy food and also a place where users can meet and chat. The café training kitchen will also be used as a venue to deliver a ‘Grow, Cook and Eat’ project as well as training for unemployed individuals on barista and customer service skills.

Performance

Governance Traffic Light Rating: Amber Improvements made since previous years, but still some work to do, particularly around governance policies and trustee recruitment.

Management Traffic Light Rating: Amber / Red Number of policies, procedures not in place that need to be rectified quickly

Development Traffic Light Rating: Amber / Red Good progress with new partnership with Eco Communities, shows very good potential to develop and grow as an organisation. However strategic plan is crucial to understanding future sustainability of organisation and un-tapping potential of building, and reducing reliance on grant aid.

Financial Viability Traffic Light Rating: Amber / Red Significant progress since previous year, financial processes and viability greatly improved. But significant work still to do to ensure sustainability of organisation and make full use of resource.

Overall Traffic Light Rating (if applicable): Amber / Red Whilst good progress has been made by Seniors in the previous year, there is still some way to go to become a strong, viable and well governed organisation. The partnership with Eco Communities will be crucial in supporting governance arrangements as well as creating a more sustainable approach for the future.

Seniors are requested to submit, by the end of December 2013, a log of all required policies and procedures, with information on their status – e.g. to be written / to be reviewed / in place; along with timescales. Following submission of this log Seniors are asked to send LBL the policies and procedures when ready, as per the timescale on the log.

Seniors does not have a quality assurance system in place but would greatly benefit from one.

Proposal

The proposal for 2014-15 is to deliver a programme of activities and events from the Seniors building which are aimed at the over 60’s living in Lewisham at nil or low cost which will be focused on contributing to: • Improving health and fitness • Reducing loneliness • Increasing social cohesion

The programme will consist of the following activities:

Health and Wellbeing activities- Weekly Zumba Gold, Tai Chi, Wellness Group, 1940’s dance –a number of activities focused on building and maintaining older people’s balance and mental and physical fitness

Arts and Culture – A varied programme including French conversation, theatre productions, weekly choir which allow users to learn new things, or maintain interests in collaboration with others which stimulate their minds

Social Activities – A computer centre to be set up to train over 60’s and alleviate their fears of computers and the facility for those who do not own a computer to have use of. Discussions have started with L&Q Housing Association regarding partnering with them to deliver digital inclusion and Silver Surfer courses for their residents from the Centre.

Also setting up a Men’s Sheds program to give the opportunity for men over 60 to have a place to go to use and make things and stimulate their minds.

Four day trips and outings will be organised during the year to places of interest as a means of helping reduce isolation and build social cohesion.

A Grow, cook and eat project is being investigated to use garden to cultivate vegetables and herbs which users of the centre can incorporate in cooking and healthy eating workshops. The new raised vegetable beds will be created with the help of older volunteers and young unemployed people will be receive training in horticulture and gardening as part of the project developing their skill and experience. Gardening projects have been found to alleviate loneliness and help maintain and develop fitness and mobility among older people.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

Reduced digital exclusion among IT courses delivered to 30 people during the people aged over 60 resulting to course of the year (3 courses x 10 participants) improved access to online advice and 30 information

People aged 60 or over increase their Weekly programme of physical activity sessions fitness levels and reduced need for (e.g. line dancing, zumba and tai chi) plus medical intervention wellness sessions of 60 minutes duration delivered to 30 participants per week over 48 weeks ( =1,440 in total )

People aged over 60 feel reduced 10 theatre events, day trips, tea dances etc. levels of loneliness and isolation. organised during the year with 150 participants Attendees confirmed that they have in total. benefitted from the outings and have increased positive social interaction as a result

People over 60 to benefit from Weekly Whist Drive, French conversation, etc. increased mental stimulation and delivered to 50 people per week over 48 weeks improved feelings of wellbeing (= 1,440 in total )

People over 60 to improve their health 12 month intergenerational grow, cook and eat and sociability project with 30 participants plus 2 unemployed people on work experience

3092 participants in total

Conclusion

Seniors has changed and developed a lot over the last year, stabilising a potentially precarious position for the organisation. They very recently entered into a partnership with Eco Communities which will help to develop their governance and management arrangements, as well as fund raise and un-tap the unexploited potential of the building they own. Officers feel confident that this partnership will help to further stabilise and grow the organisation, reducing its reliance on grant aid. The mixed picture of policies and procedures will also be addressed through this partnership.

The grant application has been developed in partnership with Eco Communities, and seeks to deliver more activities and opportunities for over 60s than previously. The outcomes and outputs are clear and measurable and reflect the increased confidence and capacity of this organisation to deliver good services for older people in this part of the borough.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £45,631 for 2014-15 be awarded to Seniors.

The grant is subject to the organisation undertaking the following:

• submission of accounts and annual return for 2012-13 to charity commission / companies house by required deadline • development and submission of a log of all required policies and procedures, with information on their status by the end of December 2013. Following submission the policies and procedures to be submitted when ready, as per the timescale on the log. • strengthen the board (number of people, skill set, and diversity) by March 2014 • develop, and submit to LBL by March 2014 a strategic (business) plan for the organisation. To include financial strategy as to how the organisation is seeking to become sustainable and raise income from different sources, including utilising the building more • regularly report back on development and progress made through the partnership arrangements with Eco Communities (at a minimum every quarter via monitoring returns).

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Somerville Youth and Play Provision Address 170 Community Project New Cross Road, New Cross, London, SE14 5AA Ward located Ward(s) served Telegraph Hill New Cross & Borough Wide Last AGM held: 18 th February 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Not yet submitted. Amount requested: £112,635 Grant level recommended: £95,740 Purpose of grant: Somerville Youth and Play Provision are funded under the Children and Young People Programme themed strands: developing children and young people to become active citizens, improving well being through universal youth activities, and supporting children and young people to engage in decision making.

Services provided by the organisation

Somerville YPP is funded to provide facilities for recreation and other leisure time activities for children and young people who are residents in the New Cross and surrounding area of Lewisham. They provide free open access play and educational activities for local children and young people irrespective of social, financial or ethnic background celebrating the diversity of the local area and promoting community cohesion. Workers are also able to provide informal advise, information and guidance to the users, and to also refer them to other resources and services where appropriate.

Performance

Somerville are on target to meet their outcomes and outputs for the year 2013-14.

366 children and young people have accessed the adventure sessions, 30 sport sessions held with a total of 300 children and young people engaged in healthy and physical activities. 20 peer monitoring sessions and 30 young people volunteering. This has been achieved since April 2013. 2 resident trips have been held with 17 children and young people in attendance at each.

Somerville YPP received an overall Green rating from the TLS Monitoring Visit. Overall Somerville have maintained Green rating. The organisation are continuing to raise profile in the local community. The organisation have increased partnership working and are running various projects with organisations around delivering services to the doorsteps of youth and outreach into the communities that require the support. The organisation is continuing efforts to work with LBL in order to issue the lease for the building. The organisation are at stage 2 of big lottery fund for works to be done to the building. The Project Co – Coordinator has addressed all avenues of funding and has contingency plans in place if funding falls through.

Somerville YPP held their Annual General Meeting on 18 th February 2013.

Accounts and annual returns have not yet been submitted to the Charity Commissions (Charity No. 1121081).

The organisation are currently working through City and Guilds quality assurance mark and will be hoping to obtain a Bronze award by April 2014, and have applied for reaccreditation to Play England, for quality mark in play which will last a further 3 years.

Proposal

Somerville Youth & Play Provision will continue to provide an essential facility where children and young people have a creative space to play with youth work and other activities during term-time, after school, weekends and school holidays.

• We have a membership base of over 700 children and young people, with up to 80 on site at any one time and an average attendance of 40 young people at evenings and weekends. • Promote self-directed play and seek to foster a sense of pride amongst the children and young people as they learn new skills and participate in fun and educational activities. • Regular discussions are held with young people on issues that include drug and alcohol awareness, sexual health, gang violence and where possible and encourage visits from the safer neighbourhood team. • During the school holidays children are taken offsite, trips to places of interest and residentials to Macaroni woods and camping. • Provide one-to-one targeted support to more vulnerable children and young people, for example those with special educational needs (SEN), those who have been excluded from school / at risk of exclusion, or those not in education, employment or training (NEET). • Work closely with 170 Works employment project and refer young people who need support with careers guidance, CV writing, presentation and communication skills, and interviewing techniques. Young people are encouraged to participate in Various forms of volunteering across the organization. • Provide support for families and young parents in areas such as behaviour management, and work alongside Key Workers in ensuring the best outcomes for children and young people. • Well connected to 7 other voluntary groups and the Ward Assembly in local area, and work with them to deliver inter-generational community events, open days and projects.

The organisation are good value for money and engage children and young people in various ways. There are no new services outlined for the additional funding requested.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Children and young people • More than three hundred open access engaged in purposeful and adventure playground sessions. creative activities, increasing • 500 users attending open access session’s their life skills. term-time and during school holidays. (Approx 5 sessions per week, with a minimum 125 young people per quarter). Six week (summer), Christmas, February and Easter holidays programme. • 4 cooking sessions held per month • 4 arts and crafts sessions held per month (Approx 1 session held per week, with a minimum of 30 young people engaged per quarter).

Children and young people • 30 children and young people attending at least increase their fitness levels to 1 sports session per week. improve their health and well- being.

Access to residential • 2 residential activities per annum with up to 30 opportunities for children and young people attending. young people to experience new challenges and environments.

Conclusion

Somerville YPP is a community based adventure centre with over 40 years of experience and a good track record of delivering quality play provision and empowering children and young people. The organisation have applied for additional funding, it is recommended the organisation receive the same level of funding as 2013-14 as there are no additional services being proposed to be delivered than that to 2013-14.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £95,740 for 2014/15 be awarded to Somerville Youth and Play Provision.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation The 999 Club and Lady Florence Trust Address 21 Deptford Broadway, London SE8 4PA Ward located Ward(s) served New Cross & Branch in Downham Borough Last AGM held: 02/09/13 Paul Gale Monitoring Officer in attendance If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time:

Amount requested: £8,772 Grant level recommended: £8,842 Purpose of grant: Gateway Services & Communities that Care Through the provision of generalist social welfare advice services with General Help and Casework By providing 2 day centres and a winter night shelter for vulnerable adults with multiple problems and chaotic lives that keep adults active, healthy and engaged.

• It is necessary that the client reviews it’s policy regarding the recording of equality identifier categories • It is recommended that the client considers and reviews its policy relating to measuring Equalities Impact. This can only happen if the organisation also agrees to record service users data that includes the different equality strands. • It is recommended that the client produces an appropriate Quality Management Framework

Services provided by the organisation With an open door policy the 999 club offers immediate support in any situation by providing links with professional agencies, and giving friendship, help and advice to the most vulnerable in the community. It is staffed entirely by local people, who know the misery caused by homelessness, poverty and drug/alcohol abuse at first hand.

Performance The 999 Club has performed well with key outputs being met. Accounts show as of December 2012 that the 999 club had a year end surplus of £90,123 of which £41,348 are unrestricted funds

Issues identified under governance relate to the make-up of the board, ideally the board needs to be more reflective of the borough profile with BME representation, however, it is pleasing to see that there is a members forum which has been convened to feedback members needs and views into the decision making process and they are exploring ways their input can reach board level.

Under management some policies are being reviewed as a result of a new Chief Executive in place and this is positive, this will include quality assurance. However, there is no equalities impact measuring in place and this was flagged as a red area.

No issues were identified under the development strand. There were no issues identified under the finance strand and the 999 Club is performing well here.

Proposal Service up for Gateway Services - through the provision of generalist social welfare advice services with General Help and Casework; The advice and advocacy service is based in the Downham and New Cross wards and staff have necessary skills knowledge and competency to generalist advice and advocacy. The manager delivers General Help and General Help with Casework. The Advice and Advocacy worker delivers General Casework. The Casework advice is available 10-4 Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The General advice is available 10-4 all weekdays. Where more specialist advice is needed (e.g. legal, immigration etc) we refer to relevant agencies. They cover benefits, housing and debt advice and also help with form filling for a range of subjects. Numerous people are referred to 999 Club from the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, Job Centre Plus, Lewisham Single Homeless Intervention and Prevention (SHIP) and many other agencies

Communities Who Care - By providing 2 day centres and a winter night shelter for vulnerable adults with multiple problems and chaotic lives that keep adults active, healthy and engaged; The day centres are open Mondays to Fridays, Deptford 09:30 – 17:00, Downham 09:30 – 14:00. The centres offer friendship, food and refreshments, activities, advice, and visits from other visiting agencies. They target vulnerable adults with multiple problems and chaotic lifestyles including the homeless, addicted, mentally-ill, an ex-offender, victims of crime and abuse, or elderly and neglected and vulnerable children. The nursery opens from 10:0-14:30 with capacity for 20 children. The night shelter opens in a window between December to mid-March for as many weeks as the organisation has funding for. During its operation the advice workers work intensively with other agencies to find the guests housing. They have set up a member’s forum to help shape our service delivery.

The money requested will help to ensure that the 999 Club can continue to deliver its services to those in need, there is no reason to have any concerns as to whether the 999 Club can deliver what is proposed.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: • Approximately 15 people per week seen Increased numbers of people in LB by generalist advice and advocacy Lewisham receive general advice manager for casework. and guidance casework support • Approximately 15 people per week seen Increased numbers of people in LB by generalist advice and advocacy worker Lewisham receive general advice general advice and guidance support • 500 people (1125 visits) per week access Better connections between day centres and find help, warmth, food vulnerable adults and the and companionship and reduced isolation. communities in which they live

• 500 people (1125 visits) per week access day centres and are given the opportunity to engage with specialist services around mental, physical and psychological health, addictions and employment. • Approximately 8 vulnerable adults per week engage with visiting nurses • Approximately 20 vulnerable adults per fortnight adults engage with visiting podiatrist People supported to continue to live • Approximately 30 vulnerable adults active and healthy lives engage with visiting TB unit bi-annually • 200 people per day access day centres and given the opportunity to access physical / healthy activities such as football or yoga • 50 rough sleepers access our winter night shelter over the season while we work intensely to help them find housing • 20 nursery places help vulnerable children aged 2-4 to lead healthy and active lives • 500 people (1125 visits) per week access day centres to receive support that helps their independence and improves quality of life. • 10 members per month attend a members’ People supported to maintain their forum to represent the needs and choices long-term independence, choice and of the members to influence our service quality of life delivery • 14 elderly people per fortnight attend an accompanied shopping trip to help them maintain independent living in their own homes. • 20 nursery places help vulnerable children aged 2-4 make choices in their own play and learning through a ‘workshop’ style of operation

Conclusion The 999 Club provides an essential service to some of the most vulnerable people in the borough. It has consistently met its key outcomes and on the whole is performing well. Issues with the recording of equality data have been identified for some time and the organisation needs to consider putting appropriate systems in place.

Recommendation: That subject to the 999 reviewing their policies relating to the below: • recording equality data • measuring Equalities Impact. • an appropriate Quality Management Framework

A grant of £8,842 for 2014/15 be awarded to The 999 Club and Lady Florence Trust

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15 Full name of organisation The Albany Address Douglas Way, Deptford London, SE8 4AG Ward located: Ward(s) served New Cross Borough wide Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Submitted on time Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £280,650 £282,895 Purpose of grant: To fund a programme of work supporting the BSC and CYPP themes.

Services provided by the organisation The Albany is a multi-purpose arts venue, with a strong focus on working with diverse, local communities. The Albany works in partnership with resident, creative and community organisations to deliver a broad range of services. It provides an artistic and community resource, high quality creative experiences relevant to the local community and a creative centre for learning contributing to the cultural, social and economic benefit of the borough.

Performance against general criteria The Albany has appropriate and relevant financial policies and procedures in place, appropriately qualified staff and experienced trustees. The Finance Sub Committee provides detailed scrutiny of the organisation’s finances. The staff team is very stable and is skilled, experienced and focussed on the need to continue to develop and improve the services that the organisation provides. Staff have clear job descriptions and contracts

The organisation has a clear strategic plan. Planning is well developed and the organisation can demonstrate strong and effective partnerships alongside consistent, diverse and active engagement with users. The organisation has a strong commitment to training and development. The organisation has proven to be extremely adaptable and has successfully managed organisational and earned revenue growth in a period where funding reduced.

Revenue streams are reasonably diversified and the organisation has generated a surplus in the past two years, although still does not have the reserves that it would like to have. A very positive review has been received from the Arts Council and the organisation is waiting to hear what funding it will receive going forward. The organisation is working on a bid for £500K for outdoor performances and continues to develop its focus on individual giving.

Grant Proposal

The Albany provides a space where a real diversity of people comes together on a daily basis, and is used by over 125,000 people every year. The Albany has developed a range of mechanisms for effective community engagement, and works in collaboration with audiences, communities and partners to programme over 200 high quality performance events annually, as well as an array of community-led and participatory events, reflecting the concerns and aspirations of local communities and providing a platform for local and marginalised voices. The audience of over 30,000 people is broadly reflective of the full diversity of people in Lewisham, with a high level of attendance from BME communities, the young and disabled.

The Albany provides a space, with a range of facilities, used by over 200 community groups providing a range of educational, participatory and volunteering experiences attended by over 50,000 people annually. It also provides wide range of support and capacity building functions It delivers or supports at least 30 partnership projects a year, and also brings resources and expertise into Lewisham through its regional, national and international partnerships. The Albany supports the development and delivery of high quality, year-round citizen-led programmes, with a clear focus on disability-led, older people-led and youth-led programmes, particularly through its partnerships with resident and local organisations. The organisation also takes part in a number of regional/national networks (ITC, Urban Arts, On the Map, National Arts Centre Network etc) aiming to bring examples of best practice and new ideas into Lewisham, broker new partnerships and share resources.

The Albany provides a strong infrastructure for building social capital both in terms of its facilities, its programmes and the extensive networks within which it operates, connecting local and creative communities and contributing towards a strong and vibrant VCS infrastructure in Lewisham.

Children and Young People (CYP) The Albany will produce a year-round programme of youth-led creative courses, events and training aimed primarily at 14-19 year olds, to develop their skills, confidence and wellbeing and enable them to take an active role in their local communities. This will include weekly term-time and holiday courses, including the acclaimed Summer Arts Season, when young people take over the Albany for three weeks every summer. With additional funding from trusts and foundations the Albany seeks to build on the success of its young people’s programmes to develop a sustainable and innovative model for young people’s arts activities throughout the year in Lewisham. Young people’s work at the Albany is integrated into the mainstream of Albany activities and is currently supported by three professional specialists in young people’s work as well as an apprentice.

The Albany’s Young Companies – UNCOVER music and UNCOVER theatre provide training and development opportunities for young people across arts forms (music, theatre, writing, dance, spoken word) as well as in digital arts, production, technical arts, marketing, producing and leadership skills (including facilitation, advocacy and training). Young people are enabled to design and lead projects, as well as to take a key role in the development of the wider Albany programme as Young Associate Artists or Producers. Young people will have the advantage of working as volunteers and during work placements, alongside professionals within all the departments of a successful working theatre. The UNCOVER companies alone have engaged with over 1,000 young people annually, and worked with 100 young people intensively and on a long term basis.

Within the various programmes young people work with professional artists in the delivery of projects, including the Albany’s Associate Artists and Resident Companies, and national and international visiting artists and companies provide further exposure and learning opportunities. The organisation will also work with partners to provide a range of other opportunities

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Aim: Area based community development Programming and producing a range of high that improves the lives of local people quality events relevant to local people, Outcomes: young people, families, schools, disabled Strengthen the local area and people, older people and BME communities neighbourhood through partnership Target: working, networking and community 20,000 attendances at performance development. events Providing relevant community facilities for 36,000 attendances at meetings, the area. community, participatory, and training Providing excellent facilities management events of community premises. Engaging with new audiences through outdoor events. Target: 2,000 attendances

Providing advice, bespoke support packages and training sessions for local people. Target: 50 events 50 beneficiaries

Providing a professionally managed, accessible hub of community facilities for a broad range of usages including for activities and events, Target: 90,000 attendances (visitors), with an increase of attendance from Lewisham by 5% 160 beneficiaries (groups), 65% Lewisham based 1800 events Additional £1.4 mil turnover generated from other sources, achieving an additional £5 return on each £1 Lewisham grant funding investment

Set a benchmark for economic impact of the outputs locally. Aim: Develop a strong and vibrant voluntary Supporting partnership working by the VCS community sector infrastructure and delivery of appropriate partnership Outcomes: projects. Strengthen capacity of VCS to meet new Target: challenges (e.g. cuts, volunteering, 12 partnership projects personalisation agendas) and to work in 18 events partnership with voluntary, statutory and Set benchmark for value and outputs of other partners. partnership working (incl. brokering, cross- Develop VCS networks increasing its sector working) effectiveness, engagement with local initiatives and influence on policy and Contribution to ‘knowledge economy’ by decision making. facilitating networking, seminar and Strengthen capacity of the VCS to deliver conference events. citizen-led services through enhanced Target: support services and training. 8 events

Actively participating in networks at a local, regional and national level (ensuring learning from best practice and connecting local partners). Target: 6 networks 12 attendances

Providing advice and delivering bespoke support packages and training sessions for community groups and VCS partners. Target: 50 events 20 beneficiaries

Aim: Enable voluntary and community Providing support and delivering groups to assist the council in tackling community-led events and services (i.e. inequality and supporting vulnerable people youth-, disability- and older people-led) Outcomes: events. Increased involvement of local Target: communities with a specific focus on 4000 attendances diversity and an inclusive approach 28 events contributing to social cohesion; and a specific focus on citizen-led programmes. Providing participation, training and Strengthened liaison with and increased volunteering opportunities for local people support to the Council and public service within partnership and Albany-led providers in the fulfilment of their statutory programmes. responsibilities with regard to equalities Target: 40 beneficiaries 120 attendances

Targeted marketing and support for attendees where appropriate e.g. access support for disabled people, accessible performances. Target: Achievement of venue accreditation SILVER ‘Attitude Is Everything’

Aim: Improve well-being through universal Provide a year–round programme of youth- youth activities led creative courses and learning Outcome: opportunities with professional practitioners Engagement of local young people (aged for young people, including courses and 14-19) from a wide range of backgrounds, programmes in holidays and weekly in positive activities to develop their activities in term times. wellbeing and build their resilience Target: 100 events 2800 attendances

Aim: Develop children and young people to Providing training and personal become active citizens development opportunities in a working Outcome: theatre and arts venue (technical, Participation of young people in marketing, fundraising, event management). volunteering and training opportunities; and Target: in youth-led activities at the Albany 35 beneficiaries 140 attendances

Volunteer and work experience placements (creative/producing, marketing, production etc.). Target: 45 attendances Signposting young people to further education, employment and enterprise opportunities. Target: 50 beneficiaries

Conclusion This is a strong application. The organisation is well managed with an excellent track record in securing external funding and delivering valued, high quality services.

Recommendation:

To approve funding of £282,895.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation The Cassel Centre Add ress 4 Waldram Park Road, London SE23 2PN Ward located Ward(s) served Perry Vale Borough wide Last AGM held: TBC If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: TBC Amount requested: £127,606 Grant level recommended: £128,627 Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under themes – Building Social Capital; Children & Young People; Communities That Care to meet the costs of the core counselling and social work services

Services provided by the organisation The CASSEL Centre provides core counselling and social work services borough wide, which include preventative non statutory care, mental health issues and social welfare assistance.

Performance The Cassel Centre is a well established organisation providing professional services that include:- counselling, psychotherapy, social work and specialist services to adults, children and young people who learn or work in the London Borough of Lewisham.

Throughout the grant period, the organisation continued to perform well in achieving their output targets. During the first quarter of this year, the organization provided the following statistics:-

• 135 (81counselling/social work and 54 family contact at 'Family Sanctuary') referral and assessment services provided between 1st April to 30th June 2013

• 1558 Free counselling and social work sessions provided to 229 service users between 1st April to 30th June 2013

• 47 Work experience placements volunteer and students provided between 1st April to 30th June 2013

• Family Sanctuary 54 Clients this term; 191 sessions of 1.5 hour offered. 2. Counselling Project at LYWRP, 15 weekly sessions of 1hour to 4 Clients

The CASSEL Centre has strong commitment to quality standard. They have in place different quality assurance measures including: PQASSO for operations, BACP Ethical Framework for Counsellors, UKCP for Psychotherapists, BABCP for CBT Therapists, HPC (prev. GSCC) for Social Workers, and COT for Occupational Therapists.

The CASSEL Centre have maintained effective partnership work with different local and national forums including: Volunteer Centre Lewisham, Lewisham Cohesion and Equality Theme Network, British Association for Counselling Ethical Framework; UK Council for Psychotherapy, British Association for Cognitive and Behavioural Psychotherapy and the General Social Care Council and different academic institutions.

The organisation’s services reflect the needs and diversity of the community. This is reflected in their quarterly monitoring, which indicates diversity in the client group, annual monitoring indicates diversity in the practitioner group, in addition to users involvement in shaping the development of services.

The organization is financially viable with diverse sources of funding and reserve policy.

Proposal

Funding is requested to contribute towards costs of the organization’s services, which continue to be in demand as evidenced by quarterly and annual monitoring reports and statistics.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Outcomes: Outputs: Enable appropriate decision- Provision of referral and assessment service to making; help service users approximately 450 service users per year access our relevant support services; identify and assess risk and ensure appropriate support systems are in place, including crisis services Reduce anxiety; increase Provision of approximately 2,500 free counselling and participation in family life, the social work sessions to 250 service users community and learning; increase confidence and self esteem; reduce risk issues and presenting difficulties Reduce anxiety; increase Provision of 2,500 low cost counselling and participation in family life, the psychotherapy services to 250 service users community and learning; increase confidence and self esteem; reduce risk issues and presenting difficulties Improve ability to constructively Provision of work experience placements – volunteers use learning opportunities; and students: 30 enable access to further training opportunities; Increase workers’ skills, Provision of at least 36 weeks of in-house training to knowledge and values; including workers anti-oppressive practice; ensured high quality ethical practice Improve referral processes and Continue to implement the Common Assessment reduce likelihood of risk/harm; Framework in conjunction with Lewisham Information, Track actions and evaluate Sharing and Assessment

Enhance educational Provision of Saturday School, 3-hour weekly sessions opportunities for children/young for 20 children/young people people Set up one new outreach partnership

Conclusion

The CASSEL Centre is a well managed organisation with appropriate governance, service and finance management systems in place. They continue to deliver value for money professional services to the highest standard. Their quarterly and annual monitoring reports are up to date. They continue to attract funding from wide range of sources including through: (1) Student placement fees (2) Room contributions (3) Supervision and consultancy (4) Counselling and social work provision (5) Counselling project

Statistics and data provided by the organisation indicate continued demand for their service by the local community..

Recommendation:

That a grant of £128,627 for 2014/15 be awarded to The Cassel Centre.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Metro Centre Limited Address 141 Greenwich High Road, London SE10 8JA Ward located Ward (s) served Located in Greenwich South East London (including Lewisham – wide), Pan-London, National and international Last AGM held: 15 April 2013 If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Last annual returns submitted in December 2012 – Due to be submitted in December 2014 Amount requested: £33,576 Grant level recommended: £33,845 Purpose of grant: Themes: 1) Communities that cares – providing weekly therapeutic groups alternating its client group and thematic focus between victims of LGBT Hate Crime and Domestic Violence

2) Strategic Equalities work – enabling voluntary and community groups to assist the Council in tackling inequality and supporting vulnerable people in the Programme Service Outline.

Two applications for funding were received totaling £33,576. One aspect of the Grant (£8,576) is to run a therapeutic support service for individuals on a one-to-one basis and in small group offering counselling, signposting and advice and advocacy for victims of LGBT in Lewisham experiencing hate crime and domestic violence.

The other aspect of funding (£25,000) is for the continuation of the Strategic Equalities work in Lewisham that falls under the Council’s Communities that Cares thematic in tackling inequalities. Strengthen liaison and increasing support to the Council and its partners to ensure an increase in the involvement of local LGBT individuals and communities in fulfilling their statutory responsibilities with regards to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Services provided by the organization The Metro Centre was established in 1984. The organisation offers a comprehensive service geared towards gay, lesbian and bisexual people and those who are questioning their sexuality. The centre’s office in central Greenwich and has various provisions including a medical centre, private counselling rooms, group counselling area, meeting and activity room that users can access. The organisation offers the following service:

• Mental health and well-being weekly drop-in advisory and signposting service • One to one and group counselling and crisis sessions for LGBT adults • Support for LGBT hate crime and domestic violence services • Sexual health services including testing clinics for men and women in same sex relationships • HIV prevention and support services including mentoring, peer support, first point assessment and referral service for HIV residents in South London • Youth service including LGBT youth groups and work in schools

Performance The Metro Centre is a well established organisation with a clear decision making process and an excellent management structure. The Centre has been operating for over 30 years, tackling inequality and promoting social inclusion in respect of sexual orientation and gender identity. As the leading such organisation in the UK and internationally, Metro networks locally to ensure that crucial formal and informal links are made with other local equality organisations. The centre offers training and acts as advisers to various statutory and voluntary organisations on a range of equalities issues relating to LGBT matters.

The Metro Centre has an effective financial management system in place with regular reporting to the Management Committee at every meeting. Their current reserve budget is £433,337. Various fund raising activities have contributed to this excellent financial stability and good track record. The organisation has recently secured funds through MAC Cosmetics to reach out to African gay and bisexual men in Lewisham. Annual returns are up to date and submitted on time to the Council and Charity Commission.

Some of the organisation funding is generated from different London Boroughs including:-

RB Greenwich Social Inclusion - Equalities (PEG) £32000 LB Greenwich Adults & Older People – counselling, advice and £55000 advocacy, LGBT and African LB Bexley Youth Services/ Vibe - groups £25333 LB Tower Hamlets MYAP £2500 LB Lewisham Youth Service - group £2500

The organisation is in the final stage of its application to be accredited for the London Health Workplace Charter. The Metro centre is registered with and working towards PQASSO and Investors in People (IIP) accreditation as its quality assurance measurement.

Proposal The nature of work provided by the Metro Centre is aimed at promoting health and well- being amongst LGBT through a variety of services challenging homophobia and other forms of discrimination. Their core activities are to: • Provide a voice to underrepresented communities and those with poorer outcomes to support the formulation of Lewisham Council policy; • Provide signposting service and referrals to appropriate services (mental health support, sexual health, HIV and youth services) • Deliver services through outreach, self referral and telephone services; • Foster activities that effectively promote and coordinates engagement with stakeholders groups on equality matters through networks and meetings; • Provision of information and newsletters; • Develop public policy and advocacy related to local, regional and national agendas; • Provide support through the provision of advice, advocacy and general help to Lewisham residents marginalised because of sexual orientation and gender identity; • Deliver equalities training and support to statutory and voluntary sector organisations particularly related to sexual orientation and gender identity

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes Outputs Lewisham residents experiencing • 10 residents will be seen annually (this figure LGBT Hate Crime and Domestic is aspirational based on the effects of Violence will receive a service capacity building work – at least 5 will be meeting their needs related to this seen) issue and suffer less distress and anxiety as a result • Interventions will range from: o 1-to-1 long or short term Counselling o Triage o Sign-posting o Advocacy and Advice o Third Party reporting o Bi-weekly therapeutic groups, alternating between Hate Crime and Domestic Violence (if there are enough clients to support group)

METRO will build Capacity and • At least 2 training programmes delivered sensitivity of statutory and voluntary annually to voluntary and statutory sector sector in Lewisham to recognise agencies in Lewisham needs of, assess and refer LGBT • Initiate inter-borough initiatives to ensure a domestic violence and LGBT hate coherent, regional approach to LGBT Hate crime into METRO service, as well Crime and Domestic Violence as to offer in house support, as • Visit voluntary and statutory sector agencies relevant. This will include running at to promote awareness and understanding of least 2 training sessions annually service, including building of formal care with relevant statutory and voluntary pathways sector agencies Increase ease with which Lewisham • Work with Lewisham Met to build profile of residents are able to report LGBT third party reporting status of METRO Hate Crime and Domestic Violence Provide strategic support and act as • Serve on relevant boards and platforms, a critical friend within borough on including MARAC, Lewisham Hate Crime issues related to LGBT Hate Crime Working Group, GrIP and Same Sex Domestic Violence • Ensure voice is heard and recorded in relevant consultations and policy drafting

Increased involvement of LGBT • Outreach to, communications with and communities in public and civic life provision of services to Lewisham LGBT from all diverse communities in the people both face to face and through borough social media, and exploring potential partnership work • Participating in events and activities with a METRO Equalities presence focused on the promotion of LGBT awareness and visibility

Strengthened liaison with and • Liaison with a range of community based increased appropriate support to the organisations on issues related to LGBT Council and all other public service people within their communities and providers in the borough in the support to them fulfilment of their statutory • responsibilities with regard to Ongoing input into Equality and Cohesion equalities theme based Network • Supporting Lewisham LGBT Staff Forum • Provision of training and awareness raising sessions • Ongoing research and awareness of where advice/support/training/influencing is needed across a range of services via our periodic Needs Assessment & links with our Youth Chances research data

Reduction of community tension, • Analysing data related to LGBT young and improved integration and people in Lewisham through the National cohesive communities. Youth Chances (NYC) Project, and providing this data to commissioners and providers in Lewisham • Contributions to a range of consultations on changes to health and social care and equalities issues across the borough engaging LGBT residents • Work to embed national equalities agendas including the LGBT Companion Document to the Public Health Outcomes Framework which will also be rolled out

Conclusion The Metro Centre provides an important service for LGBT residents in Lewisham. The organisation has therefore formed strong partnerships with various statutory and voluntary sector organisations in Lewisham and South London wide. The organisation is well managed and has a clear vision of its service delivery. The organisation has an effective management system in place with 60% of its board members identifying themselves as LGBT.

Although the outline services listed above have not changed in terms of provision, however, a shift has occurred in focus due to learning in the pattern of residents’ uptake for services provided by the organisation from 2011 to present. The Centre recognises earlier on that getting the number of people required to run therapeutic groups for each of the themes were unrealistic. They realise at the outset that the largest number of referrals were coming mainly from within Metro or through self-referral by individuals who had seen the literature distributed by the organisation. An arrangement was agreed at monitoring for the organisation to continue in the method devised, to see individuals on a one-one basis. The organisation will continue this work by offering counselling, signposting, advice and advocacy, whilst working towards having enough clients at one time to meet their obligation to run the groups as originally planned.

This organisation has met most of the set since the last monitoring and are rated green overall. Their quarterly monitoring reports and statistics submitted indicates an 100% of LGBT youth group participants are Lewisham residents, the pit-stop clinics for gay and bisexual men also recorded 40% of clients are Lewisham residents.

Recommendation: That a grant of £33,845 for be awarded to the Metro Centre subject to satisfactory delivery of the new amendments to the targets outlined in the output and outcome .

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organization: The Midi Music Compan y

Address: 77 Watson Street, Deptford, SE8 4AU

Ward located: New Cross Ward(s) served: All – borough wide service

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: The return to Companies House was submitted in October 2012, in advance of the deadline. The return to the Charities Commission was submitted in December 2012, in advance of the deadline.

Amount requested: £72,700 (£62,200 Grant level recom mended: £62,698 main grant and £10,500 rent grant) main grant and £10,500 rent grant. Purpose of grant: The grant is requested to provide Gateway Services and services to support Children and Young People. Gateway Services will focus on supporting young people to improve their economic and social well-being, including advice and guidance linked to the music industry. Children and Young People Services include provision of affordable instrument tuition for mixed ability groups. The proposal is to build on existing services as delivered in 2013/14.

Services provided by the organization: The Midi Music Company (MMC) was established in 1995 to promote, maintain, improve and advance education through the encouragement of the arts, with specific reference to music. The organization delivers music programmes for children and young people, using multimedia equipment, music technology practice rooms, recording facilities and rehearsal space. It also delivers bespoke music careers advice. MMC works with young people aged 5-30 in two distinctive cohorts: 5-15 year olds and 16-30 year olds. It has previously delivered services funded by the London Borough of Lewisham under the Gateway Services and Children and Young People strands.

Performance: MMC received approval for a three year grant in 2011. The performance monitoring in this recommendation report takes into account performance since the award of the original grant, but most specifically examines performance in the final year to help understand expected end-of-year performance based on evidence available at the half-year point, i.e. up to 31 October 2013. MMC’s key outputs and outcomes for the 2013/14 financial year and their performance against them can be summarized as follows:

Under the Gateway Services strand, the aim was to increase the number of young people accessing employment, education and training through improving their understanding of the creative industries and developing their skills for accessing creative industry employment. This is being achieved through the provision of IAG sessions, support in accessing industry standard resources, non-accredited, industry-specific training, and the delivery of seminars and Breakout Clubs. At this point in the year, MMC is making good progress in all these areas.

Under the Children and Young People strand, MMC is aiming to improve children’s instrumental skills and confidence through the delivery of instrumental classes, the awarding of bursaries, encouraging increased participation in the Cre8tiv ® Youth Forum, and the support of interns via the CICAS ® scheme.

Finance, Management and Governance

In response to a previously identified need for the recruitment of additional Board members, the Board membership now stands at five people, with further recruitment ongoing, particularly in the area of fundraising or philanthropy expertise. The Board has quarterly, minuted meetings, and the Chair of the Board maintains regular communication with the Chief Executive. MMC has a complement of 3.5 paid staff, supported by a pool of freelancers, and continues to consider its staffing needs carefully in terms of its future development, including the development of a fundraising strategy to support the recruitment of a Strategic Development Manager to enhance partnership work and networking. This forward- looking approach follows a period of restructure and redundancies. MMC is working hard to support recruitment onto its programmes, MMC has been assessed as having appropriate systems in place for administration and record- keeping, and health and safety and risk management systems are operating effectively. It is continuing to develop monitoring systems, including a new system for capturing data and evidencing impact to support performance monitoring against outcomes.

MMC’s draft annual accounts for 2012/13 show a small annual surplus and the overall deficit reduced from £41,000 to £25,000. The organization will be working on a new business plan in 2014 to build on its current plan which expires in 2015. It will also be submitting a new three year funding application to Arts Council England in 2014 and has plans for additional funding applications and other fundraising activities to expand current services. Key among its current relationships is its work with CAF Bank through whose social investment arm, Venturesome, MMC has obtained social impact investment via a loan, which is unsecured, but if the organisation defaults on six monthly repayments of capital and interest, repayment of the loan will be directly linked to the sale of a piece of land that MMC own at 37 McMillan Street. MMC has maintained their loan repayments and are planning to sell the land to clear the balance of the loan, and explore how best to build up meaningful reserves. They also continue to investigate additional forms of income generation including income earned through fees and hires.

Proposal: The grant is requested for the provision of Gateway Services to social groups facing challenging circumstances, including mental health issues, learning difficulties, participation in gang culture, homelessness, transient lifestyles, lack of finances due to unemployment or discrimination because of cultural backgrounds. It is intended to support increased employment within the music and creative industries, by supporting participants from a range of angles including improved instrumental skills, opportunities to showcase skills, advice and guidance and access to the music industry through networks such as links with the UK Music National Skills Academy. The activities proposed reflect activities previously delivered successfully by the organization and, in the form of the actual grant awarded, as opposed to that requested, provide value for money in terms of the cost of activities to achieve the stated outcomes and the social impact of improving the prospects of members of the socio-economic groups described above.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015

Outcomes: Outputs: Gateway Services Increase number of young people 90 1:1 1hr information, advice & guidance sessions who access employment, for 75 x 16 – 30s education and training

Improve understanding of creative 700 new and registered CICAS® members provided & cultural industries through 1:1 with access to industry standard resources information, advice & guidance sessions

Develop artistic, performance, 90 training weeks for 108 x 16+ non-accredited presentation, marketing & short courses, including Music Production, promotion skills of young people, Keyboards and Music for TV Commercials, particularly using digital media; additional courses may vary: identifying key benefits of service: 1 x 2hr sessions x 30wks improved skills level from 1 x 2.5hr sessions x 30wks beginners to professional, industry 1 x 3hr sessions x 30wks knowledge and membership 1 x 3hr sessions x 10wks subscriptions, and confidence and ability to access the industry, 8 music business seminars delivered working with further/higher education, various industry bodies and experienced employment status and enterprise professionals development 3 x The Breakout Clubs at the New Cross Inn with an estimated total audience of 400

50 x CICAS® members gaining industry placements, accessing further/higher education, employment and new business start-ups or registration of self-employment

Children and Young People Improving instrumental skills for 390 instrumental classes for 315 children aged 5 – children via the Budding Musicians 15 Club by providing Drums, Guitar, 6 x 45mins sessions x 30wks Keyboards, Singing, Music 4 x 1hr sessions x 30wks Production and Band workshops 3 x 1.5hr sessions x 30wks

Improve confidence and aspirations of children and young 10 x one-year bursaries awarded to children aged 5 people by their participation in – 15, encouraging winners to become peer music education programmes mentors, continue to access practise space and develop their leadership skills Develop leadership skills of young people who are members of the Retain up to 10 members of CYP enabling them to Cre8tiv® Youth Forum and Peer develop creative projects and develop their Mentors leadership skills

CICAS® Interns supported through termly 1:1 sessions, access to 2 x CICAS® Interns supported to produce new marketing and on-line promotion musical product, promote and utilise social media support, music production and x2daysx 30wks recording facilities

Conclusion: MMC’s ongoing financial position, well-regulated governance, effective management, activity and achievements to date suggest that their application for funding in 2014/15 will bring a strong return in terms of social impact. The application is realistic and founded in experience.

Recommendation: That a main grant of £62,698 and a rent grant of £10,500 for 2014/15 be awarded to The Midi Music Company.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014-15 Full name of organisation Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance Address King Charles Court Old Naval College Greenwich SE10 9JF

Ward located: Ward(s) served New Cross and Blackheath Borough wide Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: All submitted on time Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £120,000 £120,960 Purpose of grant: The grant will support the organisation in delivering a range of services under the Children & Young People theme and the Communities that Care theme

Services provided by the organisation Trinity Laban is a specialist Higher Education Institution specialising in music and contemporary dance with an international reputation for excellence. Engagement with the wider world of music and dance is central to Trinity Laban’s ethos. The organisation’s public engagement activities include a participatory programme for children and young people and a community outreach programme providing participative opportunities, facilities and performances for local people. Trinity Laban also delivers well being projects, health services and associated research. It contributes to best practice, strategy, policy and debate at regional, national and international levels partnering with arts, community, educational, umbrella and statutory organisations.

Trinity Laban’s public engagement activities are delivered across the organisation’s three sites: Laban, Blackheath Halls and Trinity College of Music.

Performance against general criteria

The Board works within an appropriate policy and procedural framework and legal and financial responsibilities are clearly understood. A change in governance structures has taken place within the past year which means that where Blackheath Hall previously had its own board, this is has now been replaced by a BH Futures Group. This has been specifically established to focus on developing a clearer vision for BH and a strategy for how the vision can be achieved. It will also develop stronger and more representative links with the community which should result in more diverse representation. The governance of BH will now be handled by the TL board.

There have been some financial uncertainties around the funding regime of the Higher Education Funding Council of England (HEFCE). This has been resolved in the short term and TL has been awarded additional funding, based in part on its ability to demonstrate that the funding would deliver a broadly proportionate level of additional public value. Although the longer term position of TL will depend on ongoing government policy, the organisation has been highlighted for its best practice around increasing participation. TL is adapting its services and developing a more entrepreneurial approach to meet the changing needs of funders and commissioners. The application to the LBL main grants programme to support a programme for older people is evidence of this approach. Working with Greenwich Dance (TL and Greenwich Dance secured Arts Council NPO status last year) has generated new opportunities.

The Learning and Participation teams have made a considerable investment into exploring new sources of funding and ensuring that current business activities are robust. A number of large bids have been unsuccessful in the past year, although a bid to support work around disability was successful. The organisation continues to explore and develop robust evaluation as part of its work to ensure that it is in a strong position to secure new funding

Grant proposal

Children & young people

Trinity Laban works with schools, local authorities and community partners to increase opportunity, raise standards and widen access to dance and music for CYP. Our long-term commitment to Lewisham provides a sustained aspiration to raise attainment, develop creativity and life skills, increase health, fitness and well being through dance and music projects.

Evaluation and monitoring processes show that our provision meets the needs and interests of CYP in Lewisham. Current activities are very popular and many are oversubscribed. All activities include opportunities for CYP to influence the content and delivery, and enable CYP to create their own work with many performing in professional venues.

Services under this theme will be: • Delivery of Trinity Laban Youth Dance Ambassadors (TLYDA), recruited from local schools, youth and community groups. TLYDA will be supported by training through to ‘on the job’ experience and have the opportunity to undertake Silver Arts Award and thus obtain a well-recognised qualification. • Affordable weekly classes (£3) at the Laban building in Contemporary Dance, Dance Fusion, Youth Ballet, Boys Only Classes: Ignition, Accelerate and Velocity( Hip-Hop), Youth Dance Company • Inclusive Weekly Dance Classes and holiday activities for children with physical and learning disabilities (aged 5 – 19) • Weekly dance classes in Bellingham and Downham targeting CYP at risk of obesity and other issues affecting health and well-being (aged 8 – 19) • Planning and management of the Lewisham Schools Dance Showcase in partnership with the Broadway Theatre, Catford and Lewisham Education Arts Network • Planning and management of ‘Lewisham Live’ music showcase performance at Blackheath Halls, as part of Lewisham Live the annual Lewisham Youth Music and Dance Festival • Work with Lewisham schools, other arts and community organisations such as Horniman Museum to provide dance and music participation projects linked to Lewisham and London wide events and other community activities e.g. Big Dance • Groundbreaking ‘Animate’ Orchestra, holiday-period youth ensemble, 3 projects each year, working with Trinity Laban’s music leaders, members of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Lewisham Music Service staff, working towards public performances, and within proposed annual Lewisham Youth Music Festival • Additional recruitment workshops for Animate, activity targeting Lewisham CYP currently not engaged • Participatory Gospel music project at Blackheath Halls working with CYP from Lewisham • Community Opera project at Blackheath Halls including schools in the opera production and offering CYP the opportunity to work alongside professional musicians and singers as well as working with other members of the local community • Development work to embed Trinity Laban’s music programme into borough-wide Music Hub developments led by the local Arts and Music Service.

Communities that Care

There is strong evidence that Dance and Music can have a positive impact on both the physiological and psychological well-being of older people. With support from Lewisham, Trinity Laban has developed a highly successful and popular programme of activities that target the over 60’s across Lewisham. Working in consultation with established agencies E.g. Entelechy and Age Exchange (through the Older Peoples Arts Network) and other community groups such as Bellingham Inter-agency, Trinity Laban has researched appropriate venues for activities, built contacts and networks that will enable us to target activities at those in most need.

Services under this theme will be: • Retired – not Tired! - programme of affordable weekly classes and projects • All Singing, All Dancing dance and music group targeting over 60’s living south of the borough, providing opportunity for regular activity that promotes active participation, health and well-being and encourages participants to develop friendships, a sense of ownership and tackles isolation. • ‘Taster’ and recruitment workshops offered at day centres and community groups, building on links established through the Well London Project in Bellingham • Continuation of two older people’s music clubs, offering informal music making and friendship, delivered in partnership with local agencies and based within existing community provision. • Dance for Health movement and dance class at the Laban building, fusing Pilates, dance and exercise, targeting over 60’s in the north of the borough. The class focuses on maintaining mobility and injury prevention as well as enabling participants to make friends and develop new social networks. • Continuation of the development work undertaken in 2013 – 14 to work with other local older people’s arts organisations, venues and practitioners through the new Older Peoples’ Arts Network (OPAN) • Link the Retired - not Tired programme with other areas of Trinity Laban’s provision to widen the experience of participants, potentially to include intergenerational work with local schools, visits to dance and music performances, workshops with professional dance companies, links with other local arts groups and development of participants’ leadership skills. • Training for practitioners leading activities with older people to ensure they are meeting the outcome of providing activities that maintain health, fitness and improve well-being and are responding to the needs of individual participants.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: (CYP)Young peo ple (aged 15 – 19) Support Trinity Laban Youth Dance Ambassadors (TLYDA) develop the knowledge, skills and to plan, devise, create and organise youth led dance events understanding to facilitate and at Trinity Laban, school, community and professional lead youth and community dance venues. activities (April – July 2015)

Recruit 12 TLYDA from Lewisham schools and community dance groups (September - October 2014).

Provide training for TLYDA in event management, leading and teaching, devising and producing dance performances. If appropriate training for Arts Award will be offered. November 2014 - March 2015 (100 attendances).

Facilitate TLYDA to volunteer and contribute to dance activities in Lewisham e.g. Lewisham Schools Dance Showcase, school and community workshops and activities (24 dance sessions).

Past TLYDA remain in contact with Trinity Laban and receive progression advice and access to other opportunities. Target : 25 young people

CYP)Children and young people Provide active participation opportunities for CYP to increase their health, fitness and participate in youth dance performances, events and well-being, raise attainment and activities, working in partnership with Lewisham schools improve skills in and through and community partners. dance and music Provide an after school programme of weekly dance classes at Trinity Laban (aged 8 – 19). 120 CYP from Lewisham participating in the Trinity Laban Youth Dance Programme (297 sessions).

Provide 72 afterschool dance classes for children with and without disability. 35 CYP with a disability taking part.

Provide intensive holiday courses (6 sessions) for CYP with and without a disability. Target : 12 in each session

Provide weekly dance activities (60 sessions) for CYP in community venues in Downham and Bellingham and additional schools activities. 100 CYP taking part.

Plan and manage the Lewisham Schools Dance Showcase (2 days) in partnership with the Broadway Theatre, Catford as part of Lewisham Live! With other partners; Lewisham Education Arts Network, Lewisham Music Service and others. 22 primary, secondary schools and youth groups taking part. 400 CYP participating.

Plan and manage Live at the Halls (Blackheath Halls) as part of Lewisham Live Festival in partnership with Lewisham Music Hub and other arts organisations across the borough. 10 schools and music groups taking part. 300 CYP participating.

Plan and manage another smaller scale event in the Recital Room at Blackheath Halls as part of the Lewisham Live festival. 20 CYP participating.

Provide Animate Ensemble joint Lewisham and Greenwich holiday course (3 days). 20 CYP participating.

Provide Animate Ensemble Lewisham projects (6 days). 150 CYP participating.

Provide Animate Lewisham extension project (2 days) 20 CYP participating

Provide 3 x Animate performances. 20 CYP participating.

Provide Gospel music project (8 sessions). Members of the London Community Gospel Choir lead 8 sessions including a concert at Blackheath Halls in local schools. 60 CYP and 2 schools participating.

Provide Community Opera project (28 sessions). A series of workshops and rehearsals in local primary and secondary special schools leading to 2 performances at Blackheath Halls of a fully staged opera. 80 CYP and 4 schools participating Older people (60+) maintain their Provide 30 weekly dance and music classes participants in health, fitness and improve well- Downham or Bellingham. Currently, hosted by St Lawrence being increasing their social and Centre, Catford. community engagement through 20 participants regular dance and music activity. Provide Dance for Health movement and dance class (an enjoyable fusion of Pilates, dance and exercise) 30 participants at Laban Building.

Provide active participation opportunities for over 60’s to participate in a range of opportunities, working in partnership with community partners e.g. Age Exchange, Entelechy Arts. Target : One additional project/activity per year

Develop new additional projects to extend the experience of participants e.g. Intergenerational projects with local primary schools, workshops with professional dance companies, links to a dance and music performances.

Continue to develop skills of older dance leaders to support ongoing recruitment and class activities.

Provide training for 15 Trinity Laban practitioners and other dance artists/practitioners on working with over 60’s

Continue to deliver 2 music clubs, working in partnership with local community partners. 60 weekly sessions and 900 attendances.

Conclusion Trinity Laban has an excellent track record of delivering innovative, high quality programmes.

Recommendation: That Trinity Laban is awarded a grant of £120,960

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation – Victim Support

Address - 300 Sangley Road, Catford, London SE6 2JT

Ward located – Rushey Green Ward(s) served - All

Last AGM held: 29 November 2012

If registered charity/Company, when retu rns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Due December 2013, previous accounts submitted on time

Amount requested: £26,316 Grant level recommended: £26,527 Purpose of grant: Communities that Care - to recruit, train and accredit 12 new local diverse volunteers supported by a local service delivery manager

Services provided by the organisation Established in 1974 Victim Support is an independent charity for victims and witnesses operating across England and Wales. Based in Rushey Green the Charity works closely with the police and other crime reporting agencies with many of the staff being specially trained volunteers. Crime affects people in different ways and Victim Support provides a unique service to help people through a time in their life can be particularly stressful.

Performance

Quarterly Service Delivery report and statistics submitted indicate that the organisation is on track to achieve their outcomes and output targets. Victim Support volunteers continued to play active role in the delivery of the organisation’s services. For example, in quarter one volunteers made 367 face to face or office visits an increase of 10% and 887 phone calls were made by volunteers, an increase of 11%.

The 2013/14 Monitoring Report indicates that Victim Support has performed well in all areas. Under Governance ideally there would be better BME representation at board level, however, Victim Support is a national charity and there is an equality, diversity and inclusion committee. No issues were identified under Management, Development or Finance strands.

Victim Support has achieved investors in people level 2 award and investors in diversity level 2 awards. They are presently being assessed for a Pqcasso standard mark. They undertake local quarterly service reviews and carry out an internal audit procedure.

Proposal

Under communities that care, this programme will allow Victim Support to recruit, train and accredit 12 new local volunteers who will be supported by a local service delivery manager whose role will be to help develop them and ensure that all local victims and witness received high quality support and information. These volunteers will also be encouraged to become the voice of victims and witnesses locally and assist with community engagement and outreach. They will be supported by a service delivery manager and some will additionally help facilitate alongside the Independent domestic violence advocate and support groups at the outreach site in Deptford.

Specially trained volunteers play a key role within Victim Support (in excess of 5,500 nationally), any increase in the number of volunteers recruited and trained will allow Victim Support to improve its quality of service and delivery. In addition, Victim Support has identified the need to ensure that these volunteers reflect the diversity of Lewisham borough, this will ultimately reduce fees linked to areas such as translation and interpreting.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs:

Increased volunteering across Recruit, train and accredit 12 new volunteers the borough

An environment where Recruit local volunteers that represent differing volunteering is accessible to the communities across the borough of Lewisham. 50% diverse communities of the will be BME. Increase male volunteers by 20%. At borough least 2 volunteers recruit will have a second language. 20% increase of volunteers aged between 18-25. Recruit 1 volunteer that is 16-17 for our youth mentor programme.

Effective volunteering Within 6 months of accreditation 6 new volunteers will opportunities through undertake specialist training e.g. Domestic violence or organisations that are supported young people. In addition 6 of our existing volunteers and trained in the management will undertake specialist training. 20% improvement to of volunteering support by volunteers to specialist crime types

Increase the quality of 10 volunteers will (existing/new) will participate in volunteering across the borough, community engagement particularly in hard to reach both for the volunteer and the communities e.g. presentations, forums and events. host organisation 60% of all victims contacted in 48 hours. 85% of al clients successfully contacted. Increase face to face visits by 10%

Conclusion

Victim Support Lewisham is part of a well established national organisation managed through different layers of management structures. As a national entity, Victim Support have around 1,500 staff nationwide supported by over 6,000 volunteers who do the majority of the face-to-face work of helping victims and witnesses many of whom will require long-term help and support as a result of a traumatic incident.

Victim Support Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance of the organisation, making sure that their charitable objects are met and strategic direction set.

Victim Support finance position is solid and sustainable. They are principally funded by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), in addition to funds they raise from a variety of other sources, both statutory and non-statutory.

Recommendation:

That a grant of £26,527 for 2014/15 be awarded to Victim Support

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation: Voluntary Action Lewisham

Address: 120 Rushey Green, London, SE6 4HQ

Ward located: Rushey Green Ward(s) served: All – borough-wide service Last AGM held: 17 October 2013 – attended by LBL officer

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regul atory body and have they been submitted on time: Charity Commission return was due for submission on 31 January 2013 but was received by the Charity Commission on 22 February 2013.

Amount requested: £245,532 Grant level recommended: £247,496 Purpose of grant: Delivery of a revised programme of services under the Building Social Capital strand, focusing on Leadership and Influence, Effective VCOs, Effective Engagement. Grant to be awarded subject to production of an acceptable delivery plan detailing revised approach to achieving detailed outputs and outcomes.

Services provided by the organization: Voluntary Action Lewisham (VAL) was established in 1967 and works with voluntary and community sector organisations across the borough of Lewisham to support the building of a strong and vibrant voluntary and community sector infrastructure. It achieves its aims through both practical support such as capacity building and staff training, and through advocacy to publicise achievements and highlight needs and pressures.

Performance: VAL provides its services under the Building Strong Capital theme of the Main Grants Programme and appears to be on target to meet its key outputs and outcomes for the year. These include the publication of briefing documents and the organization of a range of forums, all of which are being delivered at the required rate to achieve the required outputs, including:

• Children and young people, health and social care and personalization of social care forums to address the needs of the local population; • Compact Steering Group and Stronger Community Partnership Board meetings for community organisations; • Training programmes to support capacity building, consortium development and collaborative work.

VAL obtained an overall rating of green from the TLS annual monitoring activity. The organisation’s management structure is robust and it has a strong board which contributes to the effective running of the organization. In its 2012 monitoring, it was noted that better diversity training for staff was required. This is being addressed.

VAL is financially viable and has secured funding from a range of sources. It has a good level of unrestricted reserves.

VAL holds Investors in People, which was renewed for three years in March 2012.

Proposal: VAL has applied for funding to continue its activities under the Building Social Capital strand, focusing on Strong and Vibrant Community Sector Infrastructure. Their activity is intended to support the activities of organisations funded across other Main Grants Programme strands, including other criteria within Building Social Capital, as well as Children and Young People and Communities that Care. Their proposal and level of funding request reflect and build on activities undertaken in 2013/14 and appear to provide value for money in terms of the returns for the London Borough of Lewisham’s voluntary and community sector.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015

Outcomes Outputs Leadership and influence

VCS actively consider and adopt Create new peer learning opportunities – deliver 4 new ways of working to adapt to workshops/events per year rapidly changing and challenging Publish case studies of innovative working circumstances Identify and communicate opportunities and resources: 4 groups per year supported to develop new models 4 case studies/models of practice published on website/Grapevine

VCS is better able to Programme approach and methodology agreed: demonstrate change and One new support programme implemented improved effectiveness through Target 10 groups for individual support implementing a systematic approach to outcomes and impact assessment.

VCS representatives and VAL Appropriate training and support programme planned, demonstrate effective advocacy agreed and resourced for the voluntary and community Methodology for information exchange between VCS sector through representation and strategic boards agreed and implemented: 2 training/support workshops per year, target 10 VCS representatives VAL contributes to at least 4 Health & Wellbeing Board meetings VAL contributes to at least 4 Clinical Commissioning Group Governing Body meetings Coherent information exchange between representatives, boards and VCS organisations is established

Effective VCOs

VCS organisations have High visibility campaign improved governance and trustee VAL training programme enhanced and complemented skills by work with partners to deliver additional training/ support 1 to 1 support for organisations in crisis 1 to 1 support for Chairs of selected organisations Establish a governance / trustee network Other peer learning opportunities identified

Further local research to inform our needs of trustees

for example on equalities, collaboration with Equaliteam One new support programme implemented Target 8 groups for individual support per year Target further 15 groups participating in group support/peer support activities per year.

Improved management and Community Accountancy service delivered, enhanced service delivery by VCS and complemented by VAL training programme events organisations and workshops on management themes. Training programme target: 120 participants per year

VCS organisations have Community Accountancy service delivered, enhanced Improved financial management and complemented by VAL training programme events & sustainability and workshops on management themes. Target 30 groups per year

Effective engagement

VCS groups are better informed Comprehensive Information, Communication (ICR) about developments, and Research strategy and action plan completed opportunities, and challenges Clear planned and thematic schedule for media affecting the sector content, information and analysis agreed and implemented: Comprehensive strategy and work plan completed 4 publications of Grapevine per year Bi-monthly e-bulletin Monthly website blog and news updates

New, emerging & unmet needs of Annual Lewisham third sector survey delivered the community are identified Local research collected, collated, and presented to support themed ICR strategy (above) New connections with researchers established and results disseminated (e.g. Goldsmiths University Community Development Conference in Spring 2014 to be chaired by VAL) One annual survey published Feb/March One collaborative event/workshop with Goldsmiths, with report published (Feb 2014)

VCS groups have new Facilitate delivery of VCS-led forums and stakeholder opportunities to debate, problem groups – typically one forum event per quarter solve, and deliver solutions Agree development plan for Health & Social Care Forum & Healthwatch stakeholder group joint working, and deliver a schedule of events Plan and deliver annual or biannual sector-led forum event as a follow up to Call for Action (May 2013) 4 Health and Social Care Forums per year, target 40 participants per forum 4 Children and Young People Forums per year, target 40 participants per forum 8 meetings of Compact Steering Groups

Conclusion: VAL is a long-established organization whose activities are crucial to the support of the voluntary and community sector in Lewisham. The VAL Board has agreed on a new strategic approach for the organization which centres on its role in leading the sector in the borough. A number of new services are being developed, building on experience. This requires a re-focusing of the organization’s work and staff expertise. The grant will therefore be awarded subject to VAL providing an acceptable plan for achieving the revised outputs and outcomes prior to 31 March 2014.

Recommendation: That a grant of £247,496 for 2014/15 be awarded to Voluntary Action Lewisham, subject to provision of a plan for achieving revised service delivery.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: OFFICER RECOMMENDATION SHEET FOR 2014–15 Full name of organisation Voluntary Services Lewisham Address 300 Stanstead Road, Ward located: Ward(s) served Perry Vale Perry Vale, Forest Hill Last AGM held: LBL reps on management committee

If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regula tory body and have they been submitted on time: Returns submitted on time Amount requested: Grant level recommended: £92,000 £92,353 Purpose of grant: Theme - Communities that Care

The grant will support the organisation in delivering a range of services under the Communities that Care theme

Services provided by the organisation The organisation was established in 1969 . Services provided include the volunteer driving scheme which is a service where volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to transport service users to designated destinations and where appropriate escorts and/or wheelchair pushers are provided to assist service users. There is also the Stepping stones project which is a series of Wellbeing programmes organised in Deptford. There is also a gardening scheme where volunteers work on selected service users gardens. Other services are the Christmas Project for disadvantaged families, volunteers in schools and the Grove centre lunch club. All these services are covered by the grant request.

Performance against general criteria

Voluntary Services Lewisham is well run with a strong board and strong and experienced management in place The organisation has sound financial management systems. Income, expenditure and cash-flow statements are presented to the management committee at least once a quarter. Cash reconciliations are performed monthly. The organisation is actively seeking to diversify its funding base and has seen some success in this.

The organisation has a strong approach to partnership and has particularly worked closely with Lewisham Community Transport in developing a new model of community transport in the borough. There is also a strong working relationship with SLAM

The organisation has robust system in place to evaluate ongoing work. This is demonstrated through records of interventions with clients, questionnaires, evaluation forms, feedback from partners and service users.

Grant proposal

To deliver a number of projects/services of which some are borough wide whilst, others currently operate within the Forest Hill, Sydenham and Catford post codes. All VSL projects are delivered by volunteers.

Borough wide projects include: Volunteer Transport Scheme, Telephone Befriending, Wellbeing Workshops (for adults with mild to moderate mental health issues) Drop-ins for adults with substantial and critical mental health difficulties. SE23,26 & 6 projects include: Befriending, Gardening, DIY/Decorating and Christmas Project.

VSL works in partnership with a number of voluntary and statutory agencies to provide/delivers services such as Mental health projects and transport. We also work with local schools and lunch clubs providing volunteers e.g. School reading/classroom volunteers and kitchen helpers.

VSL services primarily support older and vulnerable adults to access community activities and services and to provide individuals with personalized budgets accessible and affordable choices. Services are designed to enable older and/or vulnerable adults to maintain independence, live more active and healthier lives and thereby preventing health deterioration and promoting community inclusion/engagement and physical and mental health and wellbeing. Projects are delivered by volunteers and therefore offering opportunities and services that actively encourage neighbourliness, community engagement and better connections and understanding between individuals and the communities’ in which they live and/or work.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2011/2012:

Outcomes: Outputs:

Communities that Care Operate a volunteer driving scheme, by providing volunteers using their own Community Transport - Volunteer Driving Scheme vehicles (or occasionally using Zipcars, (VDS) Supporting older and/or vulnerable Lewisham which are hired via the organisation’s adults to access services and activities both within and membership), to transport older and/or outside of the borough. vulnerable Lewisham adults to attend healthcare appointments, to access health and/or social club/groups and respite care venues.

Aim to recover 100% of journey cost/volunteer expenses via a contribution charge to service users or referring organisations (including PIP). Befriending Supporting older and/or vulnerable Lewisham adults to Provide a one- to-one volunteer help keep them healthy, active and engaged by befriending service in the SE23,26,6 4 providing social interaction, and enabling people to postcode areas and provide a borough access local resources and services. wide telephone befriending service.

Provide practical support to maintain and Gardening improve gardens for older and vulnerable The project will continue to support older and vulnerable adults in the SE23,26,6,4 post code areas adults, with the aim to offer a choice of affordable, between March 1 st and October 31 st . viable, flexible and gardening service to individuals with We are exploring possibilities for personal budgets as/when appropriate. We will social enterprise and partnership Continue to work with employee/corporate volunteering working in discussion with Lewisham programmes e.g. Goldman Sachs and Deloitte for one Homes and London Community off garden makeover projects. Building CIC

DIY and Decorating Provide a decorating and DIY support Provide practical support to maintain and improve service in the SE26,23,6 and 4 post Service User homes e.g. painting or wallpapering a codes to for older and/or vulnerable room, putting up a shelf or assembling flat-pack adults. furniture. This service is targeted at older and vulnerable adults helping them to maintain their long We are exploring possibilities for term independence and mental wellbeing. Therefore social enterprise and partnership preventing and/or delaying people needing to access working in discussion with Lewisham statutory services. Homes and London Community Building CIC.

Mental Health Drop-ins Promoting social inclusion and reducing stigma and improving access to social activities to individuals experiencing mental ill health e.g. substantial and Provide 7 weekly drop-ins in three critical conditions, by providing social groups which separate locations within the borough- increase community engagement and support the Sydenham, Deptford and Lee. continuing well-being and independence of this group of vulnerable adults. Venues, funding (part) and professional support From SLaM NHS Trust Provide workshop programmes for Happiness and Wellbeing Workshops vulnerable Lewisham residents with mild Well-being programmes to improve mental and physical to moderate mental health issues. This health creating independence for vulnerable adults will be done in partnership with local dealing with mild to moderate mental health issues e.g. organisations tailoring each programme depression anxiety and stress. to meet the need of participants in a variety of Lewisham locations.

Venues, funding (part) and professional support Charitable Trusts

Shopping, Wheelchair Assistants and Escorts . Supporting older and/or vulnerable Lewisham adults to Provide services delivered by volunteers help keep them healthy, active and engaged by (as in column one) in the SE23,26,6 4 providing social interaction, and enabling people to postcode areas one befriending service. access local resources and services.

Christmas Project Deliver a Christmas project to older and/or vulnerable Provide support by the provision of food adults including the unemployed and single parents. hampers, supermarket vouchers, toys, by providing hampers, supermarket vouchers, toys and pantomime and Christmas Day lunch in books and Christmas Day lunch and pantomime trip. SE23,26,6,4 post codes

Community Volunteering Support/Brokerage • Place a minimum of 12 volunteers across projects Providing a volunteering brokerage service to • Provide a minimum of 500 volunteer community groups and schools and increasing hours volunteering opportunities in the SE23, 26, 6 and 4 • Aim to increase partnership postcodes. /brokerage working with schools and other community groups to offer our volunteers a wider variety of opportunities and enhanced volunteering experience. • Increasing participation for volunteer with mild to moderate mental health issues.

Conclusion VSL provides a range of services that make an important contribution to the Communities that Care agenda. The organisation is well run with a strong board and strong management. The organisation is actively seeking to diversify its funding base and has seen some success in this.

Recommendation: That Forest Hill and Sydenham Voluntary Service Association be awarded a grant of £92,353

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation Volunteer Centre Lewisham Address 2nd Floor Showroom, 307-313 Lewisham High Street, London, SE13 6NW Ward located Ward(s) served Lewisham Central All Last AGM held: 10 October 13 – LBL Officer in attendance If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Annual Return for 31 Mar 2012: received 21 Jan 2013 Amount requested: £115,392 Grant level recommended: £108,105 Purpose of grant: Building Social Capital – Delivering community based activities, providing advice and support to organisations across the sector, including the promotion of volunteering opportunities and access to office space to small and developing community organisations.

Gateway Services – Delivering pathways to employment,

Communities that Care – Provide 1-2-1 support and information to those that want to take up volunteering through their Brokerage scheme.

Services provided by the organisation VCL gives guidance to individuals who want to volunteer by matching their skills and motivations to available volunteering opportunities within the borough. The organisation also supports people from minority ethnic communities who may be feeling marginalised or those who face barriers to volunteering by informing them of their rights and responsibilities and by supporting them through their voluntary work. VCL also support other organisations who want to use volunteers through training and one-one support. It also includes provision of first-hand information about relevant legislation and good practice in working with volunteers. Volunteer Centre Lewisham also campaigns for better conditions for volunteers and against barriers to volunteering.

Performance The organisation is on track to deliver the targets as agreed for 2013-14.

The Traffic Light System Monitoring report highlighted that the organization has high standards of governance, management, development and financial systems in place. The new Strategic plan was adopted at the recent AGM and now the only thing that needs to be developed is the Business plan that sits below this.

VCL has achieved the Volunteer Centre Quality Accreditation.

Proposal The grant is requested to continue to grow volunteering within the Borough. Primarily by opening volunteering up to wider parts of the community marginalised groups, have an opportunity to get (back) into employment.

The grant will also help VCL deliver against their new strategic plan that was agreed at the October 13 AGM, which includes direction to seek further external funding and to set itself up as a Social Enterprise to aid sustainability.

The proposal is both feasible and realistic and continues to build on the good work currently being done by VCL. It is noted that they have asked for additional funding to help offset increased salary costs, which in the current climate unfortunately can’t be provided.

The application appears to represent value for money and should help support the organisation over the next 12 months as they seek to transform into a more enterprising model, and through the development of their new Business Plan.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Volunteering developed • Lead on the delivery of the according to the needs of the volunteering strategy borough

Development of the Lewisham • Lead on the development of a Volunteering Consortium volunteering consortium. Convening meetings. Applications for funding Volunteering represented at key • Attendance at strategic meetings, fora across Lewisham Compact, SCPB, Health & Wellbeing Development of VCL as an • Development of a Social Enterprise in independent service to local line with the organisations objectives residents

Development of VCL as a 2 nd tier • Seek funding for volunteering resource to volunteer involving development. Development of charged organisation for services Lewisham volunteer managers • 10-15 volunteer managers per quarter supported, informed, trained attending volunteer managers forum

• A minimum of 4 training sessions for organisations on issues related to volunteer management 4000 people registering for • Have a presence in local public venues information on volunteering for people to receive one to one advice and information on volunteering,

• Responding to online volunteering enquiries

• Attending events

• Delivering information sessions at schools, colleges, groups etc

Potential volunteers informed of • 190 people attending Introduction to rights and responsibilities whilst Volunteering Workshops volunteering

40 unemployed Lewisham • One to one meeting to assess personal residents supported to find skills, goals and employment volunteering to gain appropriate objectives to assisting them to find employment • Brokering 40 volunteering opportunities for unemployed 40 people receiving personal • One to one meeting identifying development plan development needs and setting goals and training plans 100 people attending • Delivering employment related training employment related training e.g. Confidentiality, Equalities, Office Skills, CV writing, communication skills etc

• Identifying courses for individuals with specific interests, e.g. IT, sign language etc Volunteers informed of rights and • 60 people attending Introduction to responsibilities volunteering workshop

Conclusion VCL continue to offer a valued service within the Third Sector in Lewisham

The application asks for an increase in grant to help pay for an increase in salary costs as the result of a 1% increase in 2013, and an expected 2% in 2014/15. However, there are no additional funds available.

Recommendation: That a grant of £108,105 for 2014/15 be awarded to Volunteer Centre Lewisham.

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation YOUNG LEWISHAM PROJECT Address 124 Kilmorie Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 2SR Ward located Ward(s) served Perry Vale Borough-wide Last AGM held: Last AGM in July 2012 – date of next AGM to be confirmed If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Charity Number – 1118469; Company Number – 3066714 Website indicates compliance with filing requirements Amount requested: £103,900 Grant level recommended: £90,922 Purpose of grant: Funding is sought under the Children & Young People theme: • developing children and young people to become active citizens, • improving well being through universal youth activities and • supporting children and young people to engage in decision making

Services provided by the organisation Young Lewisham project are funded to provide informal programmes of educational activities to young people 13-19 years of age, which is not currently available to them through mainstream schooling, through exclusion or missing out on essential learning at secondary level.

Performance Young Lewisham Project continues to perform well and achieve tangible outcomes for young people. The details from the 6 months April-September 2013 gives an indication of achievements: • Tuesday later after school group which worked towards the national youth bike award competition with 10 young people attending 6 regulars who went on to enter the competition (off site residential) • Thursday Motor vehicle workshop with Lewisham College regularly attended by 12 young people • 11 pupils from Brent Knoll school and 8 from Sedgehill school doing life skills courses working towards and ASDAN award • Social enterprise taster took place with 11 young girls from Sydenham Girls school

Governance arrangements have improved with the appointment of new trustees, although it is acknowledged there is still work to be done to get a gender mix. There are appropriate systems and procedures in place to ensure that the organisation is effectively managed and can respond to new opportunities. This has meant a re-structure of roles whereby different members of staff take line management responsibility for the different areas of activity.

YLP are active in ensuring that the young people in the programme are involved in the design and give feedback on how things can be done differently. Young people are encouraged a much as possible to take the lead on different activities, such as the residential events. YLP work with a number of partner agencies, most referrals are from schools, social services leaving care team or the youth offending team. The principle aim of the partnership is to get young people reengaged with education, further training or work placements to improve their life changes.

Financially the accounts to March 2013 provide evidence of work that has been done by the organisation to reduce expenditure, which meant that there was a small surplus at the end of the year, increasing the carried forward balance to £24,677. There is also evidence of active fundraising being undertaken by the organisation: Stage 2 Lottery Bid (People’s Millions); Gannett Foundation; Henry Smith Foundation; City Bridge Trust have all been approached.

YLP hold PQASSO at Level 1 as well as being accredited to deliver the ASDAN and OCN courses, which requires registration and annual inspection to assess the quality of the service delivery

Proposal The Young Lewisham Project is requesting funding to support provision of informal programmes of educational activities to young people aged 13 – 19 years (from 8 years in our holiday programmes). Young Lewisham offers 8 programmes weekly working with up to 150 participants a year. Accreditation is offered in the programmes including Open College Network (OCN) and Award Scheme Development Accreditation Network (ASDAN) the groups are motor vehicle, workshop and national youth bike award, social enterprise, gardening and allotment work, volunteer programmes, fashion/arts and crafts, bicycle workshops and life skills. Young Lewisham is based in the Perry Vale ward providing services locally and across borough. The outcomes and outputs of each programme is described below and how they fit with the Children and young People programme improving life chances, staying safe and healthy –with young people involved in the running of the programmes by making a positive contribution to the planning and achieving economic well being.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015:

Outcomes: Outputs: Improve education training and advice • 2 weekly programmes for young programmes in motor vehicle maintenance for people aged 13 – 19 young people aged between 13 – 19 years. • Up to 12 young people in each Raising their skills and attainment levels to group taking place at Young gain accreditation; Lewisham - up to 24 per year Learning to be safe and taking self responsibility. Young Lewisham aims to improve communication and employability as well as providing pathways to further training/education and volunteering opportunities for young people. Encouraging empowerment and presenting Up to 12 young people involved in grant opportunities to improve access and increased applications and taking part and participation for young people. attending Perry Vale Local assembly Increase the amount of young people and other local assemblies when engaging with decision making and taking self appropriate – on a quarterly basis... responsibility for their own work plan and feeding in to Management committee learning development increasing links with meetings which take place bi-monthly local and wider community To develop a sense of well being promoting a Up to 15 young people attend one day a healthy and active lifestyle within our bicycle week aged 8 – 19 at Young Lewisham maintenance sessions; Offering regular and off site rides running all year long workshop sessions followed by off site riding and up to 50 young people attending one day riding trips, two day courses one day workshop followed by one day ride and short programmes during the holidays. Arts and crafts/fashion sessions to raise skills Up to 10 young people attending after in working with materials, creative approaches, school sessions once a week term time sewing skills including practical and theory only and one day and short tasks, connecting fashion to cultural and programmes during the holidays aged changes in society/different influence. 8 - 19 Enabling increased awareness of recycling and made do and mend and how enjoying making something new out of recycled materials. To develop accredited outcomes for young Up to 12 young people attend weekly people on our life skills programmes with the session aged 12 – 19 and one day and Award Scheme Development Accreditation holiday sessions programme where appropriate. To develop pilot and taster sessions in 3 programmes a year up to 36 young carpentry, painting and decorating, brickwork people during the year and associated trades; To research and develop where appropriate gardening and allotment programmes which can link into existing courses or new dedicated programmes Developing our programmes to access wider Up to 10 young people attending our groups including young carers and young programmes throughout the year in women to improve well being, relationships, addition to dedicated young women’s friendship and taking self responsibility programmes during the holidays

Conclusion YLP is a sound well managed organisation, with a strong and active management committee and staff team. The organisation continues to provide cost effective programmes for young people, with young people engaged in the design and delivery. YLP has been able to maintain delivery of services at a high level which is reflected in the recent TLS Monitoring Report.

Recommendation: The application is for an increase of £13,700 to funding awarded to the organisation last year. Despite the merits of this, the budgetary pressures facing Lewisham Council mean that it is not possible to recommend this increase. The recommendation is therefore that the organisations grant is maintained at its previous level of £90,922

MAIN PROGRAMME GRANT: RECOMMENDATION REPORT for 2014/15

Name of organisation YOUTH A.I.D.LEWISHAM Address 17 Brownhill Road, London, SE6 2HG Ward located Ward(s) served Catford South Borough-wide Last AGM held: TBC If registered charity/Company, when returns are due to regulatory body and have they been submitted on time: Charity Number – 266413. Evidence indicates that compliant with filing requirements to Charity Commission Amount requested: £23,500 Grant level recommended: £22,340 Purpose of grant: Funding in line with the objective of the Children & Young People’s Plan: • Enjoy and Achieve • Make a positive contribution • Achieve economic wellbeing

The grant is subject to: • Providing an revised 2-3 Business Plan – incorporating fundraising strategy • Copy of 2013 Audited Accounts • Complete Equalities Impact Assessment • Carry out Health & Safety inspection • Provide details of first aiders

Services provided by the organisation Youth A.I.D. Lewisham are funded to provide information and development services to meet the immediate and long-term needs of young people, aged 13-19 (and young people with learning difficulties age 25 years) in Lewisham who face a range of barriers and challenges. One to one support and sign posting for young people facing issues, family and relationship breakdown is given.

The Young Leaders Programme – a rolling self development and learning programme offering a menu of both in-house, brokered and signposted training, development and volunteering opportunities from which each young person designs a tailor made programme to meet their unique learning and developmental needs based on their individual aspirations. Support and guidance is provided by staff to ensure barriers are overcome, and there is continuous engagement and successful completion of the programme.

Performance Based on the quarter one (Apr-June 2013) YAL are on target to meet outputs/outcomes for the year – expect in the area of identifying which volunteering opportunities have taken up difficulties in obtaining information either from the young person or the host organisation.

The Management Committee has a clear understanding of its purpose, objectives and mission. Relevant policies and procedures are available for staff, volunteers and board members electronically via PC/laptop and subsequently submitted to CSU. During monitoring visit Monitoring Officer was able to access hard copy details of policies and procedures.

Key Action Point to draft a Business Plan which considers the options to ensure sustainability in light of the move toward the commissioning of Youth Services

In terms of Management, the overall rating for YAL is Amber/Green. The organisation has a number of the appropriate systems and procedures in place to maximise the use of its resources. There are key indicators highlighted amber which the organisation will need to address, and once evidence has been submitted to CSU, the organisation can be rated Green on Management via the TLS.

The 2012-13 Interim Business Plan presented at the monitoring visit consists provides an overview of the organisation. Trustees awaiting the outcome of the Youth Services Commissioning process before making a decision on future direction for YAL. There is evidence of partnership working to deliver some of the key activities for the young people.

YAL will need to further explore succession planning and have a definitive financial and fundraising strategy in place to support the organisation post 2013. Once evidence has been provided to CSU, it will be reviewed to ensure the organisation is fulfilling its vision and meeting the challenges for change. YAL will further need to review its current range of programmes/activities to ensure that they meet the needs of young people in the borough of Lewisham.

Financial viability of YAL is rated as Amber. The organisation has submitted an interim business plan with an overview of future sustainability – however this is initially for one year 2012-13, with the current downturn in the economic climate YAL will need to implement a clear strategy of secure external funding to deliver its programme/activities 2014 onwards. Information not yet available on accounts to March 2013 being finalised – need to identify whether this is another year where YAL are reporting a deficit on the year, which was the case in both 2010/11 -£47,042; 2011/12 -£28,190; deficit is covered by reserves, but this is not sustainable.

YAL were recently successful in getting the Bronze Award from London Youth following quality audit of services for young people

Proposal Funding is requested to contribute towards core costs of the organisation, which will enable the deliver of services if YAL are successful in securing a Youth Services Commissioning contract.

Youth A.I.D. Lewisham has an annual Service Level Agreement with Lewisham Youth Service, which was extended until March 2014. A tendering process is being put in place by the Youth Service for funding from 2014/15 and Youth A.I.D. Lewisham will need to ensure it is robust enough in order to compete in the process.

Key Expected Outputs and Outcomes 2014/2015: Much of this can be lifted direct from the application form. The organisation will be monitored against this in the following year.

Outcomes: Outputs: 1. Increase the numbers of • 200 young people will have young people (particularly hard to registered with YAL. Received reach young people) aged 16-19 advice and information including (incl mental, emotional, other referrals to other agencies or signed learning difficulties or disabilities) up for the Young Leaders programme engaged in personal/civic development through a range of opportunities.

2. To improve young peoples’ • 200 young people (including other engagement and sustainability in members of the community) through community involvement through YAL will have taken up volunteering volunteering (particularly hard to and/or leadership roles in the local reach young peoples) and wider community • Young people maintain engagement with Catford Regeneration focus groups 3. To increase young peoples’ • 200 young people engaged in training opportunities for learning and opportunities – 150 of whom will training within the YAL achieve recognised awards and programmes and Young Leaders’ qualifications Project

4. Continue to actively work with • At least 10 partnerships formed with established partners to identify new organisations and/or new areas and discuss the opportunities of work developed with existing available for young people. Work partners towards identifying new • Network Meetings collaborations and partnerships • Staff, Management Committee and to inform current practice, Friends of Youth AID Lewisham increase development representation on other opportunities and analyse impact bodies/events of service delivery • Staff, Management Committee and volunteers attendance at training

Conclusion Overall Youth Aid Lewisham has been rated AMBER/GREEN, and there is clear evidence the organisation has worked hard to address a number of issues and submitted relevant policies and procedures which were outstanding from the previous TLS monitoring visit.

YAL will need to further explore succession planning and have a definitive financial and fundraising strategy in place to support the organisation post 2013. It is crucial for them to be able to have a clear strategy of securing external funding to deliver and widen its range of programmes/activities. Once evidence has been provided to CSU, it will be reviewed to ensure the organisation is fulfilling its vision and meeting the challenges for change. YAL will further need to review its current range of programmes/activities to ensure that they meet the needs of young people in the borough of Lewisham .

Recommendation: That a grant of £22,340 for 2014/15 be awarded to Youth A.I.D Lewisham. The grant is subject to the organisation:

• Providing an revised 2-3 Business Plan – incorporating fundraising strategy • Copy of 2013 Accounts • Complete Equalities Impact Assessment • Carry out Health & Safety inspection • Provide details of first aiders