SHEFFIELD CITY COUNCIL Report to South Community Assembly

Report of: South Community Assembly Manager ______

Date: 10 th June 2010 ______

Subject: Support for the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector ______

Author of Report: Martin Hughes, South Community Assembly Manager

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Summary:

Across Sheffield and the UK organisations within the Voluntary Community Sector are facing difficult financial decisions as a result of less and less opportunities to access funding to deliver services and activities and cover core running costs. Within the South Community Assembly community organisations have lobbied local Councillors and Council Officers to take stock of the impact on local communities if these organisations were to reduce their activity, or even dissolve.

At the South Community Assembly meeting on 25 th March 2010 the Community Assembly Manager was requested to provide a position statement to assist Elected Members in any future decisions they would make in relation to supporting organisations within the VCF Sector.

This report will reflect on VCF activity across all the South Community Assembly but will primarily focus on the sustainability of the larger ‘Community Anchor’ organisations which have assets and employ staff, namely Lowedges Community Safety Forum, Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum, Gleadless Valley Community Forum, Heeley Development Trust and Heeley City Farm. The report also provides recommendations as to how the South Community Assembly can continue to support the VCF sector in 2010/11.

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Reasons for Recommendations:

The involvement of communities is the main component in Sheffield City Council’s ambition to change the way the Council delivers services in the city. Decisions that were made in the Town Hall will now be made within communities and residents will have more opportunities to influence services

1 in the area that meet local priorities and needs. This will contribute to making communities safe and sustainable.

Provision of funding for Lowedges Forum and the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum will ensure those neighbourhoods will continue to be involved in influence the South Community Plan, the work of the Community Assembly and the services delivered by partner agencies. In addition it will ensure the continuation of community based learning, activities for children and young people and activities for older people within those neighbourhoods.

Provision of funding for Community Events will allow a wide number of community organisations to provide activities that contribute to cohesion and building a sense of community. It also allows the South Community Assembly team to engage with a wide number of residents from across the area.

Recommendations:

That the South Community Assembly:

(1) regard having been had to the Sheffield City Strategy and to the relevant Secretary of State’s guidance, confirms its belief that the granting of funding as envisaged in this report is likely to achieve the promotion and improvement of the economic, social and environmental well-being of residents of the wards of Beauchief and Greenhill, Gleadless Valley, Graves Park and Nether Edge;

(2) considers the information contained within this report and allocates the £40,000 from the 2010/11 Discretionary Budget to Lowedges Forum to fund the core costs of both Lowedges Forum and Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum so that they can deliver community engagement and community capacity building in these target neighbourhoods

(3) considers the information contained within this report and allocates £2,000 from the 2010/11 Discretionary Budget and £1,000 from the Culture Service to establish a ‘Community Events’ pot of £3,000; and authorises the South Community Assembly Manager, in consultation with the South Community Assembly Chair, to allocate this funding to community organisations running festivals and events throughout the year

(4) authorises the Director of Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnerships, in consultation with the Director of Legal Services, to agree the terms on which all funding in this report is made available and to complete funding agreements for the projects mentioned within this report and any other related documents that she considers appropriate. ______

Background Papers:

Appendix 1 - Recommendations from Sheffield VCF Sector Review (Oct ‘09) Appendix 2 - Review of Key Voluntary Sector Organisations in the South Community Assembly area

Category of Report: OPEN

2 Statutory and Council Policy Checklist

Financial implicat ions

YES/NO Cleared by:

Legal implications

YES Cleared by: Andrew Bullock

Equality of Opportunity implications

YES Cleared by:

Tackling Health Inequalities implications

YES

Human rights implications

Environmental and Sustainabili ty implications

Economic impact

YES

Community safety implications

YES

Human resources implications

Property implications

3 1. Summary

2. What does this mean for people within the South Community Assembly Area?

The Voluntary Community and Faith sector within the South Community Assembly plays a key role in the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of local neighbourhoods. In particular this activity includes – • Assisting communities to voice their opinions on local issues and become more involved in local decision making • Providing routes through for the Council and its partners to engage with those they traditional struggle to involve • Providing activities that strengthen community cohesion • Deliver services and activities which enhance the environment • Provide routes back into employment via community based learning and advice • Promote health and wellbeing through advice and service provision • Deliver activities for Children and Young People which contributes to healthy living, community safety and increasing self esteem. • Deliver activities for Older People which contributes to healthy living and reducing isolation.

This ongoing activity has a direct impact on a significant number of priorities within the South Community Plan – • Improving Parks and Open Spaces • Urban Tree Renewal • Tackling Climate Change • Improving facilities and increase activities for Children & Young People • Ensuring Children and Young People have the opportunity to participate in local decision making • Reducing Anti-social Behaviour and Crime

4 • Improve the health and wellbeing of older people • Improving Public Health in targeted areas • Provide increased opportunities for people to access learning and employment • Provide local people the opportunity to influence local decision making • Ensure there is a vibrant and robust Voluntary, Community Sector

3. Outcomes and Sustainability

Community Assemblies are a key priority in Sheffield City Council’s ‘City of Opportunity’ Corporate Plan. As an outcome of the introduction of Community Assemblies, it is hoped to increase the number of Sheffield residents who feel they can influence local decision-making, and who feel satisfied with their local areas.

The projects and activities identified to receive reallocated funding contribute to one or more of the six key ambitions contained within the Sheffield City Council’s ‘City of Opportunity’ corporate plan, namely:- • Leading Sheffield’s Transformation • Vibrant, Strong and Safe Communities • Protecting and Enhancing the Environment • A better life for Children and Young People • Supporting People to be Healthy and Independent • Putting the Customer First and Achieving Better Value for Money

The projects and activity within this report contribute to all nine of the Councils’ principles as indicated in the Corporate Plan. • Local voice – priorities influenced by local people • Customers as individuals – needs of individuals in communities considered • Choice – will provide increased choice about how and when to access services • Social Justice – funding targeted at areas of greatest need • Equality of opportunity – provides opportunities for residents who often find it difficult to access services • A fair deal for communities – providing extended services and activities to all communities in the area • Open, honest and transparent – any Assembly decision to be made in a public setting and open to local scrutiny • Environmental sustainability – promotes activity tackling climate change • Value for money – analysis and assessment of various options for projects and activities has taken place with partner agencies

4. Full Proposal

5 Sheffield First Partnership and Sheffield City Council recognises the need for a ‘thriving third sector’ and is measured on this via ‘ NI7 – the contribution that local government and its partners make to the environment in which independent third sector organisations can operate successfully’ . At a more local level the South Community Assembly Plan includes a priority to ensure a vibrant and robust VCF sector.

In 2009 a review of the VCF sector in Sheffield took place, which provided seven recommendations (see Appendix A) that the Council and its partners are now considering.

4.1 Current VCF infrastructure within the South Community Assembly

There are a wide range of community organisations within the South Community Assembly ranging from large Forums or Trusts (Community Anchor organisations), with employed staff and assets that tackle a wide range of issues, through to small informal groups of volunteers that are usually issue specific.

The Community Anchor organisations are the focus of this report as they are currently facing uncertain times as a result of the reduced opportunities to secure funding to deliver services / activities and support core costs. These include – • Lowedges Community Safety Forum • Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum • Gleadless Valley Community Forum • Heeley Development Trust • Heeley City Farm

There are two Advice Centres within the South Community Assembly who also face annual funding pressures - • Heeley Advice Centre • Woodseats Advice Centre

There are a range of ‘medium-sized’ organisations within the area that don’t tend to employ staff or have significant assets but do provide a wide range of activities and community engagement through volunteers. As such they are not over reliant on large grants or securing service delivery contracts. Organisations in this category include –

6 • Tenants and Residents Associations - Gleadless Valley, New Batemoor, Old Greenhill & Chancet Wood, Jordanthorpe, Greenhill & Bradway, Abbeydale, Heeley Rise, Norton Lees, Tillotson, Stead Road. • Neighbourhood Groups – Nether Edge Neighbourhood Group, Abbeydale Communities Together, Abbeydale Community Trust, Caterknowle & Millhouses, Sharrow Vale, Bradway, Bannercross • Groups responsible for Building Management – Friends of Abbeydale Picture House, Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Community Association, Lowedges Terminus Initiative • Youth Groups – Aiming High Dance Group, Club 66, ROC2 Café • Friends of Parks / Environment Groups - Graves Park, Greenhill Park, Meersbrook Park, Beauchief and Greenhill, Woodseats Festival • Neighbourhood Watch Groups – Greenhill, Woodseats & Gleadless Valley

Finally there are a huge amount of smaller organisations (such as faith groups, toddler groups, older people’s groups, sports clubs, etc.).

4.2 Previous funding of the VCF sector by the South Community Assembly

In 2009/10 the South Community Assembly had a budget of £292,000. The Assembly allocated approximately £150,000 out of this to 13 local community organisations to deliver a variety of services / activities, including – • Community engagement and cohesion • Activities for Children and Young People • Community based learning and advice In addition £40,000 was allocated to the ‘You Choose’ community chest which funded 42 community organisations. Therefore 65% of the Discretionary Budget went directly to the VCF Sector.

The Community Assembly also had a £50,000 Climate Change Fund in 2009/10. £45,000 of this was allocated to 10 community organisations (ie. 90% ).

Already in 2010/11 the South Community Assembly has allocated £90,000 towards Children and Young People’s activities from its Discretionary Budget. Approximately £45,000 of this was allocated to community organisations. In addition £3,000 Food Festival money went into the VCF sector to deliver activities.

4.3 Position Statement from Community Anchor Organisations

The five Community Anchor organisations within the South Community Assembly have responded to a questionnaire (see Appendix B) to illustrate their current position. a) Batemoor and Jordanthorpe Forum i) Current activity delivered

Community Engagement and Empowerment – based at the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Community Centre the Forum run 4 community fun days throughout the year (Easter, Spring Bank, Summer and Christmas), attend

7 established groups to talk to local people about what other services they would like in the area and support for smaller organisations in the locality (Sunsetters After School Club, Batemoor and Jordanthorpe Community Association, Oak Tree Spiritualist Church, Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Friendship Group, Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Bingo Group)

Education, Learning and Advice - Adult dance class, Adult IT class, Introduction Community Development Health course, Learn to Count for parents and toddlers, Citizen’s Advice sessions for parents with young children

Activity for Children & Young People - Tuesday night Junior Club, Tuesday night Boxercise, Holiday Playschemes.

Health – Friday Healthy Lunch Club– a place for people of any age to buy a budget hot meal and have a chat. ii) Sustainability

In April 2009 the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum lost its core funding and much of their reserves were needed to pay the redundancies of 11 staff members. This lead them to reviewing their structure and moving into the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Community Centre, both to cut their running costs and improve their partnership with the Batemoor and Jordanthorpe Community Association. This process was supported by Lowedges Forum who assisted them to draw down funding from the South Community Assembly, employ their Project Assistant and providing management support and guidance. Since July 2009 they have developed further partnerships with Life Long Learning and Skills, the local Public Health Initiative and the local Children’s Centre and have been able to support the delivery of wider range of services with a significantly reduced income. This would not have been possible without the efforts of the Project Assistant and the volunteer committee members putting in a large amount of voluntary time.

Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum has committed the last of their reserves to pay the wages of the Project Assistant until 10 th June 2010 and pay their phone and broadband bills. If no further funding is received by June the Forum will have to make their only staff member redundant and wind down. This would end all of the services and activities currently delivered and the knock on effect could result in many of the smaller groups winding down. In addition there would be the possible loss of the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Community Centre due to the loss of income from the activities the Forum co- ordinate. Sustainability of the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum also depends on the continued existence of Lowedges Forum as they continue to provide significant staff support.

By working in collaboration with Lowedges Forum and Batemoor and Jordanthorpe Community Association it has enabled Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum to deliver more activity whilst reducing costs. They aim to continue and build upon this with the possibility of more work with the local Children’s Centre and NHS Sheffield in the near future. They are working with the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Community Association to ensure the Community Centre generates enough income to cover costs and generate a

8 small surplus. Currently the surplus is only sufficient enough to pay basic additional costs. However in the future it is hoped it will be sufficient to contribute towards the cost of the Project Assistant post.

Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum does not receive any central grant funding from Sheffield City Council. They have been contracted by the South Community Assembly to deliver activities for children and young people in Batemoor and Jordanthorpe in 2010/11. They also have a contract with SNIPS (Special Needs Inclusive Playcare Service) to provide holiday placement for children with additional needs. However, this comes with no funding or finance.

The Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum has applied to the Santander Community Fund for core running costs. They have had no reply and the decision will be due after June 2010. They will also be putting in a joint bid with Lowedges Forum to Sheffield City Council’s ‘Supporting the Delivery of Economic Development from the Third Sector’ pot. This will be for the Project Assistant salary, phone / broadband and rent. The Forum will find out if this is successful in June 2010. b) Lowedges Community & Safety Forum i) Current activity delivered

Community Engagement and Empowerment – based at the ‘1 stop shop’ Resource and Information Centre the Forum take up issues that the community have on estate monitoring and community safety and have representatives on the NAG and estate management team at Sheffield Homes; Support a wide range of other community groups in Lowedges by helping write bids, financial administration assistance, general advice and capacity building; Publish three newsletters per year to all 3000 households on the estate.

Support for Batemoor and Jordanthorpe Forum - currently have the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe staff member on their payroll and offer advice and guidance on a range of issues. This support has helped their organisation deliver a range of activities (see above). This arrangement will continue until June 2010, when funding for this support will cease.

Education, Learning and Advice - formal and informal courses ranging from ICT, Arts and Crafts, Basic Skills, Health and Social Care and there is a UK Online Centre at the Learning Suite at Greenhill/Bradway Youth Centre; Outreach Advice from Woodseats Advice Centre for debt, and for parents and carers of children under five

Activity for Children & Young People - weekly Junior Youth Club sessions and holiday playschemes for 8-13 year olds

Health – work in partnership with various organisations to deliver projects on the estate, such as the Local Food Growing project and the breast feeding peer support programme.

9 ii) Sustainability

Out of the Forum’s reserves the Partnership Manager and Finance Admin Assistant wages will be covered until the end of December 2010. Other help and support with rent and utilities has been looked into such as requesting a peppercorn rent from Sheffield Homes for The Resource and Information Centre. This cannot currently be granted due to a review soon to be carried out by Sheffield Homes and the Council on lettings to community organisations from social housing. Therefore the Forum is negotiating a move with Sheffield Homes to the Greenhill / Bradway Youth Centre in summer 2010. This would be rent free and with no utility costs. Lowedges Forum and Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum continue to work in partnership to maximise opportunities to deliver services efficiently across all three estates.

The Forum has a small amount of reserves, some of which is ring fenced for redundancy costs. If no other funding is secured after December 2010, all reserves will have been used.

Lowedges Forum does not receive any central grant funding from Sheffield City Council. They have been contracted by the South Community Assembly to deliver a holiday playscheme in Lowedges from April 2010-March 2011. They also have a contract with SNIPS (Special Needs Inclusive Playcare Service) to provide holiday placement for children with additional needs. However, this comes with no funding or finance. The Forum deliver Adult learning course through Life Long Learning and Skills Service (LLSS). Funding for this activity is likely to be reduced in September.

Lowedges Forum has recently submitted successful bids to Humber Learning Consortium and UKonline. This amounts to £15,000 for provision of adult learning opportunities at the Learning Suite.

The Trustees of the Forum have agreed to fund the term time junior youth club sessions until July 2010, previously funded by the South Community Assembly 2009-10. If further funding is not secured the junior youth club sessions will end. They have submitted bids to Volent Charitable Trust and ABC Police awards and are awaiting a response.

The Forum has submitted a bid to the Charles and Elsie Sykes Trust to cover core costs and is awaiting a response. They will also be putting in a joint bid with Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum to Sheffield City Council’s ‘Supporting the Delivery of Economic Development from the Third Sector’ pot. If successful this will cover the Partnership Manager and the Finance Admin Assistant salaries from June –March 2011. The Forum will find out if this is successful in June 2010. In addition they will shortly be submitting three other bids to Santander, Lloyds TSB and The Big Lottery to cover core costs. c) Gleadless Valley Community Forum i) Current activity delivered

Community Engagement and Empowerment – based at a ‘1 stop shop’ office on Gaunt Road shops the Forum hold public meetings every 3 months, produce a quarterly newsletter, have a well used website, run community

10 events and festivals and support local theme based networks, which (amongst other things) allows them to advocate on behalf of the community when working with partners and lobbying for improved resources and service provision. This is all captured in their Community Engagement Strategy. They support a wide range of other community groups in Gleadless Valley by helping write bids, financial administration assistance, funding and general advice and capacity building. Finally they run a whole range of volunteering opportunities (currently “employ” 6 volunteers in a variety of roles).

Education, Learning and Advice – Manage and run the Online Centre at the Gaunt Shops; Weekly IT Teatime sessions for young people; Provision of up to 30 locally based courses annually (both accredited and non-accredited) including Basic Skills, ESOL, Beginners Word processing; Business and Administration; Health and Social care; First Aid; Weekly Job Club; Employ 2 part time Learning Champions (who engage with local learners) and an Engagement Worker (who helps long term unemployed); Hosting of the weekly Advice Service in partnership with Heeley Advice Service. The Forum is currently conducting a full three month review of all projects under the banner ‘Valley Education and Skills’ to ensure that the project is meeting the changing needs of a diverse community.

Activity for Children & Young People – Twice weekly Junior Club; Saturday morning youth club; Check it Out Group (Young People’s Forum); Twice weekly outreach youth work; Holiday play schemes running every school holiday for 5 days each week.

Health - Twice weekly SORTED Teenage health drop in clinic in partnership with Sheffield PCT; BRIL (Building Respect In Life) Project, a 10-12 week series of workshops devised by young people including Baby Think it Over; Managing the Enhanced Public Health programme for the Gleadless Valley area; Employing and hosting the PCT’s Stop Smoking Advisor for the Gleadless Valley Area

Older People – One to one support and befriending; Two community lunch clubs in partnership with local faith groups; Two Chairobics groups at local venues; Weekly swim bus including provision of minibus and driver; 4 annual excursions. ii) Sustainability

Gleadless Valley Forum has a reasonably healthy unrestricted fund in its bank account, but this money will certainly be spent in 2010-11. In addition they have a restricted reserve commensurate with 4-months running costs, which can only be utilised as stipulated in the Reserves Policy. The Forum continues to develop income generation. This includes the rental of office and community space, hiring of Forum’s minibus, charging for a minute taking service, developing bespoke training packages for sale to the private sector, charging for community engagement services, selling of advertising space and copy space in the GV New Magazine, sponsorship opportunities and running events, such as car boot sales. The Forum is in the process of producing a glossy A4 marketing document which details all services they can provide from youth work expertise to training.

11 The Forum received has previously been, and still is, recognised as a city- wide ‘Community Anchor Organisation’ and, as such, received central funding from Sheffield City Council’s ABG in 2009/10. They have been contracted by the South Community Assembly to deliver youth outreach work in Gleadless Valley in 2010/11. Sheffield CC has also contracted them to deliver Positive Activities for Young People. In addition they have contracts in place with Sheffield NHS for the Enhanced Public Health Programme and Stop Smoking Advice.

Whilst the Forum is in a relatively healthy financial position at present it is still grant dependant. The Forum is waiting on the outcomes of a number of grant applications to Trusts and agencies to continue the delivery of the activities and services previously mentioned. This includes an application into Sheffield City Council’s ‘Supporting the Delivery of Economic Development from the Third Sector’ pot. d) Heeley City Farm i) Current activity delivered

Community Engagement and Empowerment – working with SHEBEEN and other organisations to engage BME individuals and communities in environmental activity; Engaging and supporting volunteers in a wide range of activities; Delivering day opportunities and other services to adults and young people with varying disabilities in an integrated setting. The Farm supports a wide range of other community groups and schools across the City to develop community / food growing gardens and other environmental projects.

Education, Learning and Advice - delivering contracts to help break the cycles of youth unemployment, no qualifications and skills and lack of aspirations (NEETs - Not in Education, Employment or Training); Developing a wide range of local learning and education opportunities, especially for people with few or no qualifications; providing information, advice and support for individuals and communities to move out of fuel poverty; Employ Learning Champions (who engage with local learners) in Heeley, Meersbrook, Abbeydale, Lowedges, Batemoor & Jordanthorpe.

Activity for Children & Young People – providing daily play and other recreation activities for young people and families

Health - practically educating communities and individuals in healthy eating, sourcing fresh and healthy food, cooking on a budget etc. through the Heeley City Farm café (social enterprise), Firth Park Community Allotment, work with young people, local food growing projects and Food in Sheffield; Providing a range of community and health services and activities for all ages, abilities and disabilities based at Heeley City Farm and other sites,

Environment and Heritage – Helping individuals and communities across the City to become more aware of climate change and demonstrate and influence how they can contribute to the solution and educating individuals and communities in energy conservation and renewable energy production through South Yorkshire Energy Centre (social enterprise); exploring the history, heritage and archaeology of the Heeley City Farm site and Wortley

12 Hall Walled Garden and other sites; Promoting sustainable local food growing and production and related health activities on several sites throughout Sheffield and Barnsley including Wortley Hall Walled Garden, Meersbrook Park Walled Garden and Firth Park Community Allotment. Green tourism - attracting, involving, educating and entertaining a wide range of visitors to Heeley City Farm and our other sites. ii) Sustainability

Heeley City Farm annual turnover is in the order of £750k, employing 40 plus staff and engaging approximately 100 volunteers each week and welcoming about 100,000 visitors each year.

Heeley City Farm has assets worth approximately £800,000. However, these are mainly the farm buildings and offices and have no easily realisable value. They have no cash reserves and have an ongoing commercial overdraft arrangement which sometimes helps balance the monthly cash flow. They are keen to reduce and remove the need for this overdraft and build moderate cash reserves.

The Directors and Chief Executive are constantly reviewing and improving the staffing, management, quality and operations of Heeley City Farm. The Heeley City Farm café was re-launched as the Farm Kitchen in February 2010. New senior staff have recently been appointed South Yorkshire Energy Centre.

They are currently reviewing the position of Heeley City Farm in (and the services they are delivering to) the local community.

The Heeley City Farm site is constantly being improved and funding is being sought to re-furbish the toilets and improve the play area.

The Farm currently receives a Sheffield City Council Revenue Grant of £38,248 for 2010-2011. Currently this grant part funds the cost of the Farm Manager and a Support Worker. In 2009 the City Council gave the Farm a one off discretionary grant of £20,000 which represented a loan they had previously given them.

The Farm has several service delivery contracts with the public sector, which they are looking to extend. These include -

• South Community Assembly - to deliver Food Festival activities in June 2010 • South Community Assembly - to deliver children and young people’s activities in 2010/11 • Sheffield Youth Consortium, Kids Can Do – activities for young people aged 8-13. Current contract ends in March 2011. • Sheffield City Council VSP contract - work with targeted young people, aged 14-16. Current contract is to March 2011. • Sheffield City Council IYSS Support fund for targeted youth activities, aged 14-16. Current contract ends in March 2011. • Sheffield City Council, Future Proof Framework for targeted NEET youth activities, aged 16-18. Current contact ends in June 2010.

13 • Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities – employment of Learning Champion for Abbeydale, Batemoor and Jordanthorpe, Heeley and Meersbrook Learning Champion. Current contract ends in July 2010. • Sheffield City Council Social Services Partnership Grant - providing day care to targeted adults with learning difficulties. Current contract ends in March 2011 • Sheffield PCT (in partnership with Sheffield Wildlife Trust) - Food in Sheffield programme. Current contract ends in March 2011

The Farm continues to seek new contracts to work with people with mental health problems, NEETs, other young people, adults with learning difficulties, older people, BME individuals and communities, land management, asset development, sustainable energy, fuel poverty, food growing, healthy eating, heritage and community cohesion.

The Farm is waiting on the outcomes of a number of grant applications to Trusts and agencies to continue the delivery of the activities and services previously mentioned. This includes an application into Sheffield City Council’s ‘Supporting the Delivery of Economic Development from the Third Sector’ pot. e) Heeley Development Trust i) Current activity delivered

Community Engagement and Empowerment – Based in offices on Ash Tree Yard the Trust co-ordinate a number of community events including Heeley Festival, Heeley Fun Run, Xmas Lantern Procession and Light Switch On, White Horse Painting and Willow Weaving; Heeley Voice Community Quarterly Newsletter; Website, Blog and Twitter; Flyers / Notices; Support for Asian Women’s Project; Variety is the Spice of Life (community meals project). They support a wide range of other community groups with financial / legal advice and general capacity building

Education, Learning and Advice – UK Online Centre and Digital Inclusion (10 Place IT Suite within the Trust offices at Ash Tree Yard, formal Adult Education sessions, drop in and taster sessions and support of outreach centres);

Activity for Children & Young People – Recycle bikes (Social Enterprise that re-engages young people in education and training, creates employment, promotes cycling and deliver youth work); Last Saturday Clubs; Adventure Days

Community Buildings / Assets - recently refurbished Heeley Institute (providing community space for a wide range of groups); Proposed redevelopment of Ash Tree yard into managed workspace; Development of Anns Grove School into a community hub (space for community activities, training and learning, businesses and artists)

Environment – Management and maintenance of Heeley Millennium Park (3.6ha of open space, play and recreation facilities, woodland and formal

14 planting, Community Orchard, sculpture and community art); Maintenance of Anns Grove School grounds, Kent Road Community Garden, Wolf Safety Lamp River Frontage and Staveley Road Community Garden (all sites designed and or built by HDT). ii) Sustainability

Heeley Development Trust is a large organisation which employs 15 staff (the majority of which live in Heeley). It is fairly financially stable, but remains partially grant dependent. The Trust continues to strive to become financially independent via Asset development (Ash Tree Yard and Anns Grove School) and Social Enterprises (Re-cycle Bikes and Heeley Millennium Park). The Trust has a 5 year funding plan to secure 3 key asset development projects (Anns Grove, Ash Tree yard and Heeley Millennium Park) delivering £10 million investment funding into the local community.

The Trust has previously been, and still is, recognised as a city-wide ‘Community Anchor Organisation’ and, as such, received central funding from Sheffield City Council’s ABG in 2009/10. They have been contracted by the South Community Assembly to deliver activities for children and young people via the Recycle project in 2010/11. Sheffield CC has also contracted them to deliver Positive Activities for Young People (again via Re-cycle). In addition they have a contract with the Learning Skills Council to deliver the UK Online activity and deliver employment and skills training via a Future Jobs Fund Contract.

Despite the grants and income currently received this does not cover the Trust’s Management and Development function (ie. core costs). The Trust anticipates that these core costs will not be covered in full for another 3 years. This financial year they foresee a ‘core costs’ shortfall of circa £70,000. The Trust has a number of contingencies in place to secure this funding, primarily via an application into Sheffield City Council’s ‘Supporting the Delivery of Economic Development from the Third Sector’ pot.

4.4 Financial support for Lowedges Forum and Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum

Following the Sheffield VCF Sector Review it is recommended that Sheffield City Council, and therefore the South Community Assembly, could support the VCF sector in three ways - • Shopping – Appropriate when: Statutory sector can clearly define what they wish to buy and there are VCF organisations who can meet these requirements – either individually or collaboratively through consortia. • Giving – Appropriate when: Statutory funders support the aims of work but there is no direct link to their strategic objectives, or no market exists for contracting. • Investing –Appropriate when: seeking new and innovative ways to improve on current practice. Whenever possible the South Community Assembly has shopped for services when allocating funding to priorities within the Community Plan and focused on outputs and outcomes to ensure that the most appropriate organisation is delivering any services and activities. However, there are occasions when

15 there is only one realistic service provide. In this situation the Assembly has entered into a funding agreement with that particular service provider.

It is clear that there is a need for a thriving VCF sector within the South Community Assembly to support and advocate for local people and provide local services. This, in turn, assists the South Community Assembly in the delivery of the Community Plan.

It is illustrated in section 4.2 of this report that the South Community Assembly has a strong track record in supporting the VCF Sector within the area, and will continue to do so, especially as funding for the sector is at a critical point. Whilst this situation has been widely predicted for some time it has been difficult for the Community Anchor organisations to secure financial independence. The information provided by the 5 Community Anchor organisations illustrates that despite making efficiency savings they are all, to varying degrees, struggling to secure ‘core costs’.

Despite these difficulties Gleadless Valley Community Forum, Heeley Development Trust and Heeley City Farm will not have to consider closing for business in the immediate future. Unfortunately this is not the case for Lowedges Community Forum and Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Community Forum. From the information they have provided Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum will have to dissolve in June/July 2010 and Lowedges Community Forum will have to dissolve in December 2010. If Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum and Lowedges Forum no longer exist then there will be a substantial reduction in community engagement, community capacity building, community based learning, activities for children and young people and health related activities.

At the Partner Panel meeting on 13 th May 2010, all the partners present were keen to impress on Members the need to ensure there remained Community Anchor Organisations in Batemoor, Jordanthorpe and Lowedges. It was also mentioned that the Total Place pilot, due to take place in Jordanthorpe with a focus on Older People’s services, would benefit greatly from an active Community Forum.

It is therefore proposed that the South Community Assembly fund the core costs of the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum and Lowedges Community Forum to the value of £40,000 so that they can deliver community engagement and community capacity building in these target neighbourhoods (as they are the only realistic quality provider of this service). This will also ensure that they are able to lead on or support the provision of other services and activities in the future, eg. Children and Young People’s activities, community based learning, services for Older People, health related activities.

The £40,000 is made up of – • £38,243 - salaries • £656 - utilities • £601 - insurance • £500 - audit fees

16 Any funding agreement will include setting up a support mechanism (eg. mentoring from other Community Anchors), closer work with the Greenhill Bradway TARA and a process for bringing the two organisations closer together, either through a formal partnership or by merging, thus reducing future running costs and increasing economies of scale. This would be an attempt to ensure that the Forums are not in such a crisis position in 2011/12.

It is proposed that the funding comes out of the currently unallocated Discretionary Budget (£42,000)

There will be further opportunities for all organisations within the VCF sector to receive funding from the South Community Assembly. The Assembly will soon be in receipt of a review of Older People’s services from DF Enterprises. If gaps in provision are identified the Assembly will shop around for organisations to deliver these services or activities whenever possible, thus allowing VCF organisations to put in Expressions of Interest and potentially receive further funding.

4.5 Financial Support for Community Festivals / Events

Many of the community organisations referred to in this report organise community events and festivals which promote a sense of community and community cohesion as well as providing an opportunity for the South Community Assembly and partners to engage with local residents. Much of the consultation on the South Community Plan takes place at these events.

It is anticipated that the South Community Assembly will, once again, receive £1,000 from Culture Service within SCC to go towards arts and cultural activities at Community Festivals. There is a requirement for the Community Assembly to match this with at least £1,000 from its Discretionary Budget.

It is therefore proposed that the South Community Assembly establish a ‘Community Events’ pot of £3,000, made up of £2,000 from the Discretionary Budget and £1,000 from the Culture Service, which will be allocated by the South Community Assembly Manager, in consultation with the South Community Assembly Chair, to organisations running festivals and events throughout the year. This will be reported back to all Members on a regular basis.

5. Financial Implications

This report advises how the Assembly may wish to allocate £42,000 of its Discretionary Budget (£40,000 to Lowedges Forum and Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum; £2,000 for Community Events). In addition it advises that the £1,000 from the Culture Service be added to the Community Events ‘pot’. This will be monitored as according to Sheffield City Council financial procedures

6. Legal Implications

If the Community Assembly takes the view that the funding of the projects mentioned in this report is likely to achieve the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental well-being of Sheffield or any persons

17 present or resident in the Assembly’s area it will have the power to make this funding available pursuant to section 2, Local Government Act 2000. In exercising this power, the guidance issued by the Secretary of State has to have been considered: the proposals in this report are not at variance with this guidance

In exercising the Section 2 power regard must also be had to the Council's Sustainable Community Strategy ("the Sheffield City Strategy") prepared pursuant to section 4, Local Government Act 2000. The outcomes of this project are supportive of all five aims of the Sheffield City Strategy: Strong Economy, Successful Neighbourhoods, Inclusive, Healthy Communities, Great Place to Grow Up and Environmental Excellence.

Where decisions are to be taken by Council officers the necessary delegations will have to be given by the Community Assembly.

7. Equality of Opportunity Implications

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) has been completed in conjunction with the South Community Plan, and the individual priorities within it.

The allocation of funding indicated in this report will contribute to providing all residents in Lowedges, Batemoor and Jordanthorpe the opportunity to influence the South Community Plan, the work of the Community Assembly and the services delivered by partner agencies.

8. Human Resource Implications

There are no specific human resource implications for the Council arising from this proposal.

9. Environmental and Sustainability Implications

There are no specific environmental and sustainability implications arising from this proposal.

10. Mitigation of risk

The risks relating to this proposal have been considered by the South Community Assembly Team. These risks will be regularly reviewed and monitored. Financial and Performance Management – The Accountable Body Team within the Neighbourhood Renewal and Partnership Service, SCC will administer the distribution of funding and ensure agreed targets and outcomes are being met. They will do this through the receipt of monitoring forms from providers and by visiting projects / activity on the ground in conjunction with the Community Assembly Planning and Performance Officer. Lowedges Forum and Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum both have a strong track record of delivering community involvement activity.

Sustainability of Forums - Any funding agreement with Lowedges Community Forum and Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum will include setting up a support

18 mechanism (eg. mentoring from other Community Anchors), closer work with the Greenhill Bradway TARA and a process for bringing the two organisations closer together, either through a formal partnership or by merging, thus reducing future running costs and increasing economies of scale. This would be an attempt to ensure that the Forums are not in such a crisis position in 2011/12

11. Alternative Options

The South Community Assembly could choose not to use its ‘unallocated’ budget in supporting Lowedges Forum, Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum or Community Events and could allocate it to other priorities within the Community Plan.

The South Community Assembly could consider not funding Lowedges Forum and the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum, but this would result in a substantial reduction in community engagement, community capacity building, community based learning, activities for children and young people and health related activity within the neighbourhoods. The South Community Assembly could choose to allocate it funding to other community organisations mentioned in this report.

Finally, the amount of funding to be allocated recommended in this report could be reduced or increased, but this may have implications in other spending priorities previously agreed by the South Community Assembly.

12. Reasons for Recommendations

Provision of funding for Lowedges Forum and the Batemoor & Jordanthorpe Forum will ensure those neighbourhoods will continue to be involved in influencing the South Community Plan, the work of the Community Assembly and the services delivered by partner agencies. In addition it will ensure the continuation of community based learning, activities for children and young people, activities for older people and health related activities within those neighbourhoods.

19 13. Recommendations

That the South Community Assembly:

20 Appendix 1

Recommendations from Sheffield VCF Sector Review (October 2009)

Recommendation 1 The relationship between the city’s VCF and statutory partners should be further developed and strengthened through the establishment of a partnership group with representatives of the VCF sector, the Council and the NHS. This partnership should oversee both the implementation of the joint compact between the Council, the NHS and the VCF sector, and the implementation of the recommendations and actions developed in the Review.

Recommendation 2 The VCF sector, the Council and the NHS should adopt the approach described in the Review as the Sheffield Model . This states that: a) There are three types of relationship between the VCF and statutory sector: • Shopping – Appropriate when: Statutory sector can clearly define what they wish to buy and there are VCF organisations who can meet these requirements – either individually, or collaboratively through consortia. Key roles: shopping from (VCF)/selling to (statutory sector); • Giving – Appropriate when: Statutory funders support the aims of work but there is no direct link to their strategic objectives, or no market exists for contracting. Key roles: donating support to (statutory sector) /using donation to support work (VCF); • Investing –Appropriate when: seeking new and innovative ways to improve on current practice. Key roles: investing in (statutory sector) /proposing to (VCF) b) Each fulfils a different role, offers different benefits and needs a different approach to manage it well c) The city will benefit if all three types are present, and there is a good match between type of relationship used, and outcome desired d) Individual relationships will work better where both parties share an understanding of what type of relationship they are engaged in, have realistic expectations for what they can gain through it, and understand how to manage it appropriately.

Recommendation 3 The Partnership should clearly state their commitment to involving the VCF in the shopping activity of the NHS, (SFP) and Council. They should: • Ensure that public sector services are designed with a good understanding of the requirements of the communities they seek to serve • Ensure procurement practices result in a mixed economy because VCF suppliers are able to compete on a level playing field with other suppliers • This can be achieved by adopting Intelligent Commissioning best practice as set out by the Audit Commission, along with implementing the practices recommended in the City’s Third Sector Commissioning Strategy.

Recommendation 4 The Partnership should confirm that the Council and the NHS are committed to continue giving support to VCF activities valued by local communities through grant aid and that they understand that their role as donors is critical to the survival of many VCF organizations in the city, particularly through a period of recession and pressure on public spending.

Recommendation 5 The Partnership should commit to investing in innovative VCF activities and ensure that new ways to improve or develop the partnerships between the VCF and statutory sectors are constantly considered. It should do this by: • Providing a route through which VCF organizations are encouraged to approach the council and NHS with new ideas for ways to improve current practice. • Setting aside an R&D fund to fund pilots in which some of the most promising innovative ideas are developed, trialled and evaluated with a view to mainstreaming any which work • It should also aim to continue to develop a culture of mutual understanding and trust between the sectors so that both feel increasingly able to share the risks entailed in developing innovative practice. Ideally, practices which constantly drive innovation should be incorporated as a matter of course in the other giving and shopping activity and this is something to aim for in the longer term

Recommendation 6 That the city recognises that VCF sector organisations encounter a wide range of challenges and that timely, appropriate infrastructure support is essential; and that effective support of front-line organisations adds value to their contribution to the city. The city should endorse the principle that VCF organisations in the city should be signposted to support which: • is available to them at the time they need it • is appropriate to their needs • is effective in helping them address the challenges they face • is accessed by the full diversity of VCF organisations in the city.

Recommendation 7 Fairness, equality, diversity, transparency. The city commits, through the Compact, to the principles of transparency and to ensuring that clear representation and accountability processes are embedded in the statutory sector and clearly understood within the VCF sector. Additionally any VCF organisation receiving statutory funding in the city is expected to be committed to the principles of transparency, accountability and effectiveness in relation to organisations they work with or represent as a condition of funding.

22 Appendix 2

Review of Key Voluntary Sector Organisations in the South Community Assembly area At the South Community Assembly briefing meeting held on the 4th March approval was given to initiate an urgent review of key voluntary sector organisations in the area. This would target organisations which are either at risk of not securing the necessary finance to continue operating or may need to down –size as a result of lack of funding over the next twelve months. The review will focus on the following organisations;- • Batemoor and Jordanthorpe Community Forum • Lowedges Community Forum • Gleadless Valley Community Forum • Heeley City Farm • Heeley Development Trust

The information received will form the bulk of the review but it will also mention the role of smaller organisations in the area (eg. ACT, NENG, Friends of Groups, Youth Groups, TARAs, etc.) The city wide VCF review will also be reflected upon and linked in where appropriate.

It is anticipated that the results of this review will inform the South Community Assembly in future service delivery and budget decisions. To assist this review representatives from the above organisations are politely requested to answer the following questions and return their responses to the South Community Assembly team by Tuesday 4th May . The draft review will be discussed at the Partner Panel meeting on Thursday 13th May and at the Members’ Briefing on Thursday 20th May. The final review will be presented to the South Community Assembly meeting on Thursday 10th June, along with any recommendations from the South Community Assembly Manager.

Role of the Organisation 1. Please provide a brief overview of your organisation and its main charitable aims and objectives. 2. Please provide evidence of how the wider community are represented within your organisation and what community engagement activity you regularly undertake. 3. What services / activities do you currently deliver? Please provide ‘headline’ evidence of achievements. 4. What smaller organisations/projects do you support within your area of benefit, and what is the nature of this support? 5. In what areas would you see your organisation contributing to the continued delivery of the South Community Assembly Plan? 6. Where would you like to see your organisation in three years time?

Sustainability 7. Could you indicate the current financial situation of your organisation indicating what reserves you can draw on? Please attach a copy of your most recent accounts. 8. Is your organisation currently receiving any Council funding? Please include the amount, duration and what it is for. 9. What service delivery contracts does your organisation have with the public sector, and what future contracts would you hope to be able to secure? 10. What external funding have you have applied for and are awaiting a decision on? 11. What other measures have you taken in an attempt to ensure your organisation is financially sustainable in the future? 12. What future options would your organisation consider to ensure future service delivery / activity provision within your area of benefit?