Locality Working another year of working in communities

April March 2011/2012

LOCALITY WORKING IN YOUR AREA Contents & PurPose of DoCuMent

Page 3 Contents and purpose This booklet highlights some of the ‘locality Page 4 Community development working’ projects which Page 5 Locality working were delivered during 2011/2012. Page 6 ARCH The following pages Page 7 Belgrave ARCH illustrate and reflect on Page 8 Glascote ARCH what has happened within the communities that we Page 9 ARCH work in. All these initiatives Page 10 Participatory budgeting have involved significant contributions from Page 15 Locality profiles members of the Community Page 16 Improving the environment Development team, working closely with the Page 18 Community events local community and Page 20 Working with partners partners to help make them happen. Page 24 Consultation Page 26 Helping people into employment We would like to share our achievements with you, Page 28 Volunteers enabling you to learn from our experiences and Page 30 Invitation to engage possibly help stimulate your own ideas. It is a flavour of what locality working is all about and we hope it will encourage more community members and organisations to get involved.

2 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 3 WhAt is WhAt is CoMMunity DeveLoPMent LoCALity Working

The Community Locality Working is a greatest concern and improve people’s lives Development vision is way of working aimed improve the “Quality of can be identified and to promote strong, at addressing Life” for residents in services can be inclusive and disadvantage within these areas. Using targeted where they are connected defined communities. statistical data to needed. Tamworth identify areas of need, Borough Council and communities that are As the name suggests, four areas in Tamworth strategic partners are not only sustainable, delivery operates on a have been chosen for fully committed to but active in realising neighbourhood level, Locality Working; developing locality their own potential. involving local people, Amington; Belgrave; working as a means to Overall this can be agencies and services. Glascote and better meet the needs quite a challenge, but The overall aim is to Stonydelph. By and aspirations of local by using recognised effect key changes, working together communities. community tackling issues of development principles locally, actions that and practices, we aim to provide the support to help things on the way. n lead on facilitation of partners to deliver There are four Tamworth effective integrated services, projects & Borough Council working with the aim activities to address Community of increasing service local issues; provision to address Development Officers agreed priority issues; n co-ordinate who work closely with engagement & particular communities. n build relationships in capacity building The major focus of their localities impacting activities within work is “locality working” on regenerating identified which involves working communities of communities; disadvantage and at the heart of the building community n engage, empower community. cohesion; and involve residents of identified Through locality working n negotiate locally with communities in we aim to:- statutory, third sector positive activities. and community

4 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 5 Did you know that the word ARCH stands for ‘Advice, Resource & Community Hub’? AMington ArCh BeLgrAve ArCh

Amington was the pilot use the ARCH to meet members, community Partners have joined Play, Community Café, groups to join us and add for Locality Working. It residents and address organisations and forces at the Tamworth Job Club and of course value to this important was used to develop the local issues sensitively. It statutory organisations to community fire station in fire service events. In role of making our model of being based in is also used by local use as a means of Belgrave under locality addition, programmes communities healthier, the community to deliver community members who working within working with the idea that include volunteering safer and stronger. key services to the organise and deliver communities. the more partners who opportunities, student fire community and plan services to the work together, the more fighter course and dates in initiatives in partnership community like the effective ways of working the calendar to push with community weekly arts and crafts and delivery of services community fire safety members. The ARCHs are group and the annual become in the future. messages such as thinking neutral spaces which Santa’s Grotto. about electrical safety and support the planning and Mark Several services are encouraging local delivery of local services. The ARCH is also a Aston, already being delivered residents to make regular Stuart The ARCH offers a range centre for partnership Community from the station for the smoke alarm checks in Etheridge, of rooms for a variety of working to address local Development Officer whole of the community of their home as part of the Community uses and also has IT issues via the Locality Belgrave / Kettlebrook and Push the Button Development Officer facilities, Wi-Fi and a Network. These projects Amington ARCH Tamworth. It is hoped that campaign. All services presentation / training are successful in bringing Unit 3 Kerria Centre more suitable services will mentioned at the fire Belgrave ARCH room. together front line workers Kerria Road have a presence in the station are either free or at Tamworth Community to collaborate and focus Amington area over time. a very reasonable cost. Fire Station The ARCH also has resources to address Tamworth Marlborough Way regular services delivered priorities. B77 4EW Partners at the fire station We welcome other Belgrave by organisations like include Community partners to bring much Tamworth HomeStart offering The ARCH is available to Tel: 01827 55017 Development, Street needed services to the B77 2NW money advice and welfare partners to deliver Wardens, Police, gentle area and community Email: Tel: 01827 709519 advice. Local councillors services, community [email protected] exercise classes, Stay & Email: [email protected] Join us on facebook - Amington ARCH

Locality Working: 6 another year of working in communities 7 gLAsCote ArCh stonyDeLPh ArCh

In Glascote, we continue summerhouse. In August facilities in a spacious The former East Area College and to act as a stimulus for we staged our office area with Wi-Fi Housing Office, now the the Adult Learning joint working, enabling five “Community Together” available through the ARCH, is open four days Partnership in a host of projects to be delivered event, attracting over 350 library. If you are a week, Monday to topics which are open to through the Participatory residents and conducted interested in using these, Thursday 9.30am - all. There are activities for Budgeting initiative. This consultations with please get in touch. 4.30pm. There are various children, holiday and included the PACT “Big different sections of the services and themed events. People Tidy” project which community to contribute organisations that are can join in as a volunteer organised a successful to the Neighbourhood happy to help you or and help with the projects Tidy up event in June, the Plan. In November we provide information or and activities aimed to clearance and planting of launched the Glascote assistance on lots of help the community. flowerbeds in Ivatt and the Locality Forum, enabling topics. Most days at the Yssser installation of benches in partners to focus on Neil ARCH you can find the We also have rooms Din, Caledonian. Working with priority issues through Mushrow, Police, Street Wardens, available for meetings or Community the Bancroft Community action-based initiatives. In Community and local councillors only for groups to come along Centre, we secured more December, a lantern Development Officer Development Officer a phone call away. and use. If we can’t help than £16k of funding to parade event attracted a deliver SIA Door good number of residents, you, we probably know Stonydelph ARCH Supervisor training. More while linking the Catholic Glascote ARCH The ARCH also runs a someone who can. If you 44 Craven than 40 unemployed and Church of Glascote Heath Library work club which in the have not been in before Stonydelph people benefited, 20 communities together. Caledonian short time they have been come along - we look Tamworth licenses were funded and Glascote running have already forward to meeting you B77 4HH Tamworth placed people into work. soon. several have since found The Glascote ARCH has Tel: 01827 709503 employment. In June, we one large meeting room, B77 2ED linked Morrison plc with three smaller private There are a variety of Email: Silver Court over 55s consultation rooms, Tel: 01827 254933 courses run by [email protected] resident group to install a together with hot desk Follow us on Twitter - Email: YasserDin_CDO [email protected]

Join us on facebook - Locality Working: Glascote ARCH 8 another year of working in communities 9 PArtiCiPAtory PArtiCiPAtory BuDgeting BuDgeting stonyDeLPh

Don’t Miss the Bus: A variety of specially equipped buses arrived in The Community Development team led the Participatory Budgeting (PB) pilots Stonydelph. They provided access to to distribute funding addressing key priorities within localities. The process of information that would not normally PB enables the community to become decision makers, deciding which have been available without travelling organisation should receive funds over others. The process in Tamworth added out of the community. a unique element by using £20,000 of “PB pounds” to each voter, to be distributed between one or more projects. Funds went to projects which got the most cash allocated i.e. votes. A total of almost 1,000 residents have participated in decision-making through this pilot. A full report will identify Staffordshire Fire Service: learning from the pilot and highlight key elements and barriers that may inform Young People were made aware of future use of PB over future years. This is available on the Council’s website. the consequences of “joy riding” and were placed as casualties in a re- enactment of a head on car collision and were cut out of the vehicles.

St. Martin’s Church: The money received by the Activity Club at St Martin’s allowed them to buy equipment including football nets, pool and snooker tables, table football and craft activities.

Stonydelph Primary School: The project was completed by holding three workshops where the children have been involved in creating sculptures in the school grounds. It linked into work within school.

10 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 11 PArtiCiPAtory BuDgeting PArtiCiPAtory BuDgeting gLAsCote BeLgrAve

Bancroft Community Centre: Dance Techniques: Provided Staged five themed “Fun Days”, bringing 40 dance sessions for young people together from different ages and mothers and a free one week project cultures. This helped improve community for children and young people during relations and encourage more people to the school holidays. contribute to their neighbourhood.

Glascote Heath Pre-school: Let’s Leadership Through Get Growing involved children and parents Football: Provided coaching growing flowers and vegetables around sessions and matches for children the school grounds. While improving the and young people thus developing environment, they learned about how stronger community cohesion and things grow and healthy eating. mutual community respect.

Glascote Youth Centre: Changes Belgrave Buttercups: Paid for Project involved a group of local young a professional craft tutor in order to people with structured activities including attract more families and diversify a cooking challenge, the creation of a activities with the aim of improving sensory garden and participation in an intergenerational family activity. outdoor activity residential programme.

Partners and Communities Together Park Farm Community (PACT): The Big Glascote Heath Tidy Up Centre: Provided a choice of was a multiagency project which tackled the activities to change how people live issue of rubbish and waste left on streets, through healthy cooking demos, footpaths and green areas while fostering exercise classes, health checks and caring attitudes to the local environment. healthy living DIY workshops.

St Peter’s Community Centre: Choices Counselling: Offering ‘Tots Time’ Carer and Toddler Group free one to one counselling sessions to provided activities for 0 to 5s at St young people and adults to help them Peter’s Community Centre one morning with issues and problems. per week and funded new play equipment, healthy snacks and trips out.

12 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 13 PArtiCiPAtory BuDgeting LoCALity ProfiLes AMington What is a locality What can they help us How can I get a copy? profile? do? 6th Tamworth (Amington) Locality profiles provide Locality profiles provide a You can request copies of Scouts: The scouts were successful an overview of the history, wealth of information and the profiles by contacting in gaining funds to install a traversing / characteristics makeup are useful for:- the Community climbing wall in Greenacres School for and service provision of Development Team at the community to use and to improve each locality area. They n highlighting local Tamworth Borough hand eye co-ordination. contain information, issues and concerns Council which highlights some of n identifying gaps in Tel 01827 709312 or the challenges facing the service provision 709311 or Amington Heath Primary local community. They visit: the Community School: The children will have a set also identify priorities for n planning future Development section of of goal posts in the school initiatives to address action, which will guide specific needs www.tamworth.gov.uk playground which will help structured the delivery of locality football sessions and competitions working. They are n forming a basis for working documents partnership working which form starting points n providing information to address local for funding Tamworth BMX Racing Club: concerns. applications The club will train 20 boys and girls to become the first wave of BMX racers in n giving an overview for Why these people new to, or Tamworth where they will be trained to neighbourhoods? outside the area. race and maintain their bikes. These areas were chosen because analysis of statistical and demographic data have Amington Heath Parent and identified gaps between Toddler Group: The group will these neighbourhoods have more opportunities for trips, and the rest of Tamworth. wildlife sessions and new toys for the As a result, they have children to enjoy with their parents. been singled out for priority action and are most likely to benefit from additional support. CHOICES ltd: Choices will deliver 100 sessions of counselling to those that have been adversely affected by or involved in anti-social behaviour. Choices will help individuals to address the underlying issues of their adverse actions and support them using counselling techniques.

14 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 15 Lakes Environmental Mapping Silver Court project Throughout the years the summerhouse iMProving the The local community have Support was rallied to lakes in been proactive in enable Silver Court Belgrave improving their local Residents Association to have area. The impact of install a new environMent been a these projects have been summerhouse, so that talking recorded and collated in they can “meet for a chat point for many years. a poster mapping how and have a cuppa” Over time, litter picks areas of Amington have whatever the weather. have been done and been improved. It Offers of help included meetings have taken demonstrates the affect the Council’s Caretaking place. Agencies are of collective community Services who donated Housing currently committed to action. some paving slabs and The Community build up a proactive Morrison Facilities Development team is interest from the Services offered labour working closely with community to looking at and materials to level the housing colleagues in possible future uses. site and lay the base. increased joint work to address shared local Concerted efforts will be The over 55s residents issues. made to build a finished the job and they volunteer group that will had much fun and games This includes engaging take an interest, report putting it together! There tenants and residents to work needed, participate has been a real community support environmental and build more spirit for all those involved improvements. Tamworth in Bloom enthusiasm for what was and residents at Silver Residents are involved in Tamworth in Bloom once a much better used Court are very grateful for planning and community facility. this new facility which will participating in activity to focused on the Kerria Eco-logic Centre as a beacon of be enjoyed for many years improve their Environmental community involvement to come. neighbourhoods, which improvements are a working towards will contribute to major priority of the local Improving leisure facilities environmental regeneration of two community. Previous The Community improvements. The neighbourhoods. projects have included Development team worked judges were impressed community members with and spoke to young The links between the with the work done by improving green urban people in the area about Community the community and spaces to suit their improving leisure facilities Development team and Tamworth gained an needs. Funding bids around Stonydelph. This led Housing bring together overall Gold Award. The have been submitted to to the Community Safety Partnership, buying and two areas of expertise in publicity was a great fund larger and installing new basketball equipment in the court on an effort to coordinate opportunity to inform the sustained support for the Crowden Road. Local young people also identified effective engagement public and improve community to continue the need for benches and covered seating and make best use of opinion of the Kerria the positive work. areas, this and other provision is opportunities. throughout the town. currently being considered.

16 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 17 Grotto Stonydelph Stonydelph ARCH had CoMMunity events its first Christmas community celebration with great success, as children and families from across Stonydelph came to see Santa in his Grotto - Amington special winter Grotto. The Christmas spirit lives More than 110 people in the hearts of children, attended and got Communities Together Amington Fete Personal safety events for the second year involved in the crafts, Communities Together The Amington Fete was Thieves are relentless, running, the community had their face painted, events were funded and another opportunity to willing to steal items of organised Santa's grotto sang carols and received coordinated in all promote the services the value from young people. shared presents and a present from Santa. localities and were ARCH offers. The Arts Working with the schools festive joys with more successful in bringing the and Crafts group took a and the Police, a series than 200 people who all community and partners lead in selling much of of personal safety events had a wonderful day. together in a forum which their creations on the day were delivered within There was face painting, was fun and engaging. which raised more than schools to raise wreath making, arts and The events attracted a £100 for the group to buy awareness about keeping crafts, tombolas and total of 1,500 people this additional resources. bikes, MP3 players and story time with the year. 2011 events had a phones safe and Deputy Mayor. focus on engaging with ASB events promoting the national the local communities The issue of ASB has database and were an opportunity been a persistent issue in www.immobilise.com Easter event for partners to highlight Amington. Over the year The Stonydelph ARCH the work they are doing there have been two hosted some fun in the localities. events where an array of themed events with a partners worked together spine chilling Halloween We have been able to to address the issues Lantern parade event which attracted build consensus to pertinent in Amington in For the first time ever in 60 local children. To deliver similar events both the Halloween and Glascote, a lantern parade welcome Spring, an from 1,300 people in Valentines period. was organised to celebrate Easter parade and 2012 linked to the the festive season. The Funday saw more than Diamond Jubilee in all event was fun for all who 200 people including localities with partners took part which involved the Mayor and invited both jointly coordinating several partners, attracted a quests join in fun and and funding the events. good number of residents and also linked the Catholic the activities. and Church of England communities together.

18 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 19 Locality forum ASB Intervention Dyslexia group The locality forum was With the rising anti-social 10% of the UK Working With established in Amington behaviour in the area, the population are in April 2010 as a forum police were looking at suspected of having for frontline workers to creative ways of dyslexia and higher in PArtners plan joint projects and to addressing this issue areas with multiple address key issues in with long term results. By deprivation. The support Amington on a bi- drawing on the creativity available is limited, but monthly basis. A number of Community Dig-IT (Dyslexia of projects have been Development aand Information Group In co-ordinated via this targeting those involved, Tamworth) has set up a network and a lot of a 9 week course was support group for all information sharing, delivered to address the ages at the ARCH on the networking and joint consequences of their first Thursday of each projects have been a choices. The sessions month from 2:00- result of people included work with the 5:00pm. There will be Locality Working Review Partnership working developing relationships Police, Fire Service, activities for all ages. There are currently around Partnership working through the meetings. Youth Service, T3, STOP 25 Partners who support requires a cultural change Locality Forums have and a visit to the prison. locality working across the in the way we go about our now been rolled out in all As a direct result, the four locality areas. These daily tasks and plan for our localities. ASB in Amington has partners include; the long term goals. Locality been reduced Police, Fire Service, Street Working provides a means Links have been made significantly. Wardens and Housing. to encourage individuals, with agencies and Organisations such as community groups and organisations working to Staffordshire College, services to work together - provide support to Bromford Support, Adult pooling experience, people who are looking and Community Learning knowledge and assets to to find employment and offer training opportunities get the job done. these agencies are now and community learning meeting to discuss how and provide support in By working together to better coordinate and addressing unemployment. locally, actions that join up their individual Locality Working involves improve people’s lives can activities and services. working closely with the be identified and services third sector and voluntary can be targeted where they groups. Groups and are needed. Tamworth individuals are supported Borough Council is fully in a wide variety of areas committed to developing by agencies such as CVS, Locality Working as a Homestart, Citizens Advice means to better meet the Bureau and Tamworth needs and aspirations of Volunteer Centre. local communities.

20 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 21 Shoulder2Shoulder Big tidy up The efforts made by the Parent and community A significant amount of Glascote CDO to involve support are important support was provided to as many people as factors for schools. We the PACT “Big Tidy” possible has been at the are supporting initiative. Activities heart of this project. As a Shoulder2Shoulder, a included the organisation consequence, this has group of parents who are of a successful tidy up encouraged local setting up a ‘friends of event in June which was residents and community group’ for Amington well attended by groups to commit to the Heath Primary School, to residents, as well as future upkeep of these develop extra curricular working with partners newly transformed areas. activity for the children. and private companies to The project paint the shop fronts in demonstrated what can Census Caledonian. The be achieved by joint The census data shapes residents also cleared working with a “bottom how services are and planted a large area up” approach and could delivered. The of flowerbeds in Ivatt and be used as a model for Community the installed benches in the “Big Society”. Development team were Provision for young Now there is a steering Caledonian. aware that locality areas people group set up to push have a higher level of For some time Belgrave forward the progress of Job Search Support non-participation. We has not had a venue this initiative and local In September 2011 a work club was worked with the Census specifically for young school pupils will soon started by Bromford Support. Partners team to promote the adults to socialise. The be involved with introduced a work club to address census and offer support Police, local high school, consultation. Hopefully worklessness in Tamworth. This service sessions to the public to youth service and many there will be a youth club has been very successful and many fill in their forms. other organisations have that can be easily people from across Stonydelph have this issue may get accessed by Belgrave accessed the club. The Community Cafe addressed. youth that they can call also hold regular sessions at Tamworth their own. Community Fire station.

These clubs are advertised within Tamworth Job Centre Plus and organisations such as Tamworth College, Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Adult Community Learning have provided training and resources to help people find work. The clubs have had significant success since they began and have placed several people into full time employment and into further training.

22 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 23 Statue The Statue ‘Lady on an Anvil II’ located in the Kerria ConsuLtAtion Centre is a heritage piece which was commissioned when the estate was built in the 1970s. The years of weathering have not been kind to the statue and it has sometimes been a centre for ASB / loitering. There has Locality Working Community Survey been some work with the Heritage Lottery Fund to look A second large community consultation took place this year, at funding the restoration by a specialist contractor to which has provided detailed information on the changing sensitively restore the statue to her original glory. perceptions of local people. 1,000 people were involved in a face to face survey and the results have shown that although there are signs that the coordinated efforts of joint working are starting to have a positive impact, there is still a long way to Resident consultations – Big Tidy go in closing the gap between the locality areas and the As part of the Big Tidy project, local people were majority of the town. consulted about environmental improvements, which were suggested by residents. This was to assess the levels of support for these initiatives to ensure people had a say about how we carry them out and to allow and Food encourage local people to participate in improvements. The Primary Care Trust led on research on the access to fresh fruit and vegetables in the localities to gain a better understanding of the obesity levels in Tamworth. The Community Development team worked closely with the PCT to map out the accessible Customer Satisfaction Form foods and speak to businesses and community members. The report detailed the To measure the impact of the work the Community Development team have to offer, access of food and the availability of both quality fresh produce in comparison to the customer satisfaction forms are filled in by those involved in our service provision. A fast food which is readily available. A copy of the report can be found in the Community total of 400 surveys are filled in each year. This consists of 50 forms for events and Development section of Tamworth Borough Council’s website. another 50 forms for services at the ARCH in each locality. It was pleasing to see that the response we received was overwhelming where the service users were all satisfied with the service and events we have to offer. Neighbourhood Plans Consultations have taken place in Amington and Glascote to contribute towards a neighbourhood plan for these areas. In Learn 2 Deliver – Children’s Health and Well-being Glascote, opinion surveys were collected from Russell House Contributions have been made to the “Learn 2 Deliver” Sheltered Housing, Staffordshire Youth Service, Bancroft programme around the Children’s Health & Well-being Community Centre, St Peter’s Community Centre and visitors Project, involving colleagues from three other districts in to the Library. Similarly in Amington opinion surveys were Staffordshire. Information was provided on the progress collected in the Parent & Toddler session, Kerria Youth of partnership working in Glascote at regular intervals Group, PACT meeting, Christmas celebration, Cornerstone and used for comparison. By looking at the impact of Housing Association, Landau-Forte Academy, Abelia Action various activity aimed at addressing children’s health and Group and final session in the Kerria Centre.By targeting different well-being, we were able to share the work in Tamworth with others in an attempt to sections of the community we provided opportunities for a range of identify good practice. A full evaluation is in progress and will be available on the residents of different ages to make their contribution. TBC web site shortly.

24 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 25 Providing training to Training at the ARCH Glascote & Belgrave meet employment Tamworth College is volunteer initiative heLPing PeoPLe needs actively involved in The Volunteer Centre in The Glascote ARCH supporting local people Tamworth secured some worked with the Bancroft back into work. The additional funding to into eMPLoyMent Community Centre and college offers a wide focus on volunteer more than £16k funding range of courses and recruitment in the was secured to deliver activities and a Glascote and Belgrave SIA Door Supervisor combination of soft skills areas. The project Unemployment Community Cafe Coordinating training at the ARCH. and practical certified engaged with people Unemployment Job Club Employment Action More than 40 courses such First Aid furthest from the job continues to be a key The Community Café is meetings unemployed people and Food Hygiene. The market and supported component linked to a volunteer run project With the problems benefited, 20 licenses courses range from a them in using their skills many other issues which delivers free residents of Tamworth were funded and several couple of hours through and talents to help in identified in localities. drop-in activities in the experience through have since found to six to eight week their local communities. Contact has been made Kerria centre every unemployment, employment. educational course. The Job Centre also with a range of service Wednesday from 3:00- agencies are working to supported us in helping Course information is and support agencies 5:00pm. The service help them get prepared, individuals who have available at the four who are working to offers a range of free seek work and to go Family Employment barriers to volunteering locality hubs. address this issue. family activities along back into employment. Initiative such as having a with a café-style shop Across localities there Meetings to establish Last year the Family criminal record, and which covers the costs were several groups set communication and Employment Initiative move them towards paid of the activities. The up to tackle the share information on approached the Glascote employment. The work Community Café is problem, but recently services available have ARCH for support with a included a successful busy and vibrant, the Community taken place and over funding application to Volunteering Taster day working with partners Development team the next year it is hoped provide employment as part of the including the police and brought as many work that joint working will support services in the Community Planting HomeStart to offer related agencies as develop at all localities Tamworth area. An offer Day. advice to the possible together to to provide a range of of a working base at the community in an develop a forum which advice, guidance and Glascote ARCH helped informal environment. will coordinate effective learning support to to secure funding and delivery of services to residents who are trying this service is now the communities and to find employment. available in all locality deliver services more Some job search and working areas, providing efficiently. other support is support for CV writing, provided at locality job applications and hubs and in the town careers advice. centre.

26 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 27 Tamworth Borough These roles ensure the Examples of previous Council is committed to skills and experience the events have been art and providing opportunities volunteer brings is used craft event, litter picks voLunteers for local residents to to best effect. The and large community become involved in their Council will undertake events. The volunteers local community. This obligations to protect and will undertake training in involvement benefits both safeguard these order to take on the the individuals, who gain volunteers and its service variety of different and life skills, experience, users. exciting roles they will make new friends and encounter. We know that contribute to the society Role of a volunteer volunteering has many they live in, as well as The Locality hubs benefits to its benefitting the Council by recruited seven participants, as well as it providing an invaluable volunteers undertaking a helping to improve self link between residents variety of roles to aid the confidence and and the services the day to day operations of employability. We work council provides. the ARCH. This will closely with Tamworth include reception duties, Volunteer Centre and The There are a number of face to face contact with Centre for Voluntary roles which have been residents and partners. Services CVS to look for developed which provide volunteering opportunities an opportunity for The volunteers also got across Tamworth. volunteers to use their involved in planning, skills to deliver services in delivering and evaluating the local community. project activities.

“I met Stuart at Bancroft Community Centre while working on my CV. We got chatting and it led to Stuart teaching me the basics of web design. When the Glascote ARCH opened in the library, I took the opportunity to volunteer for Tamworth Borough Council. Volunteering taught me many new skills. I learnt how to create and maintain a community website how to do risk assessments and even how to help organise local events. Volunteering helped me to gain confidence and helped with my self esteem and it helped me to have the confidence to go to college. I am now studying a full time course in Health and Social Care and on task to get distinctions at the end of the year.” Tracy Smith, volunteer at GARCH

28 Locality Working: another year of working in communities 29 invitAtion to engAge

Everyone has the potential to make a difference in their area; whether you are a local resident or part of an organisation we all can make a difference no matter how big or small. There are a few important contacts below where you can report local issues to be bought to the attention to the relevant agencies.

Non-emergency ough Staffordshire number Tamworth Bor County Council (less ur Council gent crime 0300 111 8000 and disor der) 01827 709 709 101

Citizens’ panel Tenants (let us know what participation you think how life in (get involved in Tamworth should be improving the quality like in the future) of council housing) Repairs 01827 709 570 to council 01827 709 448 Homeless properties prevention - Mears - and advice 0800 183 0044 See a problem in 01827 709459 your street www.fixmystreet.com If you are part of an organisation and you want to get more involved in working in the locality areas, contact us. Our numbers are on the back of this Locality Working: booklet. 30 another year of working in communities 31 Partnership activity is crucial to organising projects which make a real difference for local people. We would like to thank all organisations that have supported locality working and look forward to welcoming more in the future.

If you are interested in getting involved with our initiatives or would like to know more, please get in touch with any of the Community Development team:-

[email protected] 01827 709380

h Pete smit [email protected] 07773792474

Ma [email protected] rk Aston 07891052193

r Din yasse [email protected] 07891052164

stuart etheridge [email protected] 07528630037

ow neil Mushr If you require this document in an alternative format or language please contact a member of the Community Development team. Contact details above.

Locality Working: 32 another year of working in communities