AGENDA ITEM

13

AREA COMMITTEE: WEST AREA COMMITTEE

DATE: WEDNESDAY 15TH JUNE 2011

SUBJECT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE (BULLET POINT UPDATE)

REPORT BY: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICE MANAGER

CONTACT OFFICER: SHAMSUZ ZAMAN TEL: 01582 696355, 494417 & 557155

WARDS AFFECTED: ALL

As this is the first report of the new Council Cycle each area committee will receive a report on the service as a whole, as well as specialized items of their particular area, in the future each Area will only receive information on their own Area, unless in exceptional circumstances.

The Community Development Service (CDS) - Management /Staffing Information

Cllr. Bailey is now the port-folio holder for The CDS, which is part of the Housing and Community Living Department of the Council, headed up by Strategic Director - Pam Garraway.

The CDS comes under the direct line management of Mike McMahon (Head of Housing Strategy & Private Sector), whilst the CDS team is headed up by Sandra Hayes (Community Development Service Manager), supported by an Area Operations Manager, 1 Project Manager, 2 area managers (UDMs) and associated staff; a Neighbourhood Governance Team (Community Development/Neighbourhood Governance Manager, 1 Project Manager, 2 area managers (UDMs 1 who is seconded from the Police) - who are working exclusively in Luton West / South/Central on the Neighbourhood Governance Project).

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13/5 In Area West the Community Development Service runs the , Chaul End() and () Community Centres. The highlights for / from the centres / area, follow together with a Performance Management report on / from the Community Development Service in general, with some interesting information on the communities we work with in.

Area/Unit Development Manager – Shamsuz Zaman

Lewsey , Leagrave and Chaul End Area

Policing & Diversionary Activities

Community Development Service staff at Chaul End, Hockwell Ring and Lewsey Community Centres continue to work closely with the police and are working with local groups to help provide diversionary activities e.g.

• The Boxing Club at Chaul End centre as of April 2011 attracting 30 to 40 young people from Challney ward on a Wednesday and Saturday mornings. The club is proving very popular.

Adult Learning Adult literacy and numeracy classes were rolled out during term times at Hockwell Ring and Chaul End Centre; generally there has been an increase in numbers of people accessing this service.

Children’s Activities

Summer Play schemes at Chaul End, Hockwell Ring and Lewsey Community Centres are at planning stage.

Staff are working at garnering support from volunteers who can be recruited as part of Community Development Service’s extensive volunteering campaign to give commitment and enthusiasm in making the play schemes successful thereby providing hours of entertainment for 5 to 10 year olds.

Hockwell Ring Community Centre – Hub of the Community

• Service provision incorporating the Hockwell Ring Day Centre and Community Centre has involved the amalgamation of both service teams in a new structure. The appointment of the new Inclusion Centre Manager (Zulfiqar Hussain) means that Adult Social Care as well as Community Centre staff (Inclusion) all work in one team and report to one centre manager; furthermore, the centre manager is aiming to streamline services such that the needs of the community are prioritised and there is greater engagement of generations in activities and events in the centre. • Staff have adapted well to their new roles within the centre.

13/6 • Marketing of the new centre is under way to attract more people to and the new notice board at the front of the centre will help with the marketing.

Centre staff have helped to organise several key events for its users / community including:

Royal Wedding 28th April 2011

• The royal wedding event took place on Thursday the 28th April, one day before the big day itself in order to include as many Day Centre users as possible. With Friday 29th April being declared as a Bank Holiday, many users would have felt excluded and a decision was taken to hold the event ahead of time. The event attracted a lot of interest from the local community and pictures of the event can be viewed in the main body of the report below.

St Patrick’s Day Celebration – 17th March 2011

• The event was very well attended by the community (over 100 people) in the main hall where lunch and entertainment was provided. This is yet one more example of the centre’s commitment to celebrating Luton’s diverse cultures and to promote an understanding between its communities.

Fresh Start Event – 16th March 2011

• Service providers coming together to provide support and advice to local people about job applications, benefit rights, volunteering and further education opportunities.

New Groups

New user groups at the centre include:

• Shantona Womens Group – Provide support and advice to local women about any issues that they are facing as well as providing exercise classes. Every Wednesday from 9.30-10.30pm. Staff support the group to develop more activities in the centre such as Parent and Tots session and are currently sourcing funding avenues for the group. • Ashanti Community – using the centre to facilitate Badminton sessions for their community. They book the centre on an ad-hoc basis. • Roshni Badminton – Using the centre for badminton on a Wednesday from 11.00 am –12.00 noon. • Day Care provision strive to develop and enhance the service provided to our clients by encouraging participation in other centre activities. On Monday mornings the clients are participate in short mat bowls to try and get them active. This provides a welcome change from the regular provision and improves mind and body coordination.

13/7 • Management are working with Chaulley’s Café (Adult Social Care project) to open up the café area usage to the public after closing hours for functions and parties. Other avenues are being explored to develop the café further. • Presently there is a 20-hour Social Inclusion Asst post vacancy as well as a gap left by the resignation of the evening receptionist; the Inclusion Centre Manager is backfilling operational duties with casual staff.

Area staff are planning summer activities including family day trips for those less able to afford such an excursion.

Hockwell Festival

The Community festival is being planned for Saturday 16th July 2011 on the fields at the back of the Hockwell Ring Community Centre from 12 till 4pm.

Staffs are working closely with colleagues in the Neighbourhood Governance Team to make these days successful, fun and engaging. Residents are being encouraged to participate in the organisation of the event so that it becomes a community centred event as opposed to a centre-focused event. Marketing and promotion of the event is already being planned.

Chaul End

Deputy Prime Minister’s Visit

A visit from the Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt.Hon Nick Clegg MP took place on the 3rd March 2011at Chaul End Community Centre. Mr.Clegg met the centre staff and users at the centre and used the occasion to deliver a speech on community cohesion.

User Groups

CDS currently work in partnership with Adult Social Care in providing activities for individuals who are in special needs care and are developing partnerships with the community for various activities which include Art and Languages class, Exercise sessions for all ages and a new Social group for all ages called the Challney Evergreen.

Chaul End Festival

The Community festival will take place on Saturday 18th June 2011 at Chaul End Centre. It is hoped like every year it will attract over 2000 people. There will be opportunity for the public to visit the Neighbourhood Governance tent and express their views on their neighbourhood and how it can be improved.

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Lewsey

Bowls Tournament:

Mayor declares bowls tournament a success

Bowlers from across Luton and Milton Keynes have helped raise over £300 for charity at a short mat bowls tournament at Lewsey Community Centre on Saturday 7th May 2011.

Mayor of Luton, Cllr Tom Shaw hosted the annual event, which saw twelve teams from Luton, and three teams from Milton Keynes compete for the prestigious trophy. Money collected from team entrance fees raised £120 for the Mayor’s charities while money collected from the sale of food and refreshments on the day raised over £200 for the Paradise Club for the Blind.

After some fiercely competed games, The Untouchables from Luton won the tournament, beating Manor 3 from Milton Keynes in the final.

The Mayor watched the closing stages of the tournament and presented trophies to the winners and runners up at its conclusion.

Cllr Shaw said: “This tournament has been running since 1995 so it is no surprise that it was once again a big success and raised much needed funds for charity. I would like to thank all participants and supporters for backing such worthy causes. A big thank you must also go to Lewsey Community Centre staff for all of the time they put in to organising the tournament.”

Lewsey Festival

The Community festival will take place on Saturday 25th June 2011, at Lewsey Park. It is hoped that the event will be a wonderful success like every year attracting a hugely diverse attendance. The festival will be supported by the user’s committee, councillors, Community Development Service staff and volunteers. It was estimated that this year’s festival would attract in the region of 2000 people.

One of the more regular popular activities will be a 5-a-side football tournament organised by staff based at Lewsey Community Centre.

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