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 ______________________________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________________________ 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 NO Environmental and Sustainabili ty implications NO Economic impact YES Community safety implications YES Human resources implications NO Property implications NO 3 1. 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. 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 well- being 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