10
ACTIVITIES & ACHIEVEMENTS
T3SC/ACTION&IMPACT
AIM 3: EMPOWERING AND SUPPORTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY NEEDS AND DEVELOP RESPONSES
Developing participatory budgeting
T3SC also have a role to work with communities of interest and in geographic communities, to help people identify their needs and develop suitable responses. We do this in a variety of ways – for example during the year have continued to run a community development service in Denton and Droylsden, helping local people come together to develop and grow community and voluntary activity in those areas. T3SC also hosts Tameside’s Local Involvement Network (LINk), helping to give local residents a say about health and social care issues. The LINk has made progress on five key work plan areas, helping to improve dentistry, GP and mental health provision. Four examples demonstrate the breadth, and impact, of work that we have delivered during the year against this aim:
Working to improve Tameside General Hospital The importance of the LINk in allowing local people to get involved was further demonstrated by the LINk’s work in holding a Hospital Improvement event which was attended by 100 local people. This was an opportunity for people to suggest practical ways to improve care at the hospital as well as telling the stories of their experiences. The Care Quality Commission came to listen to the event and the hospital’s managers have committed to look at how recommendations from the day can be taken forward.
Supporting the growth of Credit Unions During the year T3SC, in partnership with Tameside Council, Cash Box and Money Spinner Credit Unions, pioneered an innovative project supporting the growth and development of Tameside’s Credit Unions. Credit Unions are ‘not for profit’ financial co-operatives and are run and governed predominately by volunteers. Tameside’s Credit Unions offer straightforward savings and low cost loans to its communities, and can also offer help and guidance on money matters where needed. The project is targeted to increase the number of Tameside residents accessing Credit Unions, and also assist the Credit Unions to enrol additional volunteers. Due to the success of the project, we have been asked to undertake a piece of work on a Greater Manchester scale, to ensure Credit Union provision is available and accessible to residents throughout the wider city region.
Building and supporting voluntary and community action in Tameside
The last 18 months has seen T3SC develop and pioneer the first borough wide participatory budgeting (PB) events. Participatory budgeting allows local people to decide directly how public money is spent on projects and services in their neighbourhoods. As someone said ‘if it feels like we’ve decided, it’s PB, if it feels like someone else has decided, it isn’t’ The largest PB event so far was developed for the new Culture to Build Community Cohesion funding stream. Over 100 people came together to decide how money should be allocated for cultural events that are aimed at strengthening the links between different communities. The applications from both voluntary groups and public sector projects were presented by their representatives, many in colourful, creative and noisy ways! Everyone gave each proposal scores against the criteria for the funding and the money was shared out on the day depending on the scores achieved after some frantic counting of votes. The event was a great success and it is hoped to continue with such innovative and empowering ways for local people to have their say. T3SC is now linked into the potential development of a PB strategy for Tameside and feedback on the day has already inspired queries from other partners about holding PB events.
Developing ‘flu friends’ Throughout 2009 T3SC worked with a range of NHS, Local Authority and voluntary and community services locally and regionally to prepare for the expected influenza pandemic. Through the Health and Social Care Network, policy information was provided for voluntary organisations to better prepare them for the potential implications for their service users, volunteers and staff and the service they provide. Groups also received posters and leaflets for display on ‘reducing the risk’ and encouraging service users, staff and volunteers to identify a ‘Flu Friend’. These ‘Flu Friends’ leaflets were also translated from English by T3SC into the other languages spoken in Tameside’s communities (French, Polish, Bengali, Urdu and Guturati). T3SC were able to produce and disseminate 1770 translated ‘Flu Friends’ leaflets through June to groups and healthcare professionals who requested them. Network members discussed further these implications at network meetings and were encouraged to take this opportunity to revisit their business continuity plans. T3SC’s Support and Development Team provided groups with support to produce or update these particularly for those delivering (or hoping to in the future) public services as this is now a prerequisite for tendering for these contracts. Whilst the level and impact of the flu pandemic was not as severe expected, preparations and support from T3SC enabled voluntary and community organisations to be prepared.
Building and supporting voluntary and community action in Tameside
11