Agenda and draft minutes

To receive the notes of the meeting held on 25 January 2022

The notes of the previous meeting held on 25 January were approved as a true record.

To receive an update from the Head of Housing & Community Services and the Community Services Manager

The principal item for the meeting was an extended overview of Community Development and Voluntary Sector Support Services, delivered by the Head of Housing & Community Services, and the Community Services Manager.

The meeting received a detailed overview of the range of services and activities encompassed within this area.  It was noted that the focus is changing from direct provision towards enabling and supporting organisations to get involved and take initiative.

 Principle areas of Service delivery covered in the presentation were:

-       Youth Provision.  Significant elements of provision are addressing mental health issues among young people, including drop-in and early intervention activity outside the school setting.  An I-Rock drop-in is due to open soon in Hurst Road.  Activities based around music, boxing and other physical activity are also being delivered throughout the district.  The Service also facilitates the Youth Forum.

-       Strategic Grants & Funding.  In the previous year around £320k of grant funding was awarded to a wide range of organisations, including Age UK, Purple Bus, Homestart and Community Transport.  Smaller grants are also available for Community Projects.  It is anticipated that demand for this will grow and further funding is being sought.

-       Social Prescribing.  The service is not involved in direct health provision but is strongly focussed on community health. Around 20% of people attending GP surgeries are not in need of clinical help and benefit more from social interventions.  Befriending programmes and one-to-one support are being delivered.

-       Community Partnerships.  There are currently 7 active in the District and the service provides each with a maintenance grant of £500 and access to a biddable £1000 project fund. 

-       Covid 19 Community Hubs & Vaccination Hubs.  These have proved to a powerful demonstration of communities themselves taking the initiative.  The service has support 27 hubs with helping to identify volunteers (up to 130 active at one point), deliveries and other enabling activities.  Over the vaccination period in excess of 100k jabs were delivered, making Horsham one of the most effective sites in the South East.

-       Refugee Support.  Continuing support to Afghan and Syrian refugees has been supplemented with the needs of Ukranians arriving in the District.  Whilst Government funding, distributed by West Sussex CC, provides the bulk of financing needed, this is a resource intense service, with almost a full FTE required to manage support.

-       Cost of Living crisis.  The need for advice and help in response to increasingly hard financial constraints at an individual and household level is a major growing area of demand.  £300k has been allocated for this, with £100k discretionary housing support, £25k hardship fund, £16k to CAB and £80K for intervention activities with young people.  Training for workers and partners is also being provided, particularly in relation to young people’s support and behaviour management, and family support.

-       Safeguarding.  The team provides best practice advice, current awareness and support to all parts of HDC and act as a point of referral in the event that safeguarding concerns arise though other service delivery, with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To note the Forward Plan  (nb:  No current items under the Community Matters portfolio)

The Cabinet Forward Plan dated 10 July was noted.