Conferences

The South West Neighbourhood Resource Centre has held a series of Roadshows around the South West region to highlight the importance of bringing Government closer to people, passing power from Whitehall to local councils and direct to local communities.

We would like to thank all the speakers and people who have contributed to our roadshows for all of their time and help that they have given.

During our roadshows the South West Neighbourhood Resource Centre has worked closely with a number of stakeholders, include Government Office South West (GOSW), Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA), Regional Empowerment Partnership (REP) and the Audit Commission to help organisations deliver priorities around Empowerment and Engagment and how targets can be achived.

For more information on our stakeholders, please click on the website links below;

Communities and Local Government - www.communities.gov.uk

Government Office for the South West - www.gos.gov.uk/gosw

South West Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership - www.southwestiep.gov.uk

Improvement and Development Agency - www.idea.gov.uk

Audit Commission - www.audit-commission.gov.uk

Creating Excellence - www.creatingexcellence.org.uk

Empowering and Engaging Citizens in our Communities Roadshow in Swindon on 16 June 2008

Sue King The South West Neighbourhood Resource Centre has successfully run the first in a series of Roadshows across the South West region to highlight a key obligation - duty to involve – which will be imposed on 1 April 2009 on relevant bodies to actively engage with their communities and promote community empowerment. It is envisaged that this will bring Government closer to people, passing power from Whitehall to local councils and directly to communities.

Delegates listened to a number of high profile speakers that focused on issues such as the legislative requirements, the key National Indicators around empowering citizens they will be expected to deliver, and the new Place Based Survey commencing early 2009.

Empowering and Engaging Citizens in our Communities Roadshow The Roadshow offered opportunities for delegates to link into organisations that already develop collaborative and complimentary approaches to community engagement, such as Government Office South West, LIFT South West, the National Empowerment Partnership and, of course, the South West Neighbourhood Resource Centre. All of which offer support, advice and best practice to support those responsible for delivering National Indicators etc.

We were then presented with excellent examples of the positive impact community engagement and empowerment has had on communities and the road to achieving these. This included types of engagement, who to engage, what about those disengaged?

The Roadshow rounded off by offering delegates suggestions on how the South West Neighbourhood Resource Centre can help organisations with regards training opportunities for all those who live, work and manage in neighbourhoods.

Examples of the different types of training solutions we offer were handed out to delegates, offering opportunities such as:

Community Engagement
Promoting Community Cohesion
Partnership Working
Mentoring/Coaching for residents

We are very proud that the event enabled delegates to leave with a better understanding of their responsibilities, examples of how to improve community empowerment and engagement and how they can access opportunities to help achieve the Governments vision of

building vibrant cohesive communities of empowered, self-confident citizens who contribute to their community in many different ways.

These are just a few comments made by delegates from our first event:

“Interesting subjects/topics – good range of speakers.”

“Very useful information.”

“I enjoyed this and found it useful. The length was good as was the change of speakers.”

Empowering and Engaging Citizens in our Communities

Roadshows - 2008

The South West Neighbourhood Resource Centre, in collaboration with GOSW, The RIEP SW, NEP and the Audit Commission, is holding a series of Roadshows around the South West region to highlight the importance of bringing Government closer to people, passing power from Whitehall to local councils and direct to local communities.

We are proud that these events have been so successful and so many delegates attended from a range of statutory authorities, community organisations and residents.

As promised, please find speaker presentations for you to download. Please see links to download all speaker notes as Acrobat PDF's:

Bristol 4 December 2008

Why Engage?
Helen Holland

Legislative Requirements and LAA Outcomes
David Duggan

What's Working
John Skrine

South West Training and Resource Centre Can Help
Sue King

Community Engagement Case Studies
Lynn Jarvie

Supporting Your Delivery Plan
Stephen Fletcher

Comprehensive Area Assessment - Audit Commission
Philip Suter

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Regional Conference - 6 June 2007: Citizen Engagement

General view of the conference Our third annual regional conference (pictured, right) was held at Cheltenham Racecourse on 6 June 2007. Yet again we had lovely weather for the event so were able to take advantage of the fabulous setting!

This was our biggest conference yet with over 130 delegates attending from a wide range of organisations including warden schemes, local authorities, fire and police authorities, neighbourhood management schemes, housing associations and Government Office for the South West (GOSW).

Gavin Jones and Hayley Reed The theme of this year's conference was Citizen Engagement, and our first speaker was Dave Duggan, Assistant Director for Stronger Communities at GOSW who talked about the government white paper and the opportunities it offered for engaging with people in communities.

This was followed by Gavin Jones, Chief Executive of Swindon Borough Council, who spoke about the importance of neighbourhood management and the work being done in Swindon.

(Gavin is pictured, above, presenting Hayley Reed from Torbay warden scheme with her Warden Core Training Certificate.)

The after-lunch 'graveyard' slot fell to Chris Coombs and Robbie Coates (pictured, right) - two of the team of young advisors working with Transform Neighbourhood Management in North Devon to improve youth engagement in the area. Their refreshing different approach to their presentation was perfect for this slot, ensuring that no-one was tempted to drop off, no matter how much they had indulged at lunchtime!

Jason Keates, Senior Community Team Sergeant from Gloucestershire Constabulary gave an insight into the difference that neighbourhood policing had made in the Barton, Tredworth and White City areas of Gloucester which have seen crime reduced and satisfaction rates with the police increase since its inception in August 2004.

Our final speaker was Dominic Murphy, Executive Director of Creating: Excellence, who spoke enthusiastically about the key role community workers play in our neighbourhoods and how important we all are in the future success of engaging communities in the South West.

In addition, delegates had the chance to attend two workshops from a choice of four.

In the Engaging Residents session, Lynn Jarvie from the Resource Centre used case studies to look at how to get residents involved in making decisions and becoming actively involved in their neighbourhoods, thinking in particular about how to reach the groups we have least success in engaging with.

Reaching Older Members of the Community was run by Amy Swan and Emma Spragg from Help The Aged who looked at the issues faced in persuading older people to become more involved in their neighbourhoods.

Stroud Neighbourhood Warden Ashley Nicholson and Pam and Phil Hughes from Stroud and District Access Group held a workshop looking at the issues faced by people with disabilities when they attempt to access services.

Joanne Keates from Springbourne and Boscombe West Neighbourhood Management ran a workshop on how they have worked in partnership with other agencies in their area to improve citizen engagement.

We would like to say a bit "thank you" to all our speakers and workshop facilitators and to everyone who came along and made the day such a success.

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Comments & Complaints

Housing

Empowering and Engaging Citizens in our Communities Roadshow in Swindon on 16 June 2008

Empowering and Engaging Citizens in our Communities

Roadshows - 2008

Swindon 16th June 2008

Cornwall 22 October 2008

Residents experiences;

Devon 23 October 2008

Dorset 6 November 2008

Residents experiences;

Gloucestershire 19 November 2008

Bristol 4 December 2008

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Regional Conference - 6 June 2007: Citizen Engagement

Accessibility Guideline Notes