Presentation to Economic Regeneration & Transport Scrutiny Panel 05 October 2006

1. Presentation to Economic Regeneration & Transport Scrutiny Panel 05 October 2006

2. Aims and Objectives • Established to bring about the regeneration of West Middlesbrough (as defined by NDC boundary) by delivering against a number of outcomes relating to :- • Raising educational standards • Improving employment opportunities • Reducing crime • Improving health • Improving the environment & housing • Engagement of local people are at the heart of everything the Trust does.

3. Engaging Communities/Involvement • WMNT Membership: - can apply to be a candidate on board - opportunity to join various groups (either existing or as they develop) - receive regular information and updates on WMNT - vote at AGM - current membership stands at 311 • Residents Panel: - consists of 193 members - send out between 4 and 6 questionnaires a year - questionnaires based on topical issues relating to WMNT - feedback given via ‘Panel People’ leaflet

4. Engaging Communities/Involvement • E-Voting: - held an e-voting event for all Trust members to share information and get feedback around future sustainability issues for WMNT. • Information Roadshows: - We have held 3 roadshows in the last nine months across the 3 areas - Purpose to raise the profile of WMNT and to give local residents an opportunity to find out what is happening in their areas and services available - All themed events, Victorian Christmas, Multi-cultural event, Healthy Living • Suggestion Boxes: - Located across West Middlesbrough in local facilities and shops. - All suggestions collated on database and information shared with relevant staff

5. Engaging Communities/Involvement • Multi-cultural group: - meets every 6 weeks - purpose of the group originally was to deal with health related issues for the BME community – now links into WMNT to allow two way communication and support mechanism for our more isolated communities • Newsletters: - Quarterly newsletters delivered every home in West Middlesbrough - Currently up to issue 41 - Circulated to other NDCs, Business and relevant stakeholders - Regener8 – housing and environmental improvements update • Web-site: - New web-site up and running – allows insight into WMNT and its progress as well as an opportunity to post questions, apply for jobs, join the trust etc.

6. Engaging Communities/Involvement • Door to Door Survey: Carried out to find out what level of involvement local residents wished to be involved with WMNT. - 4 levels of involvement as follows; Level 1 - only want general information like newsletters to keep updated Level 2 - would like more detailed information, such as details of WMNT board decisions, but don’t want to go to meetings Level 3 - would like to receive information and attend meetings to find out about WMNT activities – not necessarily a WMNT meeting as information can be provided at local resident associations or other community meetings Level 4 would like to get actively involved in decision making and/or helping with Trust activities, e.g being a volunteer on a WMNT project, getting involved with a theme group that looks at particular issues in the Neighbourhood or become a member of WMNT board. - Database used to target specific groups when carrying out events/activities.

7. Engaging Communities/Involvement • Take the Lead Course: ‘Take the Lead’ is a programme which WMNT developed with Skillshare to encourage residents to: - Develop skills and confidence - Learn about what is happening in their area - Network with others and learn to work as part of a team - Raise aspirations - Get involved with the Trust

8. Engaging Communities/Involvement • Youth Assembly: - made up of 15 young people - age range – 11 and over - play an active part in the decision making of the trust - newspaper, YOF, information card, youth exchange • Young Advisors: - national pilot - show organisations and committees the best ways to involve young people - teach adults from different backgrounds how to gain and maintain the interest of young people in community life. This could involve anything from designing youth facilities to helping solve problems with litter or public transport. - speak out for young people - possibly work regionally, or even nationally, with local authorities or government departments

9. Engaging Communities/Involvement Community Engagement Committee: • This is a new Committee which is being established as part of the changes within WMNT. The purpose of the committee is to pull together all the different mechanisms of engaging with the community. This includes results from residents panels, information from suggestion boxes, ideas for information roadshows. • The committee will meet to discuss various things within WMNT and decide on the best way of engaging with the wider community to get the results we need and identify the best ways of getting our messages/information out to the community.

10. Neighbourhood Management Objectives & Principles • To design, deliver and manage services in a way that is easy to access and improved standards • Encourage resident participation through building confidence and raising aspiration • Encourage partnership working built on trust and sharing of knowledge & information • Ensuring accountability of leading residents & Stakeholders to the neighbourhood for the achievement of agreed goals and priorities • To provide learning about an approach to Neighbourhood Management to benefit other neighbourhoods in Middlesbrough

11. Neighbourhood Management WMNT’s approach: • No one person assigned to carry out this task and the delivery is through each theme and driven by the theme co-ordinator • Aim to ingrain additional service funded by NDC grant into the ‘core’ budgets of the main service provider • Align aims and objectives with service providers • Building strong relationships with service providers • Additional service delivered to the community post 2010 • Ensure good practice is shared and were possible rolled out to wider areas across the town, region and nationally

12. Neighbourhood Management Achievements to date on mainstreaming services: Education - Education Zone - 15 classroom assistant/mentor posts have been mainstreamed via tapered funding arrangements – contracts sit with schools - The Transition Mentor post has proven so successful it has not only been mainstreamed but promoted WMNT invested in training for both teaching and non-teaching staff to ensure lasting benefits to future generations of pupils - The value of ‘extended induction’ has been recognised and will be funded from school budgets in future years - The support given to ‘at risk’ pupils has now been incorporated into the mainstream work of the schools mentor teams - Oracy Project (developed by WMNT & LEA) has been rolled out to other schools and later published by the Gatsby Foundation - To ensure the continuation of activities initiated by WMNT the schools have identified alternative funding. A variation to the original proposal was agreed to align timescales allowing other funds to phase in as WMNT grant fades out.

13. Neighbourhood Management Reducing Crime & Fear of Crime Key Routes – This project has allowed invested in a large amount of new and improved lighting, alleyway improvements/adoption, traffic calming, works to paths and access points to be carried out. The advantage to WM area is that all the works carried out (including new additional lighting) will fall under the responsibility of MBC for maintenance, inspection and repair. Police - Reorganisation of the COPS team allowed us to move away from buying in the service of an addition Police Officer. Dedicated Officers covering Ayresome & Gresham wards

14. Neighbourhood Management Improving Health & Social Care Working in conjunction with the PCT has resulted in various posts being mainstreamed: • Community Health Promoter • Community Health Development Leader • Community Parent Advisors • Weight Management Leaders • Health Theme Administration

15. Neighbourhood Management Sharing good practice: • Community Health Development Leader – pilot in WM rolled out across the town • Community Parent Advisors - pilot in WM rolled out across the town • Transition Mentors developed in WM and being adopted through other Secondary schools in Middlesbrough using NRF funding • Inclusion Centre working other secondary schools outside WMN boundary • Young Apprenticeships in Health & Social Care and Retails – Learning Skill Network developed working regionally and nationally

16. Neighbourhood Management Future mainstreaming targets: - Early Years Service mainstreamed by MBC • Developing an exit strategy from Acorn Centre • Health & Social Care Worker • Welfare Rights Officer • Drugs Treatment Service • RESPECT agenda liaising with the Police department to ensure relevant support in given via neighbourhood policing