A front line organisation’s experience – ARK Community Networks

1. Community Planning Partnerships and Regeneration - The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning A front line organisation’s experience – ARK Community Networks

2. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning • ARK HA started in 1977 • Grew in response to demand across East of Scotland • 32 services across 12 Local Authorities • Different models of housing and support • Housing management and maintenance; Housing Development; Community Networks • Investors in People status

3. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning • Person centred culture • Clear value base – Social Justice, Social Inclusion • Use 5 Service Accomplishments as a guide to action and quality assurance framework • Emphasis on citizenship and making contributions – shifting perceptions. • Learning organisation with strong emphasis on capacity building

4. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Capacity building amongst staff – emphasis on values, skills and knowledge required for the job: • Values based training – working in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner, empowerment, inclusion, focusing on gifts, developing relationships which value people as individuals. • Policy Framework for the job • Listening and communication skills • Skills for person centred working and support planning • Problem solving and creative thinking • Person centred tools and approaches • Connecting to communities

5. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Capacity building amongst staff – emphasis on values, skills and knowledge required for the job: • Making information accessible • Collaborative working • Reflective practice and ongoing learning • Craft of Management and performance management • Supporting people to gain appropriate qualifications

6. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Capacity building amongst tenants: • Confidence Building • Having Our Say Our Way • Speaking Up • Making a Presentation – involvement in staff training • Involvement in staff recruitment • Models of participation • Equal Opportunities • Promoting Active Citizenship

7. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Current Context: • Funding – Supporting People and Care Budgets • Housing Policy – Focus on Regeneration and Wider Role • Demography and Expectations • Community Planning – engaging with hard to reach communities • Citizenship

8. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Involvement in Community Planning - Conference in April 2004 with BCDP - Project funded by SCVO and Communities Scotland • Achievements: - supported individuals to raise issues of concern - built confidence and skills - increased knowledge amongst staff and service users around community planning and citizenship - networking with others - delivered training course for 9 people - produced and launched pack ‘Taking Action and Making a Difference in your local community’. • Inroads into structures in Peebles • Citizens Panel for Scottish Borders

9. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Training Course • How meetings work; How I am in meetings • Citizenship – good citizen, active citizen • Democracy – voting, ways to get involved locally, role of councillor • Community Planning – what’s happening, how to get involved • What can we do in our community?

10. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Skills and knowledge developed by tenants: • Communication and listening • Speaking up for themselves and others ‘gives you the chance to have your say about the services that are provided’. • Confidence building – increased well being ‘we have done things that we haven’t done before’. • Agenda setting; minute taking ‘I write the agenda and the minutes’.

11. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Skills and knowledge developed by tenants: • Creative thinking ‘we are going to ‘up’ our campaign soon to get the public to support us with this’. • Preparation and planning • Negotiation • Knowledge of how the council works - understanding local needs and context ‘ I found out what the council were doing about the problems in the town’.

12. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Skills and knowledge developed by tenants: • Influencing change ‘If I get a gate put in, I will be helping my neighbours as well’. ‘I want to do a course on Anti- Harassment and Bullying and talk to school children about these things’. • Training and presentation skills ‘We were asked to do a presentation and because of this we have made some changes in the town’. ‘I would like to be a co-trainer like other people’. • Committee skills • Partnership working

13. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Where next: • Promoting Active Citizenship Project funded by Big Lottery Fund – active citizens will inform others; emphasis on progressing employment; tenant involvement in staff recruitment and training • Clear Wider Role strategy – employment, safer communities, health • Framework for learning and personal development – Learning Culture Questionnaire • Increased partnership working and learning from others • Continued emphasis on capacity building and enhancing the voice of the people we support • ‘Understanding Citizenship’ course • Standards for Community Engagement

14. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Community Planning structures might address: • Accessibility of information. • The power of visual images – creating a vision, graphic recording • Structure of meetings. • Learning from others about what helps make participation and engagement more effective. • Feedback on consultation – what is different? • Training for ‘both sides’ • Standards for Community Engagement

15. The Pursuit and Importance of Skills and Learning Being skilled and competent as a citizen means feeling empowered, knowing and valuing your potential for positive action.