Supporting the Residents of HMP 5 Wells to fundraise

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Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire has been working at HMP 5 wells for over 12 months now, supporting the residents to engage in health and wellbeing activities which provide them with a stimulus to think about life after detention, back within their local community and how they can take a full and active part in that. Our Project Worker has been building relationships with residents, and over the past year has run a series of events and showcases which residents have fully engaged in. Some of those residents now wish to fundraise for a truly worthy cause. The story behind the fundraising is highlighted here: Fundraiser for Kimberley Wileman by Hannah Dugdale : Rally for Hallie (gofundme.com)

It’s a truly sad story which hopefully will have a bright and happy ending – so if you want to help why not donate.

 

Consultation on the closing of a Town Centre crime hotspot

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The views of residents, community organisations and businesses are being sought following a proposal to temporarily close a Northampton Town Centre walkway which has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour and crime.

Emporium Way is located off Northampton Market square and provides shortcuts to Sheep Street and the nearby Mayor hold and Newlands carparks.

However, in recent months the walkway has attracted illicit activities including loitering, urination, muggings, fighting and drug dealing.

To tackle these behaviours, West Northamptonshire Council (or WNC) is proposing to make a Public Spaces Protection Order to close the public highway temporarily, using its powers under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

This order is subject to consultation which opens on the 23rd of August 2023 and will last for a 6-week period. Anyone who wishes to share their thoughts can do so using the Councils Consultation Hub at:

Public Spaces Protection Order consultation for Emporium Way Northampton – West Northamptonshire Council – Citizen Space

Grants scheme launched to mitigate youth violence and knife crime in West Northants

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West Northamptonshire Council (WNC), in partnership with the Northamptonshire Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (OPFCC) has launched a new grants scheme to mitigate youth violence and knife crime in West Northants.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available for Voluntary and Community Sector organisations who have identified projects, either new or existing, that aim to alleviate youth violence and knife crime in local communities.

These projects can be prevention or intervention projects, including projects that promote community safety, deter potential offenders, or provide support and resources to at-risk individuals or groups to prevent their involvement in violence and crime.

Registered charities, voluntary or community groups, constitutionalised clubs that engage with young people, and not-for-profit organisations can submit an expression of interest form to WNC outlining their project to be considered for the funding.

Cllr David Smith, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Engagement, and Regulatory Services, said:

We want to make West Northamptonshire a safer place for everyone and working in partnership with other organisations and community groups is crucial to achieving this.

This funding will enable these organisations to continue their valuable work with young people while enabling local people to become actively involved in developing solutions to protect and improve our communities.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Stephen Mold, said:

Tackling youth violence and knife crime at the earliest stage is something that can only be achieved by all the agencies working together, and local community groups.

Communities are often best placed to make a difference and understand how best to prevent crime and support young people in their area, and I am certain that investing in these groups will be a powerful tool in tackling violence.

Find more information and view the full criteria for applications on the WNC website and in the Council’s Community Funding Grants Framework.

If you would like to speak to the Community Funding Grants Team about your project or your eligibility to apply for this grant, email: communitygrants@westnorthants.gov.uk including your contact telephone number, as a telephone conversation can sometimes clarify a question more efficiently.

NHS Volunteer Responder Programme

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The NHS Volunteer Responder Programme started life during the COVID Pandemic, where thousands of community volunteers responded to an NHS call to support vulnerable people. The programme was co-ordinated by the NHS and the RVS, largely through the Good Sam digital platform. The NHS are now looking to expand this programme into Social Care. Information on this Programme can be found here.

The Presentation shows the Responder Programme Journey and highlights its successes and insights.

The VIN CEO states:

Whilst I think everybody welcomes and values the importance of volunteers within our communities, I do feel there is a genuine worry or fear that volunteers within Social Care could be seen as a direct replacement for paid professional staff in times future, which would be totally unacceptable to many. Providing a balance is kept between paid staff and the added value that volunteers can bring, I welcome this programme and will be watching its roll out carefully.

 

Kings Heath New Community Centre-Opportunity

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Within Kings Heath, WNC is currently redeveloping a unit to be used as a community centre for the local community. At this time, we would like to invite interested parties to send in a scoping business case, stating their interest in the building and how you would use the space for the benefit for the community.

The  KH Scoping Document, highlights the background of the area, plus the full details of what is required within the business case proposal. 

Please note. At this time, we are only looking for proposals, not only stating you interest in the building, but how you would use it. At a later date, when the building works are near completion, we will approach the interested parties to progress to the next stage of applying to take over the unit. More details will follow at this time.

Deadline for submission is Friday the 22nd September at midday. For any question and for further details please email both Jamie Wells at Forums.NBC@westnorthants.gov.uk

Funding – Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPS)

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Funding for Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) is set to end in April 2024.

The money earmarked for LEPs since their inception in 2010 will now be allocated to mayoral combined and some local authorities.

Moving the funding over to the authorities will boost the scope for “greater join-up, efficiencies, and clarity for the private sector” involved in the LEP programme, according to a Central Government letter sent to all authority leaders and LEP chairs today.

LEPs were originally set up to determine local skills priorities and are made up of local authorities and private sector businesses. Nearly £12 billion was pumped into LEPs by 2020 and there are currently 36 LEPs.

But government has now moved forward with a decision to cut that funding.

A consultation launched in March 2023 showed that there was an “overlap between some of the functions being discharged by LEPs, local authorities and combined authorities”, the letter said, which was signed by Dehenna Davison, the Minister for Levelling up, and Kevin Hollinrake, the Minister for Enterprise, Small markets, and Business.

The consultation also found that “there is already a high level of integration of LEP functions in mayoral Combined Authority areas”.

Combined authorities will take on the funding to deliver the LEP’s function, while County councils will get that funding where a combined authority has not yet been established.

Funding earmarked for the work LEPs currently do will go to the local and mayoral authorities until 2024/2025, but government has not committed to funding after that.

“The government remains committed to our goal that by 2030, every area in England that wants a devolution deal will have one,” the letter added.

Homestart Trustee

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We need people who are good communicators and listeners and can work collaboratively

A little bit of you can change children’s lives

Home-Start Northampton need more Trustees to do the vital work in steering and supporting our vision and strategy to work with vulnerable families in Northampton – every minute and every hour count.

Don’t be put off by those words!

We need you to bring your attitude, perspective and enthusiasm – everything else can be developed and provided.

Everyone brings something different to being a Trustee – what could you bring?

Becoming a trustee is one of the most powerful ways you can contribute to your local community while using and building a wealth of skills. The work being done by Home-Start trustees has never been more important as families reach breaking point during the cost-of-living crisis.

We are seeking experience in marketing, IT, events, fund raising, safeguarding, or just your passion and common sense.

We are a small, professional but friendly charity wanting to grow.  All we need is around 4 hours a month of your time.

Quote from a Trustee: ‘When I first joined Home-Start I asked myself ‘is this a service that can actually change people’s lives?’ And the answer is a certain yes. Early intervention has a positive ripple effect on children’s lives and the earlier we start the better’.

It will lead you on a fantastic journey.

Come on, give us a call on:    01604 627692

Or email:         admin@homestart-northampton.org.uk

Our website:            https://homestartinwestnorthamptonshire.org.uk

(click on Northampton)

Integrated Care Northamptonshire – Engagement Insight Library

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Working in partnership with our county’s emerging Community and Health and Wellbeing Forums, we have co-produced the Integrated Care Northamptonshire Engagement Insight Library  – a central hub for engagement insights from across ICN partners and our communities.

Working in partnership with our county’s emerging Community and Health and

Wellbeing Forums, we have co-produced the Integrated Care Northamptonshire

Engagement Insight Library  – a central hub for engagement insights from across ICN

The Engagement Insight Library is a single point of contact and has become an essential resource with the following key aims, developed through co-production:

  • Support collaboration between organisations around gathering insight, enabling links to be made between individuals/organisations who are working on the same area, or are wanting the answers to the same questions. Making the best possible use of Support collaboration between organisations around gathering insight, enabling links to be made between individuals/organisations who are working on the same area, or are wanting the answers to the same questions. Making the best possible use of available resource.
  • Move away from seeing residents as patients or service users towards seeing them as members of local communities with valuable experience and insight to share.
  • Support the use of a variety of methods for gathering insight, moving away from an over-reliance on surveys to methods that nurture and use existing relationships.
  • Collect and organise insight being gathered across the system to make it easily accessible and searchable.

We now have a single place where engagement activity reports from across Northamptonshire can be stored, making them more accessible to partner organisations and our communities.

Sign up to the Library

Submit an engagement report