By YOU – working together to tell us how you want a Network to be developed that works for ALL groups across the Borough – that is genuinely inclusive, empowering and of mutual benefit. It is essential to ensure that the views of as many groups as possible are heard if the Network is to work effectively.
More about Community Empowerment Networks (CENs)
The whole point of CENs is to bring together voluntary and community groups, and local residents, to ensure that they have every opportunity to be involved in decision making at all levels.
The Government recognised that it has always been difficult in the past for local groups to be involved as equal partners in decision making. They also know that without the involvement of local groups there can be no lasting change to the local environment. The Government recognised that training and support would be needed if local groups were to become properly engaged.
CENs do this by providing information, training, capacity building and support for organisations so that groups can become involved. They will also develop a good and fair election system so that local people from the community and voluntary sectors can be elected onto the Haringey Strategic Partnership and other Partnerships and Boards. Representatives will be accountable to the Network and will ensure that YOUR views are heard.
The Government is supporting the Network through the Community Empowerment Fund – given directly to the community via a local voluntary organisation. Originally this fund was for three years from 2001 – 2004, but the Government has now extended this for a further two years until the end of March 2006. Hardly any of this money has been spent in Haringey.
The CEF is not a grant giving fund – local groups cannot benefit from a direct grant of money. However, it may be that some local groups will deliver some training or capacity building, and local people may be employed to work with small groups, but this money is to ensure that Haringey benefits from regeneration by ensuring that local groups and people have their say in how and where local services should be delivered.
