JULY CONFERENCES

Introduction

The purpose of these conferences was to give community and voluntary groups in Haringey, and local residents, a view of how Community Empowerment Networks (CENs) work in other areas.

Two CENs were invited to speak at the conferences: Preston and Ealing, representing two entirely different Networks that had been developed in very different ways.

It was anticipated that this information would result in a more detailed discussion about what this meant for Haringey, and how Haringey might seek to develop a clear way forward.

Preston

Julie Humphries, the Network Co-ordinator and Andy Lee, the Community Liaison Officer made the presentation on the Preston Community Network.

Preston Community Network arose from difficult beginnings. It had not been possible for the community and voluntary sectors to agree a single lead body to take the CEN forward and, in fact, this lead to three lead bodies being given the responsibility for developing the Network.

They began with a Planning Group who organised their first conference, bringing in the wider community, in May 2002. This was very successful, with over 100 people attending. From this event they organised an interim Steering Group and Executive and appointed interim representatives on the Local Strategic Partnership.

Two Away Weekends were organised in October and November 2002. These were very well attended and set the values and principles that underpin the Network, as well as agreeing the structure, electoral process and issues of membership and communication. In November 2002 the ideas that came out of these Weekends were presented to a final conference for amendment and approval.

The Network now has an elected Executive that meets monthly to conduct the day to day business of the Network, and a Community Network that meets on a three monthly basis and makes all the key strategic decisions for the Network. This also allows representatives on the LSP and other groups to feed back to the Network and to find out the key issues within the community.

There is also an Equity Forum, established to provide a link from the LSP to the most marginalised communities in Preston to ensure that issues of access and equality are addressed, and that consultation processes reach all groups using the most appropriate media.

Preston CN is a Company Limited by Guarantee, seeking Charitable Status.

Preston CN has elected 7 representatives onto the LSP and it also has a 20% membership of all the Thematic Working Groups that feed into the LSP. They have developed a good relationship with the LSP, and have played a significant role in consultation. All elections are by secret ballot. All representatives are entitled to expenses for transport and any caring responsibilities that they have.

The PCN has developed from the grassroots, the membership drive began in December 2003 and there are now 135 members. In the beginning the Network went out to encourage groups to join, but now the groups come to the Network asking to join.

The Network’s first member of staff was appointed in October 2002 – the Community Liaison Officer, and the Co-ordinator came into post in January 2003, with the Information Officer joining in April 2003. These staff organise events, consultations, training and information seminars for the Network. The Network is keen to develop the capacity of the local community and to employ local people wherever possible. They have played a key role in the development of the Compact between the LSP and the community and voluntary sector, have organised an audit of youth provision in the area, carried out a major consultation exercise for the Community Strategy, and organised a training weekend on ‘regeneration’ for small local groups. They have undertaken both a skills audit and a training needs analysis and are in the process of developing a schedule of training for local groups. One area of training is a fundraising and mentoring course designed to train local people to act as mentors for other local groups who need fundraising advice and support.

As part of its strategy to become a sustainable organisation the Preston Network is currently undertaking a consultancy contract with consultants working on a new Housing Gateway project in Preston, and is actively seeking other small consultancy projects.

Ealing

Carmel Cahill, the Co-ordinator from the Ealing Community Network (ECN) made the presentation on the development and operation of the ECN.

In Ealing there was a strong and well-supported CVS, and this was the natural lead organisation for developing the Network.

The Ealing Community Network was started in 2001 and they decided, instead of including all the current membership of the CVS, to build the Network from the grassroots, and have steadily increased the membership from 55 groups to 130 at their first conference and 225 at their second conference.

They started by organising the biggest ever community consultation in Ealing, with 15 community consultation meetings across the Borough attended by 74 groups. 150 groups returned the questionnaires, and the resulting report was presented to both the CEN and the LSP. It highlighted the key priorities for the Sector:
· Funding
· Better customer care
· Need to be treated as an equal partner
· Race discrimination
· IT and Internet access
· Translation of information
· Accommodation for the sector
· Key Worker Housing for sector
· Sector recruitment and salaries

The also highlighted some issues for the LSP:

· Public question and answer session
· Childcare for representatives
· Payment of expenses for representatives
· Payment for staff
· Transport to meetings

In Ealing the Network holds meetings every two months, taking all the policy decisions, and has a Steering Group that plans the ECN meetings and takes urgent decisions. The 10 places on the Steering Group are elected at ECN open meetings (50% of places reserved for small groups), and the annual conference elects a Chair and 2 Vice Chairs. The annual conference also elects 4 LSP delegates (1 small group/1 BME/1 refugee/1 open).

In Ealing there is a small staff of 2 part-time workers who buy in training expertise. The ECN is active in supporting the development of existing networks and helping new networks to get started, and provides funding to assist networks such as the Ealing Refugee Forum, East Acton Alliance, Ealing Black and Minority Ethnic Forum and Hayes Environmental Forum. They also provide a programme of community skills training open to all ECN members. The ECN also operates a BMER Involvement Fund and a Neighbourhood Involvement Fund.

The ECN have lobbied the LSP to become more inclusive, and they have now opened meetings to the public, and the Chair of the ECN is deputy Chair of the LSP. The ECN helped developed the Compact with the LA, and this will now go to the PCT and then the LSP. They have also helped launch the West London Network.

KEY RESPONSES FROM AUDIENCE

What does this mean for Haringey?

The presentations gave the delegates the opportunity to look at two different Networks, and recognise the need to develop a Network in Haringey that met the needs of the community in Haringey. The two approaches had given the conference delegates an opportunity to see what this could mean for Haringey.

It was generally felt that this was an excellent opportunity to develop a Network that would underpin progress towards social inclusion for all, and would provide the opportunity for the voluntary and community sectors to shape the Network to meet local need and to positively engage with all sectors of the community.

What are the key issues?

Haringey has money available to spend NOW
The Network should be totally independent
Diversity is strength – build on this strength
Need for equality between organisations, regardless of size, resources etc.
Who should be the Lead Body?
HAVCO is now launched but it is very new and unproven
Communication
Engagement and involvement
Network will need time to be developed

How to plan for the Community Network

Need to set up a Planning Group immediately
Group should be open to all
Need for people to pass on the message to others
Be clear about roles and responsibilities
Should work quickly to meet GOL timetable
Outcome of meetings should be broadcast widely

Group One

Principles/Starting points:

The CEN may need to look at:
· Becoming/being a useful knowledge pool/base
· Identifying/promoting best practice
· Consolidating/highlighting issues relevant to Haringey and the voluntary and community sector
· Becoming/maintaining ‘profile’ as a consultation and communication stream between Central and Local Government and Voluntary and Community organisations

Implications:

· Strength in diversity
· Will underpin progress towards social inclusion for ALL
· Will need time to develop and work

Next Steps:

v AGREE THE PRINCIPLES

v IDENTIFY/ESTABLISH A LEAD ORGANISATION
(Possibly independent of Sector)
AS HAVCO IS NEW

v CONSULTATION WITH THE SECTOR

Need to:

· Establish communication channel
· Have equality of organisations
· Strength in diversity
· Encourage best practice
· Evaluate of CEN core objectives –v- LEP/Government Objectives
· Set aims and objectives of CEN
· Identify priorities – possible themed; sector specific
· Structure – funds available

GroupTwo

Local jobs for local people with local interest – community interest and commitment.
Let’s shape the future – have a fresh start
Issues

Health – Crime – Education
Information, follow-up, publicity and presentation
Make linkages – co-ordinated services and support for new initiatives and community transport
Transport – make it accessible
Gatekeepers
Street cleaning
Young people – they are our investment
Community space

Way Forward

Volunteers – develop commitment and understanding
Establish Steering Group with Sub-groups

Communication

Advertise the Network widely – part-time co-ordinator
Introduction Article in the local press
Find a base for the Network
Resources
Take stock – introduce fun into meetings

Group Three

Reactions

Different approaches
People having a say
Why break down by ethnicity – demonstrated representation and knowledge of community
Useful introduction
One voice is powerful
What is it about?
Change in decision-making locally! – local people being given a real say
Jargon!! – no complete understanding

What

What are the issues?
Build up the Network – use the network of organisations to find out what local people want – local people as well as organisations
Write up in simple language about the CEN process
- circulate via flyers/schools
- Internet via libraries – Haringey website
- Local press
- Address issues of language barriers

Be clear about the way people can get involved
- re access
- engagement
- multi-language radio station
Young people – take resources to young people
- looked at Hackney model of making use of a council flat to give young people a real base in their community
- Youth Parliament
- Issues
- Activities
- Youth mentoring – enabling
- Schools focus
Build trust
Undertake skills audit

Taking it forward

Training local people to outreach and network
Identify key people
Be clear about roles and responsibilities
Use external facilitation as a driver
Get publicity right

Group Four

What does this mean for Haringey?
Benefits – structure
CEN can look at gaps
Structure needs to reflect CSF
Need to explain different groups/organisations/acronyms
Preston strength – no direct Council influence
Needs to be independent
CVS has local authority funding and is therefore not independent
HAVCO – new but set up by Council
Funding distributed democratically
Funding needs to be transparent
In Preston the Network decides how the money is to be spent and then tells the organisation who is managing the funding
Centralisation/rationalisation – transparency
Haringey partnerships – how can CEN fit in?
Networks role to elect representatives onto LSP – voluntary and community groups are both part of the Network – also put representatives onto other bodies
Preston faced problems starting up – need to get a planning group going
There is £400,000 earmarked for Haringey that is funding for the last three years – needs to be spent in Haringey

What is the difference between Community Forum and CEN?

CEN elects people onto HSP
In Preston there is a Community Forum and it is a member of the CEN
Forum – planned to engage with residents regarding what is happening – but why if the CEN is being formed?
Discussion with regard to Council on bodies and independence – in Preston the representatives are truly independent of LSP and Council

Issues

3 years money awaiting the Network
Overlap between Forum and CEN – this needs to be explored, in particular the consultation aspect of Forum and CEN
Absolute empowerment needed – means community control – Preston Network feels in control
Preston formed an initial planning group – they had three lead bodies to start with, as well as external support – now a company limited by guarantee with the local Credit Union managing their finances
Running of CEN – hours
Languages
Practitioners and activists
Realism: Getting planning group going
Don’t need everyone immediately
In Preston they went for complete transparency – said that anyone could join the initial groups
Need to leave today with something tangible i.e. Planning Group

How to plan Community Empowerment Network