Disabled Facilities Grant

Housing Minister Baroness Andrews announced yesterday how much funding each local authority will get to help disabled and older people stay in their homes through the Disabled Facilities Grant Programme. The Government is making £157m available to local authorities in England for 2009-10 through the programme, with over 230 local authorities receiving an increase.

“Providing something as simple as a ramp can really make the difference between being able to stay in your home and having to leave and this is exactly how the Disabled Facilities Grant helps – it gives people the opportunity to stay in their homes and communities, near friends and family.” Baroness Andrews

Blackpool Council will benefit by £636,000 in 2009/10 (currently £606,000). A factsheet on Disabled Facilities Grant is available from the Blackpool Council website.

Scribd promotion of Blackpool’s Local Area Agreement

The Blackpool LAA (Local Area Agreement) is the Blackpool Council-led document that sets out the priorities for what needs doing in the town and serves as the formal agreement between it and central government.

The LAA is an essential document that is designed to help join up local services more effectively and allow for efficient targeting of funding towards local solutions to address locally determined priorities.

As an essential document then it is vital that those people interested have easy access to it. Therefore BCN is pleased to announce that over 150 people have now formally viewed the Blackpool LAA via this website and its Scribd version of the document.

Since the launch of this website on July 1st over 1,000 downloads/viewings of featured documents have taken place.

Note: The Blackpool LAA is also available from the IDeA (Improvement and Development Agency) Website as a PDF file.

Blackpool Winter Warmth Roadshow

A WINTER WARMTH ROADSHOW takes place at ST JOHN’S CHURCH, CHURCH ST, Blackpool (opposite the Winter Gardens) on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th November 2008 10.00am – 3.00pm. The roadshow will be launched by Tracy Dawson.

FREE - Advice, information & gifts

FREE - Advice on energy efficiency

FREE - Tips on keeping warm, healthy & safe in your home.

FREE - Electric blankets (qualifying criteria applies and limited stock available)

FREE – Hot Drinks – Festive Cakes – Christmas Hamper Draw -

Organised by Blackpool Council’s CARE & REPAIR and HOME OWNERS ADVICE TEAM.

Blackpool Third Sector Strategic Forum contract awarded

Blackpool Council has awarded the contract to host and develop Blackpool’s Third Sector Strategic Forum to the Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde CVS (Council for Voluntary Service).

In a press release issued today Blackpool Council stated its desire to create a new and innovative project which will create and co-ordinate an accountable voice for the Third Sector in Blackpool.

Blackpool has well over 400 ‘not-for-profit’ groups ranging from small residents associations to large charities. All these groups fall under the umbrella of the term “third sector”.

Cllr Peter Callow, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “I’m delighted that the CVS have been awarded this contract. There are huge benefits to be made from having one focussed organisation solely concentrating on helping the not for profit organisations which in turn enables us to reach them more effectively.

“The CVS will be offering help and advice to community, voluntary and faith groups within the town regardless of their size. The third sector play a vital role in this town and we need to ensure we are providing opportunities for them to flourish and make as much as impact as possible. This move is a really positive step for Blackpool and one I’m sure will be embraced by the third sector.”

See also earlier post Third Sector Czar for Blackpool?

Also Third Sector Strategic Forum Manager vacancy advertised in The Guardian.

Third Sector Czar for Blackpool?

Blackpool Council looks set to announce its plans for the Blackpool Third Sector Assembly following its failure to appoint a hosting body through its tendering process.

No official announcement has been made and interested parties have yet to be informed, however Council sources have indicated that the new Assembly strategy will revolve around the appointment of a new senior third sector official in the town.

It is expected that the new postholder will be tasked with establishing the Assembly but will also liaise at a senior level within Blackpool Council and other statutory partners in order to build a greater understanding and recognition of the role of the third sector in the town. While most groups in the town will probably welcome such an appointment that can boost the credibility of the sector at a key strategic level, critics will undoubtedly question whether resources destined for the third sector should be spent on capacity building the statutory sector. Perhaps the statutory sector should pay for its own capacity building?

It remains to be seen exactly what the Council will do next. However, what is clear is that ideas for creating one ‘Local Infrastructure Organisation’ in the town floated by Blackpool Council in September 2007 in response to the Burnby Report, seemed to have morphed into something different. Of course, left out of the discussion on this matter (except for some limited consultation carried out by Blackpool SURF), are the very groups and organisations that will be expected to take part in any new initiative.

SURF proposal to continue as independent Network

Blackpool SURF members at their Network Meeting last night agreed a proposal that if accepted by other members would mean that the organisation would continue to function as an independent Community Empowerment Network in the town.

Two proposals will be taken to the organisation’s AGM on 24th November, one to continue and seek appropriate funding, and another to voluntarily close the organisation. The recommendation of the Network meeting last night was that members should firmly support the proposal to continue, but a proposal to close would also be put to members so that a clear choice is available.

Ray Duffill, SURF’s Network Manager welcomed the comittment of members to continue as an independent Network: “Personally I think it’s absolutely vital that the voluntary, community and faith sector has an independent voice in the town. Independent being the key. Blackpool Council strives to be the leading force for change in the town, but leadership is something that has to be earned and not just assumed or foisted on others. And while things are definitely improving and some Departments are better than others, it has been my experience that the Council has a culture of wanting ‘to set the agenda’ and is very sensitive on occasion to alternative ideas. The Council piper likes to call the tune!  Independence – a Compact principle – gives the right to criticise on occasion, without having to look over your shoulder to see if your funding might be under threat!”

SURF’s remaining staff, Ray Duffill and Administrator Sarah Price leave Blackpool SURF at the end of this month.  In the interim period until the AGM, the organisation will be led by its volunteer Trustees.

Bloomfield Talks

A community history project called “Bloomfield Talks” has been running in the Bloomfield, Foxhall and near South Shore area for the last few months, collecting reminiscences, conversations and thoughts from local residents. It’s led by Blackpool Council, and funded by them and the Heritage Lottery. The Project aims to publish a book in February, containing a selection of the material collected by a team of volunteers.

A tea party is being held Sat 11th October, at St Peter’s Church, Lytham Road at 12.30pm. The event will launch the new project website and show some of the material collected so far. A live Internet radio broadcast of the event will take place from 1pm onwards – a link to listen to the broadcast will be on the website, so have a listen if you can! Visit www.bloomfieldtalks.org and find out about this exciting project through this colourful, vibrant website!

There will be live performances from local musicians, a phone-in, and more.

Local people, or those with Bloomfield links, who visit the website can contribute their own stories, reminiscences and photos online.

Contact the project on bloomfieldtalks@freedomnames.co.uk if you’re interested!

Blackpool Council Grants

REMINDER: Blackpool Council has given notice of its yearly Grants scheme. Applications need to be submitted by this Friday 28th November 2008. Last year grants from the Council ranged from £50 up to £67,000. The criteria and guidance can be considered a bit vague, so potential first time applicants might want to make contact with the local CVS for assistance.

Click for a copy of the Application Form and Guidance Notes.

The loss of specialist Community Development Workers?

The Community Development Exchange has warned that the Government’s Empowerment Plans could endanger community development as a skilled profession. It is claimed that moves to ‘mainstream’ community development practice will in fact erode the role of the skilled specialists employed to do this work.

‘It’s important to have community development as an approach but its essential to have specialist community development workers.’

Amanda Greenwood, CDX Chief Executive

New Start have highlighted this story in the current edition of the magazine(click the link below).

New Start Online | News » White paper warning over community development.

Discussion on this issue is relevant locally. Observers have noted that over the last two years Blackpool Council has moved away from a providing a specialist community development unit in favour of a neighbourhood management and generalist role for its staff.

Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities

Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities is the Statutory Guidance issued to Local Authorities on how they should engage their communities and citizens. The document has been used in the town by Blackpool Council as underpinning background material in its current Review of the BSP (Blackpool Strategic Partnership).

Along with the Principles of Representation, the document contains valuable material that attempts to define “representation” and “representatives” of people and communities. This is increasingly being seen as something that is different to “co-option” and “volunteering” with its own particular support needs.

This website will bring updates on the BSP Review process as relevant material becomes available.

The documents are available from the DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government) by clicking on the relevant links above.

Blackpool Council – a Stonewall Diversity Champion

Blackpool Council has announced that they have joined Stonewall’s Diversity Champions programme for employers. Diversity Champions is Britain’s good practice forum for Sexual Orientation issues in the workplace.

The council will be working with Stonewall Britain’s leading gay equality organisation, and other members of the programme, to improve their working environment for their lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) staff. They wish to have a workplace culture which allows their employees to be valued for themselves, and give 100%.

By joining Diversity Champions they hope to send a strong signal to their LGB staff, providing reassurance that their contribution will be valued and their sexual orientation respected in a positive working environment.

The council also hopes that their customers/service users will see their firm commitment to equality.

Fix My Street… online!

Finding it difficult to report a problem to Blackpool Council? Then ask www.fixmystreet.com to do it for you!

This website lets your local council know about problems and ensures that the problems are reported to the correct department and the right people. You can even check back to see what progress has been made (click here). The service is easy – and fun – to use.

You are asked to type in the postcode, street name or area and then click on the location map to show where the problem is. You are then asked to describe the problem in some detail. Once you have registered your problem the website will contact Blackpool Council within minutes.

Of course you could always contact Blackpool Council direct on www.blackpool.gov.uk/DoItOnline/ReportIT.htm

Third Sector Assembly…. NOT to begin operations today!

August 1st should have been the date when the new Blackpool Third Sector Assembly or Strategic Forum should have begun operations. However, Blackpool Council’s tendering process has failed to appoint an organisation to host its new body.

To coincide with this non-event, attention is being drawn to the findings from Blackpool SURF’s consultation on a ‘Third Sector Assembly’ that took place in March and May.  Whilst this consultation was by no means extensive, it does reflect the only meaningful public discussion that has taken place on the Council’s proposed new body.

The findings showed that groups generally supported the concept of a new assembly and the ideal of creating a single body for the sector, however concerns were expressed that a new larger organisation might not share enough common issues and characteristics to unite all groups.  Smaller groups at grassroots level feared that they might not be adequately served by a new giant body and that smaller-scale and more focussed networking would work better.

The complete findings and every recorded comment are available from our sister website on Blackpool4me by clicking here.