Agenda item

To receive an update on the following Area Board priority:

 

·       Community Engagement – Cllrs Graham Wright and Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling.

 

To receive updates from the following organisations who have previously received funding from the Area Board and the impact that this had:

 

·       James Dwyer of God Unlimited (GUL)

·       Graham Audin of Community Transport South Wiltshire (CTSW)

Cllr Graham Wright and Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling gave an update on the Community Engagement Area Board priority.

 

Cllr Wright detailed a Community Speed Watch (CSW) reward and recognition event which had been held on 20 February in Durrington. All seven CSW teams in the area were recognised and thanked for their hard work and dedication, these were:

 

·       Berwick St James

·       Durrington

·       Enford

·       Middle Woodford

·       Netheravon

·       Shrewton

·       Stoford & Newton

 

In addition, at the event the current Wiltshire Council list of planned road works in the area was discussed. Additional roads were proposed for consideration, and the list would be submitted by Cllr Blair-Pilling following consultation with the Head of Highways. The event was yet another example of positive community engagement.

 

Cllr Wright also gave details on a follow up on an Area Board Grant awarded to the 2nd Bulford (St Leonards) Scout Group, which he had been to visit. The grant had been a fantastic enabler for the group to improve their offering to young people in the area.

 

They had started receiving some of the items funded by the grant which included:

 

·       New chairs for the Scout Hut

·       Mud mats and outside storage

·       Archery equipment

 

They would also be ordering:

 

·       Outside lighting to improve safety in the car park

·       New cook tents

·       New tables

 

In particular, the way in which the grant was awarded allowed the group to use it to secure another match funding grant (75% project costs) from Rural Hubs.

 

This meant that the grant from the Area Board effectively unlocked the ability to access a grant for a further £7000; something they would not have been able to achieve without the Area Board’s support. As a charity, they could not emphasise enough how helpful it was to show ‘money in the bank.

 

Cllr Verbinnen stated that he went to the CSW Rewards and Recognition event, and it was very good, and he thanked Cllrs Wright and Blair-Pilling for their hard work.

 

Cllr Verbinnen then invited two organisations who had previously been awarded grants by the Area Board to give updates on the impact this had and how their projects were going.

 

·       James Dwyerof God Unlimited (GUL)

 

GUL Outdoor Therapy was based in Shrewton at the Riverside Centre. They took marginalised young people and adults and got them outside to help their mental health and quality of life. They helped young people who were isolated or struggling and may not be in school. Part of the aim was to develop trusting relationships with adults. The kind of activities that were undertaken included learning to light a fire, trust exercises like blindfold walks and horse/pony riding. The interactions were low level at first, maybe helping youngsters to make friends and interact with others. They usually worked with young people for a couple of years with the aim of getting them back into mainstream settings. 

 

Details were given on the who uses GUL:

o   16% were adults, these came via:

§  Individuals volunteering

§  Independent referrals

§  Military charities/ Probation Services and Adult Care services

 

o   84% were young people, these came via:

§  Referred from over 90 Schools across the south of England and Wales

§  Local NHS mental health provision

§  GUL works with Wiltshire Council services as a registered Alternative provider

§  In partnership with local charities and private businesses

§  Available to local people

 

74% of those attending the centre came from SP postcodes. The issues they faced varied widely, such as mental health; anxiety; depression; Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); other varied diagnoses and physical disabilities. Or some may have no label as such but still need help.

 

The representative wanted to thank the Area Board for the last grant received which was for £5,000. The Riverside Centre was off grid and mainly outside with few buildings. However, this grant had enabled them to build a new building which would be used as an office as well as allowing then to host events and undertake indoor education. The group had been operating out of a 3m x 3m portacabin previously, so were very excited by this. 

 

All Area Board Members thanked GUL for their presentation and the really good work that they undertook. All thought that it was a fantastic organisation.

 

·       Graham Audin of Community Transport South Wiltshire (CTSW)

 

CTSW ran the Amesbury HOPPA Community Bus service, so they were often called that, but the group was actually known as CTSW and their aim was to provide accessible transport in order to help minimise loneliness and isolation and enable people to get out and about. The charity had registered in 1996.

 

The services provided included a car scheme; shopper buses, group bus trips, the Amesbury HOPPA and a school service.

 

The grant CTSW had received and gone towards a replacement engine for 1 of the buses, for which the group were very grateful.

 

The community benefit of the scheme helped those that could not reach public services, could not afford local taxis and had no other means of transport. This gave access to education, shopping, leisure and business. As well as connecting communities and gave a feeling of community spirit for both passengers and drivers.

 

The Amesbury HOPPA had carried over 382,000 passengers, which was roughly 31,000 a year. This undertook a circular route around Amesbury, starting and ending at Tesco. It was hoped that they may be able to extend the HOPPA route to incorporate the Kings Gate development.

 

The Shopper buses connected communities, covering Shrewton, Tilshead and Durrington. This was a service that people had to register for, and was door to door. An average adult single was £2 or a return £3.

 

The group wanted to bring people into Amesbury and wanted to work with partners to increase tourism in the town. For example, by running a service from Stonehenge to Amesbury, to places like the Amesbury History Centre. Which everyone thought was a good idea.

 

Area Board Members commented that people missed the Christmas event at Stonehenge and perhaps this was something that the Area Board could look at bringing back and possibly work with CTSW regarding transport. 

 

Carolyn Taylor, Resident Engagement Officer, stated that they had used CTSW for their sheltered housing residents and they were very good, getting really positive feedback from residents.

 

The Chairman thanked both presenters and stated that these were two excellent examples of the benefit that Area Board funding could bring.