To welcome and introduce the new Community Engagement Officer, Penny Bell, who will explain her role in relation to the new campus.
Minutes:
Laurie Bell, Associate Director Communications and Communities, was welcomed to the meeting to provide some context on the appointment of the Community Engagement Officer (CEO) role for the Corsham community area which had been in place now for approximately 3 weeks.
The CEO role had been developed following the recent review of area boards to build on existing community working and in response to the new campus programme to develop the services offered to the local community.
The tremendous work undertaken by the Shadow Community Operations Board (SCOB) in developing the campus was recognised and the CEO would continue to build on the positive work undertaken. This would include working with the community to increase awareness of the campus and what it had to offer and how communities could be involved to support some of the activity.
The CEO role would be the ‘go to’ person within the community not only to build on community working but to help make things happen.
There were 3 elements to the campuses each lead by different key officers:
· Build Programme (all things related to the build) - Lead officer: Lucy Murray Brown
· Fixtures and fittings (all things related to who and what will be in the building) – Lead officer: Julie Anderson-Hill
· Engagement (ensuring a vibrant hub for communities) – Lead officer: Penny Bell
The CEO, as the main ‘go to’ person for the community area, would communicate the purpose of the Campus as a facility for all and develop a programme of events reflecting the needs and wants of the community itself.
The new Community Engagement Officer (CEO) for the Corsham community, Penny Bell, was welcomed to the floor and gave a presentation on the activity already undertaken since her appointment. Penny confirmed that the aspiration was for the campus to be a thriving hub for the local community. A comprehensive marketing and communications strategy was therefore in place, which included regular blogs to help keep the community in touch with the campus’ development.
Penny was also working to develop a scope highlighting what opportunities were available for vounteering. This included producing an all round work package for student volunteers as Penny as part of her scoping exercise had noted that many students within the community currently volunteered outside of it.
Details of what could be expected when the Campus was completed was also highlighted. This included a library, registrar service, day services for adults with learning disabilities, police contact, special space for young people, climbing wall and care room. There would also be a public café, 4 good sized community rooms upstairs and 3 smaller rooms downstairs. An all weather pitch was already in operation and a play area was also being developed.
Previous users of the community centre had expressed enthusiasm in accessing the facilities on offer within the campus. There had also been much interest from other potential users wishing to use the facilities.
The type of activities that could be sourced from the Springfield Community Campus was developing all the time with an appetite already expressed for IT support and healthy eating courses for children and families. Work was also taking place with ‘Spice’ to join the time credit scheme. This scheme rewarded volunteers with time credit that could be exchanged for other services, such as leisure time. A new Health Trainer had also been appointed to work with the Campus to help develop physical and emotional wellbeing within the community.
In concluding the presentation recent photographs of the campus were shown. These included shots of the open plan library and youth room.
Penny looked forward to working with the local community and highlighted her contact details which were:
E-mail:
penny.bell@wiltshire.gov.uk
Tel: 01249 706613
Updates could also be found via the following:.
Blog: www.corsham.ourcommunitymatters.org.uk
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/SpringfieldCommunityCampus
Thanks were given to attendees for their time in listening to the presentation. Penny looked forward to continuing to building on the relationship with the community.