Agenda item

The Committee were provided an update on the progress of the Thriving Communities Programme.

The Council and its partners were committed to a co-operative future for Oldham where ‘everyone does their bit and everybody benefits’ and the Partnership’s Oldham Plan 2017 – 2022 sets out the Oldham model for delivering tangible and sustained change through an integrated focus on inclusive economy, thriving communities and co-operative services.

Key projects highlighted included:

·         More than medical support (also known as social prescribing) including the Social Prescribing network in Oldham West

·         The Fast Grants

·         The Social Action Fund

·         Workforce Development

·         A stronger focus on evidence and evaluation with the Thriving Communities index

The current position for each area was provided.

A decision had been made related to the award of the contract for the Social Prescribing Innovation Partnership which had been awarded to a consortium of partners which included Action Together, Age UK, Positive Steps, TOG MIND with Action Together being the lead organisation for the partnership.  The partnership would be mobilised and the social prescribing offer rolled out borough-wide over the coming months. 

The first pot of £60k Fast Grants which provided funding into grassroots community groups had been used.  Grants ranged from £50 to £500.  A number of funding pots would be available from 1^st April 2019.

The Social Action Fund had been launched in January 2019.  There had been 23 expressions of interest. 

A Community and Volunteer ‘Making Every Contact Count’ pilot training took place.  An evaluation of the sessions had been conducted and would feed into the workforce and leadership offer.  This offer would be linked into the Oldham Cares wider piece of work on Organisational Development.

The Thriving Communities Index allowed relative statements to be made about the degree to which neighbourhoods were thriving and allowed us to see which ‘neighbourhoods’ (circa 2000 population) had pressures in terms of place, residents and service demand. 

Members requested the number of organisations contacted could be widened and queried the number of schools who had received fast grants.  Members were informed that due to year end some grants had not yet been provided.  Members requested better communications for elected members.

Members queried the work with Action Together and were informed that Action Together were administering the Fast Grants.  Action Together did some due diligence.  Safeguarding was important and needed to be monitored carefully.

Members queried the obesity issue as part of social prescribing on a practical level.  Members were informed that there were community assets that could support people around improved physical activity and healthier lifestyle choice but that there was more work that could be done in that area and considered by commissioners in the health and care economy.

Members asked what arrangements were in place to address problems and enable groups to access support and were informed that the workforce would be upskilled and a wider programme rolled out.

RESOLVED that:

1.         The progress on the Thriving Communities Programme be noted.

2.         An update on the Thriving Community Programme be provided in 12 months.

3.         An update on Social Prescribing be provided in September 2019.