Memorandum by Liverpool City Council (SOC
67)
BACKGROUND
Liverpool, the UK's sixth largest City with
a population of approximately 440,000, has a diverse and changing
society, including some of the oldest established BME communities
in Europe. This diversity brings with it many exciting opportunities.
However, there is also awareness that such diversity can bring
tensions and frustrations that may lead to unwanted outcomes within
and across local areas and communities if left unsupported. These
tensions might exist both among the majority white population
and among BME groups.They might surface in terms of, for example,
race, faith, sexuality, disabilities, between young and older
people, and between long-term residents and newcomers such as
asylum seekers, refugees and travellers.
The aim for Liverpool is therefore about raising
awareness and developing greater understanding in order to break
down barriers within and between diverse communities. Approaches
taken must be about positively embracing our diversity and promoting
equality of opportunities. After all, Liverpool is "The World
in One City", European Capital of Culture 2008.
Whilst the Local Authority has a key role to
play in taking forward the Community Cohesion agenda, the City
Council recognises that it can only do this in partnership with
a wide range of other local players and approaches need to be
developed and owned by these partnerships. Issues need to be integrated
within strategic and service planning systems in order to sustain
progress and achieve the positive benefits. The Local Strategic
Partnership (LSPs) is one key means of developing community cohesion
approaches within a neighbourhood renewal context.
Major regeneration projects are bringing significant
inward investment and an increase in jobs for local people. However,
70% of the city's wards are in the worst 10% deprived wards nationally.
Deprivation is acute in the Inner Core home to the majority of
Liverpool's BME and asylum seekers and refugees.
The plethora of funding initiatives and programmes
available, such as Housing Market Renewal, LIFT, Objective 1 and
others will within them support the stability of communities through
the transformation of local environments. In addition, within
the City Council, the new Neighbourhood Co-ordination arrangements
will bring closer to local people key council services initially
followed by a more comprehensive joining of services with other
agencies. Together the initiatives will combine to promote community
cohesion and tackle disorder such as hate crime; anti-social behaviour
and lack of cohesion between different generations.
COMMUNITY COHESION
The broad working definition used is that a
cohesive community is one where:
— There is a common vision and a sense
of belonging for all communities.
— The diversity of people's different
backgrounds and circumstances are appreciated and positively valued.
— Those from different backgrounds
have similar life opportunitie.
— Strong and positive relationships
are being developed between people from different backgrounds
in different settings, eg in the workplace, in schools and in
local neighbourhoods.
GOOD PRACTICE
Nationally, evidence of what is actually working
at the local level and is positively transforming our communities
in terms of community cohesion is scarce. This is because there
are no magic formulas or "one fits all" initiative that
can be applied across the board. What works in one community might
not be transferable to another community. Rather, it is the effects
of a combination of local interventions and activities which are
owned by respective communities.
However, a helpful framework is to consider
some key concepts and examine work in Liverpool which is being
undertaken with regards to some of these concepts:
Education and Citizenship
Schools and other educational providers in Liverpool
are taking action to develop and promote understanding of the
diverse range of cultures and faiths within the City. They are
taking effective measures to address racial harassment and bullying
and ensuring that formal education utilises a curriculum that
recognises the contribution of diverse cultures and faiths.
Specific Example: Neighbourhood Renewal Funded
Community Cohesion Initiative: This initiative specifically promotes
community cohesion and co-ordinates educationally related activities
for refugees and asylum seekers (Newcomers). The intention is
to extend existing provision as well as providing additional services
where previously none or little existed for BME groups. In particular,
it addresses the needs of targeted groups by providing:
— Support to schools—particularly
those new to admitting Newcomers. This takes the form of additional
teaching and support staff to schools which have little experience
of admitting Newcomers.
— Additional teaching, mentoring and
pastoral support to raise the attainment of BME pupils.
— Positive youth and community activities
for disadvantaged young people—using sports related activities
to actively engage and re-engage with communities. For example,
linking in with the Sport Action Zone, Sport England and the L8
Sport Forum to develop and deliver programmes of sport related
activities for young people in the Liverpool 8 Granby area. However,
there is an urgent need for venues to accommodate the growing
number of youth groups in L8 area. (There is a significant number
of BME and disadvantaged communities living in the L8 area).
— Training for parents eg in practical
classroom skills.
— Translated materials eg website,
school information.
— Publications—curriculum materials
available in various translations.
— Enhancing the co-ordination of BME
groups eg by facilitating the work of the Somali Umbrella Group
and implementing specific actions.
Young People
The Council and partners are actively engaging
with disaffected young people, using "what works" programmes.
For example, using peers and positive role models. In particular,
the Summer Splash 2002 programme and the PAYP programme this year
are proving to be very successful in terms of celebrating diversity,
breaking down barriers between communities, re-engaging with our
young people and promoting equality of opportunity.
Windows Project with Young People: The Windows
Project was established to increase young people's interest in
and knowledge of language as a medium for creative expression.
It is also proving to have direct community cohesion benefits.
The Windows Project runs writing workshops in youth centres, community
venues and play schemes. The sessions involve young people via
specifically designed games eg card games, board games, table
top side-shows, to act as a stimulus for writing. Writing may
include raps, poems, stories, and scripts. Participants are given
as much help as required on an individual basis. This may be with
creative ideas, presentation, grammar or spelling. Workshops are
led by practising writers with many years of experience of working
with young people in community situations and with established
tract records in performance/publication. All workers are CRB
police checked.
Sport and Leisure
Liverpool is using the power of sport and culture
to break down barriers. Examples:
Somali Sports Project: A new sports project
involving a partnership between three Somali community groups.
The project will focus on improving sports provision for women
and young people and breaking down some of the divisions within
the community which remain following the recent conflict in Somalia.
Toxeth Tigers Basketball: A youth basketball
programme which recruits young people from all ethnic groups within
the Granby Toxteth area and from other parts of the city. The
programme also works with young people to improve their educational
attainment and access to higher education.
Collective Goals Football Project: A football
development project delivered through a partnership between Stanley
House Youth and Tiber Football Club which targets socially excluded
young people from all racial groups within Granby Toxteth and
works to promote a better relationship with communities in other
parts of the city.
Race Equality Scheme
The City Council introduced its first Race Equality
Scheme in line with responsibilities under the Race Relations
Amendment Act 2000. For many years now we have been aware of the
needs of our diverse communities and in many instances we have
fallen short of meeting the expectations these communities have
placed on the Council. We are now in a period of change and re-engineering
in the city and we very much want to put our commitment to race
equality high on our agenda for change and improvement. The Scheme
has audited the way in which the Council carries out its duty
to promote racial equality. We have examined our policies and
functions to clarify what it is the Council actually does. This
has then been assessed in terms of whether our policies and functions
genuinely promote racial equality and from this position we have
drawn up a prioritised list of actions to meet our duty under
the Act. As a Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) Pilot Authority
we will be evaluated and monitored for the progress we are making.
We are happy for this status, as it is consistent with the Council's
commitment to improve performance and provide better services
for the whole community. Copies of the Race Equality Scheme are
available from Andrew Nembhard, 0151 233 6308 or email: andrew.nembhard@liverpool.gov.uk.
Positive Action Training and Employment Initiatives
Liverpool City Council's Positive Action Training
and Employment Initiative Programme is a groundbreaking community
initiative and one of the Council's key strategies to meet the
challenge of local unemployment, social exclusion and institutionalised
discrimination. Targeted at local unemployed black people and
other minority racial groups, women, disabled people and "hard
to reach" 18-24 year olds, it provides high quality on and
off the job customised training in some 45 vocational areas. Recognised
nationally as a model of good practice, the programme is currently
operating at an 80% success rate of trainees gaining employment
and achieving full qualifications at the end of the programme.
The programme won a National Training Award in 2000 and an "Opportunity
Now" Award in 2001 for demonstrating outstanding commitment
to training and development.
Somali Umbrella Group
The Somali Umbrella Group (SUG) was formed in
November 2001 to progress the Somali Action Plan. The SUG and
its constitution were created as a result of a report published
by the Merseyside Broad Based Organisation into the State of the
Somali Community in Liverpool. The SUG constitution states that
the objective of the Somali Umbrella Group is to promote the benefit
of the Somali inhabitants. The main Group is supported by a series
of sub-groups who work together to achieve the overall objectives
of the Somali Action Plan. The main group meetings are chaired
by the Bishop of Liverpool and attended by the Leader of the Council
and the Chief Executive.
The Liverpool Strategic Partnership Group has
identified the Somalis and Yemini pupils as priority groups to
improve their attainment in education.
Arts and Culture
Merseyside ACME managed the Arts and Regeneration
strand of the Capital of Culture bid and a comprehensive report
illustrating the wide range of projects is available from Kevin
McManus, 0151 291 9911 or email: Kmcmanus@merseysideacme.com.
THE YEAR
OF FAITH
IN OUR
CITY 2004
This will involve praise singing throughout
the City's places worship—gospel, hymns, incantations, Griot
music, and the music in secular venues as well. New praise for
a new age. In fact, secular praise of the City's positive and
inspiring individuals and institutions.
— Faith in New Spaces—taking
belief into the open air, into other communities, into shared
environments.
— Icons of Respect—images of
past and present which represent a focus for the City's many communities
of belief placed prominently around the City.
— Arts in Places of Faith—music,
dance and drama welcomed into the City's many religious buildings.
Creative Communities supports 10 local projects
working with a wide variety of groups from across Liverpool and
Merseyside. Regional Arts Lottery Programme has recently approved
Creative Communities 2 and this is likely to start in September
and run up to 2005. A full report on this initiative is available
from Lucy Horne, 0151 291 9195 or email: lhorne@merseysideacme.com.
Black History Month Group
Liverpool's Black History Month Group boasts
representation from public, private and voluntary sector organisations
and not least from the Black community itself. The aim of the
Group is to celebrate the histories of the African Diaspora in
Liverpool through the public recognition and acknowledgement of
the positive contributions and aspirations of the social, economic,
cultural and life of our city. It is intended that this will be
achieved by developing an understanding with and between all of
Liverpool's different cultural and racial communities, by ensuring
that all communities are informed of and welcomed to events. The
Group is also producing a calendar of events in the months leading
up to and including International Black History Month.
Community Safety and Policing
The Council, in partnership with other Crime
& Disorder Reduction partners, has developed a plethora of
community cohesion related initiatives. For example, improved
systems for racial incidents monitoring. Partners fund an independent
"3rd Party Reporting Hotline" and practical support
for victims of racial attacks and harassment. Other measures include,
for example, provision of covert surveillance to detect and deter
perpetrators of hate crime, local campaigns such as the "Spot
It: Stop It" campaign on racial violence, and the "Shoutline"
for victims of homophobic crime. Significantly, the Council has
an established Anti-Social Behaviour Unit providing a range of
proactive and reactive preventative as well as punitive measures
(from community mediation, through to Appropriate Behaviour Contracts
and Anti-Social Behaviour Orders).
Other examples of partnership work around community
cohesion: "Black Mentoring Service"—in partnership
with the Council's Positive Action Training to provide a service
to a minimum of 30 Black Offenders to support them in completing
the requirements of their Court Order or Prison Licence. "Engaging
with Communities" workshop—Members of the Probation
Board and Management meet with people from a variety of different
ethnic groups and communities in order to improve our responsiveness
to the needs of those communities. There is also an Independent
Police Authority Advisory Group with a specific focus on community
cohesion and the Police Hate Crime Policy has an important criminal
justice response to community cohesion.
Housing
Stock Transfer in the North Eastern Fringe &
Community involvement in developing the transfer proposals—A
Steering Group of local community representatives was established
where residents were able to help shape the new landlord and influence
living conditions. Issues were discussed such as youth disorder
and anti-social behaviour and how the new landlord can work with
other agencies to develop solutions. The transfer completed in
February 2003 and the new landlord Cobalt Housing now has in place
its own processes for consulting with and involving the local
community particularly in determining the improvement programme.
Boot estate—Although one of the estates
located in the North Eastern Fringe, this estate was not part
of the transfer process because the properties are declared defective
dwellings. Due to the gradual decline of the estate and high level
of vacant properties the community was gradually falling apart
and youth disorder and anti-social behaviour were becoming major
problems. Proposals to demolish the estate and redevelop with
new housing were the subject of much discussion and negotiation.
By the end of 2002 there was concern that the redevelopment had
not progressed and the problems regarding the environment and
community safety had reached such a stage that urgent action was
required. A task group of officers was established to tackle the
different issues and central to this was how best to involve the
local community. The Executive Member for Housing was very keen
to speak to and meet with local residents and a process of inclusive
communication established involving public meetings, regular newsletters
and door to door visits. Whilst officers have been moving forward
the redevelopment proposals and dealing with the re-housing and
demolition programmes there has also been very positive action
taken to improve the environment and resolve the community safety
issues. Central to this is keeping the local community as involved
as possible and trying to bring the community closer together.
A successful community event called "Spring
into Action" was held in March 2003 which aimed at bringing
the local community together, council services and other organisations
like the schools, police and fire service all of whom have a vital
role to play on the estate. The focal point for this was the "Ellergreen
Centre" which is the local community centre and sport centre.
The event involved a number of events aimed at all sections of
the community bringing young and old together.
Kensington New Deal for Communities area—since
being established as a New Deal area local community involvement
has been central to establishing a clear way forward to regenerate
the KNDC area. Split into five neighbourhoods each one has a Neighbourhood
Planning Group (NPGs) which comprises members of the local community
from all walks of life and it is these groups that have been working
towards developing the housing strategy for each of the neighbourhoods
since being established. To assist in this a "blue printing"
exercise was commissioned by Kensington Regeneration to develop
a series of deliverable options for each neighbourhood—this
process being "overseen" by the NPGs and culminating
in a series of exhibitions held earlier this year for all residents
of the area to attend so they can comment on and indicate their
preferred options. A Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment is now being
undertaken which will also inform the process. In the meantime
some of the projects identified early in the process are already
under-way including a rolling programme of external and environmental
improvements in the Kensington Fields area and some small projects
identified by the individual NPGs such as the creation of "pocket
parks" on specified derelict infill sites.
Kensington Regeneration have also appointed
an outreach worker in March this year specifically to develop
BME strategy and to work with minority groups—to date he
has been developing contacts and identifying areas that he can
become involved in and this will include involvement in working
through housing issues. To date his main areas of work have related
to education and health.
ANFIELD/BRECKFIELD
REGENERATION STRATEGY
The Anfield/Breckfield area exhibits high levels
of physical and social deprivation, crime and ASB and as such,
is the subject of the development and delivery of a long-term
regeneration strategy. Liverpool Football Club occupies a prominent
location within the area and as a result the area is subject to
large numbers of regular visitors, with the inevitable impact
of increased noise, litter, traffic etc on the local community.
The combination of these factors has resulted in community tensions
and frustrations.
A range of initiatives have been introduced
to help address key issues, meet local need, improve community
involvement and interaction and to break down barriers within
the area, thereby helping to secure a more cohesive community
who have a stake in the regeneration of their neighbourhood:
— Community led Steering Group and
themed working groups established to ensure community involvement
in all stages of development and implementation of the regeneration
strategy for the neighbourhood.
— Establishment of a Neighbourhood
Management Group, which brings together the local community and
key service providers to address local issues. The group has helped
break down barriers and improve joint working between neighbourhoods,
communities and partners.
— Sweeper Zone is a national initiative
aimed at bringing together Premiership Football Clubs, local communities
and other partners to improve the cleanliness of areas, help and
support communities to address environmental impacts/issues resulting
of the presence of a football club in their midst. The Sweeper
Zone concept was piloted in Liverpool and the Liverpool Sweeper
Zone is perceived as one of the most successful launched. Partners
to the initiative are LFC, ENCAMS, Coca-Cola, City Council and
community. The initiative has secured improved joint working,
resulting in LFC/LCC funding of a sweeper vehicle for the area;
development of "Youth Team"—local young people
who promote litter prevention/respect for the area prior to football
matches; introduction of additional litter bins; involvement of
partners/community/young people in community clean up events etc.
— Living Through Change is an NRF-funded
initiative aimed at sustaining and supporting communities, in
deprived areas such as Anfield/Breckfield, pending the long-term
regeneration of their neighbourhood. The Anfield/Breckfield community
identified the following short term priorities—ASB and drug-related
issue, which are being addressed via the introduction of additional
policing targeted at intelligence led, hotspot location/times;
ASB theatre production is currently under consideration as a means
of raising awareness about ASB and its impact on communities.
Poor environment—which is being addressed by the greening
of key routes in the area—hanging baskets, Graffiti Art
initiatives with young people, involving local schools in production
of art for display on area litter bins. Future events proposed
include Spring bulb planting by local young people in the local
park, extension of greening initiative, and dog fouling campaign
to raise awareness.
— NRF funding has been used to address
key issues in the area, such as teenage pregnancy, distraction
burglary event for older residents, involvement of young people
in the regeneration process etc. These initiatives aim to inform,
break down barriers and include.
— Partnership working has resulted
in development of an Older Person's Housing Strategy in recognition
of the needs of older members of the community, many of whom may
be isolated, less able or willing to participate in the regeneration
of their neighbourhood.
BLACK AND
OTHER MINORITIES
HOUSING STRATEGY
A Black & Other Minorities Housing Strategy,
entitled "A Community of Communities", was published
in April 2003 and officially launched on 22 May 2003. The strategy
sets out our key commitments for action to promote race equality
with Housing and Neighbourhood Services, and includes a First
Year Action Plan with 16 targets. The targets cover seven strategic
objectives as follows:
— To ensure that Housing & Neighbourhood
Services, through all its functions, helps achieve Liverpool's
corporate commitments to equality.
— To develop sustainable communities
with good quality housing and employment opportunities for black
and other minority people in Liverpool.
— To meet the social housing needs
of black and other minority people in Liverpool with good quality,
suitable accommodation in areas of their choice.
— To maintain and manage Liverpool's
housing stock in order to improve the housing conditions of black
and other minority people.
— To provide a safer living environment
for all residents, to work to prevent racial harassment and to
tackle it promptly.
— To ensure that black and other minority
people with particular support needs can have these needs met
in an appropriate way.
— To ensure that black and other minority
people receive fair access to employment opportunities both within
Housing and Neighbourhood Services and within organisations with
contracts with Housing and Neighbourhood Services.
We are working with colleagues to achieve these
targets, and there are named lead officers for each of the targets.
We are also working in partnership with RSLs, Merseyside Police,
voluntary organisations, community groups and other relevant outside
agencies to achieve the key objectives. A training seminar was
held for managers and team leaders in Housing and Neighbourhood
Services and Regeneration (Housing element) on 26 June 2003 to
brief them on our commitments in this strategy. Managers will
cascade this information to all their staff. A Race and Housing
in Liverpool Seminar will be held in 2003-4 with partner and community
representation to review progress on the first year targets and
set targets for 2004-5.
SOMALI HOUSING
SUB-GROUP
This sub-group has been set up as a spin-off
from the Somali Umbrella Group, to help progress the Somali Action
Plan. LCC is funding an action research project, working with
partner RSLs, to help ascertain the housing needs and aspirations
of the Somali community in Liverpool. We are holding two-weekly
housing advice surgeries where the services of a Somali-speaking
interpreter are available. We have also designed a questionnaire
to identify housing need and are asking Somali residents to complete
this. We aim to collect 300-400 completed questionnaires, which
will be analysed professionally to produce a report with a set
of recommendations to improve housing provision and provision
of housing services for the Somali community. The surgeries and
questionnaire are being piloted in the Somali community but, if
successful, could be rolled out to other BME communities in the
city.
Travellers
The Council pursues a policy which recognises
and accepts the rights of the Gypsies and Travellers to live a
nomadic way of life balanced with the rights of the settled community.
The policy also recognises Government circulars/guidelines and
the Council's statutory duties with regard to Gypsies and Traveller
families. The Commission for Racial Equality and the Government
recognise Gypsies and Irish Travellers as distinct ethnic groups
and Liverpool has embraced this in developing a Charter for Gypsies
and Travellers in the City. We have also recognised that these
groups are some of the most excluded groups in society, for this
reason the City Council Community Resources Unit funds an innovative
project working with Irish Travellers in Liverpool. The project
is based in Irish Community Care Merseyside and works in partnership
with officers from the City in developing appropriate services.
Irish Community Care Merseyside have also recently secured Supporting
People finance to fund a further support worker based on the permanent
site, working as an advocate on their behalf.
At present Liverpool City Council manages one
permanent site in the city and has recently been awarded a grant
from the ODPM to refurbish the site. This can only help in developing
a sustainable community with good quality pitches and amenity
blocks which will be disabled access to the same standards as
new housing developments. The residents have been very active
throughout the bid process, with regular consultation & the
development of a residents group. Liverpool City Council is hoping
to develop a new position later this year, a Gypsy and Traveller
Development Officer who will co-ordinate the service.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Support for Asylum Seekers in the city currently
exists on two levels. Liverpool City Council (LCC) have responsibility
for supporting those cases claiming asylum prior to April 2000
under the Interim arrangements of the Immigration and Asylum Act
(1999), whereas anyone entering the UK after this time is supported
by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS).
REFUGEE AND
ASYLUM SUPPORT
SERVICES
LCC has a dedicated support team working with
Refugees and Asylum Seekers, with a remit to engage in and develop
policy and services to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the city.
The team works closely with a wide variety of voluntary and statutory
agencies including the Home Office (HO), the Immigration and Nationality
Directorate (IND), NASS and the Police. The team also provides
direct accommodation and support including financial subsistence
payments to families and singles who fall under Local Authority
Interim arrangements. LCC's Asylum Team accommodates and supports
families within the community and attempts to ensure that integration
is achieved harmoniously. It is hoped that the diversity of backgrounds
is viewed positively within communities and Service Users are
encouraged to develop positive relationships with people from
different backgrounds within the community and throughout a variety
of settings. We also strive to encourage different community groups
to establish Community Leaders who are also committed to the strategic
objectives and to ensure that they actually do communicate within
their community. It is also important that they collaborate with
other communities and build capacity amongst communities who are
not often heard.
When these cases receive a decision on their
application, they are subject to the same conditions and requirements
as those on the NASS dispersal scheme, however, the Asylum Team
continues to provide advice and support to Refugees after they
leave the direct accommodation provision. This includes resettlement
support.
Asylum Seekers and Refugees may find it difficult
to negotiate the labyrinth of procedures and requirements to access
particular services or get answers to important questions. The
Asylum Team has established a good working relationship with the
Voluntary Sector, Refugee Action, the Department of Work and Pensions
(DWP) and the main solicitors dealing with asylum applications.
The team also has a proactive role within the Merseyside Refugee
Support Network (MRSN) which comprises over 60 agencies and Refugee
Community Organisations (RCO). The asylum team will also provide
practical in-house advice and assistance to the other City Council
departments.
The team provides a direct link into a variety
of services as well as its own outreach work in order to ensure
that the support network is directly tailored to the individual
needs of the service users, by contacting solicitors and accessing
legal services, Health and Social Services teams. The main office
offers surgery basis access to the Jobcentre Plus Adult Guidance
Team including advice on employment, training and qualifications
and has a satelite office for the Education Outreach Team.
RESETTLEMENT AND
FLOATING SUPPORT
To complement the statutory Homelessness provision
of the City Council and as part of the Homelessness prevention
work, the team has worked closely with Registered Social Landlords
(RSL) and the Private Sector. On achieving Refugee Status, Asylum
Seekers will have to leave their NASS accommodation, many will
require extra support in finding accommodation quickly if they
are to avoid a period of Homelessness. Many require direct support
for reasons of language, in accessing utilities services, changing
Doctors, schools, etc and finding employment once eligible to
work. LCC, in partnership with CDS Housing Association and other
RSLs has assisted in the development of a Floating Support Scheme
designed to facilitate integration and enhance community cohesion.
As more RSLs sign up to the scheme, it is envisaged that the service
will become more widely accessible.
1. Partner Agencies
LASAR DP
The Liverpool Asylum Seeker and Refugee Development
Partnership
This is a three year pilot project, part-funded
through the European Social Fund (EQUAL Theme I) aimed at addressing
the Integration of Asylum Seekers into the wider community. A
partnership between Statutory, Private and Community Sector Groups,
is used to provide specific programmes in Health, ESOL, Education
and Information Services. Liverpool City Council is one of six
main partners in the programme. The Partnership is co-ordinated
through a delivery team, which provides Information, Networking
and Sign Posting services for Asylum Seekers and Refugees, organisations
supporting them and is a referral point for the Partnership and
other agencies.
Specific Projects within the partnership include:
1. A Signposting, Networking Information
Service and Website.
2. Orientation ESOL—English Language
and Orientation to the City.
3. Newcomer Support for Families and Children
in Schools and colleges. Support for the "Getting to Know
Your School" Booklet—an English Language teaching tool.
Playground Partners—befriending within the school environment.
4. Professional Network Development—Networks
to allow best practice and information to be exchanged across
a range of fields(Education, Health and Housing).
5. Health Support—The provision of
a dedicated Health Visitor and Community Support Worker to deliver
services to Asylum Seekers, especially in areas with no past history
of this group.
All the programmes delivered through LASAR are
aimed at the integration of Asylum Seekers as they move along
the continuum towards Refugee Status and eventual employment.
Community cohesion lies at the heart of what
makes a safe and strong community.
Neighbourhoods
Shorefields Homezone scheme (more information
from Claire Griffiths 708 4636). Communities working together
to design a change of lifestyle by changing the physical environment
and public realm. Residents in the Shorefields area of L8 have
spent a lot of time working together in re-designing their neighbourhood.
The INclude/Liverpool City Council Sparkle event
25 March 2003—part of the City Council and Liverpool Echo
Capital of Culture Glitter campaign. Further information available
from: ingrid.donakey@cdshousing.org.uk. This event brought together
people from all different backgrounds, ages and cultures to clean
up their neighbourhoods although the underlying reason was to
foster community spirit and have fun.
The Greenfingers Roadshow: 13 and 14 August
2003—held in four venues around the INclude neighbourhood—In
an attempt to reduce green waste fly—tipping and to help
people maintain their gardens/hanging baskets etc and take a pride
in their communities INclude in conjunction with B & Q, Groundwork,
Local Solutions and LCC's Environmental Services Team organised
a roadshow of gardening techniques/composting etc. First indications
are that about 180 people attended the roadshows from all corners
of the West Liverpool 8 area—all ages/cultures to learn
about gardening skills.
The Dickens-Camelot Streets waste management/recycling
project (on-going): There has been some excellent work undertaken
by local schoolchildren, youth groups, faith groups, older people,
all working on this project. For example, Radleys Court sheltered
housing scheme—residents joining up with Windsor Street
Primary school to share experiences on waste management, re-use
and recycling—this is an example of older people working
with young people to share experiences and reduce waste. There
has been an exchange trip to each place—the Radley's pensioners
went into the school to speak about their experiences and the
Windsor children are to present a waste drama and rap to Radleys
Court in September.
Community and Voluntary Sector
All of the community and voluntary groups currently
funded through the Council's Community Resource Unit (CRU) (currently
90+) are required to develop an "inclusive" action plan
which has as its focus disability, race equality and community
cohesion.
The majority of CRU-funded organisations deliver
services to individuals who are amongst the most deprived members
of Liverpool's various communities.
The CRU has developed a good practice checklist
for funded voluntary and community organisations to use when developing
their action plan. This has been further supported by the delivery
of a series of briefings followed up by more intensive support
for community groups on race equality and community cohesion.
The CRU is also working in partnership with
local community and voluntary groups to develop a leaflet about
refugees and asylum seekers to distribute to communities across
the City. The purpose of the leaflet is to try to bring to an
end some of the "myths" that have built up nationally
about refugees and asylum seekers.
We are anticipating that our future funding
programme (2004 and beyond) will pilot Performance Indicators
relating to community involvement and cohesion to help to demonstrate
the impact that City Council funding from the CRU has in helping
to build strong, inclusive, and diverse communities in the City.
Below are some examples of projects funded via
the City Councils Communities and Resources Unit which will make
a positive impact on community cohesion in Liverpool:
— Neighbourhood Community Councils.
The Breckfield Centre is working with L8 Law
Centre to develop a racial harassment prevention approach for
their community.
— Community education projects.
The Pacforce project supporting Somali children
has had considerable success in improving educational performance
and supporting integration for children, parents and wider communities.
— Liverpool Community Learning Network
hold a learning Programme throughout the year leading to an annual
"One World" event involving communities across the City
in a series of multi-cultural events looking at history, heritage,
culture, arts and education in a dynamic, inclusive and diverse
context.
SOCIAL ECONOMY
TEAM
Liverpool has an effective Social Economy Team
based within the Liverpool Business Centre. The Team is responsible
for the delivery of the New Deal Environmental Task Force and
the broader Intermediate Labour Market programmes, alongside the
development of the social economy.
The New Deal ETF programme targets those aged
18 to 24 years and the ILM programme offers opportunities for
those aged over 25 years. The programme works with both local
employers and social economy organisations to provide work opportunities
for those individuals furthest from the labour market. The ILM
model in Liverpool includes up to 12 months paid employment with
support/mentoring and training, both on-the-job and vocational.
The programme is currently achieving 53% into sustainable employment.
ILMs have been proven to enhance employability and motivational
skills, whilst voluntary programmes (ie those outside of New Deal)
have a higher success rate into employment, the skills gained
form a basis for further progressions for example through training/education.
The programme is supported financially, in the main, through JobcentrePlus
New Deal programme and EU Objective One funding.
Alongside the employment programme, the Social
Economy Team work to promote and develop social enterprises. Social
enterprises are recognised as a positive vehicle to promote and
increase wealth in the most disadvantaged areas. The Government
has acknowledged their importance through the Social Enterprise
strategy from the DTI. Liverpool's social economy is substantially
developed with organisations that support the business development
within local communities and established social businesses, such
as Furniture Resource Centre and Create. Liverpool has an emerging
dedicated development agency "Liverpool Plus", who will
lead on researching the existing and potential markets for social
enterprise as well as working to assist in the further development
of existing social enterprises. Another key element of the agency's
work will be to manage the city's current investment strategy
in the social economy sector and to work with partners in the
creation of new social enterprises.
Faith Communities
Faith communities in public life are recognised
as a distinctive part of society and their representatives are
involved in a range of partnership working arrangements. "Faith
Watch" is an example of a crime reduction and community safety
initiative designed to deal with crimes against different faiths—their
people and properties.
Press and Media
The Council positively encourages the press
and media to promote a positive view of diversity, in order to
dispel ignorance and promote greater understanding between communities.
| 
