Tackling the negative effects of poverty in Cheltenham I nspiring F amilies Project

IF Partners Cheltenham Borough Council County Community Partnership Cheltenham Strategic Partnership Gloucestershire County Council Gloucestershire Police NHS Glos Rethink Cheltenham Borough Homes Cheltenham West End Partnership Third Sector Services Family Information Services People and Places Independence Trust Integrated Youth Services Cheltenham ASB Working Group Hesters Way Partnership Hesters Way Primary School Hesters Way and Rowanfield Childrens Centres Oakwood and Gardners Lane Primary Schools Oakwood and Gardners Lane Childrens Centres Pittville Secondary School

Background Developed through the Cheltenham Strategic Partnership in response to the high concentration of child poverty which put some areas of the Cheltenham into the worse 10% nationally. The partnership approach provides support for vulnerable families and their communities in order tackle the negative effects of poverty Partner agencies developed the IF project to not just impact on families in the short term but result in them making different choices which would lead to their children’s lives take a more positive path. Funded by the CSP, local Health and Wellbeing Partnership, Community Safety Partnership, Stronger Communities Partnership, and ASB Working Group.

IF Project Ethos Families and communities should be encouraged to be aspirational and need to make their own choices. All families need support, agencies are not normally the best people to provide this support. Vulnerable families need intensive holistic support, at the appropriate time, place and in a form the family has control and choice in. Communities are the best support for a family long term. Successful families make strong communities.

Project Elements 1.Intensive interventions that target a small number of vulnerable families in Cheltenham communities. 2.Wider community support for all families within the community which aims to help families become more successful in order to build stronger communities. Aligns existing resources to create sustainable delivery. Support is designed to help families live in a way that other successful families do so they are embedded in existing community services and social networks to reduce intervention services needed.

IF Outcomes - for Families Reduced dependency on current service interventions Will have increased mental and emotional wellbeing Will have potential to increase economic wellbeing Will be less likely to reach the threshold for a formal assessment or intervention i.e. ASBO or child protection plan Will reduce the misuse of alcohol and drugs Will feel safe in their own home and local area Will experience a greater overall quality of life IF Outcomes -for Partners Partners will benefit from the retraining of workers to better understand how to meet the needs of families in an effective and cost efficient way Partners will have the potential to reduce or stop services that do not deliver outcomes Partners will receive direct financial benefits through avoidance of expensive interventions e.g. evictions Partners will receive indirect financial benefits in cost savings such as cessation of domestic violence and anti-social behaviour IF Projects and Initiatives Referrals & Assessments - Partnership family id process - One whole family assessment Volunteering opportunities for families and to support families - Befriending and mentoring Audit of private sector support - Supportive work experience Youth membership scheme Community Activities Programme Holiday Nutrition - Veg box scheme - Partnership cooking programme Community resource banks Specialist Support Programmes - Active Steps for mental health - Alcohol and drugs family support - Domestic violence awareness - Manage challenging behaviour Evidence of Need/Monitoring Value

IF Project Strands 1. Family Identification and Assessment 2. Holiday Nutrition –Community Market 3. Youth Membership and Reward Scheme 4. Volunteering Opportunities For and To Support Families –Befriending/ Mentoring –IF Timebank 5. Community Activities 6. Local Resource Banks 7. Economic Wellbeing 8. Specialist Intervention –Mental Health –Substance Abuse –Domestic Violence 9. Accessing Universal Services 10. Extended IF for Adults 11. Monitoring Success/ Value For Money

1. Referral and Assessment Partner commitment to prioritise families Aims to identify Cheltenham families who are finding it increasingly difficult to cope, are dealing with multiple problems, high levels of need, and may be worried about anti-social behaviour. One whole family assessment accepted by partner agencies Establishes a response which identifies a Lead Professional to assess the needs of the family and coordinate an appropriate and planned response. Planned to take place at an appropriate time, place, and in a form the family has control and choice in

2. Holiday Nutrition ‘Grow It, Cook It, Eat It’ Project Easter Launch Event - market stalls for families to buy low cost fresh veg, cooking demonstration, and garden growing activity Summer holiday project to offer: –Cost price veg for families entitled to free school meals. –Free veg during the holiday for referred IF families. –Volunteering and community events during the holiday. Allotment and market stall volunteer community opportunities to ensure sustainability. Support from partner organizations including summer BBQ events, social cooking club sessions, and gardening lessons.

3. Membership Scheme Membership scheme for all school aged children and young people who belong to the communities of Cheltenham. –Current trial over 2012 summer term within selected schools. Members will be able to earn rewards through volunteering and positive behaviour. As the strand develops, future membership of the scheme will allow children and young people to claim discounts locally.

4. Volunteering Volunteer Opportunities for Families Expansion of Cheltenham timebanks –During allotment pilot phase, referred families will be given community credits when sign up to timebank. Volunteering to support families Befriending/Mentoring –Practical support by trained volunteers –Safeguarding training will be available to volunteers –Including current expansion through Connect and Family Space in Hesters Way

5. Community Activities Aims to publicize community activities, run by a variety of organizations, throughout the year. Co-ordinate timing. Encourage existing groups where there are gaps. Offer support.

6. Resource Banks Further strand development in time. To create a local resource bank aiming to recycle baby equipment and child furniture to support vulnerable families. To create opportunities to promote volunteering and training through the operation of the resource bank. Local table top sales are also in formation to support local families and community groups financially.

7. Economic Wellbeing Further strand development in time. To create a supportive work placement scheme –A scheme to support employers in order to offer work experience placements to vulnerable parents or young people.

8. Specialist Support Substance and Alcohol Abuse In partnership to address how best to support current local interventions and programmes –Addressed from the local government’s rising concern of increased alcohol abuse in Cheltenham Domestic Abuse Stronger Healthier Relationships Programme –Delivered in Secondary schools. –Covered topics such as boundaries in relationships, positive communication. –Universal course aimed at teenagers starting their own relationships.

Continued… Active Steps self help programme. –Topics cover main wellbeing issues which affect most adults and young people. –Including: anger management, positive thinking, improving relationships, positive habits, and managing time –Designed to be adaptable to a range of client groups through practical and simple guidance.

9. Universal Services Aims to promote universal services and make families more aware and confident in accessing them Current efforts to engage parents more in school and children centre activities and programmes Current efforts to create a mentoring programme to help families lead healthier lives by incorporating into routine

10. Extended IF In process of extending IF to vulnerable adults Aimed at helping those ineligible for statutory services Similar referral and assessment process Advocates to provide specialist adult support and interventions Community membership and mentoring efforts Link to IF community events, time banking, and holiday veg ‘Community Market’ project Work with partners to offer work experience and promote current resource banks

11. Monitoring Value Committed to measuring value and cost effectiveness by: Assessing the journey travelled by IF families and the IF Project Case studies from families and partners Use of performance indicators for the families and communities Long term cost benefit for agencies Long term benefit for families, communities, and local businesses

IF Families and Communities Current Opportunities Referral and whole family assessment Funding to allow family-centred support choices Community veg markets, gardening and cooking sessions, and volunteer events during the Easter and Summer holidays Membership to the Young People’s Reward Scheme Volunteering, time bank, practical work experience Befriending, mentoring, and practical help Access to community events calendar Active Steps mental health guidance IF LAUNCH EVENT Scheduled for this summer to look back, celebrate success, and push forward…

For More Information Contact: Samantha Morine Inspiring Families Project Officer Cheltenham Borough Council- Municipal Offices Tel: GlosFamilies Directory Link