Agenda item

WARD BUDGET PRESENTATION FROM GROUPS AWARDED GRANTS IN 2017/18

The Island

Nigel Poulton, Mentoring Co-ordinator at the Island explained that they were a mentoring organisation working with vulnerable children.  The grants they received helped the young people who were referred to them and the money made a real difference to their lives by improving their confidence and self-esteem.

He provided some examples of the work that had been carried out with a number of young people facing extremely difficult times.  Children were usually mentored for a year but did not necessarily end at this point dependent upon need.    The Island currently had 50 mentoring relationships and there were another 60 children who were waiting to be mentored.  There was a need for more volunteers. 

Citizens Advice York (CAY)

Tom Adamski, Outreach Co-ordinator for CAY talked to residents about his work as an outreach co-ordinator.   He had been in post for two months and delivered advice to 16 communities across the city.  CAY is a totally independent organisation providing impartial and confidential advice. They helped people to resolve issues such as benefits, debt, housing, relationships, employment amongst other issues.   CAY also campaigned for changes in the law where legislation is unfair or discriminatory.    He said they were very appreciative of the ward funding to help them develop outreach sessions including the ones held at Lidgett Grove every Wednesday morning where people could engage in conversation with people in the Ward and discuss the issues that they were facing, providing advice and helping people resolve issues.  They were also working with local groups to build awareness of the sessions and involve local people in the community café.

A resident asked where the funding came from to run CAY.   Tom said that as a charity they bid for funding from lots of different sources.   In terms of sustainability, funding from local Wards is more about set up costs.   We have lots of volunteers who are trained to help people. 

Older Citizens Advocacy York

Ruth Potter talked to residents about the work of Older Citizen’s Advocacy (OCAY) in York and about the way the Ward funding had been put to good use.

She said they had received Ward funding in the last financial year.  They were an Advocacy organisation working for people 50+ in the City of York.   They were committed to providing an advocacy services which is free, independent and confidential and which put people first promoting equality, diversity and human rights. 

The organisation had recently been delivering cards though people’s door saying that they would be in the area and had delivered over 1000 leaflets in the past 12 months.   

They were currently working with 47 individuals, 7 of which were open cases.   They also held 4.00pm teas.      They held a regular drop in session at Acomb Library.  A person with an issue would be matched to an advocate with the skills to help advice/resolve the issue.  They worked on an 1-1 basis.   Some issues could be solved quickly whilst other took longer.    Amongst the issues they dealt with where benefits advice, housing issues and access to services. They helped people to make complaints and provide general information on social care.   

Should anyone be interested in volunteering to work with OCAY the contact details could be found on the leaflets handed out at the meeting. 

New Visuality – Time Traveller Project

Greg McGee talked to the residents about the Time Traveller Project that had been undertaken and how the Ward funding had been utilised.  They had run a week’s worth of workshops for 20 young people on the history or Acomb where they had looked at the English Martyrs, time continuum of Acomb and the Pilgrimage of Faith.  The young people responded to lots of stories and photographs.    He had brought some of the children’s artwork for residents to see. 

Chill in the Community CIC

Mary Passeri, from Chill in the Community talked to residents about the work of her organisation and how the Ward funding had helped their service.    They had developed a community space which incorporated a kitchen to enable a number of community activities.  They ran a free food bank comprised of donate food which was available six days a week including emergency family boxes.  They supplied around 12500kg every month with an average of twenty people a day taking advantage, no questions asked.  Pay it Forward was supplying around 15 people a week with meals alongside the food bank that was supporting between 60 & 100 people a week.

The space was used by many groups and it was also used to support people in need through cookery lessons, coaching for a better life and children’s activities for all families but particularly those on a low income.   The space was also used for teen activities and to support the homeless with clothing changes, food and support.  

Other groups using the space range from Yorkey Dads and NCT to a home schooling group who she supported for craft and free play. They also ran a Craft and Chat group on a Wednesday afternoon supporting isolated people who had additional needs.  They also ran a homework club to support children with new experiences in a relaxed environment.

The Group was currently aiding on average ten families a week with food and support such as coaching, budgeting and advocacy.  They had supported 34 people with universal credit issues over the past six months ensuring the security of their homes and families which in turn has improved issues such as depression, anxiety and general metal wellbeing.    They had also successfully supported nine people in the last six months with ESA and PIPs claims.

WARD FUNDING – PLANS AND GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR 2018/19

Cllr Myers said they were currently looking at applications for funding that have been made for 2018/19.   He said that for the first time the Ward Grant funding was over-subscribed from organisation which were serving a social need. 

They were endeavouring to make the best use of the money available to them.  

Acomb and Westfield Neighbourhood Forum – this was a place to bring together ideas about issues in Acomb such as housing, green spaces, young people etc. Consulting and engaging with community to produce a Neighbourhood Plan.

It was noted that now the old Manor School had been demolished this Forum was a place to bring together ideas about green space availability in Acomb and in particular Acomb Park.   It was noted that CYC was open to providing access and to designating it a public open space. 

Cllr Barnes said that he was currently trying to improve the percentage of Affordable Housing to be built on the British Sugar site.  It was currently 3% but he felt it should be at least 20%.    He also felt that there needed to be a more radical approach to traffic on Boroughbridge Road.

A meeting was planned for 25^th June, 5.00 to 7.00pm, at Lidgett Grove where this could be discussed further, and people could voice their ideas. 

Groups with applications in for Ward Funding in 2018/19 are as follows:

·         Vocal Flourish Community Choir applied for £3,039 towards the project.

·         Acomb Explore applied for £490 towards summer children’s activities.

·         Acomb and Westfield Neighbourhood Forum applied for £900 towards the Forum setting up costs.

·         YO1 Radio applied for £1000 towards the Oasis Project.

·         We Run York applied for £13,270 towards the running group start-up costs. The applicant will be approaching Holgate and Micklegate as well as Acomb wards to jointly fund this venture.

·         York Carers Centre applied for £880 towards the taxi transport element of Young Carers Project.

·         Friends of Fishponds Wood and Beech Grove applied for £462,47 towards display boards, folding tables and insurance.

·         Polarized Youth Group applied for £6,448 towards youth workers, instructors and rent.

·         Chill in the Community CIC applied for £8,425 towards the holiday kid’s activities and community development project.