Community EngagementStrategyClaire Thompson

Corporate Policy & Community Manager

London Borough of Havering21st May 2013

What is community engagement?• Influence

• Networks

• Inclusion

• Identity

• Cohesion

• Localism

Why is it important to the Council?• What matters to local people?• Meeting the needs of our customers • Community leadership

• Cohesive neighbourhoods• Being able to help those people who most need

extra support• Civic pride

• Managing expectations in times of reduced public spending

What do residents of Havering tell us?• They want to be involved only in important

decisions that affect them• They don’t want the council to interfere in their

lives• Easy access to the Council• They want to get involved in their communities• They are proud to live in Havering and think it’s a

nice place to live• Health services, crime and clean streets matter

most to them

Community Engagement Strategy

3 Aims:

• Local people are ‘active citizens’

• Accessible Council

• Voluntary and community sector as enablers and key partners

1. Active citizens• Organise themselves to bring about change with

little involvement from ‘state’• Local people taking responsibility for everyday

problems• Working together to improve the quality of life• Looking out for older people• Volunteering

– From clean-ups to family mentoring

Active Living• A new programme to keep older people

engaged and socially included• A direct result of Over 65s volunteer consultation

project• The Havering Circle• Befriending schemes• Free swimming• Discounted theatre tickets• Volunteering opportunities

2. Access to the council

• Single telephone number

• New website

• Councillors

• Twitter

• Face-to-face

• New consultation methods

• Community groups

3. A successful voluntary sector

• Voluntary, community and faith • 800+ organisations• New social enterprises and not-for-profit• £200m a year into local economy• Delivering services• Tackling social exclusion• Challenging financial times

Council support to VCF sector• Financial – grants, contracts• Cushioned from impact of cuts• Community Chest small grants pot• Support to apply for funding

• Capacity building and training• Discounted rent on premises• Fund networking opportunities • 100% Rate relief

Questions

• How can we work together encourage more volunteer action?

• How well do you think the council works with the voluntary sector?

• How can organisations better engage with each other and with the Council?

• How can we improve understanding and tolerance?