Communities First Cluster Request for Funding 2015/16 s1

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COMMUNITIES FIRST – CLUSTER REQUEST FOR FUNDING 2015/16

PLEASE NOTE ALL REQUESTS FOR FUNDING MUST BE CLEARED AND ENDORSED BY THE LEAD DELIVERY BODY BEFORE SUBMISSION.
Section 1 – Endorsement and Compliance
Cluster Manager
Signature: / Date
Name in Block Capitals: / ALICE GREENLEES
Organisation and Position:
Communities First West Cluster, City and County of Swansea – Cluster Manager
Contact details:

Tel: 01792 457025
Authorised representative of the Lead Delivery Body for the Cluster
Signature: / Date
Name in Block Capitals:
Organisation and Position:
The Request for Funding Application 2015/16 should be completed in conjunction with the accompanying guidance note and Communities First Outcomes Framework.
All sections must adhere to stipulated word limits and be completed in the boxes provided.
The completed and signed Delivery Plan (including the Community Involvement Plan and the Financial Table) should be submitted to the relevant Welsh Government Communities First Implementation Team by 19 September 2014. An electronic version and signed hard copy is required by 5 pm on the above date. Late submissions could result in a delayed decision on your future funding.
Delivery Plans should be returned to:
For the Local Authority Areas / CF Delivery Team Address
Anglesey,
Conwy,
Denbighshire,
Gwynedd,
Flintshire and
Wrexham / Communities First North WalesTeam
Communities Division
Welsh Government
Sarn Mynach
Llandudno Junction
Conwy
LL31 9RZ
Tel: 0300 062 5456
Bridgend, Carmarthenshire,
Neath Port Talbot,
Pembrokeshire and
Swansea. / Communities First West Wales Team
Communities Division
Welsh Government
Government Buildings
Picton Terrace
Carmarthen
SA31 3BT
Tel: 01267 225352
Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly,
Newport, Torfaen / Communities First Gwent Team
Communities Division
Welsh Government
Rhydycar
Merthyr Tydfil
CF48 1UZ
Tel: 0300 062 8280
Cardiff,
Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Vale of Glamorgan. / Communities First Bro Taf Team
Communities Division
Welsh Government
Rhydycar
Merthyr Tydfil
CF48 1UZ
Tel: 0300 062 8288

Page 3 of 21

Section 2 – Delivery Plan

IMPORTANT NOTE: You should carefully consider the accompanying guidance and Communities First Outcomes Framework before submitting your application for 2015/16. If you require further clarification please contact your Regional Communities First Implementation Team.

Cluster Programme Overview / Please provide a concise overview of planned delivery for 2015/16 outlining your key priorities. This should be restricted to a maximum of 600 words.
Analysis of the data for the West cluster in Swansea shows that six out of the 8 LSOAs in the cluster are amongst the 10% most deprived communities in Wales, as ranked by the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation. In each of these LSOAs there are high levels of deprivation across the four domains of income, employment, health and education suggesting that many people are coping with multiple problems, with all the drain on time, energy and confidence that that entails. Townhill 1, 2, 3 (the north side of Townhill and the north and eastern end of Mayhill|), and Castle 1 (Brynmelyn) show the highest levels of deprivation.
For this reason the cluster team’s programme will cover all three outcomes and, although many activities/projects will be delivered cluster-wide, particular emphasis will continue to be given to work with the four LSOAs where need is greatest.
Our Prosperous Communities projects for 2015/6 will continue to focus on:
·  Intensive support for people furthest from the labour market and those who will be looking for work when their children move into full-time school
·  Support for 16-25 year olds who are not in employment, education or training
·  Access to advice and support for people coping with debt and benefit problems
Our Learning Communities projects for 2015/16 will continue to focus on
·  Early years intervention to increase the school readiness of children in this area
·  Out of school activities for children’s wellbeing and development
·  Additional support to children in school through literacy catch up and personal development linked to VAP score
·  Support to parents so that they are better able to support their children in school
·  Opportunities for adults to gain or update qualifications
Our Healthier Communities projects for 2015/16 will continue to focus on:
·  Making it easier for people to make health choices about food, exercise and lifestyle
·  Equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to keep themselves safe and healthy
·  Strengthening community support and networks for the most excluded
We use an integrated approach that makes the most of every contact
that the cluster team has with community members, particularly the most vulnerable. Many residents are facing complex problems that cannot
be helped by one project or service. Whatever the initial point of contact,
the cluster team will take the opportunity to discuss with people whether
there other issues that they would like to address and to refer to other Communities First projects, or to other providers where appropriate.
We also want to recognise the strengths that many people have. We work with many people who are coping with multiple problems but who are also some of the most stalwart and committed of volunteers. By emphasising the positive contribution that people can make to their own community the cluster team can help people build the confidence to make change. Encouraging community members to volunteer on our projects, with a view to taking on and running projects themselves, is an important step forward.
All projects will contribute to the City and County of Swansea Poverty
Strategy.
Please outline, using bullet points, any key changes to your existing priorities/ projects (2014/15) outlining the main reasons for this change and where new priorities/ projects have emerged. This should be restricted to a maximum of 300 words.
We have made no changes to our priorities and projects. We took the opportunity to make substantial changes to the Cluster Delivery Plan for 2014/15 and now wish to focus on operational issues, particularly co-ordination with partners.
Programme Outcome / Prosperous Communities Outcome
To reduce inequalities in income and opportunity for the most deprived communities in Wales, ensuring people have access to the resources needed to provide for themselves and their families and to improve their life chances.
National Indicators / Please refer to Aspireview
Story behind the Baseline / Clusters should insert their current Story Behind the Baseline.
In a situation of job shortages residents who have low or no qualifications, a history of mainly temporary or seasonal work, and in some cases additional problems of substance misuse or a history of offending, find it difficult to break into better paid and secure work. For people living long-term on very low incomes the consequence is likely to be debt or extreme poverty.
Townhill ward has a population of 795 people born outside the UK including over 100 refugees and these people face additional difficulties in finding employment. The Castle ward LSOAs also house numbers of asylum seekers.
·  The estimated median household income for Townhill, based on CACI’s 2012 ‘PayCheck’ data, is £14,870, the lowest (of 36 wards) in Swansea.
·  25% of households in the Townhill electoral ward are headed by lone parents.
·  In Townhill 19% of households with dependent children do not have an adult in employment.
·  The estimated median household income for Castle, based on CACI’s 2011 ‘PayCheck’ data, is £19,650; the third lowest (of 36 wards) in Swansea.
·  DWP data demonstrates an unemployment rate in Townhill well above the Swansea equivalent with other DWP benefit claimant rates also higher. Economic inactivity and (full time) employment rates are noticeably lower than Swansea (Townhill Ward Profile CCS 2013)
Based on an analysis of the data and the story behind the baseline our projects will continue to focus on:
·  Intensive support for people furthest from the labour market and for those who will be looking for work when their children move into full-time school;
·  Support for 16-25 year olds who are not in employment, education or training; and
·  Access to advice and support for people coping with debt and benefit problems.
Key partners / Who’s involved? What is their role?
·  Workways for referrals on to work placements and employment
·  Want2Work for employment preparation
·  Jobcentre Plus for referrals into the projects
·  Careers Wales/Keeping in touch for referrals into the projects
·  CAB for specialist advice
·  City and County of Swansea Welfare Rights Team for specialist advice and support
·  Gorseinoin and Clydach foodbanks for emergency assistance
Community Involvement / Please describe how the community have/will be involved in developing, delivering, monitoring and evaluating projects under the prosperous theme.
The community are involved in:
·  developing projects under this theme though the quarterly Community Forums and through additional consultation and focus groups to discuss the CDP
·  delivering projects as volunteers with the Positive Steps to Employment and Financial Support projects
·  monitoring and evaluating projects through each project’s quality monitoring; and
·  discussing progress and quality at the Community Forums, and at the Cluster Steering Group.
Cluster Priorities and Action Plan – Prosperous Communities
Cluster Priorities
Prosperous Communities / Priority 1
Helping people to develop employment skills and find work (ages 25+) / Activity/Project 1.
Positive Steps to Employment
(PC-PM 1.3, 1.8) /
Priority 2
Reducing youth unemployment and disengagement (ages 16-24) / Activity/Project 1.
NEET engagement project
(PC-PM 2.2, 2.3) /
Priority 3
Financial inclusion – improving financial capability, managing debt and raising income / Activity/Project 1.
Financial support
(PC-PM 4.5, 4.6) /
Programme Outcome / Learning Communities Outcome
To promote a culture of learning within our communities where everyone regardless of age or ability is encouraged to recognise their own potential and is supported to reach it.
National Indicators / Please refer to Aspireview
Story behind the Baseline / Clusters should insert their current Story Behind the Baseline.
All LSOAS in the cluster show high levels of educational deprivation on all the indicators in the Education domain.
All pupils are given a red, amber or green Vulnerability Assessment Profile (VAP) score based on attendance, problems at school, reading age etc and two of the three secondary schools with the highest number of reds in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 are Dylan Thomas and Pentrehafod schools where pupils from the West cluster attend. Townhill 3 and Castle 1 are identified as two of the LSOAs with the highest number of reds.
·  The Cluster has the highest proportion of children aged 0-4 years at 9.5% against a city average of 5.3%. The Cluster has the second highest proportion of children aged 5-15 years at 14.8% against a city average of 11.8%.
·  47% children in Townhill ward and 38% children in Castle 1 and 3 are eligible for free school meals.
·  Children in the Cluster’s catchment schools have lower reading levels than the rest of Swansea at school years 2 and 7.
·  Both Primary and Secondary school absence rates in Townhill are significantly higher than the Swansea and Wales average.
·  The Townhill Electoral Division profile shows 42% of adults have no qualifications compared with 24% in Swansea.
Based on an analysis of the data and the story behind the baseline our projects will focus on:
·  Early years intervention to increase the school readiness of children from this area
·  Out of school activities for wellbeing and development
·  Additional support to children in school through literacy catch-up and personal development linked to VAP score
·  Support to parents so that they are better able to support their children in school
·  Opportunities for adults to gain or update qualifications.
Key partners / Who’s involved? What is their role?
Flying Start
Language and Play
Local libraries
Family Learning
Health Visitors
Team Around the Family
Family Facilitation team
City and County of Swansea Play team
Mayhill Family Centre
Arts and culture organisations including Waterfront Museum, Swansea Museum and Glyn Vivian Gallery
PCSOs
Schools within the cluster
WEA
City and County of Swansea Lifelong Learning
University of Wales Trinity St David
Gower College
All provide referrals into and from the projects, specialist advice and support, and co-delivery.
Community Involvement / Please describe how the community have/will be involved in developing, delivering, monitoring and evaluating projects under the Learning theme.
The community are involved in:
·  developing projects under this theme though the quarterly Community Forums and through additional consultation and focus groups to discuss the CDP;
·  delivering projects as volunteers with the Stories with Scamp, Out of School Hours, Literacy Catch-Up and Supporting Parents projects;
·  monitoring and evaluating each project through the participants’ quality monitoring; and
·  discussing progress and quality at the Community Forums, and at the Cluster Steering Group.
Cluster Priorities and Action Plan – Learning Communities
Cluster Priorities / Priority 1
Promoting family learning in the early years / Activity/Project 1.
Stories with Scamp
(LC-PM 1.1, 1.3) /
Priority 2
Supporting young people to do well at school / Activity/Project 1.
Out of school hours activities
(LC-PM 2.7) /
Activity/Project 2.
Personal development – key worker project for young people
(LC-PM 2.2, 2.7) /
Activity/Project 3.
Literacy catch-up
(LC-PM 2.5) /
Priority 3
Supporting families to be engaged in their children’s learning / Activity/Project 1.
Supporting parents
(LC-PM 3.2, 3.4) /
Priority 4
Lifelong learning in communities / Activity/Project 3.
Learning for Life
(LC-PM 4.1, 4.2) /
Programme Outcome / Healthier Communities Outcome
Improved health and wellbeing for all, with the pace of improvement
increasing in proportion to the level of disadvantage.
National Indicators / Please refer to Aspireview.
Story behind the Baseline / Clusters should insert their current Story Behind the Baseline.
We know that for many people the barriers to a healthier lifestyle are practical – money and time – but lack of confidence and knowledge are also key.
A food environment mapping exercise confirmed that access to good quality inexpensive, fresh food is limited, that cost is the most important issue for community members, although convenience is sometimes the determining factor, and that confidence about buying and preparing ingredients is generally low.
The GP referral scheme reports that take-up by GPs and by referred patients is particularly low in the Mayhill area. Although there are open spaces, playing fields and a small gym in Townhill Community Centre public access is limited.
·  8.4% of live Singleton babies from Townhill have a low birth weight, 5.4 Swansea and 5.9 Wales (WIMD 2011)
·  2586 adults in the Townhill ward report long term limiting Illness affecting personal wellbeing and development, employment and mobility.
·  Death rates in the Castle Ward exceed the birth rate (Swansea Ward Profile data)
·  22% of adults in Swansea are classed as obese, according to the Annual Welsh Health Survey
·  The Slope Index of Inequality (Public Health Wales Observatory 2011) shows a reduced life expectancy by 12 years for men, and 7 years for women, and a reduced disability free life expectancy by 17.7 years for men and 13.7 years for women
Based on an analysis of the data and the story behind the baseline our projects will focus on:
·  Making it easier for people to make healthy choices about food, exercise and lifestyle
·  Equipping young people with the knowledge and confidence to keep themselves safe and healthy.
Key partners / Who’s involved? What is their role?
Natural Resources Wales: Come Outside
Community Food Officer
Community Growing Officer
Public Health Wales
Smoking Cessation
Public Health Cancer Screening Service
SAND and WGCADA substance misuse advice services
Topic House Older People’s Centre
City and County of Swansea Sports Development Team
The Place
InfoNation
Community Connectors (Adult Services, City and County of Swansea)
All provide referrals into and from the projects, specialist advice and support, and co-delivery.
Community Involvement / Please describe how the community have/will be involved in developing, delivering, monitoring and evaluating projects under the healthier theme.
The community are involved in:
·  developing projects under this theme though the quarterly Community Forums and through additional consultation and focus groups to discuss the CDP;
·  delivering projects as volunteers with the Healthier Lifestyles and Community Spirit projects;
·  monitoring and evaluating each project through the participants’ quality monitoring; and
·  discussing progress and quality at the Community Forums, and at the Cluster Steering Group.
Cluster Priorities and Action Plan – Healthier Communities
Cluster Priorities / Priority 1
Promoting physical wellbeing/encouraging healthy eating/reducing risks / Activity/Project 1.
Healthier lifestyles
(HC-PM 2.3, 4.2, 5.3) /
Activity/Project 2.
Look after yourself youth project
(HC-PM 5.1, 5.3) /
Priority 2
Supporting people with additional needs to live in the community / Activity/Project 1.
Community Spirit /

Section 3 – Community Involvement Plan (CIP)