Borough of Poole Grants 2012-13

Application Form

Part Two - Information for the Decision-Making Panel

Please read the Guidance Notes carefully before completing the following questions.

We have suggested an appropriate number of words to be used for each answer. Please do not go too far over the suggested limits. You can use fewer words than suggested, but please be sure you have given us enough information to judge the value of your work. You may use bullet points if you wish.
1 / Name of organisation
Bridging Communities
2 / What does your organisation do? (200 words)
Bridging Communities brings together the diverse communities of the Regeneration Area of Poole by combining the principles of community development with a Christian ethos.
This is brought to life through the work of a Church-Related Community Worker (CRCW) who carries out a range of activities and projects, including one-to-one support for those in need of help with a specific issue, organising events, supporting the creation of residents’ associations, neighbourhood watch schemes and other community-led groups. We do this by encouraging and participating in consultations around key issues of relevance to the Regeneration Area, and organising training on relevant issues (such as safeguarding).
Where appropriate to the outcome, we work in partnership with any organisations that share our desire to bring together communities in the area, including the Borough of Poole, local housing associations, existing and developing community groups, the Children’s Centres, local churches, PooleMuseum, local schools, property developers, the police etc
3 / What do you need the money for?
What work will you undertake with it?(300 words)
There are two distinct steams of work we would like support for.
Delphis Court is the extra care facility situated on Poole Quarter. During 2012 our worker has begun to support the newly formed Delphis Court Residents Association, therefore we are applying for £1,500 towards the costs for our worker to enable us to continue to offer this support to the vulnerable adults that live there. This support includes guiding the residents to relevant council officers, or other individuals, or organisations which can help them achieve their aims. We also support them in accessing resources to develop activities for the residents.
Hamworthy NetworkThis is a community gathering which enables community activists to come together for mutual support, to hear or share relevant information linked to all the changes which are happening in the regeneration area whilst networking over a light lunch. Therefore we are asking for £1,200 to help pay for coordinating the gatherings, including light refreshments. Although this project is open to all community activists in Hamworthy a large proportion of those who attend could be considered to be vulnerable adult. On average 60% of those who attend the Hamworthy Network are over 65 or could be perceived as vulnerable because of disability or other personal circumstances, i.e. one individual who attends used to be on the streets before receiving support from Routes to Roots.
4 / What is the total amount of money you want from us?
£2,700
5 / What is the total amount of money required for your project?
If you are not requesting the full amount from us, tell us how you intend to fund the difference
The total cost of £9,776 which is divided between £8,576 Bridging Communities project costs and £1,200 for the Hamworthy Network costs.
We aim to cover the £8,576 with an already awarded contribution of £3,294 of the Wessex Synod of the URC, £1,500 through this application and with the support of Faithworks Wessex other applications to charitable trusts totalling £4,000. Some of the trusts we have, or are going to, apply to are: the Valentines trust, Spectrum Housing Association and others. These applications are currently being written and will be submitted as soon as possible.
We have a strong track record for sourcing funding for our work and project previous funders include:

Awards for All
The local arm of a Christian trust which prefers to remain unnamed
BBC Radio Solent
South West Foundation Network Fund
Links Community Chest
Valentine’s Trust
Poole Lions
Waitrose Community Fund
Radian Housing Association
Dorset Resolution
Raglan Housing Association
Knightstone Housing Association
PooleTown Centre Management
Local Network Fund

6 / What will you spend it on? (100 words)
Please attach a separate sheet with a more detailed breakdown if necessary
£1,500 toward our project on costs see the attached breakdown of our projected budget for the rest of the year and £1,200 towards the refreshment costs for 30 participants at 6 Hamworthy Network sessions to be held throughout the year.
7 / What will this achieve?(300 words)
Try and include measurable achievements
Delphis Court:

Our work will support all the residents in this Extra Care Facility, 40 of whom are considered vulnerable adults.
Our work will ensure the officers and management of thetwo residents associations, Poole Quarter and Delphis Court Residents Associations, are more knowledgeable, confident and well supported.
Our work will encourage an increase in activities taking place for vulnerable adults within the complex which improves the quality of life for the residents; reducing isolation and improving skills and confidence, e.g. a member of the Residents’ Association is currently exploring the possibility of developing a project around food. He is discussing possibilities with a facilitator and we are supporting him in searching for resources.
Our work will encourage better community cohesion between householders of different tenure properties, and those who are in different Housing Association properties. There are 3 Housing Associations with properties on Poole Quarter.

Hamworthy Network: Local community volunteers/activists will get to know each other and will be able to effectively support each other. The accessible format of these sessions will ensure that a diverse community voice will be heard, especially the voice of those perceived as vulnerable, perhaps for the first time.

Our work will support 20- 30 vulnerable / older people in developing their voluntary activity within the community.
We will coordinate 6 Hamworthy Network sessions with 25 community activists attending each session. Those attending these sessions will be provided with healthy refreshments, most of whom could be considered vulnerable adults.
These Hamworthy Network sessions will aid the reduction in isolation for older residents in Hamworthy.
These Hamworthy Network Sessions will mean that Hamworthy will have a more informed and empowered community aware of developments in their area; enabling them to have a collective voice.

8 / How do know the people you are helping want this?(300 words)
Tell us about any surveys or research you have done - include statistics if you can
We have operated for seven years now, and are constantly engaged with residents, the Borough of Poole, local councillors, and the groups that we have helped establish in order to ensure that our projects and activities are appropriate and have impact.
Hamworthy Network - We have a significant amount of interest in the Hamworthy Network, for example, 50 residents attended a meeting in 2012 when Neptune Development explored their proposed plans for the West Quay development. At a review session of the Hamworthy Network in June 2012 we asked attendees if they wanted these community networking events to continue and received a 100% positive response. Feed back included: ‘Very important to link in to what is going on’… ‘Principal of moving around welcome’ … these are a very important to link to what’s going on… essential we have this network to enable such communication/awareness of what’s happening’.
Delphis Court - The worker has attended two meetings at Delphis court with an average attendance of 23 residents. We have now been asked to support them on a more regular basis as they continue to develop and explore new possible activities.
This is a statement of support from the Chair of Delphis Court highlighting the importance of Bridging Communities continuing involvement;
‘We very much appreciate being supported by 'Bridging Communities,' we didn't realise there was so much help and advice available.
Their help with looking for funding for projects has been invaluable, as we were not sure where to go.
We are looking forward totheir furtheradvice as our year progresses and several projects start to take shape.’
9 / Tell us how you will market this, including how you will actively seek to involve as wide a range of people as possible (200 words)
Delphis Court - We will communicate to the residents through the Residents Association, use the communal noticeboard, via the Housing Association Manager, House Meetings and the events that are organised . There are 41 dwellings at Delphis Court and this is a close knit community so a lot of information is shared by word of mouth.
Hamworthy Network – We will use the comprehensive database of community activists drawn together by the Borough Community Worker for Hamworthy to distribute both the newsletter and invitation poster. Wewill also send information through our wider church and community newsletter and networks. Wewill produce accessible hard copy invitations/posters and ensure they are distributed in prominent community locations such as the Library, Children Centre, Community Centre etc. We will constantly evaluate and consult on the topics to be covered and so encourage all those who participate to encourage others to attend We will proactively approach any communities we feel are under represented at these events, especially those that can be considered as vulnerable.
10 / How will you make sure your activity is accessible to as wide a range of people as possible to attend? (200 words)
Our CRCW has the experience and training to work appropriately with anyone, including those with a disability or from other cultures. She has already attended various meetings at Delphis Court and so is developing a relationship of trust which will ensure people feel safe and so attend any activities that are developed. All our events are held in fully accessible venues, such as Hamworthy Community Library, whenever possible and consideration is given to dietary needs, physical impairment and limited mobility.
The key to accessibility of these projects is good communication and relationships with the residents associations or community volunteers. We will seek to work with the new Poole Well-being Collaborative in developing any activities, they could provide some additional expertise, support and resources.
11 / How will you measure the success of what you do? (200 words)
Delphis Court

As soon as is practicable an interview will be conducted at a meeting with the Delphis Court Residents’ Association to establish where the group is in terms of its governance, funds, activities and any issues that are apparent. At the conclusion of this project the same interview will be conducted which will highlight how much development has occurred in the time the Church Related Community Worker has been working with the group. Evidence will be obvious from resolved issues, increased funding and increased activities.

Hamworthy Network

We will see an increase in empowerment and confidence through people feeling able to voice concerns/ issues, ideas and having a sense of being heard.

We will gather feedback from both groups by asking participants to complete an accessible evaluation grid whenever appropriate.
With time we will ask individuals to share their stories with us, these will be included in the Bridging Communities annual report. We anticipate 2-5 stories from each project but will include one story from each project in our annual report.
Please note, we will expect an end-of-project report from you, describing what you did and the results of your success measurements. We will also ask you to estimate the following information for the people running and attending your project: ethnicity, gender, age.

Please ensure that you also complete part 1 of the application form

Please ensure that you submit the following information with this application:

A copy of the latest set of your organisation’s approved accounts
A forecast sheet of income and costs for the coming financial year
A copy of your organisation’s constitution and details of its management committee structure
Proof of a UK bank account in the name of your organisation with two non-related signatories
Proof of relevant insurance policies for your activities
A copy of your safeguarding policy if you are working with young people below 18 or vulnerable adults
A copy of your equal opportunities policy and any other commitments to equality

Return both completed parts of the application form and all other requested information by email or paper copy to:

Roland Robinson

Poole CVS

54 Lagland Street

Poole

BH15 1QG

E-mail:

BOP Grant Application Form (Part 2) September 2012