Theme 1: Communities
Key Issue / Change we want to happen / Key audiencesCommunity cohesion, Communities of Interest & Equalities
A key goal of Community Works is to improve equalities practice within the community and voluntary sector and throughout the city, improving understanding of good equalities practice and its benefits among community and voluntary groups and organisations, the statutory sector and the corporate sector. / Continued commitment to the principles of the Sustainable Community Strategy[1], the Age Friendly City Initiative (including increased community development, accessible transport, and improved inclusivity), and the Traveller commissioning strategy [2] (including improved site availability, health and education initiatives, and positive action to improve community cohesion by raising awareness about the issues that travellers face).
More engagement with representatives of Communities of Interest/equalities groups by partnerships, local authority and Community Works Networks, particularly those currently under-represented and not attending events. / · City Inclusion/Engagement Partnership
· Brighton & Hove Connected
· Community Works
· BHCC
Housing
Housing shortages in the city , are an area of concern for members and homelessness in the city is increasing with 43 reported to be visibly homeless in 2012[3].
Members report clients having difficulties in the private rented sector, especially when they have to deal with lettings agents who do not always respond effectively.
Tenants groups in the city operate in isolation.
Fuel poverty, exacerbated by low thermal efficiency and poor insulation of homes, has multiple effects, including on health – reflected in the increase in excess winter deaths (with an average in Brighton of 135 excess winter deaths per year between 2008-2011). According to 2011 estimates, 12% of households are fuel poor, and the City has an old housing stock (66% of houses built before 1945) which is often hard to make more efficient[4]
Just over a third of the city’s housing does not meet the decent homes standard, 44,000 homes. [5]
In addition, private rental tenants aren’t always eligible for some of the grants that could help to alleviate this situation (e.g. ‘Green Deal’). / Meaningful opportunities for the sector to feed into the Housing Strategy Review, with the needs of a range of groups in the city reflected in the refreshed strategy (e.g. LGBT residents, BME residents, for whom there are currently separate strategies).
A ‘fair rent’ system for the City, as identified in the City Tenancy Strategy.[6]
Review of how the need for a ‘local connection’ is applied when processing homelessness applications.
Council accreditation of private landlords to include clauses to address this.
Greater linking together of tenant groups in the city.
More private sector landlord representation on city partnerships.
A co-ordinated approach to engagement with the Local Economic Partnership.
Access to grants for low income households in private rented sector – variable funding models.
Continued commitment to repairs, improvements and energy efficiency measures to homes in the private sector, as identified in the 2009-2014 Housing Strategy.[7] / · BHCC
· Community Works
· Local Economic Partnership
· Strategic Housing Partnership
Welfare Reform
Members tell us that they feel that the impact of welfare reform on communities and the volunteers within them could be highlighted more.
There has been a significant increase in people needing advice and support around applications for Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payments.[8]
Early analysis of local data suggests that women are disproportionately affected by the Benefits Cap. / An assessment of how to mitigate the negative impact of welfare reform on communities and volunteers within them in particular, with recognition of the contribution of volunteers.
Public Health report into local impact of welfare reform to involve the sector meaningfully, to make concrete recommendations and for these to be taken seriously by decision-makers.
Consider the additional pressure on organisations as a result of welfare reform when commissioning services.
Existing work to support families affected by the benefits cap is welcomed, recognition of the existing contribution of these families to their local communities would also be helpful.
Continued commitment to providing quality advice and information services, as set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy. [9] / · BHCC
· Commissioners
· Local Economic Partnership
· Public Health
· Welfare Reform Research Steering Group
Advice and Support Services
A reduction in funding for legal services has led to a massive reduction in free legal advice for those who need it the most and Brighton Housing Trust and the Citizens Advice Bureau say they together risk losing £1 million per annum if the proposed cuts are implemented.[10]
Smaller groups tell us that they find it hard to know where to refer people.
Existing advice services are oversubscribed with waiting lists and/or turning people away due to lack of resources.[11] / Resources for access to advice and financial support to be given due priority in commissioning services, especially for groups identified as vulnerable or at risk.
As well as work that the public sector does, when the Financial Inclusion commission/Community Banking Partnership contract is awarded, members would like to see:
· Its communications strategy should helping communities know where they can go to access advice and support
· Opportunities within the voluntary and community sector to better join up legal, advice and support services, and to collaborate.
· A one-stop shop for citizens to access local knowledge and services, including face to face and telephone access, and streamlined processes for signposting, with resources to co-ordinate this.
Resources to train and support volunteers in advice and support agencies. / · Commissioners
· BHCC
· Voluntary and community Sector
· City Advice Partnership
· City Inclusion/Engagement Partnership
· Community Banking Partnership
Digital Inclusion
Members report that lack of access to online resources is impacting on people facing poverty as they do not have access to the wide range of information about services. They may also face additional barriers e.g. accessing the welfare benefits system as it moves increasingly to online by default.
Digital exclusion may also prevent people accessing the advice services that could help them. For example, conservative estimates suggest that 7.6m people (5.2m households) in the UK do not use the internet.[12] / Financial Inclusion Commission to address digital inclusion too.
Support to empower neighbourhood and tenants groups to address digital inclusion.
Additional resources to enable advice sessions to be offered in communities to overcome the difficulties associated with this.
Recognition from local services that not everybody has access to the internet, a phone, a printer or a computer.
Increase in free wi-fi provision to the community. / · Financial Inclusion Commission
· Commissioners
· BHCC
· City Advice Partnership
· City Inclusion/Engagement Partnership
· Voluntary & Community Sector
Financial Inclusion
Lack of living wage standards results in inequality and has a huge financial impact on communities, with evidence showing that low pay has a particularly low impact on vulnerable groups.[13] / Additional resources (to the Financial Inclusion Commission) for financial support and advice.
Even greater awareness of living wage in the city amongst employers, with increased commitment to sign up.
Commitment from voluntary and community sector employers to pay a living wage. / · Local Economic Partnership
· Voluntary and community sector
· City Employment Skills Steering Group
· Local Chamber of Commerce
Adult Social Care
Adult social care in an area in which the city faces a number of challenges. We have an ageing population[14], high levels of mental illness (including the 9th highest suicide rate in the country)[15], and alcohol specific mortality rates are more than double the national average.[16]
Current shifts in local and national policy mean that there are opportunities for the sector to contribute to development of new approaches to healthcare in the city. / Meaningful involvement of the sector in development of Better Care approaches to integrated frailty care in the city.
A joined up sector approach to the transformation of mental health treatment pathways in the city.
Increased opportunities for the sector to engage with the Health & Wellbeing Board. / · Clinical Commissioning Group
· Community Works
· Sector organisations
· Health & Wellbeing Board
Food Poverty, Healthy Eating and Healthy Weight
The network of food banks report increased food poverty and rising fuel prices are placing many people in fuel poverty, for example the Trussell Trust food banks gave emergency food to 346,992 people nationwide, compared to 128,697 in 2011-12.[17]
There is evidence that poverty is strongly associated with poor health.[18]
In Brighton & Hove, 43,600 adults are obese and about 6,400 are morbidly obese. This is estimated to have cost the NHS in Brighton & Hove £78.1 million in 2010. [19] / Maintain commitment to the ‘Spade to Spoon food strategy and action plan[20], which includes local and sustainable food production and food waste reduction, as well as healthier and more affordable food for people in the city.
Improved access to sports, activities, safe spaces and cycle routes, and healthy eating. Maintain commitment to the Indoor sports facilities programme, particularly meeting shortfall in demand, offering equal access to all parts of the city, and maximising participation levels. / · Health & Wellbeing Board
· City Sustainability Partnership
· City Advice Partnership
· Healthwatch Governing Body
Sustainability
Members would like sustainability to stay on the agenda and be promoted by all sectors.
A vast amount of local knowledge exists but this could be better utilised both within the sector and cross-sector. For example, it was disappointing that comments by the sector on the local biodiversity action plan objectives in 2013 were not all acted upon. / Environment and sustainability considerations to be embedded into broader activities and strategies.
Continued commitment to the aims of the One Planet Living Strategy sustainability action plan 2013, which includes making buildings more energy efficient, an increase in renewable energy, reduction in waste, local and sustainable food. In particular, by “nurturing a culture of sustainability, community and a sense of place which builds on local cultural heritage to foster a sense of identity and connectedness”.
Improved knowledge sharing, and expertise between members and reps, e.g. drop-in sessions or a database of expertise, to enable peer support around environmental solutions.
A clear link for groups (such as wildlife groups) to communicate with BHCC. / · B&H Connected (Strategic Partnership)
· City Sustainability Partnership
· Community Works
· Voluntary and community sector
· BHCC
Safer Streets
Safer streets are associated with greater community cohesion, and empowerment to use active forms of transport such as walking and cycling, which are free, clean, and healthy.[21] / Brighton & Hove City Council to stand by its Commitment in the Sustainabiilty Action Plan[22] to encouraging low carbon modes of transport. / · Transport Partnership
· City Sustainability Partnership
· Safe in the City Partnership
Impact on capacity at Grass Roots Level
Members are concerned that high costs of living in the city and the impact of welfare reform may reduce capacity at grass roots level, and therefore assets such as community centres are difficult to sustain.
Members also tell us that there are instances of disparity and duplication between the work of Council Officers and community activity. / Consideration is needed of large scale asset transfer to the voluntary and community sector.
Mechanisms to make use of the ‘Family of Partnerships’ to better join up work to ensure best use of resources and identify shared aims. / · BHCC
· City Inclusion/Engagement Partnership
· B&H Connected (Strategic Partnership)
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[1] Brighton and Hove City Council, Sustainable Community Strategy. Available at: <http://www.bandhsp.co.uk/downloads/bandhsp/B_HSP_Sustainable_Community_Strategy.pdf>
[2] Brighton & Hove City Council (2012), Traveller commissioning strategy. Available at: < http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/brighton-hove.gov.uk/files/downloads/travellers/Traveller_Commissioning_Strategy_2012.pdf>
[3] Brighton and Hove City Council (2013) Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2013, Brighton and Hove City Council: Brighton and Hove [section 6.4.3]. Available at: <http://www.bhlis.org/jsna2013>
[4] Brighton and Hove City Council (2013) Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2013[section 6.4.2]. Available at: <http://www.bhlis.org/jsna2013>
[5] Brighton and Hove City Council, Sustainable Community Strategy. Available at: <http://www.bandhsp.co.uk/downloads/bandhsp/B_HSP_Sustainable_Community_Strategy.pdf>
[6] Brighton and Hove City Council (2013), Brighton & Hove Tenancy Strategy. Available at: <http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/brighton-hove.gov.uk/files/downloads/housing/Tenancy_Strategy_2013.pdf>
[7]Brighton & Hove City Council, Housing Strategy 2009-2014 – healthy homes, healthy lives, healthy city . Available at: < http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/brighton-hove.gov.uk/files/downloads/Housing_Strategy_2009-2014_-_Executive_Summary.pdf>
[8] Barnes, H; Sissons, P and Stevens, H (2011) Employment and Support Allowance: Findings from a follow up survey with customers, Department for Work and Pensions: London [page 55]. Available at: <https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/214519/rrep745.pdf>
[9] Brighton and Hove City Council, Sustainable Community Strategy. Available at: <http://www.bandhsp.co.uk/downloads/bandhsp/B_HSP_Sustainable_Community_Strategy.pdf>
[10] Brighton Housing Trust Press Office (2013) BHT Highlights impact of legal aid cuts [online]. Available at: <http://www.bht.org.uk/news/bht-highlights-impact-of-legal-aid-cuts/>
[11] Citizens advice (2012) Delivering advice together: Learning from the Advice Plus Experience, Citizens advice, Advice UK, Law Centres Federation: UK [page 22]. Available at: < http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/aboutus/publications/advice_plus.htm>
[12] Community Works (2013) CVSF Briefing No. 27 Welfare Reform, Community Works: Brighton and Hove [page 11]. Available at: < http://www.cvsectorforum.org.uk/sites/cvsectorforum.org.uk/files/CVSF%20Briefing%20No%2027%20Welfare%20Reform-.pdf>
[13] Brighton and Hove County Council (2012) Living Wage Commission: Final report, Brighton and Hove County Council: Brighton and Hove [page 10]. Available: <http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/sites/brighton-hove.gov.uk/files/downloads/living_wage_commission/Living_Wage_Commission_Report_Final.pdf>
[14] Brighton and Hove City Council (2011), State of the City Report (Summary) [p3]
[15] Brighton and Hove City Council (2011), State of the City Report (Summary) [p18]
[16] Brighton and Hove City Council, Sustainable Community Strategy. Available at: <http://www.bandhsp.co.uk/downloads/bandhsp/B_HSP_Sustainable_Community_Strategy.pdf>