Agenda item

To receive a presentation on the work of Northumberland Communities Together.

Maureen Taylor, Executive Director Wellbeing – Adult Services, was in attendance to give a presentation on the work of Northumberland Communities Together (NCT) which had been established in March 2020 in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.  (A copy of the presentation was enclosed with the signed minutes).  Unfortunately, Paul Brooks, Head of Northumberland Communities Together Hub, had been unable to attend the meeting.

She explained that the service comprised a multi-disciplinary team which worked with community groups and key partners to provide essential services to vulnerable residents in the county and tackle shared challenges.

They aimed to prevent residents becoming more vulnerable, addressing the social determinants of health which included access to healthcare, housing, transport, hunger, fuel etc.  Whilst some members of the public had coped initially during the pandemic, others were now identifying themselves as requiring assistance and NCT ensured that the help was available to those that needed assistance in whatever form it was required.

The team was split across front line operational delivery and programme and project delivery.  A recent collaboration with Northumbria Police to support violence reduction with a colocated worker.

The Council had been successful in funding bid from North of Tyne Combined Authority to establish community hubs the first of which had been developed in Cramlington, making use of an empty Council building.  The library had relocated and was being used by many organisations in the community and was to be replicated in other localities.  Discussions were ongoing with communities in the Tynedale area to ascertain natural hub locations and what would be of benefit to those communities. Feedback and ideas from members were welcomed.

The response hub could be contacted by telephone and email, between the hours of 9am – 6pm, 7 days per week, and was available to all.

Pop up activities had been held during lockdown which had enabled contact with vulnerable families, providing advice and assistance.  Events had been repeated on request and some communities were now running their own events.

Statistical information included details of:

•        Support provided including contacts to clinically extremely vulnerable residents including welfare visits, emergency food parcels, PPE and wellbeing parcels.

•        The distribution of statutory aid.

•        Community enrichment.

The NCT model had been recognised nationally and was one of five local authorities chosen to develop future plans around the Holiday Activity and Food Programme.

Anonymised case studies were provided of the intervention and assistance given to residents which had enabled them to maintain jobs and tenancies.

A summary was provided of the priorities and focus over the winter months, particularly keeping warm and the types of assistance available.  Digital connectivity was crucial to enable participation and ensure residents weren’t restricted by their location.

NCT were now embedded within the Council as a service and officers were grateful for the support from community groups who had embraced partnership working and had established good relationships.  They welcomed opportunities to connect further with new groups as all played a vital role.

It was agreed that the presentation would be circulated to ensure that members had contact details for the West and Tynedale Locality Co-ordinator.

Members expressed their support for the work that had been carried out and were delighted that programmes were receiving national recognition.  Thanks, were also given to a number of companies and organisations for their assistance and donations during the pandemic, these included Essity and Bernicia.

It noted that it was important to build resilience in areas of deprivation, address housing need, homelessness and levelling up.

Staff had embraced the opportunity to engage with residents and had found their roles extremely fulfilling.  The Executive Director was very proud of all those involved and for the support the Council had given.

RESOLVED that the presentation be received.