To receive a presentation on the work of Northumberland Communities Together.
Minutes:
M Taylor, Executive Director Wellbeing – Adult Services, and E Richardson, Senior Manager Specialist Services - Poverty Lead, were in attendance to provide a presentation on the work of Northumberland Communities Together. A copy of the power point presentation would be filed with the signed minutes.
Members were advised that Northumberland Communities Together (NCT), which had been formed in order to provide support to residents and communities at the beginning of the Pandemic had become an inclusive community and multi-disciplinary team approach which responded to specific and emerging needs. NCT supported working together and by working in and with communities could make a difference where and how it was needed.
NCT aimed to prevent residents of all ages becoming more vulnerable, addressing the social determinants of health which included access to healthcare, housing, transport, hunger, fuel etc and ensuring that 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 with details provided of the different roles and the type of work undertaken by each team. A number of events had been arranged which helped with community engagement and enrichment, with over 70 young leaders coming forward within various organisations within the County and 36 summer camps took place for over 1800 children.
The Council had been successful in a bid for funding from North of Tyne Combined Authority to establish community hubs, the first of which had been developed in Cramlington as there had been a Council owned building available to use. It was stressed that Hubs were not Council run, and engagement with local communities would assist in developing Hubs in other areas.
Statistical information was provided in relation to statutory covid support including the direct support and welfare visits to clinically extremely vulnerable residents and distribution of emergency food parcels; distribution of statutory aid including the emergency assistance fund, winter support grants and others. Members would be contacted shortly regarding the distribution of the Household Support Fund which had just been received.
Anonymised case studies were given which provided information on the interventions and assistance provided which had helped residents maintain jobs and tenancies. Information was also provided on the focus and priorities over the forthcoming winter period.
In relation to concern from Members on the sufficiency of being able to respond to the extra demand that was anticipated over the winter period, Members were assured that due to an increase in funding, the establishment had been increased and Community Champions appointed. There were good teams in place in order to ensure that early intervention could be provided. Many of the staff involved had already been employed by the Council and had been pulled together as a Team with additional resources being agreed by Cabinet. Funding had gone out to the Communities as they were able to make it go much further and provide more targeting spending. There had been a huge community response and change for the good and this needed to be sustained.
Members thanked NCT for everything they had done and were continuing to do for the residents of the County and were extremely thankful and grateful for the excellent work being undertaken by all involved and recognising that this was a very good service and made a valuable contribution to the lives of residents.