of residents targeted

Neighbourhoods evaluation
2012/13
1What we
intended
to do
Pages 4-5
2SUMMARY
OF FINDINGS
Pages 6-7
3providing
Value for
Money FOR
OUR
4HOW:
our approach
NEIGHBOURHOODS
to delivering the
neighbourhood
strategy
Pages 8-11
Pages 12-13
NEIGHBOURHOODS EVALUATION 2012/13
5WHAT:
PROVIDING A RANGE OF OPTIONS TO
MOTIVATE AND ENABLE OUR RESIDENTS
Pages 14-15
2A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
6SUPPORTING
7SUPPORTING
8SUPPORTING
9highlights
NEIGHBOURHOODS
NEIGHBOURHOODS
NEIGHBOURHOODS
2013/14
Pages 16-17 0-13s
Pages 18-19 14-
Pages 20-23 24+
Pages 24-27
CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES IN OUR young
people IN OUR 24s
Adults
IN OUR
and
Next steps
foreword
It is a pleasure to welcome you to our second
evaluation of A2Dominion’s Neighbourhood
Strategy. This evaluation report captures
the impact of our partnership work in the
12 neighbourhoods in which A2Dominion
worked during 2012.
This year we have seen a huge increase in the number
of tenants and local partners coming forward, setting
the agenda and leading on projects that are valued in
their neighbourhoods.
The Neighbourhood Strategy is one of a number of
programmes under A2Dominion’s investing in homes
and local communities business objectives, which aims
to improve residents’ life chances and employment
prospects. The strategy is a forward-thinking and
innovative approach to working with tenants,
volunteers and partners in identified communities to:
In Foundry
Court, Slough
• promote active citizenship and volunteering;
• encourage neighbourhoods that are safe
places in which to live and work;
• provide things to do and places to go for
children, young people and families;
• develop pathways into employment or business;
• provide help with finances and benefits; and
• fundraise to sustain, support and develop
new projects.
This evaluation draws together our findings from
the 2012 Neighbourhood Strategy and is based on
a review of elements relating to the programme,
survey results from over 100 residents, feedback
from Street Meet consultations and the views
of staff, stakeholders and partners.
parents trained as
Community Champions
running play projects.
In STANWELL
young people produced
and broadcast shows on
their very own radio station.
These are just a few examples of many, where residents,
with the support ofA2Dominion, are leading the way,
volunteering their time, helping one another and
strengthening the neighbourhoods in which they live.
Our approach to neighbourhood working does not
just depend on providing excellent services and
infrastructure; its strength, as the evaluation will
show, is also determined by the positive relations
that it encourages between neighbours, communities
and local businesses, young and old, and the extent
to which tenants and partners feel they are able to
shape and participate in decision making.
In TOPLOCKS,
EALING
the Havelock Steering Group has
a growing influence and is now
shaping a whole programme
of family activities from the
Havelock Community Centre.
“Whilst there is lots more to do,
feedback from our annual surveys
and the personal testimonies of adults and
young people show how our programmes
are making a real difference in
communities. We now offer constructive
and exciting things in their local areas and
residents tell us there is a growing sense
of well-being and community cohesion.”
Heather David,
Head of A2Dominion
Community Involvement
FOREWORD
3
we
1What
intended
looking back:
to do
The top three priorities,
highlighted by tenants
in our 2011/12
neighbourhood survey were:
Projects and activities for children and young people
Employment and training support
Benefits advice and guidance
4A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
These three priorities informed our departmental
and business strategy. Drawing on information
from residents and partners we identified
12 neighbourhoods within London and the
South East in which to work.
Each neighbourhood varied in size and demographics,
from the largest, being Stanwell and Ashford North in
Spelthorne, with 2,300 households, to the smallest,
Steele and Palgrave, London Borough of Richmond,
with 65 homes.
These included the following:
With a focus on delivering an exciting range of
projects and high-quality interventions, the following
targets were agreed through a process of consultation
with staff, partners and residents:
LONDON
Commercial Road, London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Woods House, London Borough of Westminster
Emerald Square, London Borough of Ealing
• Generate over £30,000 external and
cross-departmental funding
• Deliver 9 community-led Street Meets
(street party style consultation events)
Toplocks, London Borough of Ealing
• Engage 300 children and young people
GWQ, London Borough of Hounslow
• Engage 60 young people in Be Inspired
RAF Eastcote, London Borough of Hillingdon
• Engage 120 tenants in financial inclusion projects
SOUTH
• Engage 1,000 adults and young people
in community cohesion events
Stanwell, Spelthorne
Rainbow Estate, Spelthorne
Foundry Court, Slough
Unity Court, Eastleigh
Steele and Palgrove, London Borough of Richmond
The Conservatory, Winchester
At the end of the second year we have made good
progress in all of the neighbourhoods in which
we worked. We have exceeded key performance
indicators and, most importantly, fostered an
approach where residents are, with our help, seeking
out opportunities to innovate and deliver their own
community projects.
However, it is important to note that our work in each
neighbourhood was shaped by a number of factors:
access to community facilities, existing partnerships,
local authority support, access to funding
opportunities, location and internal capacities.
These combined factors represented a real challenge
in some cases, but also provided an opportunity to
share our experiences of what worked well across
each neighbourhood.
• Deliver 17 projects/interventions to respond
to anti-social behaviour incidents
• Support 45 residents with employment
and training pathways
• Engage over 40 residents as volunteers, delivering
a combined total of 80 hours’ volunteering time.
WHAT WE INTENDED TO DO
5
2
4
summAry
of
findings
A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
Neighbourhood working provides
things to do and places to go
for children and young people
This year we engaged with over 500 children and
young people through our events and projects
managed by partners. In Woods House Westminster,
the Homework Club supports 25 five to eleven-yearolds with maths and literacy. A total of 66 budding
young footballers attended Brentford FC Community
Sports Trust’s session at Havelock Youth Club in
Southall. Of the residents surveyed, 65% had received
information on activities for children and young
people and 25% had taken up opportunities.
Neighbourhood working helps
communities achieve economic wellbeing
Together with our partners we engaged with over
250 tenants through A2Dominion’s Money Matters
events - a series of workshops and advice sessions
on money saving tips - connecting residents with
experts in benefits and money advice. 120 residents
attended our Smart Money event in Ealing, with
95% reporting that the support and information they
received was useful and they now knew where to go
and who to speak to get help on benefits, finances
and employment opportunities.
Neighbourhood working Brings
communities and tenants together
Neighbourhood working
supports tenants into Employment
and Training pathways
Over 1,200 tenants connected with us through
Street Meets and online consultations. We delivered
15 Street Meet consultations last year with 50% of
residents in our evaluation saying that along with the
Internet, Street Meets are one of the most popular
ways to engage communities.
Together with our partners we supported over
80 tenants to access employment and training
events and established 11 new partnerships with
Adult Education Westminster, Great West Quarter,
Hounslow, Spelthorne and Oxford. With our support,
44 tenants started and completed courses.
Neighbourhood working enables
residents to make a positive
contribution to their communities
projects in Toplocks, Ealing; Foundry Court, Slough;
Rainbow Estate, Spelthorne; Chesil Street, Eastleigh;
and Unity Court, Eastleigh.
Neighbourhood working helps
communities and partners reduce
anti-social behaviour (ASB)
Together with partners, Housing Management,
Community Involvement has delivered a range
of activities to help reduce ASB in priority
neighbourhoods. A total of 65% of residents told us
that they felt their neighbourhood was improving.
In Great West Quarter, Hounslow, the neighbourhood
teams have invested in and installed electronic notice
boards to keep residents updated, provided additional
CCTV and a secure bike cage, relocated the play
area and introduced a new neighbourhood warden
scheme. In RAF Eastcote, Hillingdon, we introduced a
Neighbourhood Warden scheme.
Working closely with the local police and Spelthorne
council, we were able to secure Spelthorne’s first
closure order for ASB and gained injunctions against
both perpetrators of ASB. ASB on that street has
reduced, with tenants reporting that they feel much
happier and safer living there and are taking more
pride in their environment. Finally, communication
has improved, with residents now routinely reporting
ASB to A2Dominion and the police.
Through our Brushstrokes volunteering project and
other volunteering activities, over 45 residents and
partners have given a staggering 2,319 volunteering
hours, delivering 16 gardening and decorating
projects. 12 residents have been trained as
Community Champions and are supporting
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
7
3
providing value
for money
for our neighbourhoods
A2Dominion invested
£49,850 on projects,
publicity and consultation
events in neighbourhoods
In terms of support and outreach, Community
Involvement contributed a further £203,000
in staff resource, proportioned across the
department. With 1,200 residents receiving
support or information, our unit cost at £210 per
intervention represented good value for money.
8A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
Partnerships
The success of our neighbourhood working enabled
us to build on our existing network of partnerships.
Just some of the key partners we worked with this
year included: Brentford Football In the Community;
The Social Enterprise Alliance, Westminster; Havelock
Children’s, Youth and Community Advisory Board,
Ealing; Winchester City Council; The YMCA, Ealing;
The Department of Work & Pensions (DWP), Staines;
Hounslow and Westminster Adult Education; Shelter,
Slough; Catalyst Gateway and uSwitch, to name a few.
Through our partners we have been able to connect
with more residents in different ways. Collectively, they
have added significant value in terms of their expertise,
ability to engage, access to resources
and facilities and promotion of activities.
All of this contributed to the programme’s
successful delivery and will support future
growth and sustainability.
We calculate the added value that partners brought to
delivering in neighbourhoods last year was £100,000,
with significant contributions from adult education
providers; Havelock Children’s Centre; Shelter, Slough;
Catalyst Work Placement Programme; and Ealing
Financial Confidence Project.
Fundraising for Neighbourhoods
We now have in place a neighbourhood fundraising strategy
supported by two partnership and fundraising officers.
Last year we trained key staff in fundraising skills to be able to support the strategy
and help build a pipeline of bids to statutory, corporate and charitable funds.
It is a pleasure to report that we have been successful in securing:
£10,000 from the National Lottery
to develop and expand the Homework Club provision
at Woods House in Westminster (Awards for All).
£1,000 from Ealing CounciL
to provide summer activities for 8 - 12-year-olds
at Havelock Community Centre.
£7,000 from the Heathrow Communities for Tomorrow Fund
to provide environmentally-themed Street Meets
in Hillingdon, Spelthorne, Ealing, Hounslow and Slough.
£40,000 from the department for work and pensions
to provide 1-1 digital inclusion workshops in Westminster,
Ealing, Winchester, Salisbury, Hammersmith and Spelthorne.
To all our
Community Champions,
volunteers, funders
and partners
we say a huge
THANK YOU!
£15,000 from the Heathrow Communities for Youth Fund
to deliver a community radio project in Spelthorne.
£5,000 contribution from Norwood Green Forum
to support the development of a new Multi-Use
Games Area (MUGA) at the Havelock, Ealing.
Finally, the most important thanks go to...
residents and partners
who, through their 2,319 volunteer hours, based on
minimum wage, equated to an additional £14,632
in kind support to improve the quality of life in
neighbourhoods.
providing value for money
9
3.1
What we learnt
and how we
learnt it
£30,000
external funding raised and over
£100,000 in the pipeline
Nurturing and building new partnerships with
funders is essential to developing and sustaining
the neighbourhood approach. Supporting
neighbourhoods and areas which are priorities for
local authorities and district councils enables us to
maximise resources and have greater impact.
12
new Community Champions;
2,319 volunteering hours
Residents see training as a Community Champion,
joining a resident group and volunteering as
ways to make a positive contribution to their
neighbourhoods and learn new skills.
10A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
2,485
hits on
A2Dominion’s Community
Involvement web page
with the most popular being
Havelock Community Centre: 366;
Employment and Training: 332;
and Volunteering: 300.
Promoting activities on the Internet alongside
our outreach programme helps us connect with
even more residents.
900
residents, 22% of
the target group of 4,080 residents,
accessed one or more activity
Every household received a priority neighbourhood
newsletter. With nearly a quarter of targeted
residents participating in events and projects
publicised in our newsletters and on the Internet, the
menu of activities is providing a wide range of things
to do and places to go within neighbourhoods.
7
different ways to engage
Whilst Street Meets and Internet are the most
popular ways to engage residents, we use seven core
approaches to working in neighbourhoods: Street Meets,
events, 1:1 support, phone advice, projects and training,
group workshops, Internet and social media. It takes
a combination of all seven to engage and deliver a
successful neighbourhood project.
55%
of residents targeted
engaged in projects supporting
children, young people and families
within their neighbourhoods
Children and young people’s activities were
the number one priority in the 2011/12 survey,
and the participation rates tell the story.
NEW FOCUS AND PRIORITIES
Whilst feedback from residents and partners has shown real impact in some
key areas, particularly children and young people, our evaluation highlighted
the top two where residents felt A2Dominion and partners could do more.
TOP Two
PRIORITIES
45%
of tenants said
41%
of tenants said
that more needed to
be done to help them with
that more needed to be
done to combat crime and
In terms of support with finances, feedback
suggests that this is a communication issue as
well as an understanding of what kind of support
can be offered to whom, when and where.
In regards to anti-social behaviour the
percentage of residents that felt that anti-social
behaviour cases across the group had been
resolved was 61% - the same as last year.
The Money Matters road shows proved popular with
residents, but gaining a better understanding of what
longer term support is needed will add value to the
current offer of online, face-to-face and targeted
projects such as DOSH (Debt Overdrafts Savings Help)
in Ealing and Feel at Home with your Finances
in Slough.
Neighbourhood Warden Schemes have now been
launched in GWQ, Hounslow and RAF Eastcote, Hillingdon,
and partnership work with the police and local authority
in Spelthorne is showing results. A2Dominion is a key
partner on local authority-led Troubled Family Programme
Boards, which provide support for families where ASB is
an issue. We have made over 10 referrals to the scheme
- six in Ealing - but recognise that more needs to be done
to track outcomes from the project and find out whether
families are receiving the support they need.
finances
anti-social
behaviour
providing value for money 11
4
HOW:
Our Approach to Delivering
the Neighbourhood Strategy
Involving and engaging a wide cross-section of
tenants across a large geographical area is one
of the most stimulating but challenging parts of
delivering our neighbourhood work.
We now use a variety of forms of communication to
engage with tenants in the way they want. Living
increasingly busy lives, we recognise that going to a
workshop or a networking event on a cold winter’s night
takes some motivation, so we ensure that what we deliver
is absolutely relevant to the needs of residents and that
we engage with communities, tenants and partners
through a variety of ways suited to their circumstances.
In 2012/13 we delivered 15 themed Street Meets, with
each neighbourhood receiving at least one. Street Meets
offer something new and unique and serve to bring people
out into the community; families, neighbours, young and
old - all connecting, communicating and learning about a
particular subject or initiative. The Street Meet programme
provides pop-up information, enables participation
12A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
in interactive activities, e.g. recycling, gardening or
volunteering and brings together a range of experts and
partners to provide ‘on-the-spot’ advice and guidance to
residents on anything from reducing their energy bills to
tips on keeping communities tidy or information on local
provision for children and young people.
In Commercial Road, Tower Hamlets, we coordinated a
Community Marathon Street Meet in conjunction with the
London Marathon. The purpose of the event was to bring
the community together, introduce them to A2Dominion
and promote the support and services we can provide.
With 30,000 runners jogging past, the Street Meet was
great success, with 70 residents participating in a range
of fun activities.
Along with Street Meets, 50% of tenants told
us that information through the Internet was
equally the most popular way to engage.
We have consequently worked hard to promote
activities and services through our website and
partners’ websites, refreshing our Be Inspired
webpages for young people, and providing web
pages with information on employment and
training and community events.
OVER THE
PHONE &
face-2-face
support
Our Community Involvement staff provide
advice over the phone or in person.
For residents that want more information, we text, we
call to confirm dates and travel arrangements to training
venues, promote our projects and workshops, resolve
queries and provide 1:1 support for those residents
seeking advice on employment pathways. Of those
surveyed, 35% of tenants preferred phone contact,
while 30% said that they benefitted from 1:1 sessions.
internet
& EMAIL
neighbourhood
newsletter
Outreach, door-knocking and advice sessions
help us connect with our customers.
When we plan an event we will go out, knock on
doors, post flyers and talk to tenants and community
groups about our activities. Outreach helps us get
to know the neighbourhoods we work in, build
relationships and to hear first-hand about what is
working well or particular concerns that residents
have. In 2012/13 we carried out over 20 outreach
sessions prior to events.
WE go out and
talk to
tenants,
volunteers
& Partners
In 2012 we produced and distributed
over 6,000 Neighbourhood Newsletters
to Woods House, Westminster;
Commercial Road, Tower Hamlets;
Great West Quarter, Hounslow;
Emerald Square, Ealing; Toplocks,
Ealing and RAF Eastcote, Hillingdon.
The newsletters provide specific information on
projects and events in each neighbourhood, as
well as focusing on issues of the moment and
signposting to local services. The response to
our newsletters has been positive with 65% of
residents surveyed saying that they received
information about what’s on for children and
young people and 80% saying they found the
content very or somewhat useful.
how: our approach 13
5
what:
Providing a Range of
Options to Motivate and
Enable our Residents
Building on our first year’s evaluation we wanted to
develop a range of opportunities to support the needs
and progression of all our tenants.
In 2012/13 our “pathway” approach helped us plan and
commission different types of activities for a range of age
groups and for those - particularly young people - who
requested it. The model helped us guide tenants to the
right opportunities for them.
14A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
1:1
support and
follow-up work
100
residents
received 1:1 or follow-up work
targeting specific
groups seeking support
on benefits, employment
and training pathways, financial
inclusion, community champions
Projects, events and workshops
to address specific themes,
including: financial inclusion, employment and
training pathways, education, play and
diversionary youth activities
Activities to engage all tenants and
partners supporting our neighbourhood work,
including: publicity, Street Meets, family fun days,
consultations, summer events, outreach
450
residents
accessed themed projects
delivered in neighbourhoods
1,200
residents
took part in Street meets,
events and consultations
how: our approach 15
6
supporting
children and
families
in our
neighbourhoods
We worked with over 500 children and families across
12 of our neighbourhoods, establishing partnerships,
delivering projects and engaging communities.
16A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
0-13s
Havelock Children’s, Youth and
Community advisory board, Ealing
Working in partnership to help children
and families enjoy and achieve
A2Dominion has now established a strong working group
for the greater benefit of the local community. Alongside
our partners Greenfields Children’s Centre, the Community
Involvement team facilitated regular meetings to ensure that
all organisations had the needs of the community in mind.
The steering group has seen representation from Ealing’s
Youth and Connexions Service, the Safer Neighbourhoods
Team, PACE (Physical Activity Club Ealing), Brentford FC
Community Sports Trust, Catalyst Gateway, the YMCA
and the Waterside Pre-School Alliance.
In 2012/13 the Havelock Advisory Board:
• delivered a range of activities from the centre,
enabling greater usage by the local community over 160 children and young people participated;
• coordinated joint funding bids for holiday provision for
children and young people, securing over £3,000; and
• developed a design specification and funding strategy
for the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA).
Homework Club –
WOODS HOUSE,
Westminster
OUTCOMES
Working in partnership to help
children enjoy and achieve
The Homework Club project was run in partnership with
Westminster Play Service and the social enterprise, SoEntAll,
at The Waterside Learning & Development Centre, Woods
House. The homework club facilitated two sessions a week
targeting 5 to 11-year-olds and supported their progression
through Key Stage 1 and 2 maths and literacy, through
one-to-one and group tuition. We had over 50 attendances
a week and worked with 25 children on a regular basis,
engaging them in fun learning activities.
As a result of our work at Havelock:
nine new community
organisations
are involved and delivering activities;
A group of young entrepreneurs
were funded by our Be Inspired business start-up;
a new partnership with
London Youth
has been established to provide volunteering
opportunities in DIY skills, together with
mentors from Wickes.
OUTCOMES
As a result of our partnership work the
Homework Club achieved:
• a 90% increase in children’s self-awareness, self-esteem
and self-respect;
• a general improvement in and maintenance of beneficiaries’
physical and mental health;
• a 95% increase in confidence through developing new skills;
• a 90% increase in beneficiaries’ independence and
social skills;
• an increase in opportunities for children of all abilities
and backgrounds to play together;
• added value from the expertise Westminster Play Service
brought to the partnership in terms of resources at their
disposal and skilled staff; and
• added value in partnering with a social enterprise that has
played a key role in securing £10,000 lottery funding to
provide additional activities.
Supporting children and families 17
7
supporting
young
people
in our
neighbourhoods
14-24s
Brentford Football
in the Community;
Working in partnership to help young people
make a positive contribution and stay healthy
We are pleased to be working in partnership with Brentford
FC Community Sports Trust. During 2012/13 Brentford Football
Club delivered a youth programme engaging young people
from Toplocks Estate. The sessions took place on two nights
a week and had 58 regular users, with each participant
receiving 30 hours’ contact time with youth workers.
With football being the number one activity voted for by young
people from Toplocks, Brentford Football Club has delivered
twice-weekly sessions at the local Swift Road Sports Centre
and Havelock Community Centre. A total of 66 young people
accessed this popular project, with each individual receiving
on average 21 hours’ contact time from their sports coaches.
In addition, 16 participants attended the Raise Your Game,
(careers in the football industry) mentoring day at Chelsea’s
training ground in Cobham, with four young people taking
junior coaching certificates as a result.
As a professional football club, with one of the best
community development programmes in the country,
we are keen to continue to develop our partnership with
Brentford Football Club as well as support its fan base.
18A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
I Love Slough:
Working in partnership to help young people
make a positive contribution
A partnership project, I Love Slough, which was led by
Resource Productions and A2Dominion, developed an
interactive leisure activity map of Slough for Google Maps.
The partnership project, funded through the Preventative
Services Fund (Slough Borough Council) delivered a series
of free, practical, issue-based photographic and filmmaking
workshops for young people aged 16-25 and adults aged
25 and over, engaging with over 40 young people.
The workshops focused on current local perceptions and
the positive landmarks and characteristics of Slough.
It provided an opportunity for young people to express
their views through pictures and film whilst developing
filmmaking, photography and IT skills. The young people
helped shape the project and address the theme of what
a ‘healthy image’ of Slough means to them.
Supporting young people 19
8
supporting
adults
in our
neighbourhoods
One of the success stories of our neighbourhood
strategy has been the development of our volunteer
work and Community Champions campaign.
Through our Brushstrokes volunteering project and
volunteering activities, over 45 residents and partners
have given a staggering 2,319 volunteering hours,
delivering 16 gardening and decorating projects.
Twelve residents have been trained as Community
Champions and are supporting projects in Toplocks, Ealing;
Foundry Court, Slough; Rainbow Estate, Spelthorne; Chesil
Street, Eastleigh and Unity Court, Winchester. Community
Champion training is open to all residents and provides
them with the skills, networks and support to enable them
to make a difference in their communities. These are just
some of the projects Community Champions have delivered:
20A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
24+
Rainbow Estate
Community Champions,
Spelthorne
Our consultations with residents in
Spelthorne revealed that they felt there
was a lack of community spirit on their
estate and would like this to change.
Two residents carried out Community Champion
training to organise a street party for the Diamond
Jubilee. The event was a big success, with many more
residents expressing an interest in helping at future
events on the estate.
A coffee evening was held after the Diamond
Jubilee; a further four residents offered to help plan
events and have now applied to carry out Community
Champion training.
These residents went on to organise a very
successful Christmas party at the Supported
Housing scheme on their estate. They also acquired
many raffle prizes, donated from local businesses,
to give away to residents.
The Diamond Jubilee event’s success was tangible
with over 80 residents attending. People from all ages got
involved; young people under 24 carried out face painting
and DJing on the day and older residents assisted with
judging the cake competition. Community Champions
gained valuable fundraising experience, raising money
to put back into their community, which has created the
foundations for a sustainable series of events.
community
champions
Arabic Homework Club,
Toplocks, Ealing
The Arabic Homework Club on
Toplocks Estate, Ealing, is run by
a resident Community Champion.
After completing the Community Champion training
Khadija Zaidi now runs twice-weekly sessions
at the Havelock Community Centre. With a small
investment from A2Dominion, the sessions
have been a big success and very popular with
local families in the area, with over 20 regular
participants. The project is sustainable, accessible
and improves children’s language skills.
This is what the children had to say:
“The community events brought everyone
together and helped residents get to know
one another and improve community
spirit. They brought different generations
together, the young people appear to be
more considerate towards older residents
and the events gave young people
something positive to do. It is nice to
know there are support networks and a
service to help create community events.”
Katrina Richardson
A2Dominion Resident and
Community Champion
“Arabic is great,
I love Arabic class
because it’s great when
I learn new things”
Ayah Monassar,
7 years old
“I enjoy the class because
it helps me. All the people
help me and it is well prepared.
I enjoy it because it is my
language. I learn more every day.”
Yousef Din,
11 years old
Supporting adults 21
Financial
Inclusion
Adult Education Training
Programme, Woods House,
Westminster
Basic IT for ESOL (English for Speakers
of Other Languages) learners
In partnership with Westminster Adult Education,
A2Dominion ran a basic IT course supporting residents
with English as a second language. In 2012/13,
17 residents enrolled, with 90% completing the course.
This is what some of our tenants said about the course:
Ijlal Osman is a young mother with four children under nine
years old, living in Woods House. Ijlal relied on her oldest
daughter to translate English into Arabic for her and her
husband to help her on the computer. Ijlal commented:
Employment
and
Training
22A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
“The teacher is good. Before, I was scared of the
computer. I use Google now and send messages
on email. I am happy with the teacher and I love
the class. The class has ended now but I would
like to go to a new class.”
“I didn’t know how to
use computer before. It helped
with my English and how to use
the Internet and send emails.
It helped me as the class was
near, because my health is not
good and I can’t go out”
Haifa Alla
A2Dominion Resident
A2Dominion has
secured £40,000 to deliver
basic IT workshops to
residents across our
neighbourhoods
24+
With the recent welfare reforms, including the
introduction of Universal Credit, residents will
have to manage and plan household budgets with
possibly less income.
To help residents prepare for the changes we held a
series of financial support events encompassing a crosssection of advice and support services. The road show
engaged residents in Ealing through the Smart Money
workshop and residents in Stanwell and Winchester
through Money Matters events. Over 250 residents
attended in total.
Smart Money Ealing and
Money Matters Roadshow
“The stalls were
very relevant - definitely
worth doing again”
The Smart Money Ealing event took place
in September 2012 at Ealing Town Hall.
It was delivered by a partnership, including A2Dominion,
Catalyst Housing, Notting Hill Housing and Ealing Council.
Resident
Smart Money Ealing was a drop-in event, which meant
that residents were able to attend at a time that was
convenient for them:
242 Ealing residents attended the event,
of which 120 were A2Dominion residents
Welfare benefits advice was the most accessed service;
“Amazing event”
50 residents attended the ‘Welfare Benefits Reform’
presentation, which served to increase residents’ awareness
of the changes to the welfare benefits system
Resident
89.6% of residents who completed the Smart Money
evaluation form were satisfied with the event and found
the advice they received useful.
The Money Matters Roadshow visited
Spelthorne and Winchester
providing fun, informative and interactive activities
to help tenants with money-saving tips. In Winchester
47 residents came to the event and in Stanwell
86 residents attended.
“It covered
everything”
Resident
Supporting adults 23
9
NEIGHBOURhood
highlights 2012/13
Commercial Road: Tower Hamlets
Emerald Square: Ealing
GWQ: HOUNSLOW
•Delivered one Welcome to Your Home event
•Delivered two community engagement events,
including London Marathon Street Meet
•Delivered community summer trips
• Coordinated housing management
resident meetings
• Parking enforcement
introduced
• Re-lining of parking bays
• Community Wardens introduced
• Coordinated Street Meet programme
• Promoted and enrolled six residents
onto local adult education courses
and one-day taster session on site
• Put in place new secure bike cage
• Provided young people’s activities
in the summer
• Installed electronic notice board
42
engaged
residents
Woods house: westminster
• Provided English for Speakers of
Other Languages and IT training
sessions for residents
• Expanded the Homework Club and
secured £10,000 from the Lottery Fund
• Provided weekly housing and
benefits advice surgeries
• Delivered two Street Meets
• Delivered gardening and
planting project
24A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
64
engaged
residents
toplocks: Ealing
44
engaged
residents
• Established bi-monthly Partnership Steering Group
• Provided youth club sessions once a week
• Provided football sessions once a week, with
young people completing coaching certificates
• Trained up Community Champion volunteers
• Specification produced for redevelopment
of multi use games area; £10,000 secured
• Programme of family activities
provided by Ealing Children’s Centre
engaged
• Provided monthly housing surgeries
residents
194
24
engaged
residents
RAF EASTCOTE: HILLINGDON
• Delivered Street Meet
consultation programme
• Provided children’s Christmas events
• Neighbourhood Warden scheme
introduced
132
engaged
residents
RAINBOW ESTATE: SPELTHORNE
the conservatory: winchester
UNITY COURT: EASTLEIGH
• Provided Community Champion training
for two residents
• Coordinated resident-led Jubilee party
• Supported resident-led Christmas party
• Provided summer activities at youth centre
• Provided sailing trip for young people
• Installed electricity monitors in
tenants homes
• Facilitated regular coffee evening
engaged
• Recruited and trained Community
Champion who delivered successful
Jubilee street party
• Recruited a representative
to join South Central Forum
• Delivered Street Meet and
door-knocking consultation
• Provided training on
financial inclusion
• One referral to Tenancy
Sustainment Officer
• Consultation with residents led to
A2Dominion installing new doors,
which reduced anti-social behaviour
• Neighbourhood Improvement Fund
application to replant gardens
and place lock on bin store to
reduce fly tipping
• Engaged South Central Forum
members to support
neighbourhood project
engaged
• Community Champion trained
residents
and is now involved in planning
and running events
22
residents
STANWELL: SPELTHORNE
• Established Stanwell Community Projects
Group for new community centre
• Delivered Street Meets programme
• Facilitated a number of
partnership meetings
• Halloween Howler event in
partnership with Surrey Police
to reduce anti-social behaviour
engaged
• 14 referrals to Tenancy
residents
Sustainment Officers
70
21
engaged
residents
STEELe and palgrave: RICHMOND
•
•
•
•
Delivered Street Meet programme
Installed electricity monitors
Furniture recycling scheme
Engagement with Be Inspired,
including mentoring and work
placement
14
27
engaged
residents
NEXT STEPS 2013/14 25
next steps
2013/14
Our 2012/13 evaluation highlights
some of the major impacts on the
neighbourhoods in which we worked
Building on the responses from residents to
our surveys, in 2014 we will focus our resources
on the following top three priorities:
OUR
Priorities
Providing activities for children and young people
Giving support to residents impacted by the
welfare reforms and benefit changes
Expanding our employment and training offer
Communication
investment
Volunteering
• We will undertake a rebranding of our
neighbourhoods strategy, including the introduction
of Mini Be Inspired for projects supporting 5 to 13s
September 2013
• We will increase our fundraising efforts and secure
an additional £65,000 external funding to continue
and develop new projects in neighbourhoods
by April 2014
• We will establish our partnership with vInspired,
providing 200 new volunteering opportunities for
young people in our neighbourhoods
by April 2014
• We will continue to publish the neighbourhood
newsletter, with each neighbourhood receiving
at least one newsletter a year
On-going
• We will develop new partnerships to deliver
children and young people’s activities across all our
neighbourhoods and coordinate one strategic bid
by April 2014
• We will launch and deliver a vInspired
accreditation framework
by November 2013
• We will publicise more community activities
on our website
On-going
• We will invest in IT skills and broadband for
residents through the Digital Deal programme
September 2013 – June 2014
26A2DOMINION | NEIGHBOURHOODS
• We will deliver seven Brushstrokes projects
by April 2014
• We will recruit and train 40 new volunteers
by April 2014
in your
area
2013/14
Slough
• We will carry out community consultation
exercises in Slough neighbourhoods
by October 2013
• We will scope new partnership opportunities
to deliver children and young people’s activities
by October 2013
• We will promote Slough’s Feel@Home With
Your Finances project to tenants On-going
Stanwell
• We will carry out a community consultation
exercise in Stanwell by October 2013
• We will design and deliver a programme
of activities from Stanwell Community Centre
by March 2014
children and young people
• We will engage 300 children and young
people in activities
by April 2014
community cohesion
• We will engage 1,000 adults, young people and
children in Street Meets, consultations and events
by April 2014
employment and training
• We will develop our Pathways programme and secure
up to 40 work taster and work placement opportunities
by April 2014
• We will develop four new partnerships, including in Slough and Spelthorne
• We will develop two new partnerships supporting adults, 25 plus
• We will develop one new partnership supporting 16 – 24-year-olds
Chichester
• We will engage existing and new partners
in the design and delivery of a programme offer
at Swanfield Community Centre, Chichester
by April 2014
Ealing, Green Man Lane
• We will carry out a community consultation
regarding the design and use of a play space
by January 2014
• We will host two Welcome to Your Home events
by March 2014
Hounslow, GWQ
• We will deliver a summer programme for
young people on GWQ by October 2013
Hillingdon, RAF Eastcote
• We will coordinate a consultation exercise with
residents at RAF Eastcote by October 2013
• We will deliver a summer football programme
in partnership with local providers
by August 2013
2013/14
Oxford, Territorial Way
We will consult with residents and redesign
communal spaces by December 2013
•
Newbury, Northway Way
• We will develop a community gardening project
by December 2013
Oxford, Samuelson Court
• We will establish a resident-led steering group
by September 2013
Harrow, Hitchin Lane
• We will deliver holiday programmes for young
people and train local Community Champions
by October 2013
Ealing, Toplocks
• We will deliver the youth and volunteering
programme, Volunteer It Yourself, at Havelock
Youth Centre July 2013 – April 2014
• We will develop the MUGA proposal at Havelock
Community Centre by January 2014
Ealing
• We will promote the DOSH (Debts, Overdrafts,
Savings Help) project to targeted tenants On-going
Hillingdon, Sandpiper House
• We will establish a partnership to develop a
homework club at the Honeywell Community Centre
October 2013 – April 2014
• We will deliver a community consultation programme
at Sandpiper House by November 2013
Westminster, Woods House
• We will develop our existing partnership with Westminster
Council Social Enterprise Alliance to establish the
Homework Club as a social enterprise by April 2014
• We will continue to develop training and employment
activities at the Waterside Learning and Development
Centre On-going
NEXT STEPS 2013/14 27
MEET THE TEAM
Donna Hodsoll
Community Involvement Manager
Responsible for management
of the programme
Janet Read
Community Involvement Coordinator
Neighbourhoods: Swanfield Chichester
Esson Barnes
Community Involvement Coordinator
Neighbourhoods: Great West Quarter,
Hounslow and Woods House, Westminster
Daniella Granito
Community Involvement Coordinator
Neighbourhoods: Territoral Way, Oxford;
Samuelson Court, Oxford and Northway, Newbury
Gregg Barrett
Community Involvement Coordintor
Neighbourhoods: Green Man Lane, Ealing
and Sandpiper House, Hillingdon
Julie Brooker
Volunteer Manager
Providing volunteering opportunities
for adults and young people
Parminder Basuta
Community Involvement Coordinator
Neighbourhoods: Hitchin Lane, Harrow;
RAF Eastcote, Hillingdon and Toplocks, Ealing
Ayesha Hameed
Community Involvement Coordinator
Neighbourhoods: Slough
Leah Campbell
Community Involvement Coordinator
Neighbourhoods: Stanwell, Spelthorne
Charlotte Drew
Senior Community Involvement Coordinator
Responsible for development of the youth programme
Aoife Ferguson
Senior Community Involvement Coordinator
Responsible for the Community Development
programme delivery
Neighbourhoods: Ashford Spelthorne
Angela Torr
Employment and Training Coordinator
Providing training and employment
opportunities for adults and young people

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