Saturday, 21 August 2010

Personalisation - faith communities

So, the workshop was for trustees of voluntary and community groups in Southwark. I had a speaker, and an open invitation to a variety of organisations to send trustees to find out all about the ways that services for vulnerable adults and disabled children are going to change.

As all the best events do, the shape shifted according to the participants. We had a large proportion of the audience attending from faith groups - primarily churches. Personalisation was a new concept, but they totally got it - and together we painted a picture to illustrate the variety of ways that faith communities can and should support vulnerable people within their communities and through outreach work.

Faith communities are bound together through shared beliefs. Relationships are forged and ministries developed to ensure that every person is valued, supported and involved. Historically faith communities have always delivered social action projects - from schools, hospitals, social services. Perhaps we haven't applied current terminology - but the principles have always been evident.

Personalisation places purchasing decisions in the hands of people who currently receive services. Through supportive person centred planning individuals will be given independent budgets and be assisted to buy in the tailored services that they need. Providers will need to think in terms of marketing directly to individuals, as opposed to contracts to deliver block services.

So where do faith communities fit in? Consider the following:

- Who better to surround an individual, and to assist in the purchasing decisions they make - as trustees or brokers?
- What about faith based service provision - offering consistent relationships and cost effective solutions - blessing the recipient and the provider?

Keep watching this space for real examples of faith communities grabbing this opportunity and making it work.


Mobile Skatepark - Social Enterprise for NEETs

Great news - we have 40% of the funding needed to purchase the mobile skatepark equipment (half pipes, ramps, spare skateboards, pads, trailer etc). Three other sources of grants being pursued, as well as support from local sponsors.

A good contact made with regard to social investment bonds/social impact funding. Thanks Bill - will pursue this in September when we are all around.

Still have a funding task - and keen to hear from individuals and organisations with an interest in helping young people to develop some business skills, and in delivering diversionary activities that will bring down youth crime in some of the underserved areas of the borough of Barnet.

If you would like a summary document that describes the project in more detail then e-mail me karen@flourishing.me.uk for an information sheet.

Mobile Skatepark - Social Enterprise for NEET young people

Barnet Community Projects is seeking sponsors for the development of a Mobile Skatepark

Thursday, 5 August 2010

Pan London Safeguarding Project - Barnet Contribution

Follow the link to track progress on this one year assignment. There will be regular blog posts as well.

Karen will be delivering the Barnet contribution through co-ordination of a multi-agency team.

Action points currently stand at 7 pages, 9009 characters!

www.londonscb.gov.uk/culture_and_faith/