News update

Partnership with Solent University

Earlier this year, the team hosted a social work student placement from Solent University. The student gained valuable experience by working with clients who had experienced hate crime and harassment, with groups planning events and researching initiatives that help build stronger communities. The value of the placement to the council was in the region of £10,000 and it also generated a small placement fee for the team.

The team has also ‘bid’ for placements for other students to work with team members later this year on specific areas of work. Such bids have been successful in previous years and brought added value to the council’s activities.

Funding for the International cookery exchange

International cookery exchange, a cookery group that we have helped set up, have just managed to get funding for the projects and training that they want to run:
6-8 cookery sessions
Health and Safety course
Food Hygiene course
Nutrition courses.

They received:
£500 from Community Chest
£500 from the Co-op
£3,400 from Awards for All (Lottery)
£50 from Swaythling Housing Society

Many thanks to all those who contributed.

Support to new communities

The Stronger communities and equalities team has been given external funding to work with new communities in Southampton. This includes a project to promote home fire safety in the Somali and Kurdish communities and advising people on employment opportunities. We have also received funding to signpost people to English language classes and provide information to challenge misconceptions about new communities.

Promoting New Communities myth busting information to front-line staff, managers and the wider community

Presentations have been given to our Council staff including Adult Care Services and Intermediate Care Services Managers to challenge some of the myths about new communities in the city. Information has also been displayed on the Hampshire Constabulary website and briefing sessions held with all Fire Crews in the three Southampton Fire Stations. Similar sessions have been held with all the residents and tenants groups in the Central area and articles written for publications including Tenants Link and Thornhill Plus You. This is a rolling programme of work with further talks booked for council staff and intentions to meet residents and tenants groups in other parts of the city.

Developing pride in the city

Community cohesion is about having respect for your fellow citizen and having pride in where you live. It therefore has strong links both with the Respect agenda and developing citizenship. As a first step towards this, the team has worked with our Council's Corporate Communications Team to develop the ‘Totally Diverse, 100% Southampton’ campaign.

Work funded by the team

Our Council provides core funding to TWICS (Training for Work in Communities) via the Stronger communities and equalities team. In the past year TWICS has provided training and learning opportunities for over 350 people. These have ranged from short one off workshops to full NVQ qualifications in Community Development Work. Approximately 300 people have attended courses that offered accreditation and approximately 50 people attended one off workshops. You can call them on 023 8067 1111 or find out more from their website.

Changes for the better

We made a commitment in our equalities schemes to report annually on our equalities actions. The equalities annual update 2007-08 summary – changes for the better – has just being published.