Community Services

1. Community Services Community Builders Funding Program 2009

2. Community Builders • Is a funding program for projects that aim to build strength and capacity within communities and enhance their ability to manage issues and respond to change • The program is based on the boundaries and budget of the Area Assistance Scheme (AAS) and intends to build on the strengths of the AAS by continuing to fund community development projects in the same regions.

3. Background • The AAS started in 1979 in Western Sydney • In its 30 year history the AAS has: • created opportunities for volunteers • built on new ideas from communities • encouraged community ownership of projects • increased skills development • enhanced opportunities for disadvantaged groups • increased community resources & infrastructure • established strong community networks

4. Terminology • Many definitions of activity in this field • Community Development –1970’s • Community Capacity Building –1990’s • Community Strengthening – 1990’s • Social Inclusion – 2000’s

5. Community Strengthening • Newer concept emerging in more recent literature • Adopted as the focus for Community Builders and defined as: • “community strengthening is the extent to which resources and processes within a community maintain and enhance both individual and collective wellbeing in ways consistent with the principles of equity, comprehensiveness, participation, self reliance and social responsibility.” (Black and Hughes, 2001)

6. Rationale for Community Strengthening • Research shows that strong communities are more likely to be able to cope with change and respond to issues within their own resources, leading to: • fewer resource intensive interventions; • reduction in inequality and disadvantage; • a stronger base to draw on in difficult or crisis situations.

7. Characteristics of Strong Communities • Research has shown that strong communities share the following characteristics: • Connected • Respectful • Participatory • Resourceful • Trusting

8. Community Builders Models • There are three ‘types’ or ‘models’ of projects: • Community Capacity Building • Community Skills Development • Community Sector Development

9. Community Capacity Building • Community Capacity Building projects: • Develop stronger links between community members and assist members of disadvantaged communities to participate in community life and activities. • Increase members use and knowledge of existing community resources. They may provide information, set up peer networks, organise community projects or activities such as cultural events, community festivals etc.

10. Community Skills Development • Community Skills Development projects: • Are training and/or activity projects that provide information, training or hands-on experience to members of the community so that knowledge, skills and abilities are improved. • Increase skills so that people are more able to participate and be included in the community by providing activities such as; training in mentoring, leadership, managing community groups and other skills development through participation in activities which benefit the whole community.

11. Community Sector Development • Community Sector Development projects • Are only undertaken between organisations to build partnerships and work collaboratively on issues affecting their community. • Aim to enhance the capacity of local community networks. • Activities may include; sharing information, sharing training/skills development, assisting organisations to participate in consultation and evaluation or programs and building new networks.

12. Any Questions? • Before moving on to the practical “How to Apply” section, are there any questions about what has been presented so far?

13. The Application Process • The Application Process asks you to: • Nominate a Community of Location • Nominate a Community of Identity • eg. Projects may focus on a community as being from one LGA - Newpark (Location) and Aboriginal (Identity)

14. Priority Groups • All applicants will be asked to identify the priority groups within their nominated communities who will be the specific focus for inclusion in the project. • Priority groups are groups who are disadvantaged because they may have difficulty accessing services or resources easily accessible to other members of the same communities.

15. Priority Groups • Using the previous example: • Newpark (location) Aboriginal (Identity) young women (priority group) • OR • Newpark (location) Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (Identity) emerging communities (priority group)

16. How to apply for funding • The funding round in 2009 opens Monday 2 November & closes Thursday 10 December 2009 • Advertised in Sydney Morning Herald, ethnic press and local newspapers • Applicants can access all information on the Community Builders website at: www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au • Applicants should print off the program guidelines and familiarise themselves with the sample application form, then log on and register on the website before commencing the on-line application form

17. Applying for funding cont. • Who can apply? • Applicants must have a valid ABN and are: • Not for profit organisations • Local government organisations • For profit organisations with a properly constituted not-for-profit arm of their organisation

18. How much can be applied for? • Projects ranging in value between $10,000 and $100,000 per year for up to 3 years • Projects across the range of one year, two years and three years are encouraged

19. Eligibility • Project applications are received on time. • Project applications are complete and submitted in the correct format on-line. • Projects address: • one of the Service Activity Descriptions (models) • one or more aspects of community strength as defined by the Communities and Early Years Division.

20. Eligibility • 4. The proposed project is not: • a direct service of another federal, state or local government agency or eligible for funding under another state or federal grants program or • duplicating services already in operation in the relevant community or • previously or currently funded for the same purpose in the same community or an extension or continuation of an existing service. • a direct therapeutic, casework/case management or counselling service to individuals or groups or any other function associated with such a service.

21. Eligibility • 5. The proposed project does not have recurrent financial or service delivery implications

22. Eligibility • 6. Projects will also need to demonstrate: • How they will provide opportunities to priority groups • Evidence of community support and consultation • How the project will build community capacity • That project results are specific, achievable, measurable and appropriate in the timeframe

23. Project Example • Project Name: Friendly Neighbourhoods • Falls under the Community Capacity Building model • Aspects of community strength: • A connected community • A respectful community • A trusting community • Target community • Newpark LGA – (community of location) • All people in the location (community of identity)

24. Friendly Neighbourhoods • Priority group: Other – housing estate residents • Project results: • “The project will result in more people who live in Newpark Housing Estate and community feeling more connected to each other and their community and more respectful and trusting of each other” • Executive summary: • “The Friendly Neighbourhoods project will create a stronger, more connected community in Newpark with an emphasis on including local housing estate residents in the broader community. The project will establish precinct committees made up of local volunteers to implement ideas on ways to meet and welcome community members and increase participation in community events. The ideas about what makes a good community and how that will be achieved will be based on information from local residents”.

25. Friendly Neighbourhoods – Activities and Tasks

26. How to apply? • All application forms lodged online through communitybuilders website by midnight 10 December 2009. • Drafts can be saved online and returned to over a period of time prior to the closing date • www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au

27. Assessment • Once applications are received and found to be eligible they will be assessed by a regional assessment panel who will be guided by Community Builders Regional Assessment Panel Guidelines and the NSW Government Procurement Guidelines.

28. Contracts • The contract for approved projects will comprise of the following: • DoCS Service Agreement • Service Specification • Original Application Form • Projects must start within 3 months of the Service Agreement being signed by all parties.

29. Performance Monitoring • The Community Builders Performance Monitoring Framework (PMF) establishes a formal, objective process for: • assessinga project’s level of compliance with Service Agreement & Service Specs • identifyingareas requiring improvement • establishinggoals and timeframes for making improvements, if necessary • documentingagreed improvements

30. Resources • Your local Council Community Project Officer is………………. • Contact number – • Email – • Your Senior Regional Strategy Officer is …………… • Contact number – • Email – • Your Manager Regional Strategy is……………….. • Contact number – • Email – • Visit the Community Builders website for FAQs and program information www.communitybuilders.nsw.gov.au or email askcommunitybuilders@community.nsw.gov.au