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Pan-London Culture & Faith Pilot Project - Brent C ommunity Partnership Initiative. A community-led approach to engaging minority ethnic communities in child protection. Aims and Objectives.
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Pan-London Culture & Faith Pilot Project - BrentCommunity Partnership Initiative A community-led approach to engaging minority ethnic communities in child protection
Aims and Objectives • To enhance links across the diverse communities in Brent in order to increase understanding of safeguarding (LSCB Business Plan 2011) • Community engagement project set up • Community reference group established • To ensure that the voice of our communities is heard by strategic and policy decision makers(VCF Community Engagement Model) • Consultation; questionnaire, seminar – to identify child protection/safeguarding needs • Creation of community-led advisory group; terms of reference, membership structure – to support LSCB aims/objectives, and to progress identified needs
Phase I - Consultation • Consultation Questionnaire (online/printed); distributed to community groups • Consultation Seminar with safeguarding professionals and community groups • Report findings and analysis to community groups and partner agencies
Consultation Questionnaire • Distributed to known VCS groups 15 Mar 11 (deadline 31 Mar 11) • Email with printed version attached and link to online survey (SurveyMonkey) • VCF direct action with community groups through outreach activities, due to low response to questionnaire • Briefings to Brent Multi Faith Forum (March/June), Focus session with community groups in Brent (Sep) and BME User Consultancy Group (Sep)
Consultation Seminar • Multi-agency seminar; Wednesday 20 October (Willesden Green Library Centre) – details posted on LSCB website / VCF email distribution to VCS groups • Pre-Seminar Communications • Email distribution to voluntary sector; project introduction and advance notice of seminar • Email distribution to voluntary/community groups – seminar programme
Identified community groups in Brent (Consultation Outreach/Seminar) African Women’s Care | Al Fajr Muslim Girls Workshop | Black Women’s Mental Health Project | Brent Indian Association | Ethiopian Refugee Association | Greater London Somali Community | HIV/Aids Association of Zambia | Islamic Information Centre | The African Child | Community Health Action Trust (CHAT) | Chalkhill Youth and Community Centre | Dudden Hill Community Centre | Kingshall Youth & Community Centre | St Raphaels Youth & Community Resource Centre | Abbey Community Centre | Brent Indian Association | The Millennium Day Centres | Harlesden Ummah Community Centre | The Willow Children’s Centre | London Tamil Centre | Church End and Roundwood Unity Centre | Copland School | Afro-Caribbean People’s Organisation (ACPO) | An-Nisa Society
Identified voluntary groups in Brent (Consultation Seminar) List of groups on BrAVA website, Brent-funded service providers plus Mencap |Solace Women’s Aid | SHOC | Addaction |The Place 2Be | Resources for Autism | EACH | Teens & Toddlers | Brent Centre for Young People | Brent Community Services | Brent CAB | Meanwhile Family Therapy
Phase I: Outputs • Presentation / Project Briefing to Brent LSCB (Dec 10) • Consultation Questionnaire to Funded and other community groups (Mar 11) • Briefing to Brent Multi Faith Forum (Mar/Jun 11) • Pan London Culture & Faith Interim Report (Mar 11) • Safeguarding Children Conference (May 11) • Focus groups with BME community in Brent (Sep 11) • Multi-agency Seminar (Oct 11)
Phase I: Issues • Delayed start to project (within Pan London Culture and Faith project timelines) which has been extended to Dec 11 • Consultation seminar delayed due to • poor response to consultation questionnaires and lack of local CVS distribution (VCF sought volunteer assistance to compile email addresses for distribution to local groups) • Decision (May 2011); direct action required by VCF to consult more widely with community groups through its outreach programme • Funding not sufficient for dedicated resource; led to competing priorities for VCF staff
Phase II – Community-led group • Create community-led group; determine terms of reference, membership structure, identified needs for action planning • Initial community-led group meeting with interested parties; comprising community and voluntary groups, and statutory partners – selection of chair and deputy to represent group at relevant LSCB sub-group meetings
Outcomes & Opportunities • Brent pilot forms part of wider LSCB strategy to engage minority ethnic communities (*) • Brent is one of two pilot boroughs working with VCF to pioneer its community engagement model • Brent project has highlighted need for mapping / commissioning of groups delivering services within the community • Brent project has identified lessons for the future delivery of community engagement; understanding key structures within local authorities, more focused outreach activities at initial stages • (*) LSCB Strategy for engaging minority ethnic (often socially excluded) communities, groups and families’ incorporates VCF Community Engagement Model
Learning for Brent • Adapting the core model to suit Brent LSCB • The community is diverse and moves at own pace • Trickle effect of sharing information vs. comprehensive launch • Explore what community engagement initiatives are already in place – may be more than you think!
Learning from VCF: the model • In-depth outreach required for cooperation between statutory partners and the community • Budget should provide for a dedicated resource, to avoid competing priorities • To develop and implement the model requires full support of the LSCB and close working relationship with LSCB Business Manager • A mechanism to recruit lay members • The model allows us to identify community groups delivering services to children and young people, and to address their needs around safeguarding (legal framework)
Phase III – Communication Strategy Out of scope for the Pan London Culture and Faith project • Communication strategy between LSCB and community-led reference group • Mapping of voluntary/community groups as service providers • VCF handover to reference group and/or dedicated resource • Actual and wider virtual groups to take work forward, steered by the LSCB business plan • Input into LSCB Task and Finish subgroups, as appropriate
Contacts Brent LSCB Sue Matthews 020 8937 4299 sue.matthews@brent.gov.uk http://www.brentlscb.org.uk/ VCF – Victoria Climbié Foundation Stephanie Yorath 020 8619 1191 info@vcf-uk.org www.vcf-uk.org