Item 13 - Community Solutions Annual Report
North Lanarkshire Council · 19 April 2023
Back to IJB Performance, Finance and Audit Committee — 19 April 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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1 REPORT Item No: 13 SUBJECT: Community Solutions Annual Report 2021-22 TO: Integrated Joint Board PFA Lead Officer for Report: Maddy Halliday, CEO Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire Author(s) of Report Maddy Halliday, CEO Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire DATE: 19 April 2023 1. PURPOSE OF REPORT This paper is coming to the IJB for: For approval ☒ For endorsement ☐ To note ☒ 2. ROUTE TO THE BOARD This paper has been: Prepared By: Maddy Halliday ☒ Reviewed By: ☐ Endorsed By: ☐
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2 3. RECOMMENDATIONS The North IJB PFA Committee comment and note on the Community Solutions Programme’s 2021-22 Annual Report. 4. VARIATIONS TO DIRECTIONS? 5. BACKGROUND/SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES 5.1 The Community Solutions Annual Report 2021-22 is presented to North IJB PFA for information and comment and, if appropriate, approval and/or referral to the IJB. The Report provides the following information. 5.1.1 Background to the programme with reference to the new Community Solutions Strategy and Investment Plan 2022-25. 5.1.2 A summary of performance and impact during 2021-22 with further detail provided in Appendices. The report provides high level summaries of: overall investment through the programme for 2021-22 - £3.6million key programme developments and most importantly the performance and impact of funded projects including: o reach in term of unique individuals o number of activities/services provided with examples o personal outcomes (with a few exceptions where it was not possible for funded projects to capture this information – e.g. Community Transport.) 5.1.3 An overview of priorities for 2022-23 and progress as of March 2023, which are very positive and significant. Highlights include: development and agreement of the exciting, new Community Solutions “Improving Lives Initiative” successful recommissioning of the Community Solutions Locality Hosts Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A ☒
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3 development of a new Community Solutions Performance Management, Evaluation, Learning and Improvement Framework for implementation from April 2023, which will improve the quality of information captured and shared through the programme. 5.2 Community Solutions Annual Reports are prepared by VANL staff, supported by analysis of performance and evaluation data provided to VANL by funded projects and complementary information captured by VANL directly. 5.3 Programme Annual Reports cover a given financial year April-March and are usually ready in the autumn following the end of the financial year. The 2021-22 Annual Report is late due to the following. 5.3.1 Significant staffing challenges during 2021-22 due to combination of staff leaving; difficulty filling vacancies; and sickness absence. These issues are now mostly resolved, except for new recruitment, which continues to be challenging. 5.3.2 Trebling of custodian funds managed by VANL on behalf of the programme – due to additional investment from HSCNL through the programme and £1.6 million in custodian funding from the Scottish Government to increase community-based support for mental health. This meant staff had to prioritise management of new funding to ensure timely distribution over preparation of reports. 5.4 From spring 2023, Community Solutions Annual Reports will be complemented by Fund Impact and Learning Reports for separate funds due to the increasing number and diversity of the funds managed through the programme. 5.4.1 These Impact and Learning reports will provide more detail on the collective performance, impact and learning of all funded projects for a given fund. VANL will also organise stakeholder events for each Fund at key intervals to support discussion of the learning with a view to informing future health and social care policy, practice and investment 5.4.2 Fund Impact and Learning Reports will be published at different intervals depending on the duration of the fund. For example: For a pilot funds – usually within four months of the end of the pilot For a fund that operate for a year or less – usually within four months of funded projects completing delivery For a fund that operates for more than a year – annually and then within usually within four months of the funded projects completing delivery.
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4 6. CONCLUSIONS 6.1 The Community Solutions 2021-22 Annual Report Reach demonstrates the continued positive impact of the Community Solutions which has been achieved with relatively modest investment. 6.2 The planned increased investment through the programme from April 2023 will enable us to build on and improve reach and impact further. 7. IMPLICATIONS 7.1 NATIONAL OUTCOMES Link(s) to National Health and Wellbeing Outcomes People are able to look after and improve their own health and wellbeing and live in good health for longer ☒ People, including those with disabilities or long-term conditions, or who are frail, are able to live, as far as reasonably practicable, independently and at home or in a homely setting in their community ☒ People who use Health and Social Care Services have positive experiences of those services, and have dignity respected ☒ Health and Social Care Services are centred on helping to maintain or improve the quality of life of people who use those services ☒ Health and Social Care Services contribute to reducing health inequalities ☒ People who use Health and Social Care Services are safe from harm ☒ People who work in Health and Social Care Services feel engaged with the work they do and are supported to continuously improve the information, support, care and treatment they provide ☒ Resources are used effectively and efficiently in the provision of Health and Social Care Services ☒ 7.2 ASSOCIATED MEASURE(S) See performance and outcome measures presented in the 2021-22 Annual Report.
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5 7.3 FINANCIAL This paper has been reviewed by Finance: 7.4 RISK ASSESSMENT/RISK MANAGEMENT Relevant Risk Register Details Current Risk Level Risk Owner Insufficient resources for the North Lanarkshire Community and Voluntary Sector. (To effectively and sustainably deliver its contribution to HSCNL Commissioning Plan.) Very High Ross McGuffie 7.5 PEOPLE 7.5.1 VANL has two staff in critical support roles for the Community Solutions programme who are on temporary contracts which are scheduled to be confirmed as permanent once the HSCNL/VANL Service Level Agreement for the Community Solutions Programme is signed. 7.5.2 The scheduled start date for the SLA is 1st April 2023. 7.6 INEQUALITIES & FAIRER SCOTLAND DUTY EQIA Completed & Fairer Scotland Impact Assessment Form Completed and attached to report: EQIA added to website: Yes ☐ No ☒ N/A ☐ Yes ☐ No ☒ N/A ☐ Yes ☐ No ☒ N/A ☐
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6 8. BACKGROUND PAPERS None 9. APPENDICES The Community Solutions Annual Report 2021-22 CHIEF ACCOUNTABLE OFFICER (or Depute): Members seeking further information about any aspect of this report, please contact the following: Maddy Halliday, CEO, Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire: Maddy.halliday@vanl.co.uk
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7 Annual Report 2021-2022 To be considered by HSCNL spring/summer 2023 – after which the report will be designed prior to publication in spring 2023)
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8 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Background to Community Solutions 3. Community Solutions Achievements 2021-22 4. Community Solutions Priorities for 2022-23 5. Appendices
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9 1. Introduction The Community Solutions (CS) Programme is a North Lanarkshire partnership initiative involving: Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire’s (HSCNL) public sector partner organisations – North Lanarkshire Council (NLC) and NHS Lanarkshire Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL) - the programme’s host organisation Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) funded organisations and projects This report provides an overview of the work and achievements of Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire’s Community Solutions Programme and its funded projects during 2021-22, with a focus on activity, reach and, where possible, outcomes and learning. This report is formally presented to HSCNL’s Integrated Joint Board (IJB) and also shared with all stakeholders to provide accountability for the programme and support understanding, learning, and improvement within the programme and more widely across health and social care and community planning. This report is complemented by: progress reports and in-depth Impact and Learning Reports for each fund at appropriate intervals information on each funded project on the new, Community Solutions website (launched in spring 2023). This Annual Report for 2021-22 was published late in March 2023 due to capacity issues within VANL caused by the rapid and significant increase in the amount of custodian funds being managed through the programme. The 2022-23 and future Annual Reports will be published in the autumn following the end of the financial year in March Many thanks to the funded projects which provided information and to the VANL staff who prepared this report.
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10 2. Background to Community Solutions Community Solutions is a successful, cross-sector health and social care investment and improvement programme for North Lanarkshire. The programme - which was established in 2012 - aims to improve people’s health, wellbeing, quality of life and equality by investing in community-led initiatives which build community, family and individual strengths and resources - with a focus on prevention and early intervention. The programme invests strategically in the Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) through several complementary strands of work. Local partnership-working between the CVS and public sector through six Community Solutions Locality Consortia, to identify and respond to local needs, including development of a Local Partnership Plan and management of a Local Activity Fund which makes small funding awards to CVS organisations. Development and delivery of direct support and services by CVS organisations on priority, thematic issues including anticipatory care; befriending; carers’ support; community transport; hospital discharge support and more. Capacity-building for carers’ and the CVS. The programme is an innovative, effective, and respected partnership and collaborative initiative between statutory and community and voluntary organisations and the public, including: Health and Social Care Partnership North Lanarkshire which is responsible for planning, commissioning, and overseeing the delivery of community health and social care services across North Lanarkshire. HSCNL provides core and project funding for the Community Solutions Programme, as well as governance and delivery support for the programme. The North Lanarkshire Children’s Services Partnership which is responsible for planning, commissioning, and overseeing children and young people’s services across North Lanarkshire. The Children’s Services Partnership provides funding for the Community and Voluntary sector to support children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing, which is managed through the Community Solutions Programme. Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire, the local Third Sector Interface (TSI), which hosts and manages the programme on behalf of HSCNL and the Children’s Services Partnership. The diverse, large and vibrant Community and Voluntary Sector operating in North Lanarkshire, which receives funding through the programme and other sources to provide information, support, and care to individuals, families, and groups and work with local people to strengthen community capacity, resources, and resilience.
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11 Local people who support programme planning, delivery, and evaluation as service users, carers, volunteers and residents. 2.1 Vision and Mission 2.1.1 Vision The Community Solutions vision is for a North Lanarkshire where: the community and voluntary sector have greater capacity to strengthen communities, improve lives, and advance equality and human rights priority groups are helped to “live their best life” with access to person- centered, timely, effective community-based preventative and early intervention support, provided by community and voluntary organisations, complemented by timely access to public sector services communities are stronger, more resilient and inclusive, with improved health, wellbeing and quality of life, with reduced inequality and protection of human rights 2.1.2 Mission The Community Solutions mission is to provide strategic investment and support to the CVS, so the sector is able to work with local people and public sector colleagues to achieve its vision. 2.2 Approach and Values Community Solution’s values and approach underpin our mission and provide the foundation upon which the Programme is built. 2.2.1 Holistic and Integrated Approach The Community Solutions Programme takes a holistic and integrated approach to health, wellbeing, quality of life and equality encompassing: mental and physical health and wellbeing and their connection the social, economic, and environmental influences on health, wellbeing, and equality and the actions needed to tackle these. 2.2.2 Strategic Investment Approach Community Solutions takes a strategic investment approach which prioritises the following in line with HSCNL’s ambitions: investment in health improvement, prevention, and early intervention activities, which reduce inequalities and protect human rights investment in crisis and ongoing support, with a focus on recovery and re- enablement, self-directed support, and self-management. cost-effective, community-based support and services provided by CVS organisations.
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12 capacity building within the CVS and wider community by supporting key CVS ‘anchor’ organisations and volunteering to build the community infrastructure and capacity to support provision of good community-based support over time 2.2.3 Values Community Solutions also takes a value-based approach. The Community Solutions Programme values are: Person-centered and empowering, placing the person at the centre of the service, helping them to live their best life and supporting their human rights by: actively listening and understanding their needs supporting people to develop their personal resources and capabilities helping them to develop and sustain supportive relationships and social connections Collaborative working and co-production, to achieve goals and improvements where we develop equal relationships between people who use services and people who provide services – with support provided ‘with people’ rather than ‘to them’. This means involving local people - including those receiving support - and service providers in the CVS and statutory sectors to facilitate a positive and participatory cycle of planning, delivery, evaluation, learning and continuous improvement. This approach is informed by the Ladder of Participation and National Community Engagement Standards. 2.3 Programme Governance Community Solutions is governed through a “triple-lock” approach and supported and managed locally and across North Lanarkshire. Six local CVS organisations receive funding to act as “locality hosts” for the Community Solutions Programme in their area and convene locality Community Solutions consortia meetings involving CVS funded organisations; HSCNL locality and VANL staff. These consortia review local needs and priorities; agree a Locality Development Plan and manage a Local Activity Fund (LAF) for their area. The six locality host organisations also meet regularly with key VANL staff to share information and discuss key issues to inform locality and North Lanarkshire-wide developments VANL convenes and supports the Community Solutions Governance Group, which meets at least quarterly with representatives from HSCNL, VANL and the CVS to support strategic planning, review, improvements and reporting HSCNL’s senior management and its Integrated Joint Board agree the programme’s strategy and funding and review progress reports.
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13 2.4 Programme Delivery and Evaluation Support VANL hosts and manages the Community Solutions programme on behalf of HSCNL and the Children’s Services Partnership and receives funding to cover the costs of this work, which includes the following: programme governance support facilitating collective planning and development of the programme overall and specific funds programme communications and liaison with key stakeholders management of funding awards evaluation, learning and improvement support for each custodian fund and funded projects overall co-ordination of programme performance management, evaluation and reporting. In addition, VANL is commissioned by HSCNL and others to provide capacity- building support – currently on the following three, key issues: CVS support for children, young people and families CVS and localities Volunteering. VANL staff also provide wider capacity-building support for the CVS and support links between the Community Solutions Programme, health and social care, children’s services and community planning. Much of this work is resourced by VANL’s complementary, core funding from the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council (NLC). VANL’s support for the Community Solutions Programme is monitored through the Programme’s “triple-lock” governance arrangements. 2.5 Programme Performance Management and Evaluation Preparation of this report was supported by information captured by funded projects and VANL, supported by the Programme’s Evaluation Framework. This information includes: reach - including number, type and location of funded projects; number of unique individuals supported activity – type of support and services provided personal outcomes for people receiving support through funded projects The Community Solutions Programme has a range of aspirational personal outcomes for people receiving support through funded projects as set out below. Funded projects invite services users to provide feedback on their views about whether the support provided has helped them achieve these outcomes. For adults o People to have improved health and wellbeing o People to feel more connected, included and safe o People to feel more informed and aware
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14 For unpaid carers o Carers to feel more informed and aware o Carers health and wellbeing to be improved o Carers to be more able to have a life outside of caring For children, young people and families: o Improved health and wellbeing o Family relationships strengthened o Increased resilience As indicated in Section 4 below, VANL worked with partners to develop and strengthen the programme’s approach to performance management and evaluation during 2022. Our updated approach will improve performance management, evaluation, reporting for each funded project and fund and the programme overall from April 2023 and will be reflected in reports from autumn 2023 onwards. 3. Community Solutions Achievements 2021-22 3.1 Development of the New Programme Strategy and Investment Plan During 2021-22 VANL staff facilitated consultation, drafting and agreement of a new Community Solutions Strategy and Investment Plan 2022-25. The plan, which was approved by HSCNL IJB in March 2022, sets out how the Community Solutions Programme will invest the funding it receives from its funders in the years ahead to contribute to: “improved health, wellbeing, quality of life and equality of the people of North Lanarkshire by strengthening community capacity and resilience and delivering person-centered, community-based support and services to priority groups.’’ The Strategy and Investment Plan is published on the new Community Solutions website, launched in spring 2023.
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15 3.2 Custodian Funds and Funding Management 3.2.1 During 2021-22, over £3.6 million of funding was managed through the Community Solutions Programme by VANL on behalf of several funders including: Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire Scottish Government North Lanarkshire Council (linked to Children’s Services Partnership) Funding awards were made to a total of 225 projects delivered by 95 community and voluntary sector (CVS) organisations. In addition, VANL received £168,000 in funding to support CVS capacity building as outlined above and, in the table, below and funding to support delivery and evaluation of the Community Solutions programme, as set out in section 2.4. The £3.6 million of funding managed by VANL through the Community Solutions programme during 2021-22 was a trebling of funding managed in previous years and required significant staffing development within VANL to increase our capacity. Summary of Community Solutions Programme Funding 2021-22 Funding Source and Fund Funding Amount (£) 1. Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire 1.1 Locality Funding (6 HSCNL Localities) Locality Hosts Funding 240,000 Locality Activity Funding 180,000 1.2 Thematic Funding Anticipatory Care 71,620 Carer Breather 100,000 Carer Strategy Implementation Support (via North Lanarkshire Council) (Carers Together North Lanarkshire) 40,000 Community Food 40,000
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16 Community Transport 72,000 Home Visiting and Befriending 189,514 Funding Source and Fund Funding Amount (£) Hospital Discharge 77,500 Physical Activities 40,000 ShopMobility 32,058 1.3 CVS Capacity Building Support Carers’ Network (Carers Together North Lanarkshire) 40,000 Children, Young People and Families (VANL) 30,000 CVS and locality support (VANL) 60,000 Volunteering (VANL) 38,000 1.4 VANL Programme Delivery and Evaluation Support 80,000 1.5 Unallocated funding c/f to 2022-23 6,871 1.6 Sub-total: HSCNL Funding 2021- 22 1,342,678 2. Scottish Government Funding – direct to VANL or via third party 2.1 Community Children and Young People Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (phase Two) (via North Lanarkshire Council) 2.1.1 Custodian Funding managed by VANL with North Lanarkshire Council colleagues on behalf of Scottish Government and awarded to CVS organisations. 439,432
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17 Please see the Appendices for a full break-down of the distribution of all Community Solutions funding for 2021-22. 3.3 Localities The Community Solutions programme is rooted in our local communities to support effective partnership working between the CVS, public sector and engagement of service users and carers and wider public. This partnership working and engagement is supported through six Community Solutions: CVS locality host organisations Consortia Locality Activity Funds. 3.3.1 Locality Hosts The Community Solutions programme is supported at locality level by six CVS “anchor” organisations that as act as “locality hosts” for the programme. The locality hosts provide the following support: 2.1.2 VANL Delivery Costs 40,186 Funding Source and Fund Funding Amount (£) 2.2 Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (to support people over 18) (direct to VANL) 2.2.1 Custodian Fund managed by VANL on behalf of Scottish Government and awarded to CVS organisations. 2.2.2 VANL Delivery Costs 1,671,372 71,358 2.3 Support in the Right Direction (Custodian fund via Inspiring Scotland managed by VANL through Community Solutions programme with funding for two CVS organisations. No delivery costs for VANL.) 88,241 2. 4 Sub-total: Scottish Government Funding 2021-22 2,310,589 3. TOTAL Programme Funding 2021-22 3,653,267
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18 convene and support the six, Community Solutions Locality Consortia support the development and delivery of Locality Partnership Development Plans with members of the consortia, other CVS organisations, service users and unpaid carers work with the consortia and VANL to manage the Locality Activity Fund (LAF) for their locality work with VANL to support wider CVS and volunteer capacity building and links with community planning The Community Solutions’ locality hosts for 2021-22 are listed below, each of which received £40,000 funding to deliver their role. Locality Locality Hosts 3.3.2 Locality Consortia The Community Solutions Locality Consortia comprise representatives from the local CVS and health and social care staff from the council and NHS who meet at least quarterly to discuss key local issues and support development and delivery of their Local Development Plan and LAF. 3.3.3 Locality Activity Fund There are six Community Solutions Locality Activity Funds (which provide small grants to CVS organisations in each locality to help them deliver a new or improved activity to support residents. Each consortia decides on how to allocate their LAF in line with their Locality Development Plan. LAF awards are then managed by locality hosts and VANL. During 2021-22 each locality had a £30k LAF to allocate – a total of £180,000, which was distributed to a total of 82 projects. (See diagram below and Appendix B.) Because each LAF award is relatively small, funded projects are not required to undertake a full evaluation, however, funded projects capture and share key data with Locality Hosts/VANL for reporting purposes. Also, checks are made by Locality Hosts and VANL to ensure funded work is delivered.
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19 LAF Awards 2021-2022 – Reach and Activities In 2021-22, Locality Activity Fund awards have… Funded 82 projects Supported 1818 individuals, including 996 carers Supported the delivery of 489 activities (excluding daily/monthly activities) Including community development projects, outdoor projects, post-Covid recovery, cooking, food and nutrition, physical activity, and arts projects See Appendix B for a full list of funded projects by locality. LAF Awards 2021-2022 – Impact In 2021-22, as a result of Locality Activity Fund projects… 1259 people felt more connected, included and safe 810 people have improved health and wellbeing 550 people felt more informed and aware 207 carers felt more informed and aware Carers Children, Young People and Families Adults 134 carers health and wellbeing was improved 230 carers were more able to have a life outside of caring 1067 children, young people or families’ health and wellbeing was improved 125 families relationships were strengthened 164 children, young people and families have become more resilient
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20 3.4 Thematic Funding Community Solutions funding is awarded to a range of CVS organisations to provide services and support to residents on selected, priority “thematic” issues, which are outlined below, with details of funding, reach and outcomes for 2021-22. 3.4.1 Anticipatory Care Background The Community Solutions Anticipatory Care funding award is provided to the North Lanarkshire CVS organisation Equals Advocacy, which uses this funding to employ advocacy workers to support anticipatory care for older, frail adults in liaison with health and social care staff. This funding has been in place since 2012. Anticipatory Care in North Lanarkshire aims to help connect older, frail adults to services and support at an early stage, supported by a Primary Care Frailty Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) and an independent advocacy worker employed by Equals Advocacy. GPs support this service and approach by identifying an older person with increasing frailty. The person is then referred to Equals Advocacy which helps the person complete one or more assessments at home supported by an advocacy worker. This information is shared with the MDT which develops and agrees an Anticipatory Care Plan in liaison with the service user. During 2021-22, Equals Advocacy received a funding award of £71,312 through the Community Solutions Programme to support their role in this service.
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21 Achievements 2021-22 Equals Advocacy support evaluation of their advocacy service by asking service users to complete feedback questionnaires at the start and end of their engagement with advocacy support and provide VANL with summary, anonymous information to support reporting. In 2021-22, Community Solutions funding has supported Equals Advocacy to… Support 369 individuals through the Anticipatory Care project Deliver 240 activities Support 305 of the 369 total individuals to meet Community Solutions personal outcomes such as.. 103 people felt more connected, included and safe 62 people had improved health and wellbeing, and felt more informed and aware 26 carers… felt more informed and aware health and wellbeing was improved were more able to have a life outside of caring 3.4.2 Befriending 5 Background Befriending provides support to people who are lonely and isolated to increase their social support and inclusion and improve their quality of life and wellbeing. Community Solutions provides funding to the following CVS organisations to recruit and support trained, befriending volunteers. This funding has been provided since 2012: Befriend Motherwell CACE Elim Christian Centre Getting Better Together Glenboig Development Trust HomeStart Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre Volunteering Matters YMCA Bellshill
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22 Funding Awards 2021-2022 Total number of projects funded: 9 Total amount awarded: £189,514 Achievements 2021-22 In 2021-22, Community Solutions funded Befriending projects… Supported 1510 individuals through 2995 activities Including telephone befriending, home visits, group and 1-1 befriending, and volunteer recruitment Supported 2145 unique individuals to meet Community Solutions personal outcomes Secured an additional £158,398 of funding from other sources Been supported by 116 o volunteers, who dedicated 1942.5 volunteering hours For children, young people and families... • 168 had improved health and wellbeing • 15 family relationships were strengthened • 138 had increased resilience For example, • 638 people’s mental health and wellbeing improved • 1182 people felt more connected, included and safe • 455 people felt more informed and aware *The number of people who met Community Solutions personal outcomes is higher than the total individuals supported as it is the number of unique individuals who reported on each outcome 3.4.3 Carers’ Breather Background The Community Solutions Carers’ Breather fund was established in 2020, informed by review of previous Community Solutions funding for unpaid carers. The purpose of the Fund is as follows. To enable CVS organisations to enhance and extend regular and locally based support for unpaid carers, including carers who do not necessarily wish to identify as a carer and/or are unknown to formal services For carers to be supported to: o enjoy the benefits of regular and ongoing breaks in their neighbourhood o access support without having to formally link up with carers’ support organisation
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23 Funding Awards 2021-2022 Total number of projects funded: 9 Total amount awarded: £89,981 Achievements 2021-22 In 2021-22, Community Solutions funded Carer Breather projects… Delivered 684 activities Supported 215 cared for people and 363 carers and their wider families Been supported by 22 volunteers, who devoted 354 hours. Supported 712 individuals to achieve carer-specific community solutions personal outcomes For example, • 244 carers’ felt more informed and aware • 246 carers’ health and wellbeing was improved • 222 carer’s were more able to have of a life outside of caring Including therapeutic arts workshops, craft activities, garden projects, drop in sessions *The number of people who met Community Solutions personal outcomes is higher than the total individuals supported as it is the number of unique individuals who reported on each outcome 3.4.4 Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Background The purpose of this fund is to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in North Lanarkshire by increasing support provided by local CVS organisations in liaison with schools. The Fund was developed in 2020 with an initial pilot (Phase One) involving schools, staff in the council’s Education and Families team, VANL staff and CVS organisations. Decisions regarding funding awards are led by schools, informed by local needs and priorities and learning from the previous phase. The fund is managed and supported by School Cluster Improvement and Integration Leads (CILLs) and VANL staff, working closely together.
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24 The Fund supports delivery of the Scottish Government Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing framework, and the North Lanarkshire Children’s Services Plan and is part of a suite of mental health and wellbeing initiatives for children and young people in North Lanarkshire, managed through our Children’s Services Partnership. Funding is provided by the Scottish Government through North Lanarkshire Council to VANL for distribution the North Lanarkshire CVS. Funding Awards 2021-2022 Total number of CVS projects funded: 53 Total amount awarded: £434,700 Achievements 2021-22 In 2021-22, the Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund… Supported 1263 primary school children, 548 secondary school children, and 654 wider family members* (*parents, siblings, carers) Awarded funding to 53 projects across 21 CVS organisations Delivered projects to 40 primary schools, and 12 secondary schools involving 11 clusters Delivered the following activities • Art, play and drama therapy • Additional support needs tailored supports • Counselling, trauma and bereavement • Digital activities • Equine therapy • Healthy eating and nutrition • Mindfulness and selfcare workshops • Parental supports • Physical and outdoor activities
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25 The outcomes for children and young people supported by the above funded projects are assessed using “The SHANARRI Wellbeing indicators for children and young people. Outcomes for 2021-22 are summarised below. Healthy 1452 Safe 1656 1309 Achieving 1320 1463 Nurtured Active 1429 1301 Respected Responsible 1001 Included children and young people feel… The Impact and Learning reports for Phase One and Two of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund are available on the new Community Solutions website launched in spring 2023.
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26 3.4.5 Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Background The Community Mental Health and Wellbeing (CMHWB) Fund is a national fund established by the Scottish government in late 2021 to help local CVS groups provide increased mental health and wellbeing support. The Scottish Government asked the 32 Third Sector Interfaces (TSIs) in Scotland – of which VANL is the interface for North Lanarkshire – to manage the funding on their behalf. VANL was required to manage the fund in partnership with HSCNL and because we already have the Community Solutions programme, it made sense to manage this fund through the programme to supporting synergy with other programme funding. In February of 2022, VANL was allocated an initial £995k from the Scottish government to distribute to organisations in North Lanarkshire’s CVS. VANL received 85 applications requesting a total of £2.1 million in funding. The initial funding allocation meant only the top 30 projects could be funded. VANL then secured an additional £720k of funding from the Scottish Government. Funding Awards 2021-22 Number of Projects: 52 (see Appendix A for full list) Total amount: £1.6 million Achievements 2021-22 In 2021-22, the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund… Been supported by 237 volunteers who devoted 7902 hours Helped projects to secure an additional £258,105 of additional funding Supported 8139 individuals through 10,939 activities For example, activities include: • healthy eating education • arts projects • stress management • relaxation • bereavement support wellbeing classes • men’s groups • exercise • garden projects
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27 In 2021-22, the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund … Supported 9183 individuals to meet Community Solutions personal outcomes Of the 8139 people supported, those that reported on outcomes met showed: • 3004 adults’ health and wellbeing improved (141 carers) • 1660 adults felt more connected, included and safe • 1540 adults felt more informed and aware (181 carers) • 1847 children and young people’s health and wellbeing improved • 463 family relationships improved • 438 have children & young people have increased resilience *The number of people who met Community Solutions personal outcomes is higher than the total individuals supported as it is the number of unique individuals who reported on each outcome 3.4.6 Community Transport Background The Community Solutions funding to support Community Transport has been provided to the North Lanarkshire CVS organisation, Getting Better Together (GBT) since 2016. Community Transport supports vulnerable residents to travel to essential appointments and key activities, supporting their health, wellbeing and inclusion. Community Transport services are demand-responsive and therefore determined by service users’ requirements. During 2021-22, GBT also supported NHS Lanarkshire and its staff with transport during the COVID pandemic. Getting Better Together (GBT) received a Community Solutions funding award of £72,000 during 2021-22, which, combined with funding from other sources, helped GBT deliver the following community transport services. Transport for community groups, schools, CVS and non-profit organisations using bookable, fully wheelchair accessible minibus and multi-purpose vehicles. A volunteer driver service, where volunteers use their own car to transport people to essential NHS appointments and are reimbursed for their expenses.
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28 A Community Transport HUB pilot partnership with NHS Lanarkshire and Community Transport Glasgow providing transport support for patients, staff, samples and supplies during the COVID pandemic.
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29 Achievements 2021-22 In 2021-22, with Community Solutions funding, Getting Better Together’s Community Transport project… Avoided estimated £77197 total probable cost for NHS Lanarkshire, of which £39,960 was due to the Volunteer Driver Service Been supported by five volunteer drivers who gave 1624 hours Provided 4312 passenger journeys, covering 58,325 miles. 1184 of the 4312 total journeys were provided by volunteer drivers, covering 23,343 of the total miles The Community Transport Hub pilot began on 1st April 2019; due to the COVID pandemic, GBT adapted its existing services to pilot the Community Transport Hub with NHS Lanarkshire. Through this pilot, GBT supplied the NHS with two drivers and vehicles, five days a week providing 1,409 journeys covering 33,342 miles. GBT also adapted their volunteer driver service during Covid, with GBT staff replacing volunteers. 3.4.7 Hospital Discharge Background The Community Solutions funding for Hospital Discharge Support Service (HDSS) has been provided to the CVS organisation Getting Better Together (GBT) since 2013. The aim of the HDSS is to help patients and carers to access additional community- based support following hospital discharge to: support rehabilitation and recovery, including physical activity support self-management reduce loneliness and isolation The service is available to all North Lanarkshire residents aged over 16. The HDSS has a base in the University Hospitals in Monklands and Wishaw. HDSS staff also liaise with University Hospital Hairmyres and other rehabilitation settings throughout Lanarkshire to support the discharge of North Lanarkshire-based patients.
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30 HDSS staff provide guidance and support to patients, carers and families through the discharge process. The service uses a person-centred approach - with staff discussing personal outcomes with patients, carers and families. Staff also signpost service users to sources of personal and community support – including support provided by CVS organisations - that they can access following discharge from hospital. The funding award to GBT to provide the HDSS 2021-22 during 2021-22 was £149,120. Achievements 2021-22 In 2021-22, with Community Solutions funding, the Hospital Discharge Support Service… Supported 629 individuals Supported 262 individuals to meet Community Solutions personal outcomes Delivered 179 activities Including hospital discharge transport, and referrals and signposting to appropriate services Of the 262 individuals that reported on Community Solutions personal outcomes, • 87 peoples’ health and wellbeing improved • 96 peoples felt more informed and aware • 42 carers felt more informed and aware • 37 carers’ health and wellbeing improved The service refers patients to other local community supports. In 2021-22, the most common supports requested were for: carer support – 35 referrals social opportunities such as befriending and community groups – 22 referrals financial inclusion – 9 referrals ex-armed forces support – 9 referrals In 2021-22, more referrals were made on behalf of patients/carers, than by patients/carers themselves.
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31 3.4.8 Physical Activities Background During 2021-22, Community Solutions provided the then, North Lanarkshire Leisure Trust with £60,000 to support provision of physical activities for people across North Lanarkshire with a range health conditions to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing. Referrals to the service were received from a health and social care staff. Achievements 2021-22 In 2021-22, with Community Solutions funding the Physical Activities project… Supported 2584 individuals across the service overall Supported 2584 individuals to meet the Community Solutions personal outcome: ‘Adults health and wellbeing is improved’ Including: • 1964 new referals to the general project • 620 new referals to specialist health classes 3.4.9 ShopMobility Background During 2021-221, Community Solutions provided a funding award of £32K to the Health and Wellness Hub (HWB) to support provision of a ShopMobility service in Motherwell and Coatbridge. The service supported people with mobility difficulties to access shopping and other community facilities by providing a range of easy-to-use portable scooters, wheelchairs and power chairs. Staff and volunteers involved also 1 The Community Solutions funding for this service was to provide interim support to the HWH while they endeavoured to secure longer term funding for the service. Unfortunately, HWH announced in September 2022 that they were closing their Mobility Hubs in both Motherwell and Coatbridge as they had not secured sufficient funding to sustain the service. VANL and others are exploring options regarding the future for a service of this kind.
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32 provided useful information to service users and signposted them to other sources of support provided by CVS and public sector organisations. Achievements 2021-22 In 2021-22, with Community Solutions funding, ShopMobility… Supported 318 individuals through 942 activities and interactions Including new registrations to the service, use of their community hub and classes Been supported by 3 volunteers, who have provided 229 hours Supported 170 individuals to meet Community Solutions personal outcomes 170 of the total 318 individuals supported reported on Community Solutions personal outcomes, including: • 35 people felt more connected, included and safe • 50 peoples’ health and wellbeing improved • 85 people felt more informed and aware 3.4.10 Support in the Right Direction Background The Scottish Government funds a national “Support in the Right Direction” (SiRD) programme which aims to empower people and carers receiving social care support and services to be equal partners in their care where they have real choice and control over their lives, including: decisions about where they live and the services they receive participation in fulfilling activities and their community employment if appropriate This is usually referred to as “self-directed support”. The national SIRD Fund is managed by Inspiring Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government and VANL since 2017. VANL has distributed this funding through the Community Solutions Programme to two CVS organisations: Equals Advocacy North Lanarkshire Disability Forum
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33 Their Community Solutions funding helps these two organisations provide the following services: general and focussed in-depth self-directed support including 1-to-1 case work, online and Zoom conversations, information sessions community connectors, who work directly with people to find suitable supports like groups and activities Funding Awards 2021-22 Number of Projects: 2 Total amount: £88,241 Achievements 2021-22 In 2021-22, the Support in the Right Direction project has Supported 694 individuals Of the total 694 individuals, 87 were carers This includes: • 141 people provided focused support • 141 people supported through case work • 412 people supported with general independent support activities • 56 of those were carers living with a condition • 31 were carers accessing support for their own personal outcomes
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34 3.5 Capacity Building During 2021-22 Community Solutions invested in the following four areas of capacity-building. Carers Children, Young People and Families CVS (localities and North-Lanarkshire wide) Volunteering 3.5.1 Carers’ Capacity Building Background Community Solutions supports capacity building for Carers by funding North Lanarkshire Carers’ Together to support the Carers’ Network and a range of other carers’ support activities. Achievements 2021-22 During 2021-22, North Lanarkshire Carers Together received a grant of £40,000 with which it achieved the following. Supported the Carers Network, which brings carers together to share information; provide peer support; and develop collective views to inform improved policy and practice. Supported development and delivery of the the Carers’ Breather Fund outlined above, including development of a successful “Referral Guide”. Led on further development of a Carers’ Pathway Toolkit, to ensure that Carers’ needs are considered and supported when planning services for the people they care for. Influencing carers’ policy and services through participation in the North Lanarkshire Carers’ Strategy Group and other forums ‘It’s imperative we listen to the carers to help shape how the service is delivered. We know service design and redesign should have people who receive the service at the heart of the process and our carers are very much the same’ - Service provider ‘Today was my first time meeting with this amazing group. I had a back massage which I’ve never had before in my life. I feel relaxed and more able to complete my day. Meeting with other carers in my position has benefitted me greatly and I look forward to meeting again next week.’ - Carer
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35 3.5.2 CVS Capacity-Building Background VANL staff provide capacity building support to CVS organisations to help them strengthen their individual and collective ability to provide effective and sustainable support and services to residents. VANL supports: CVS organisations receiving new or re-current funding through the Community Solutions programme, including organisational reviews CVS organisations that do not currently receive funding through Community Solutions but provide support and services to residents and which may apply for Community Solutions funding in future. VANL staff support CVS capacity building in two ways. By providing organisational development support to CVS organisations on issues such as: o governance o income generation o finance, HR and ICT management o evaluation By supporting the sector to come together in different ways to share information; support learning and facilitate partnership working and influencing. We do this in several ways including: by convening and supporting meetings of the North Lanarkshire CVS Partnership Group and several thematic networks by organising regular CVS locality events and an annual conference
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36 Achievements 2021-22 VANL’s CVS capacity-building work was supported during 2021-22 with a £60,000 grant through Community Solutions, supplemented by core funding from the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council. (Also see Children, Young People and Families section below.) VANL staff provided the following support to CVS organisations during 2021-22… 150 CVS organisations were provided with guidance on key issues to support their sustainability and effectiveness including income generation, governance, ICT, human resources. 64 organisations had their accounts independently examined by VANL’s qualified finance team. The new, North Lanarkshire Community Lottery was planned and launched to support the local CVS to raise more funding from the public. Training was provided to over 260 CVS staff and volunteers on a range of topics such as volunteer management, child protection and successful funding applications. . Nine CVS Funding e-bulletins and 24 funding e- alerts were prepared and distributed – in liaison with HSCNL and Council colleagues. The CVS were supported to network, collaborate and influence policy and practice through the following CVS networks: • Befriending • Children, Young People and Families • Community and Voluntary Sector Partnership Group (CVSPG) • Employability Network • Mental Health and Wellbeing Network 3.5.3 Children, Young People and Families VANL staff undertake capacity building with the CVS to strengthen the support they provide to local children, young people and families to improve their wellbeing. VANL does this in the following ways. Convene and support the North Lanarkshire CVS Children, Young People and Families Network to support information-sharing; peer support; and partnership working through the North Lanarkshire Children’s Services Partnership; HSCNL; North Lanarkshire (Community Planning) Partnership (NLP). Support the CVS to strengthen their contributions to: o helping mothers breastfeed successfully with bespoke training from the Infant Mental Health Team and links with community midwives. o child protection, through provision of training by VANL staff o tackling poverty, including supporting CVS organisations that support: employment money and welfare advice community food support o Children and young people’s mental health, including:
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37 a key role in developing arrangements for the Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund (see 3.4.4) CVS support for improving infant mental health with access to Infant Mental Health Training and The Infant Mental Health toolkit. Young people’s volunteering, including support for the Saltire Awards. Support CVS participation in the Children’s Services Partnership and facilitating links between this, Community Solutions, HSCNL and community planning. Achievements 2021-22 During 2021-2022, HSCNL provided VANL with a grant of £30,000 to support our children, young people and family's capacity-building work as outlined above. This funding was complemented by our core funding from the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council. VANL staff supported the following work with this funding during 2021-22. During 2021-22, VANL staff supported the following children, young people and family's capacity- building work Convened 4 meetings of the Children, Young People and Families Network involving 30 CVS organisations which supported work on the following issues CVS peer support to parents in local community venues. Supported CVS organisations to help families affected by child and family poverty. Provided 4 Introduction to Child Protection training courses to 77 CVC staff. Helped CVS organisations to improve their support for child and young people's mental health and wellbeing through management of Phase 2 of the children and young people's community and mental health and wellbeing fund Supported young people's volunteering by issuing 557 Saltire Awards. Support CVS participation in the Children’s Services Partnership through representation on the Board and Officers Group. 3.5.4 Volunteering Background VANL staff support volunteer development across North Lanarkshire working with the CVS – which involves and relies on many thousands of volunteers to deliver their support and services
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38 public sector partners - including North Lanarkshire Council, NHS Lanarkshire, Police and Fire and Rescue - which also involve volunteers and support volunteering more widely the business sector, which assists through employer supported volunteering VANL staff support volunteering strategically and operationally including: setting up and convening the North Lanarkshire Volunteering Partnership to facilitate improved cross-sector support for volunteering promoting volunteering opportunities to the public and supporting matching to roles and Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks supporting volunteer-involving organisations to improve their recruitment and support for volunteers, including accreditation through the Volunteer- Friendly award. Achievements 2021-22 During 2021-2022 HSCNL provided VANL with a grant of £38,000 to support our volunteering development work, which was complemented by our core funding from the Scottish Government and North Lanarkshire Council. During 2021-22, VANL staff supported the following Volunteer Development activities… Recruited and matched 96 volunteers with 30 organisations Trained 43 volunteers PVG checked 81 volunteers across 16 organisations Training included: • Befriending volunteer training • Introduction to volunteering • Training in use of online software such as Locator, Making Life Easier, and the Volunteering Scotland website
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39 4. Community Solutions Priorities 2022-23 This section provides an overview of development priorities for the Community Solutions Programme during 2022-2023. Because this 2021-22 Annual Report was published later than usual in April 2023, this 2022-23 section provides progress updates for these priorities, with full reporting provided in the 2022-23 Annual Report, which will be published in Autumn 2023. 4.1 Custodian Fund Developments 4.1.1 Carer Breather Fund Phase Two Funding for Phase Two of the Carer Breather Fund, covering the period April 2023 – March 2025, was approved by HSCNL in December 2022. Staff in VANL worked with North Lanarkshire Carers Together (NLCT) to promote the fund and support assessment and awards. Applications were assessed and award decisions made by a panel involving representatives from VANL, NCLT and carer representatives, with awards issued by end of March 2023. Learning from Phase One will support delivery of Phase Two, which will be supported by the updated Carer Pathway Toolkit, use of which will be mandatory for projects receiving funding in Phase Two. 4.1.2 Children and Young People’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund Phase Three Funding for Phase Three of this fund was agreed by North Lanarkshire Council and the Children’s Services Partnership in spring 2022 with a launch event in May 2022. As for Phases One and Two, funding awards for Phase Three were made to local CVS organisations to provide support to children and young people to improve their mental health and wellbeing. Funding decisions were made in late 2022-early 2023, informed by a Learning and Improvement event in Autumn of 2022. Also, communication and support for schools and funded projects has strengthened for Phase Three, including support sessions for funded CVS organisations. 4.1.3 Substance Misuse Fund Following discussions in 2022 between staff in VANL and the North Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (NLADP) £100k funding was made available by NLADP to pilot improved community-based approaches by the CVS to support prevention of substance misuse and people affected by substance misuse. Each Community Solutions Locality Consortia were allocated a proportion of the fund to manage, with applications open from December 2023. The funding will be awarded by spring 2023, with activities delivered thereafter. VANL staff will provided funded projects with evaluation support and prepare a report to support learning from the pilot with a view to securing further investment in effective approaches.
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40 4.1.4 Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Being Fund Phase Two Funding for Phase Two of the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund was announced by the Scottish Government in Autumn 2022 with a total of £955K available to fund CVS organisations in North Lanarkshire. Learning from Phase One informed this second phase, including ring-fenced funding to support Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and LGBTiA+ groups. Applications were sought from CVS organisations during Nov/Dec 2022. A cross- sector Panel involving staff from VANL, NHS Lanarkshire and North Lanarkshire Council assessed all applications and made funding decisions by early March 2023. Awards were issued by the end of March 2023 for activity to be delivered from April. 4.1.5 Improving Lives Initiative Background Social Prescribing Social Prescribing is an approach which assists people to access non-clinical support in their community instead of or in addition to clinical support. The focus is on promoting people’s wellbeing and helping them manage health and other challenges more effectively. Social prescribing approaches have been supported in North Lanarkshire for many years but have tended to develop in a fragmented way developed by different parts of our health and social care system. Between 2019 and 2020, VANL undertook a scoping exercise on Social Prescribing in North Lanarkshire, commissioned by NHS Lanarkshire, with a report published in summer 2020. The intention was that this report would inform future development of a more co-ordinated, cross-sector approach to social prescribing across North Lanarkshire involving the CVS and public sectors. During 2020-21, NHS Lanarkshire and VANL worked together on a joint proposal to develop this work and secured funding to do so from NHS Charities Together. However, due to staffing recruitment challenges, delivery of this work was deferred until late 2022/2023. Improving Cancer Journey Between 2021 to early 2023, HSCNL and VANL staff liaised with MacMillan Cancer Support to agree an approach to investing £800K funding over four years to improve community support for people affected by cancer in North Lanarkshire.
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41 Strengthening CVS Contribution to Prevention and Early Intervention Support in the Community In Feb. 2022, HSCNL approved an additional £1.2 million to be invested through the Community Solutions Programme over two years to strengthen the CVS contribution to prevention and early intervention. A major focus of this funding was to establish a team of “Community Connectors” who would use the “Three Conversations” approach to support people to: Improve their health and wellbeing prevent problems arising and/or escalating and, where they arise, to respond and try to resolve these as quickly as possible support recovery and rehabilitation for people returning home from hospital or residential care help people remain independent in the community reduce the need for formal services. Improving Lives Initiative Plan Between May and December 2022, VANL staff worked closely with HSCNL staff to develop a plan to invest all the above additional funding strategically alongside recurrent Community Solutions Funding for locality hosts and the Locality Activity Fund (LAF) to maximise synergy and impact of these funding streams. ILI will link direct provision of support to individuals by the Community Connectors with investment in the CVS and its ability to provide support by: increasing the size of the generic Locality Activity Fund from £30,000 a year to £xx a year continuing to provide general CVS capacity-building support through Locality Hosts and VANL staff basing the Community Connectors in two Locality Host organisations and the North Lanarkshire Disability Forum linking ILI to North Lanarkshire-wide projects funded through Community Solutions Thematic Funding (see below). ILI will launch in April 2023. 4.1.6 Locality Hosts Re-commissioning In May 2022, the Community Solutions Governance Group agreed to recommission the Community Solutions Locality Hosts. VANL staff liaised with Governance Group members to agree the approach and criteria with further consultation with Community Solutions.
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42 Eligible organisations were able to apply from December 2022 for three year’s funding, commencing in April 2023. Award decisions were made by a cross- sector panel during Feb-March 2023. All but one of the previous Locality Hosts were re-commissioned based on the quality of their applications. Announcements regarding the new Locality Hosts will be made in April. The Locality Hosts will be supported by VANL staff to strengthen their local consortia and links to Community Boards and other statutory partners in their locality. 4.1.7 Review of Community Solutions Thematic Funding In autumn 2022, the Community Solutions Governance Group agreed that Community Solutions Thematic funding should be reviewed as the funding awards had remained the same for over twelve years. VANL staff started to set up arrangements to support this review involving members of Community Solutions Locality Consortia and other HSCNL staff. Recommendations arising from this review will be considered by the Community Solutions Governance Group and senior HSCNL management with a view to reaching agreement on any changes by summer 2023 for implementation to a schedule also to be agreed. 4.1.7 Proactive Support for People in the Community At the request of HSCNL, VANL staff developed a proposal during early 2023 to build on several community-based pilot initiatives in North Lanarkshire over the last few years to strengthen proactive support for frail and vulnerable people in the community. In addition to facilitating improved wellbeing through better community support, the project also aims to reduce attendance at A&E and admission and re-admission to hospital. The proposed project learns from and seeks to build upon: a recent test of change project that assessed needs of frail patients referred by General Practitioners (GP) and facilitated access to improved support a pilot project that visited people with a Community Alarms in their homes to ensure that the information held on the Community Alarm System was accurate and also to review their support needs The project would also link to and complement the Community Connectors to be employed as part of the roll out of ILI and existing health and social care link workers. 4.2 Capacity Building 4.2.1 Carers
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43 North Lanarkshire Carers Together will continue to be commissioned to support the Carers’ Network; Carers’ Breather Fund; and other carers developments. 4.2.2 Children, Young People and Families During 2022-23, VANL staff will continue to develop and deliver capacity- building support to the CVS as set out above in section 3.4, so CVS organisations so they are more able to contribute to improve the wellbeing of our children, young people and families. 4.2.3 CVS Capacity Building During 2022-23, VANL staff will continue to develop and deliver capacity- building support to the CVS as set out above in section 3.4 so both Community Solutions funded organisations and the sector more widely is more able to contribute to improved wellbeing of residents and communities. 4.2.4 Volunteering Volunteering Support During 2022-2023, VANL staff continued to support volunteering across North Lanarkshire, working closely with public sector partners and the CVS in the ways set out in section 3.4. North Lanarkshire Volunteering Partnership and Strategy During 2022-23 VANL staff continued to convene and support The North Lanarkshire Volunteering Partnership with a focus on developing a new, North Lanarkshire Volunteering Strategy and Implementation Plan. The Strategy was approved by the North Lanarkshire Partnership Strategic Leadership Board in February 2023 and has been referred to HSCNL’s Integrated Joint Board (IJB) and North Lanarkshire Council for consideration with a view to approval by April 2023. Once the Strategy has been approved, VANL staff will work with partners to support implementation, evaluation and review. The Strategy will support delivery of commitments in the Plan for North Lanarkshire; HSCNL Commissioning Plan and the Community Solutions Strategy and Investment Plan with priorities to increase: the number and diversity of volunteers from all ages and backgrounds the range and type of volunteer roles employer-supported volunteering. 4.3 Programme Performance Management, Evaluation, Learning and Improvement 4.3.1 Development of Improved Approach
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44 During 2022-23 VANL staff reviewed the Community Solutions approach to performance management, evaluation, learning and improvement for funded projects; funds; and the programme as a whole. The following resources were developed during 2022-23: A new Community Solutions Performance Management, Evaluation, Learning and Improvement (PMELI) Framework A new Evaluation Guide for funded projects and wider CVS. The new Framework was approved by the Community Solutions Governance Group in November 2022. The Guide was launched in March 2023 for implementation from April 2023, supported by the Evaluation Guide, which will be published in April 2023 also. 4.3.2 CVS Contribution to Mental Health and Wellbeing During 2022-23, VANL staff developed - in liaison with NHS and CVS colleagues - a pilot initiative to support more in-depth assessment of CVS organisations’ contributions to mental health and wellbeing outcomes for the people they support. The pilot would support a small number of CVS organisations - including both Community Solution funded organisations – to use the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Health and Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) to capture more robust evidence on the difference their support has made to their service users’ mental health. It is envisaged the pilot would commence during mid to late 2023, subject to some additional funding being secured. Learning from the pilot would deepen understanding of the CVS contributions to mental health and wellbeing with a view to informing future investment in community-based mental health support in North Lanarkshire. The approach may also be rolled out more widely across the CVS if the pilot demonstrates viability and usefulness. 4.4 Programme Communications and Liaison During 2022-23 VANL staff will continue to: communicate and liaise with all programme stakeholders including funded projects; locality hosts and consortia; and HSCNL colleagues represent the Community Solutions Programme and CVS on HSCNL’s Strategic Leadership Team and IJB Board and Performance, Finance and Audit Committee share key information about the programme online through Community Solutions e-bulletins. Development of a new Community Solutions website was planned for 2022 but due to staffing capacity issues has been deferred to spring-summer 2023.
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45 4.5 Programme Governance VANL staff will continue to convene and support the Community Solutions Governance Group during 2022-23 as outlined above in section 2.3 During 2022-23 membership of the Group was reviewed to strengthen representation and engagement of key stakeholders including: HSCNL staff Council staff from the Enterprise and Communities and Education and Families Departments Locality hosts and consortia (for implementation from spring 2023) Appendix A Community Solutions Locality Host Funding 2021-22: Total Awards £240K CVS Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) A.1 The Health and Wellness Hub (Airdrie) Locality Host 40,000 A.2 Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre (Bellshill) Locality Host 40,000 A.3 Glenboig Development Trust (Coatbridge) Locality Host 40,000 A.4 CACE (Cumbernauld) Locality Host 40,000 A.5 North Lanarkshire Carers Together (Motherwell) Locality Host 40,000 A.6 Getting Better Together (Wishaw and Shotts) Locality Host 40,000 Appendix B Locality Activity Fund Distribution 2021-22 Total number of projects funded in the six Community Solutions localities: 82 Total income for 2021-22: £180,000 Total spend: £179,978
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46 Plus, c/f underspend from 2020/21: 27,082 Airdrie Locality Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) B.1 Airdrie Citizen’s Advice Bureau Airdrie Action Partnership 3,874 B.2 Bear Necessities Local Support and Development Groups to Families 3,836 B.3 Calderbank Parish Church of Scotland Airdrie Foodbank Post Covid Recovery 2,620 B.4 Diamonds in the Community Community Christmas Dinner Community Noticeboard (noticeboard in main shopping centre) Transport Home Comforts 1,500 1,533 4,000 B.5 Hope for Autism Cooking project 5,048 B.6 Health and Wellness Hub Massage for people with cancer 1,750 B.7 Longriggend Village Association Longriggend Peoples Project (community improvement scheme) 2,230 B.8 Make and Create Arts Make and Create a Healthier Future (healthy food visual arts project) 2,593 B.9 Parkinson’s Self- Help Group Promotion of plant- based diet 1,216 B.10 Plains Community Futures Plains Outdoor Gym 3,000
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47 B.11 Whinnhall Allotments Beechbank Toddlers Outdoor Resilience Project 300 No. of projects 13 Total 33,500 (including c/f underspend from 2020/20
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48 Bellshill Locality Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) B.12 Bazooka Arts Covid-19 Response Creative Connections 3,000 4,715 B.13 Bellshill & Mossend YMCA FarmBot Urban Micro Garden (teaching about environmental issues through Agri-tech software) 4,200 B.14 Diamonds in the Community Sporting Memories Group 5,000 B.15 Dollywood Imagination Library 1,000 B.16 Fresh Start NL Digital Befriending / Bellshill BAME Befriending 2,550 B.17 Jack & Jill Relaxation Sessions 1,494 B.18 Lanarkshire Community Food and Health Partnership Community Food & Health Project - Training Family Barnardo's Health Cooking Course 750 360 B.19 Nurture Scotland KIN-etc.! 1,000 B.20 Salvation Army Community Café 4,776 B.21 Social Track Urban Sports Project 2,600 B.22 Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre Covid Recovery Support 4,520 B.23 Viewpark Conservation Group Our Space 615 B.24 VIP Arts and Sports Academy Insane Project Outdoors Together Pram to Primary 5,130 3,500 3,350
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49 Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) B.25 YMCA Befriending 1,600 No. of projects 18 Total 50,160 (using c/f underspend from 2020/21)
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50 Coatbridge Locality Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) B.26 Autumn Village group Rejuvenating Village (engagement with community through monthly events) 1,485 B.27 Bazooka Arts All Stars All Star recovery Bazooka Coatbridge 2,440 2,440 4,810 B.28 Cliftonville & Coatdyke Community Group Cliftonville Bowling 1,750 B.29 Coatbridge Consortium Partnership Group (group of Coatbridge consortia members) Hello World 2,309 B.30 Coatbridge Toddlers Coatbridge Toddlers 2,320 B.31 Glenboig Development Trust Boys – Men’s Shed Glenboig Walking Football Townhead Toddlers 3,620 3,620 5,200 B.32 Kirkshaws Neighbourhood House Angels and Aeroplanes, Flying Higher Jackie’s Craft Group Media project 1,060 940 1,000 B.33 Lanarkshire Community Food and Health Partnership Women’s Cook Club 2,136 B.34 Nurture Scotland Kinect 1,200 B.35 Parents for Safe Play 3,000 No. of projects 16 Total 23,845 Balance c/f to 2022-23
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51 Cumbernauld and the North Locality Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) B.36 CACE Befriending Development Afternoon 486 B.37 Strathcarron Hospice Community Loss and Bereavement Resource Boxes 1,610 B.38 Croy Community Hub Always Unique Club 1,500 Kids Enterprise Group 1,750 B.39 Fool On Anybody Can Cook 2,000 Cumbernauld Workshop 4,410 B.40 Friends of Kilsyth Saturday Gatherings 1,750 B.41 Gartcosh Activity Group Lunch Club 880 B.42 Kilsyth Civic Week Intergenerational Tea Dance 1,190 B.43 Kilsyth Storehouse Church Church Cafe 3,750 B.44 Lanarkshire Community Food and Health Partnership Big Chef, Little Chef Cumbernauld Academy 1,380 No. of projects 11 Total 20,706 Balance c/f to 2022-23
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52 Motherwell Locality Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) B.45 Befriend Motherwell Intergenerational Cookery Project 1,060 B.46 Fool On Fool On Community Outreach Events 4,200 B.47 Forgewood Housing Co-operative Food for Forgewood Supporting Community Groups 1,200 2,766 B.48 Lanarkshire Community Food & Health Partnership After School Club Big Chef Little Chef 1,080 840 B.49 Lanarkshire Deaf Club Café Project 1,200 B.50 Motherwell Maranatha Foodbank 276 B.51 Neighbourhood Networks Airbles Blooms 1,000 B.52 NLC Community Partnership Team (South) Craigneuk Health and Wellbeing Participatory Budgeting Project 2,000 B.53 North Lanarkshire Carers Together BAME Carers Information and Advice Project 5,000 B.54 Nurture Scotland KIN-ect 1,600 B.55 Senior Citizens Monday Club Muirhouse Recovery Project 1,200 B.56 Volunteering Matters Youth Befriending Project 5,000 B.57 YAMS (You Are My Sunshine) Mental Health Hub - Motherwell Drop In 5,000 No. of projects Total 33,422
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53 15 (using c/f underspend from 2020/21) Wishaw and Shotts Locality Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) B.58 Baby Bears Toddler Group Outdoor Play 1,995 B.59 Crochet and Chatter Group, Salsburgh Spooktacular in Salsburgh 600 B.60 Getting Better Together Christmas Light Switch on Fitness Classes and Fruity Friday Happy Smiles Project Youth Inclusion Project 1,000 1,545 940 4,900 B.61 NLC Community Partnership Team Participatory Budgeting Project 2,000 B.62 Overtown Parish Church Community Lunch 1,000 B.63 Rivals Gym Martial Arts Physical and Mental Fitness programme Supporting mental health through martial arts, boxing, and fitness 1,500 1,500 B.64 Salsburgh Community Council Salsburgh Christmas Event 1,930 B.65 Wishaw YMCA Camera Club YMCA Book Worms Contact Boxercise Souper Days 2,900 2,575 2,070 2,820 No. of projects 15 Total 29,275
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54 Appendix C Community Solutions Thematic Funding 2021-22: Total Awards £862K C.1 Anticipatory Care: Total Awards £71K CVS Organisation/Project Total Funding Amount (£) Equals Advocacy 71,312 C.2 Carer’s Breather: Total Awards £135K Bazooka Arts 22,848 Getting Better Together 22,240 Glenboig Development Trust 21,160 North Lanarkshire Carers Together 10,000 Parkinson’s Self Help Group North Lanarkshire 16,390 Parkinson’s Self Help Group Motherwell 30,000 The Haven (Carer Breather) 27,950 The Haven (Carer Sitter pilot) 7,069 The Health and Wellness Hub 23,476 Watch Us Grow 29,000 C.3 Carers’ Support Network: Total Awards £40K North Lanarkshire Carers Together 40,000
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56 CVS Organisation/Project Total Funding Amount (£) C.4 Community Food: Total Awards £10K Lanarkshire Community Food and Health Partnership 10,000 C.5 Community Transport: Total Awards £72K Getting Better Together 72,000 C.6 Befriending: Total Awards £852K Befriend Motherwell 8,000 CACE 20,600 Elim Christian Centre 14,228 Getting Better Together 29,000 Glenboig Development Trust 20,000 HomeStart 33,000 Orbiston Neighbourhood Centre 20,000 Volunteering Matters 29,800 YMCA Bellshill 20,000 C.7 Hospital Discharge Support Programme: Total Award £149K Getting Better Together 149,120 C.8 Physical Activities: Total Award £60K North Lanarkshire Leisure Trust 60,000 C.9 ShopMobility: Total Award £32K The Health and Wellness Hub 32,058
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57 CVS Organisation/Project Total Funding Amount (£) C.10 Support in the Right Direction (Self Director Support) Fund 2021-22: Total Awards £88K Equals Advocacy Support in the Right Direction 14,054 North Lanarkshire Disability Forum Support in the Right Direction 74,187 Appendix D Community Solutions Children and Young People Fund 2021-22: Total Awards: £331K for 52 projects across 20 CVS organisations (See main body of this report and also separate Learning and Impact Report for this Fund) CVS Organisation Project Schools’ Cluster Total Funding Amount (£) D.1 A-Jab Fitness & Emotional Support A-jabs boxing for better mental health Bellshill 6,124 D.2 Bazooka Arts Therapeutic Transitions Project Bellshill 9,184 Creative Wellbeing - A Therapeutic Arts Transitions Support Project Chryston 6,859 D.3 Getting Better Together Community Transport Coltness 2,613 D.4 Glenboig Developme nt Trust Primary Transition Airdrie Academy 4,531 Secondary Transitions 4,511 Seniors year 4 – 6 5,221
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58 With Out Walls - Braidhurst High School Braidhurst 4,897 With Out Walls – Muir Street 1 2,290 CVS Organisation Project Schools’ Cluster Total Funding Amount (£) D.4 Glenboig Developme nt Trust With Out Walls – Muir Street 3 Braidhurst 2,290 With Out Walls - Unpaid Carers Respite Motherwell 4,897 With Out Walls – Dalziel High School Dalziel 2,290 With Out Walls - Glencairn PS Motherwell 2,518 Horizon Project St Ambrose 8,515 Primary Transition 4,531 Secondary Transitions 4,511 Seniors year 4 – 6 5,221 D.5 HomeStart Practical Steps Towards Change Bellshill 4,344 D.6 Hope for Autism Support for school Transitions Airdrie Academy 4,570 Supporting Parent Carers of Autistic Children and Young People Through a Peer Group Model St Margaret’s 3,406 D.7 Lanarkshire Community Food & Health Partnership Come Dine with Us Airdrie Academy 8,000
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59 Braidhurst 9,560 Dalziel 9,536 Dalziel Nutrition 3,100 Come Dine with Us Greenfaulds 7,185 St Ambrose 8,000 CVS Organisation Project Schools’ Cluster Total Funding Amount (£) D.7 Lanarkshire Community Food & Health Partnership Big Chef Little Chef St Margaret’s 3,600 D.8 Made4UinML2 Paths to life Coltness 1,685 D.9 Make and Create Arts Positive Creations, Airdrie and St Ambrose Clusters Airdrie Academy 3,160 Positive Creations at Portland High School St Margaret’s 3,000 D.10 One Parent Families Scotland Creating Connections: Forgewood Family Learning Centre Braidhurst 5,634 Creating Connections: Ailsa Family Learning Dalziel 5,584 Creating Connections: Ladywell 5,880 Creating Connections Greenfaulds 11,568
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60 Creating Connection s - Peer Led Approach St Margaret’s 15,820 D.11 Parent Action for Safe Play Active Play / Play Champion Programme Braidhurst 2,198 Greenfaulds 10,773 St Maurice 5,120 D.12 Ponies Help Children Mental Health and Wellbeing Support Coltness 898 Greenfaulds 1,632 D.13 Reeltime Music Portland Creative Video Project St Margaret’s 1,262 D.14 Rivals School of Martial Arts Reaching positive destinations through mental health and wellbeing sessions Coltness 1,500 CVS Organisation Project Schools’ Cluster Total Funding Amount (£) D.15 Social Track Wheely Good Fun Dalziel 2,000 D.16 The Health and Wellness Hub Emotional Wellbeing in Schools Airdrie Academy 2,145 Braidhurst 2,738 571 Dalziel 1,867 St Margaret’s 6,830
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61 D.17 The Miracle Foundation Secondary School Transition Support for Young People Airdrie Academy 3,600 Supporting children and young people’s mental health Braidhurst 1,800 Calderhead 7,200 Chryston 29,800 Dalziel 4,650 Bereavement and Trauma Support Greenfaulds 4,800 D.18 VIP Arts and Sports Academy Creative Transitions Project Bellshill 8,080 Musical theatre sessions Greenfaulds 1,620 D.19 Volunteering Matters North Lanarkshire Youth Befriending Project St Maurice 5,958 D.20 YMCA Bellshill & Mossend Y-Empower – 1:1 Support Airdrie Academy & St Ambrose 14,400 Digital Youth Programme Bellshill 5,990 Digital Wellness Coltness 5,541 CVS Organisation Project Schools’ Cluster Total Funding Amount (£) D.20 YMCA Bellshill & Mossend FarmBots (teaching about environmental issues through Agri- tech software) Coltness 3,468
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63 Appendix E Community Solutions Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund 2021-22: Total Awards £1.6 million across 42 CVS organisations and 53 projects CVS Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) E.1 Airdrie Citizen's Advice Action Beyond Courage 41,081 E.2 Bazooka Arts Connect Access 38,276 Connect Community 48,653 E.3 Bipolar Scotland Enabling Groups 10,106 E.4 CACE Groups 50,000 E.5 Cloudberry Communities Natural Connections 38,000 E.6 Community Action Newarthill Summer Programme 11,034 E.7 Conservation Volunteers Natural Connections Legacy 40,975 E.8 Cruse Bereavement Bereavement Support 10,654 E.9 Cumbernauld FM Living History 35,584 E.10 Deaf Services Lanarkshire Wellbeing Activities 23,452 E.11 Deafblind Scotland Don't Worry Be Happy 10,073 E.12 Drumpellier Christian Fellowship Townhead Community Hub 37,060 E.13 Fair Play Foundation Active8 20,530 E.14 FAMS Moving Forward 35,370 E.15 Forgewood Housing Coop Taking Steps 44,484
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64 CVS Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) E.16 Getting Better Together The Parent Journey 26,649 Active Lifestyles 15,000 E.17 Glenboig Development Trust Mentoring Futures 47,675 Garden Project 49,584 Stop the World 47,117 E.18 Health & Wellness Hub Transforming Lives 47,902 E.19 Hope Community Garden Project 10,880 E.20 Kirkshaws Neighbourhood Centre Health & Wellbeing Project 21,214 E.21 Lanarkshire Association for Mental Health Wishaw Wellbeing 32,020 E.22 LAMH Recycle Personalised Community Supports with Peer Mentoring 50,000 E.23 MADE4UINML2 Wellbeing in ML2: Adults and Older People 48,834 E.24 Maggie's Lanarkshire Wellbeing Sessions 18,848 E.25 Motherwell FC The Well Hub 18,000 E.26 Motherwell Foodbank Motherwell Foodbank @ Maranatha 31,304 E.27 New Opportunities New Opportunities Project 31,239 E.28 NL Recovery Communities Peace of Mind Therapies 10,300 Cumbernauld 37,684
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65 E.29 One Parent Families Scotland Airdrie 37,684 CVS Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) E.29 One Parent Families Scotland Motherwell and Bellshill 37,684 E.30 PAMIS (people with profound and multiple learning disabilities) Wellbeing Project 12,037 E.31 Parkinson’s Self- Help Group Nurture, Develop and Grow 11,045 E.32 Rivals Martial Arts Gym Food for thought 30,000 E.33 Scottish Huntington’s Association National HD Specialist 10,188 E.34 Social Track Active Travel for Mental Health 50,000 Free Your Inner Child 49,000 E.35 Street Soccer Scotland Positive Change Through Football 10,593 E.36 The Haven (Carers’ Support) Cumbernauld, Coatbridge, Airdrie 39,700 Wishaw & Shotts, Motherwell, Bellshill 39,700 E.37 The Miracle Foundation Encouraging Growth & Resilience Mental Health Workshops 46,835 E.38 Venture Scotland Challenge Yourself, Discover Yourself 49,931 E.39 Veterans Community Lanarkshire Veterans Community 17,500
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66 E.40 Viewpark Conservation Group Mental Health and Greenspace Project 46,100 E.41 Windmills connect@windmills 10,000 CVS Organisation Project Total Funding Amount (£) E.41 Windmills (Community Café supporting training and employment of people with Learning Disabilities) familycook- in@windmills 1 27,800 skills@windmills 1 48,400 E.42 YMCA Bellshill & Mossend Virtual Wellbeing Space 19,020 [Document Ends]