Item 13d - CPWD Empowered DIG Update
West Dunbartonshire Council · 28 September 2022
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 28 September 2022 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Report by Chair of the Empowered DIG Management Group: 28 September 2022 _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Empowered DIG Update 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to update members on the progress of the Empowered DIG, outlining the core outcome areas of the 2022-24 workplan. 2. Recommendations 2.1 The CPP Management Group is asked to • Note the contents of the report and the work undertaken and planned. 3. Background 3.1 The Empowered DIG action plan spans three local outcomes: We live in engaged and cohesive communities; Citizens are confident, resilient and responsible and Carers are supported to address their needs. 3.2 Following recent discussions within the Management Board the group have adopted the agreed strategic themes - Empowerment, Sustainability and Wellbeing - to guide the development of the refreshed action plan. 4. Main Issues 4.1 Work continues to progress well across the 8 focussed areas of DIG activity. This report outlines the key developments during the last quarter. Increased Rate of Volunteering (Empowerment) 4.2 Scotland’s Volunteering Action Plan was formally launched by Cabinet Secretary, Shona Robison at the SCVO Gathering in June 2022. Under the auspices of the Volunteer Engagers Forum, action will be progressed during the autumn, to develop a complementary local plan, particularly addressing improving supply and demand and the volunteer experience. ITEM 13d
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4.3 Communication with a wide range of volunteer involving organisations highlights considerable sector concern around the possible implication of the growing cost of living challenges on volunteering activity. Inelastic budgets mean that while the need for volunteers is increasing, the capacity to meet the cost of volunteering e.g. travel expenses provision is not. Work is ongoing to link organisations with sources of external income and a funders fair is planned for later in the year. Implementation of the CLD Action Plan (Empowerment) 4.4 The Community Learning and Development (Scotland) Regulations 2013 place a statutory requirement on local authorities to publish a CLD plan every three years. The current plan spanning the period 2021 – 2024, offers a commitment to work collaboratively to overcome the most significant issues facing our communities. 4.5 During the Spring of 2022, the Adult Learning Partnership, in collaboration of West Dunbartonshire CVS, made a successful application to the Scottish Government Community Based Adult Learning (CBAL) Recovery Fund for resources to: • Increased engagement and support for adult learners and communities who need it most, including those disproportionately disadvantaged by COVID-19 • Increased access to face to face learning opportunities with a focus on supporting educational, social and emotional recovery and renewal • Increased digital inclusion through the development of digital skills and the improvement of digital infrastructure for learning • Increased opportunities for adult learners to improve their health and well- being. • Stronger social connections between adult learners, their communities and wider networks to tackle isolation and loneliness. • Improved outcomes for adult learners through, for example, the achievement of qualifications and the provision of positive pathways that build confidence and develop skills for learning, life and work. 4.6 The West Dunbartonshire investment bid aligned resources to purchasing ‘Classroom in a Box’ resources to allow greater digital access across the authority, increasing the range of courses available and facilitating access via support for travel costs and neighbourhood level outreach. 4.7 Despite some delays due to equipment supply, the £39,000 fund has already successfully supported 116 adult learners.
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Support to improve community mental health and wellbeing (Wellbeing) 4.8 Following the recent announcement of year 2 Community Mental Health and Wellbeing funding, work is underway to be ready to launch the £266,000 fund in October 2022. 4.9 The Fund, distributed by West Dunbartonshire CVS as the Third Sector Interface (TSI’s), reflects the importance placed on community support as part of the overall mental health infrastructure. Applications to the fund can only be accepted from voluntary, ‘not for profit’ organisations, associations, groups and clubs or consortiums/partnerships which have a strong community focus for their activities. 4.10 In 2022-23, the fund will again have a focus on: • Tackling priority issues within the Transition and Recovery Plan such as suicide prevention, social isolation and loneliness, prevention and early intervention • Addressing the mental health inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic and the needs of a range of ‘at risk’ groups locally • Supporting small ‘grass roots’ community groups and organisations to deliver such activities • Providing opportunities for people to connect with each other, build trusted relationships and revitalise communities • Supporting recovery and creativity locally by building on what is already in place. 4.11 Details of the communication and engagement plan are currently being finalised and a series of on-line awareness sessions for potential applicants will take place during September. Oversight of Dementia Friendly West Dunbartonshire (Wellbeing) 4.12 Dementia Friendly West Dunbartonshire (DFWD), is a cross-sector authority wide initiative, commenced initially in 2015, providing a programme of community level awareness raising. Built on an active citizenship model, the initiative provides free awareness raising sessions for organisation and businesses across the authority area, in return for a pledge. 4.13 The 2022 refresh plan has moved apace during the last quarter and has seen: • A re-development of the DFWD page on the WDCVS website, linking to session booking and general information • Work commence on a new suite of resources included Hints and Tips cards and business posters • Refresh of the DFWD Twitter account, managed by DFWD Steering Group members • Recruitment of 2 champion volunteers to work through previous contacts and offer refreshed sessions • Delivery of awareness training to 108 local residents.
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4.14 External funding received from the Life Changes Trust, has also seen a successful Call Blocker initiative, reducing the prevalence of telephone financial scam calls for those most vulnerable. Partners in this initiative were Police Scotland, WDCVS and Lomond and Clyde Care and Repair. 5. People Implications 5.1 There are no personnel issues at this time 6. Financial Implications 6.1 There are no funding issues at this time. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 There are no specific unassessed risks relating to this report 8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 There are no specific EIA requirements relating to this report 9. Consultation 9.1 Ongoing consultation activity is taking place across both the DIG membership and the Chairs Group to ensure plans are complementary and offer added value. 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 The contents of this report could impact on all community planning strategic priority areas. Person to Contact: Selina Ross selina@wdcvs.com Background Papers: Wards Affected: All