Item 12 - Empowered DIG report - Apr 2024
West Dunbartonshire Council · 16 May 2024
Back to Community Planning West Dunbartonshire Management Board — 16 May 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
Page 1
Management Board Meeting Development and Improvement Groups (DIGs): Highlights and Issues Report FOR INFORMATION ONLY X FOR DECISION Name of DIG Empowered Date of report 16 April 2024 Name and email of lead contact Selina Ross selina@wdcvs.com 1 Highlights of activity and progress since last meeting All due actions from the 2023/4 plan have been completed as scheduled. Highlights to draw to the attention of the Board are: Walk Friendly West Dunbartonshire All activity is supported by a cross-sector forum, which meets quarterly, to collaboratively support and promote the development of health walks and physical activity across the authority area. In addition to taking forward the production and promotion of accessible walk route maps, the group have led on local activity underpinning the national ‘Walk This May’ promotional campaign. This will be launched in the w/c 29th April 2024. Volunteer Strategy Implementation of the CPWD Volunteering Strategy has progressed well with a number of actions achieved including: • 12% increase in the number of available volunteering opportunities • 16% increase in number of local residents starting a volunteering journey (from 22/23 figures) • Increased levels of Employer Supported Volunteering enquiries • 65% return rate for the Volunteer Managers Survey • 30% increase in take up of local accreditation schemes. Work is ongoing, via the InVOLve Forum, to establish priorities for the coming year. These are likely to include: • Increasing the number of Volunteer Involving Organisations who provide travel expenses • Creation of a dedicated volunteer managers skills development programme • Supporting the roll-out of the new PVG legislation requirements • Guide to Volunteering in West Dunbartonshire ITEM 12
Page 2
Inclusive Volunteering A key 23/24 action has been establishing activities required to make volunteering more inclusive and accessible to all residents of West Dunbartonshire. A short life working group has completed a full sector consultation exercise, the results of which have provided a number of keys actions for the 24/5 period. These include: • Development and roll-out of an inclusive volunteering toolkit for volunteering organisations • Development of a shared induction programme • Structured support for organisations seeking external funding to support accessibility • Programme of guest speakers on EDI issues to attend third sector forum meetings. Digital Engagement There remains a digital divide across West Dunbartonshire. Mapping has suggested that over-65s and disabled people remain less connected and often lacking the technology to get online. With more services moving online it is important that we maintain focus on ensuring everyone, whatever their age, location or situation can benefit from the opportunities digital brings. Feedback suggests the need for a single access guide that signposts local residents to resources and support to help them overcome digital barriers. Working is now underway on this bringing together information on assistive technology; digital skills and skills courses; broadband and mobile connectivity; and advice about staying safe online. Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund As previously noted, the 2023/4 fund of £265,000 was awarded in February 2024. Grant administration processes are now complete, and the full list of awardees are: Antonine Sports Centre – Exercise Buddying Scheme £ 9,950 Awestruck Academy – Community Access Sessions £ 24,400 Clifftop Projects – Adult Art Classes £ 3,298 DACA – Service Workshops £ 16,738 Flourishing Faifley - Development of Men’s Group £13,947 Kinship Carers WD - Holiday Caravan Provision £10,200 Mentor Scotland – Peer Support Programme £24,500 MECOPP – Gypsy Traveller Support programme £ 9,900 OK Food Parcels - Cost of Living/Isolation project £10,000 Quarriers - Carers Support Programme £ 9,380 Relaxation and Therapy Group – Activity Programme £ 6,025 Stepping Stones - Men’s Group £ 9,860 Vale of Leven Football Club – Pitch Fees £ 5,000 WDEMA – Drop In and Therapies £ 4,200 WDMHF – Networking Forum and Coffee & Chat £17,050 Glasgow Rape Crisis - Additional Service Sessions £ 7,200 BiPolar Scotland – Peer Support £ 4,720 Clyde Shopmobility – Health and Wellbeing Sessions £ 8,650 Community Links Scotland – Healthy Pathways £10,475 Vale of Leven Trust – Activity and Staff Costs £24,500 Families Outside – Prison Family Support Project £ 9,823
Page 3
Outside the Box - Migrant Womens Support £ 9353 WD Athletics Club - Expanding physical activity £ 2,200 PAMIS – Profound and Multiple Disability Activity £ 4,677 Thera Trust/Equal Futures – Learning Disability Network £ 9,237 Notification has been received from Scottish Government of funding for a fourth year of the Fund. Indications are that the grant will be of a similar value to the 2023/4 award. This will go live in early Autumn 2024. Community Soup The Community Soup Model of Local Democracy continues to be rolled-out across West Dunbartonshire by the Communities Team. Community Soups are crowd funding events that brings together local people to provide financial support for projects and ideas which benefit communities and groups. Local groups present their ideas at the Soup event and those attending vote for the idea they think should receive the available funding. It has proved is a useful event for engaging those we don’t often hear from as discussion feels natural as people gather to enjoy a meal together. Old Kilpatrick Community Council successfully delivered their first Community Soup event on 15 March with support from the Communities Team and the Soup Toolkit. Over 65 people attended and a number of local groups pitching their projects to win the funding. The next planned Soup is being hosted by Golden Friendships in April. Old Kilpatrick Community Soup was the 7th organised within WDC since 2020 with a further two planned for the near future. This project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Locality Plans Three locality plans are close to completion and will be presented to CPWD in August. These cover the Leven, Dumbarton and Clydebank Waterfront localities and have included significant community engagement that has ensured meaningful local influence. This has included engaging with over 200 people at a number of local events and securing over 170 responses to an on-line survey. 2 Outline of any issues/risks and how these are being managed No current issues or risks to report. 3 Outline of the main outputs expected before next meeting The DIG members will meet to consider the 24/25 action plan, to be presented to the Management Board for approval. 4 What are your requirements of partners in the Community Planning Management Board to achieve the outcomes of the DIG?
Page 4
No current requests 5 Please outline any good news story you wish to share