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Government outlines £12m plan to re-connect with communities
26 October 2009
Communities Secretary John Denham has outlined a £12m plan to reinvigorate and connect with communities that are feeling the pressure from recession most acutely, to ensure they are well placed to emerge stronger and more cohesive.
Around 100 areas of the country have been identified as the focus of a targeted programme of work. The first 27 neighbourhoods that will be involved in the initial phase have been identified, including four in the North West: Little Harwood (Blackburn with Darwen), Ellesmere Port (Cheshire West and Chester), Cleator Moor (Cumbria) and Speke (Liverpool).
Practical actions will focus on developing a real insight into what is happening in those communities and introduce changes that will address local people’s concerns, reconnect them with jobs and tackle the real and perceived sense of unfairness some people are feeling.
The communities involved vary considerably and the challenges are different from place to place, but there are several key common issues:
- a decline in traditional jobs in predominantly white areas and worries about young people’s future;
- recent migration is perceived as having changed communities and created competition for jobs and resources like social housing;
- anti-social behaviour - although fallen across the country - remains a real challenge and can create tensions between the majority of hard working families and the troublesome minority.
To support this programme CLG is publishing new guidance:
- Building Cohesive Communities - what frontline staff and community activists need to know and other cohesion guidance
- Further information about the initiative and the full list of localities: Connecting Communities
Featured Event
Open Public Services - Passage of a bill workshop
This VSNW/Parliamentary Outreach Service event will explore the stages that the bill would go through, their relative importance and ways to engage and influence
Featured News
Two days left to enter our case study competition - prizes up for grabs!
We are inviting local groups and local or regional infrastructure organisations from across the North West to submit ideas for Listen Value Invest 2012 case studies about their work and how they are adjusting to the new environment
Transforming Local Infrastructure Fund results announced
The beneficiaries of the £30 million fund to help transform and modernise local charity support services have been announced by Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society.
Relaunch of Voluntary Sector Cuts Website
The Voluntary Sector Cuts website has now been relaunched with additional functionality to enable VCS organisations to records cuts to funding and their effects
Events & Trainings
VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West
