Welcome!The event will start at 12:15

Tweet us at #HartActionLab and @HartActionLab

The Hartlepool Action Lab

The approach:1. Community based participatory research 2. Four day facilitated workshop3. Multi-agency projects4. Evaluation

PTE

Connectwithrangeofsuitablepotentialfunders

Sourcepotentialhouses

Continuebuildingengagementwithyoungpeople

ByMarch2017wewillhavefundingcommitted;andwillhaveidentifiedand

chosenourfirstproperty

1

2

3

Wewroteabusinessplan…

…andmetwithinvestors

…andsearchedforproperties

Westartedraisingourprofile...

1.Reducingnumberofemptyproperties

2.EmpoweringYouth

StrongerNeighbourhoods

StrongerNeighbourhoodsVisionThe Stronger Neighbourhoods vision is to create neighbourhoods where:Neighbours know and look out for each other

Residents have the confidence and skills to take actions on issues important to them in their communities

Those who feel isolated are helped to feel less lonely and are able to connect to activities and services in their communities

Values and neighbourliness are embedded in all generations

100DaySprint–Launch of Brighter Brus

• During the 100 day sprint our first task was to produce an evidence base on neighbourhoods that would benefit – this was completed in July and the Brus area was chosen as the pilot

• In August we conducted a small piece of research in the Brus and broader West View area – we talked to over 200 residents who told us about their experience of living in the area

• Common themes that came out of the research included; more activities to bring the community together; improving the local environment, safety, and transport

100 Day Goal

Engage with 100 residents

Hold a community event

BrighterBrusCommunityEvent

Action Lab Revisited …….. from a Sprint to a

Marathon

New Short Term Goal

To have a cohesive empowered group with a clear idea of what

it wants to do and the beginnings of a project idea

By March 2017

New Short Term Goal

‘To have a cohesive empowered group with a clear idea of what

it wants to do and the beginnings of a project idea

By March 2017’

Primary DriversTo keep the conversation going

with residents in the area

Inspire people to get involved in taking collective action on issues

important to them

Identify sustainability beyond The 100 days

New Short Term Goal

‘To have a cohesive empowered group with a clear idea of what

it wants to do and the beginnings of a project idea

By March 2017’

Primary DriversTo keep the conversation going

with residents in the area

Inspire people to get involved in taking collective action on issues

important to them

Identify sustainability beyond The 100 days

‘KeepingtheConversationsgoing’

• At the beginning of December we produced and delivered a Christmas card to households across the area, informing of progress so far and inviting people to get in touch

• In December we held a ‘Turkey Bun and Stuffing’ event to offer support to local residents who were interested in joining the journey to create a ‘Brighter Brus’

• In January a meeting took place with Ward Councillors who pledged their support and provided further feedback to the community on the Brighter Brus project through their regular Councillors newsletter

• Since December regular meetings have been held with a small group of residents interested in improving their local area

Inspiringresidentstotakecollectiveaction

• Regular meetings have resulted in the development of a ‘Brighter Brus Action Group’

• A short term action plan has been produced and the group have recently met with some local agencies to discuss local issues

• Through these contacts residents have already inspired others to take action in the area - working with residents agencies held an Operation Pledge in the local area last week and resident activists also participated in the ‘Great British Spring Clean’

• The group is interested in developing a number of activities such as community walks and history events but is starting to plan a ‘Big Lunch’ event to bring the community together which will hopefully take place in June

TakingAction

WhatisthelinkbetweenStrongerNeighbourhoodsandtheimpactofpovertyinHartlepool?

NeighbourhoodAreas

1. KingOswy2. Brus3. CentralEstate4. Headland&

Harbour5. DykeHouse6. Victoria7. Burbank8. Stranton9. BurnValley10. BelleVue11. RiftHouse12. ManorHouse13. JutlandRoad

Sustainability– whathavewelearnt?

Sustainability– whatnext?Enlist the support of key organisations In the Stronger Neighbourhoods Partnership – meeting 13 March

Thirteen GroupHartlepool Churches Together HBC Public Health Police Changing Futures North EastAsylum Seekers and Refugee GroupBelle Vue Centre West View Advice and Resource CentreHBC Community EngagementWharton Trust Age UKJoseph Rowntree Foundation

Identify a lead organisation(s) that will help us.....

To drive forward the vision

To bid for funds

To employ staff/hold funds

To co-ordinate involvement of Stakeholders

To administer the StrongerNeighbourhoods Partnership

Steven“Everyone deserves a chance no matter where you’re from.”

ChildandFamilyPoverty–aStrategyforHartlepool

Whatdoweknow?

• 31%ofourchildrenandyoungpeopleliveinpovertycomparedto21%nationally- 5,590childrenandyoungpeople

• Morethanhalfofchildrenlivinginpovertyareinafamilywhereatleastoneadultworks(55%)

• 69%offamilieshavenosavingsandareunabletocopeinacrisis

• Hartlepoolis£42millionworseoffthroughreformssuchasTheBenefitCap,CouncilTaxBenefit,changesinHousingAllowancesandtheUnderOccupationCharge(ANEC,2013).

Whatareweseeing?

• Impactofwelfarereformistakinghold• UniversalCreditclaimantsstrugglingtomanagethe6weekwaitingperiod• RisingdemandforFoodbankvouchersandfoodsupport• Dailyrequestsforcouncilcrisisfund– food,gas,electricity,clothing• RepetitiverequestsforDHP– helpwithrent• Significantlevelsofdebt(lotsof‘small’amounts)andillegalmoneylending• Significantevictionreferralswithrentarrearstotallinginexcessof£1500-£4000perfamily

• IncreasedpressureofChildren’sSocialCare.

Whatareourpriorities?

• Mitigatetheimpactofpovertyonchildrenandfamilies

• Buildpathwaysoutofpovertyforchildrenandyoungpeople

• Createnewopportunitiesforadultstoreducechildandfamilypoverty.

Whatcouldwedotoseesomeimmediateimpact?

• Knowhowandwheretogethelpearlybeforecrisispoint;buildstronger(family/community)relationshipstoincreaseresilience

• Maximiseentitlements;makegooduseofmoney;teachourchildrenandyoungpeoplepracticalmoneyskillsincludingsaving

• Challengepublicperception– ‘therearenojobs’;‘poorpeopleneedtogetajob’;‘benefitscroungers’;‘foreignerstakingourjobs’

• Foodpoverty– letsgetorganisedandmakeuseofwhat’savailableandalreadyoutthere!

Whatarewegoodat?

• Strong,establishednetworkorpeople,agenciesandorganisationsacrossthetownwhoarepassionateaboutmakingadifference

• Excellenteducatorswhoaremakingadifferencetothelivesofourmostdisadvantagedchildrenandyoungpeople

• Beingcreativeandresourceful– flexingtomeetneed

• Workingtogether.

ChildandFamilyPoverty–itseveryone’sbusiness!

The Hartlepool Action Lab: Learning & moving forward

Over to you!From your professional – or where appropriate, personal

– perspective, what are the main issues around poverty in Hartlepool?

Think about: where can we have an impact?

• Take five minutes to write your individual answer on the Discussion form

• Then discuss as a group

Thank you for your participation!