Ever wondered just what all that regeneration terminology actually means? In each issue, we'll explain the jargon:
Ongoing review of the measurable achievements of projects which are known as outputs.
Combines community-led action with business activities aimed at economic development and social gain. Community enterprises have explicit social aims and are accountable to their communities. They are independent but work in partnership with others. Residents' Services Organisations are community enterprises.
Development work that strengthens the ability of local people and community groups to build their structures, systems and skills, so that they are better able to define and achieve objectives, engage in consultation and planning, manage projects and take part in partnerships and community enterprises.
Regeneration activities work best if the local community gets involved and 'owns' the initiatives occurring around them. This can sometimes be difficult as local people, whether individuals or community groups, may need to learn new skills to set up community groups and community enterprises or apply for grant funding, for example. The work of the Community Regeneration Unit, who held their official launch in March, addresses this by providing training and skill development, as well as offering opportunities for local people to participate in community activities, social enterprise and local regeneration.
To get involved for the benefit of your community, contact the Community Regeneration Unit on 01424 446373.
Almost a third of the 15-17 year-old girls that get pregnant in East Sussex live in Hastings. This is a total of 275 each year and 23 each month.
The pressures facing teenagers who have an unwanted or unplanned baby on the way include worries about health, finance, education and family concerns can be overwhelming.
Most teenagers that become pregnant wish they knew more about contraception and had access to more information and advice. The Hastings and St Leonards Primary Care Trust and the Hastings Regeneration Partnership have put together a project that funds a worker to focus on reducing pregnancy rates through education, as well as supporting young parents. The project runs media campaigns to improve awareness of preventative measures and to give out regular, relevant and accurate information to young people.
Better information is key to prevention and one school aged Mum said: "It's important to tell kids how to use contraception properly because I fell pregnant while I was on the pill."
The project is providing:
If you would like to know more about the services provided by the project, please contact the Primary Care Trust on 01424 457100 and ask for the Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual Health Management Lead.
Having improved the facilities at 34 childcare nurseries, playgroups and parent and toddler groups, a two-year project managed by the Hastings Country District Under Fives Association has achieved its aims and come to a close.
Hastings Regeneration Partnership (HRP) provided the lion's share of the £180,000 used to buy play equipment, provide outdoor play areas, build good fencing to make outdoor play areas more secure, provide storage facilities, extend buildings and in one case, fund the building of a disabled toilet. Money was also used to buy computers for staff and children to use, to provide staff training and in some cases even to pay for extra staff and to retain staff when nursery funds simply ran dry.
HRP provided nearly £87K to the project, other funders included East Sussex County Council and Sure Start who provided £13K each and the nurseries that are business matched half of the costs themselves, contributing over £54,000.
The results speak for themselves. Through the 34 groups that won funding, the scheme has directly benefited 1,740 children, as well as creating 24 new jobs and safeguarding 22 other jobs. But the most impressive statistic of all is that 219 new childcare places have been created through this project alone, meaning that more parents have the potential to go out to work or go and train for work. Project leader, Claire Power says, "Hastings & St Leonards has the youngest population in Sussex. Now, more children can interact, learn through play in safe, high quality environments throughout the town. Together with our partners we are proud to be able to provide our children with the best possible start."
Every project receiving funds from the Hastings Regeneration Partnership reports on both expenditure and the result of their activities over the year. Here is a selection of this year's achievements.
The Ore Valley Residents Services Organisation held a re-launch at Horntye Park Sports Complex in May which was attended by Michael Foster MP, housing associations and councillors. Residents Services Organisations (RSO) are new to Britain. They are community led businesses which create jobs for local people whilst enabling them to improve their neighbourhood.
Ore Valley has the very first RSO in the country and is supported by 1066 Housing Association and the Single Regeneration Budget. It offers vulnerable residents a decorating service, for the cost of materials only. It also carries out environmental works such as landscaping and clearing litter, as well as performing playground inspections to ensure a safe environment for the youngsters of Ore Valley. The aim of the re-launch day was to promote its activities to the wider public and business community, and ultimately attract more paying contractual work and create more local jobs.
You can contact Ore Valley Residents Services Organisation's manager David Jeapes on 01424 203714.
Hastings Regeneration Partnership brings together the voluntary, public and private sectors to spend £26 million Single Regeneration Budget money provided through South East England Development Agency. With matched funding, the 100 local projects pull in a total of £128 million for social, economic and physical regeneration.
The Partnership can be contacted on 01424 781781
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This page last updated: 03/07/2003