The Single Community Programme

(Formerly the The Community Empowerment Fund)

Launched in 2002, The Community Empowerment Fund was designed to help and support the involvement of voluntary and community groups in the Local Strategic Partnership in the 88 areas, which are eligible for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

In 2005, the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit's three Community Participation programmes (including the Community Empowerment Fund) were merged into the Single Community Programme in April 2005.

• Develop a more strategic and coherent approach to the use of wider community participation resources.
• Encourage the Network to focus on the delivery of programme objectives.
• Provide greater flexibility in the way resources are used so they reflect the needs of different areas.
• Ensure that the Single Community Programme's grant-making and community development activities are mutually reinforcing.

In Wansbeck The Single Community Programme has four objectives:

• To maintain Wansbeck Voluntary and Community Sector Network so that it engages fully in the Local Strategic Partnership.
• To support community learning through small grants and the development of learning strategies.
• To support the development of active and resourceful communities by providing small grants.
• To support community involvement in neighbourhood-level partnerships so that residents can play a central role in driving neighbourhood renewal.

In short The Single Community Programme exists to make sure that people in the Wansbeck area have the opportunity to have their say, the skills and confidence to take a leading role in improving their neighbourhood - so make sure that your voluntary / community group is part of it.

For more details on The Netwotk click here: network

Safer and Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF)

Safer and Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF) brings together various Office of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Office funds aimed at tackling crime, reducing the harm caused by illegal drugs and anti-social behaviour and improving local environments.

Funding streams that can be included in SSCF are:

• Building safer communities
• Anti-social behaviour allocation
• Home Office Regional Directors Fund
• Business Crime
• Domestic Violence
• Crime Reduction Capital
• Tackling Violent Crime programme
• Drug Action Team partnership support grant
• Single Community Programme
• Liveability Fund
• Neighbourhood Wardens
• Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders
• Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
• Community Empowerment Network

In each area a partnership made up of Local Authorities, Local Strategic Partnerships (LSP), Crime and Disorder Partnerships (CDRP), Drug Action Teams, voluntary and community members and other partners will decide on outcomes required from the fund and will agree how to spend the funding allocated to their area to meet those outcomes.

Community involvement is crucial to the ethos of SSCF. The agreement will actively involve the voluntary and community sector in the design and delivery of the Agreement, working through existing Wansbeck Voluntary and Community Sector Network.

For more details about the Safer & Stronger Communities Fund (SSCF) VONNE have produced a briefing, which can be accessed at:

http://www.vonne.co.uk/issues/localgov/SSCF%20briefing.doc

For more details about The Single Community Programme, the Safer & Stronger Communities Fund or how your voluntary or community group can benefit please contact Bill Gale, Amanda Sayers or Kevin Wright at Wansbeck Council For Voluntary Service on 01670 858 688 or alternatively e-mail:

cef@wansbeckcvs.org.uk
cefadmin@wansbeckcvs.org.uk
ceftrain@wansbeckcvs.org.uk

Links:

Compact (The) www.thecompact.org.uk
Neighbourhood Renewal Unit www.neighbourhood.gov.uk

Wansbeck Council for Voluntary Service
107 & 109 Station Road, Ashington, Northumberland NE63 8RS
Telephone: 01670 858 688
Fax: 01670 784160

Email: enquire@wansbeckcvs.org.uk