We had a packed but very productive #PowerToChange Partners meeting on Friday 27th March .
The meeting started with participants sharing updates from the grassroots frontline. Lots of great work going on, but funding continues to be a struggle. There are also concerns about how the government’s proposed cuts to benefits might impact on vulnerable people. We agreed this is something we need to monitor and seek to feed our “grassroots” knowledge into key local decision makers including Liz Kendal MP, who is the Minister leading on this.
We were joined by, Surfinia Foote , Social Prescribing Link Worker, Hinckley and Bosworth Medical Alliance Ltd and John Baraclough, Team Leader (Harborough District) ,Local Area Coordinator (Broughton Astley) Public Health. Both shared how NHS and Public Health are keen to work with and support community groups to offer support to people in need before issues escalated into medical issues. This made sense to everyone, who welcomed “social prescribing”, but felt that social prescribing funding should also be going to well connected and grounded grassroots community groups, rather than setting up individual posts at GP’s.
Reaching people have been involved in a review of social prescribing and our takeaway, is that often the people best placed to deliver social prescribing are the staff based in community projects. There can be a danger that GP based social prescribing staff can become isolated. There seems to be some good examples in the county of social prescribing staff seeking to network , but our sense, is it is better still to work with and through community partners
Sangeeta Patel Joint CEO Reaching people
The group were then joined by three care experienced young people, who are part of the Leicestershire Cares supported “Joining Up, Joining In “ group., who showed their short “Change the Script Video”, which they have made with the aim of changing the way people view care experienced young people and encouraging community, public and business sector to listen to and support care experienced young people. Participants were deeply impressed by the young people and were keen to know what the could do to support the young people.
People in positions of power and influence need to really listen and act on what we say . All too often people do not really listen, and nothing comes out of them speaking with you, actions speak louder than words
Care experienced young woman
The group also shared how they had been successful in playing a major role in persuading the County, City and Rutland council to adopt care experience as a protected characteristic and are also looking into how they can get public, community and business sector to work together so that:
As the old saying goes it takes a village to raise a child and we want the people in business, public and community sector supporting and providing opportunities for our care experienced young people
Reflecting on what the young people had shared, participants felt:
“It was so inspiring to hear the young people speak”
“Those young people have shown what can be achieved, when young people work together and are supported to bring about change, totally inspiring”
“ I know we have some care experienced young people using our youth groups and I am going to see if there is more, we can do to support them”
“ So impressed and happy to help these young people in any way our organisation can, keep up the great work”
The group were then joined by Mel Aspden, Savings Product Manager, Hinckley and Rugby Building Society. Who shared details of a range of saving accounts aimed at charities, which offer, low deposit, no fee and very attractive saving rates.
Kieran Breen, The CEO of Leicestershire Cares shared:
HRBS are a really wonderful, local building society who do a lot to support the local community through business volunteering and their community grants. So, it is great to see them now offering these great accounts as another way of supporting our sector
All agreed it was great to see a building society doing this and for those who had reserves or were saving up to purchase equipment or suchlike, this was an easy way of making some additional money. Many had bank accounts, where not only did they not pay interest , but they also charged monthly fees.
The meeting ended with everyone saying how impressive the young people had been but also concerned about the impending welfare cuts and lack of funding for our sector.
Now more than ever it is really important that we work together and support each other
John Lewis The Ebb
Leicestershire cares will continue to support the group and increasingly aim to bring young people, business, public and community sector together, to share, learn, plan and deliver together so everyone can thrive.
#TogetherWeCan
Useful links
More info on CEYP video https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/news-events-/new-film-to-help-young-people-to-change-the-script/
More info on HRBS charity saving accounts https://www.hrbs.co.uk/saving-category/charity-accounts/#:~:text=We%20offer%20accounts%20with%20varying%20access%20options%20designed,available%20to%20both%20Incorporated%20and%20Unincorporated%20Registered%20Charities.
More info on our #PowerToChange approach https://www.leicestershirecares.co.uk/about-charity/our-approach/