NEWS & EVENTS
*Luton Assembly 2012*
New Arrangements for the Luton Assembly
Luton Assembly’s current work programme and funding has successfully completed and after 10yrs of strategically representing Luton’s VCS and communities, it has been necessary to review its method of operation.
Although the Assembly and its Representatives will continue, as from today (30th March), there will no longer be a support team. This will mean that the VCS and other stakeholders should contact the Luton Assembly Representatives directly. All of the Representatives' contact details can be found on the Luton Assembly Website at http://www.lutonassembly.org.uk/representatives.htm
Those of you interested in the Stronger & Safer agenda should continue to contact Alyson Horwood (stronger.safer@valuton.org.uk) who remains in post until the end of June 2012.
My team and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those who have worked in partnership with Luton Assembly to improve the quality of life for Lutonians and the organisations who work on their behalf.
Lorna Brown, Operations Manager
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EEmpowering the Voluntary Sector advice line
020 7520 3161
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Concerned that a cut to your funding was made disproportionately, without consultation or unfairly? The Empowering the Voluntary Sector project offers free advice to organisations who feel that a decision to cut their funding was made in a non-Compact compliant way or has breached public law.
Contact them on 020 7520 3161 or evsadvice@ncvo-vol.org.uk for instant advice to your organisation, for direct support in challenging decisions or just to find out more about how they can help you.
Organisations in North Yorkshire and York recently called for help and as a result got a much better outcome- See the NAVCA website for the full story. |
Planning Your Community
Thursday 1st December 2011
9.45am - 1.30pm
The Luton Assembly hosted another event in partnership with Planning Aid England and Luton Borough Council. An innovative half day conference with many informative speakers, including Chris Padgin, Head of Planning & Transportation at Luton Borough Council.
A public event, open to everyone who was interested in attending, that gave a clear understanding of the planning system and the opportunities it offers to individuals and the community.
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Group discussions |
Chris Padgin presenting |
Martin Harradine leading the workshops |
A member of the Planning Aid staff, Stella Meesters, the Community Planning Outreach Co-ordinator for the area, explained more about Planning Aid England and the services they deliver. Martin Harradine, a Chartered Town Planner and an experienced Planning Aid volunteer, talked us through the Planning System and the recent changes being made to it. The Head of Planning, Chris Padgin, revealed that after 4 years of joint working ended with both councils' agreeing to withdraw the Core Stategy. He also disclosed that the way forward for Luton is to develop a new Local Plan.
This was followed by interactive workshops looking at Neighbourhood Planning and group discussions. The morning was rounded up by examples of good practise in local community planning from Groundwork Bedfordshire & Luton, ably presented by Natalie Offord and from BRCC (Beds Rural Communities Charity), aptly presented by Cliff Andrews.
Special thanks to David Oakley-Hill (Chair of Environment & Economy Network Committee) who acted as compere.
All presentations from the day are available on our website via our Downloads page.
>Click here if you would like to be re-directed to the Downloads page<
- could it work for you?"
To find out more about Planning Aid England visit their website: www.rtpi.org.uk/planningaid
Linda Farrell named as ‘Lutonian of the Year’
Assembly Vice Chair given prestigious award
We are very proud to announce that one of our Representatives was named ‘Lutonian of the Year’ at the Best of Luton Awards 2011. Linda Farrell, currently manages SNAP (Social Needs Awareness Project), an arts and media project which provides positive activities and advice for young people. Linda has been active in the voluntary and community sector for over 30 years. She has been a representative of the Luton Assembly since its inception.
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“The response has once again been amazing”, said Cllr Hazel Simmons, Leader of the Council and Chair of event organisers at the Luton Forum. “The judging panel was made up of representatives from our sponsors and I know that they had a really difficult time picking the finalists from so many excellent nominations. I would like to thank them, all of the nominees and those who took the time to put their names forward.”
The judges for this year’s Luton’s Best Awards have had a tough job in deciding who to shortlist for the honours out of more than 400 nominations. The winners were announced at the awards ceremony on Thursday December 8th at Luton Hoo Hotel.
Congratulations Linda!
Supporting Marsh Farm Community Forum
Assembly Outreach
Luton Assembly Co-ordinator, Sue Vitty, has been working with Marsh Farm Community Forum along side Partnership Manager and Community Advisor, Montell Neufville. The Forum is made up of local residents who care passionately about ensuring things are done for and happen within the community at Marsh Farm. They meet on the third Thursday of each month, with meetings open to all residents. There are also partner updates from organisations such as the local police and Marsh Farm Futures and provides the opportunity for residents to put their viewpoints across on issues of concern to them. The Community Forum is there to ensure local residents have a voice to influence what happens in the community, hold organisations to account for delivering on their duties and spending public funds, engage local people into their communities and support community events.
Forthcoming Meetings:6.30pm - 8.30pm on
- Thursday 15th December 2011,
- Thursday 19th January 2012,
- Thursday 16th February 2012,
- Thursday 15th March 2012,
- Tuesday 10th April 2012,
in Futures House, The Moakes, Marsh Farm, Luton, LU3 3QB.
Marsh Farm Community Forum elects new leaders
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From left to right: Back row: Kayode, Craig, Jean (Secretary), Sonia (Joint Chair) Front row: Jackie (Joint Chair), Khadeem (Vice Chair) |
Jackie Palmer and Sonia McPherson have been elected as Joint chairs of the Marsh Farm Community Forum. Working alongside Khadeem Rashid who is the vice chair, they intend to make sure that residents have an influential voice to help improve the quality of life for local people and to hold organisations to account.
Jackie’s main responsibility will be to work with partner organisations while Sonia will focus on working with and engaging residents. One of their first tasks is to set up a Community Forum Executive Committee where local people from the Community Forum will take responsibility for areas of interest to themselves to work on behalf of the community.
Community Forum members completed the ‘Developing Local Communities’ training course earlier this year in order to prepare for their roles, which they found to be educational and a real eye opener. Included in the course were topics such as ‘Engaging local Residents’, ‘Social Policy’ and ‘Managing Conflict in Communities’.
Jackie said “as a resident of Marsh Farm who has benefited from the New Deal funding in the past, it is a real privilege to be able to serve the community in this way. We look forward to breaking old stereotypes and helping residents to have a real voice. We have a great team in place and welcome all residents who would like to join the forum”.
Sonia added “I’ve lived in Marsh farm for 36 years and I’ve been involved in the Marsh Farm Community Forum. I would like to make a real difference for the community by helping in as many ways as possible and also by welcoming as many residents as possible to join the Forum and have a voice.”
TOKKO Business Lunch with Sir Steven Redgrave
Tuesday 20th September 2011
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| Steve Redgrave & the kids from TOKKO |
The TOKKO Business Lunch saw Five times Olympic Gold medallist, Sir Steve Redgrave arrived in town to motivate local businesses to support Luton’s Myplace project, TOKKO, the £4.8million world class youth facility being constructed in the centre of town.
Sir Steve Redgrave gave a motivational presentation at the TOKKO Business Lunch, after listening to an inspirational group of young people describe the story of how TOKKO has come to fruition. The project has been driven by young people from day one and when the TOKKO facility opens in January 2013, it will feature a range of positive activities in a safe and fun environment.
The Business Lunch held at Hightown Sports & Arts Centre brought together the Business Sector with the Voluntary Community Sector in their mutual support of TOKKO and its youngsters. Sir Steve Redgrave was not the only athlete to praise the project, as Luton Town Footballers, Shane Blackett, Freddie Murray and Charlie Henry also came along to lend their support.
Everton Blake, Executive Director of Voluntary Action Luton (the lead organisation behind TOKKO) also spoke at the event, along with Cllr Tahir Khan, Executive Member responsible for children’s services and Martin Pratt, Corporate Director for Children and Learning, Martin Pratt.
Everton Blake said: “Because of the hard work being done by young people in the planning of TOKKO, we can be sure that it will be a centre that really fits their needs.”
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Steve Redgrave & Luton Town Footballers who came to lend their support |
The event was highly publicised in the media, including all the local press and a segment on Anglia News.
For more information, get in touch with the TOKKO team.
email: myplace.admin@valuton.org.uk
Healthy Communities & Safeguarding
Luton Assembly launches a new network committee
The Luton Assembly has gone through a few structural changes recently and as result, the well-known VISION4 Children & Young People Committee has merged with the the Health & Well Being Committee. This network will share information, views and communicate about relevant issues to providers of services relating to children, young people and health and wellbeing. The merger has created the new Healthy Communities & Safeguarding network.
The Luton Assembly continues to cover all four theme areas (Children & Young People, Environment & Economy, Health & WellBeing, Stronger & Safer) but now operates with three network committees:
Environment & Economy
Healthy Communities & Safeguarding
Stronger & Safer
If you would like to find out more, please get in touch with an Assembly Representative. Their details can be found by clicking here.
Building Our Future Together
Saturday 10th September 2011
The ‘Building Our Future Together’ Event has been postponed for another date.
This Event was to be a joint venture between the Luton Borough Council, Voluntary Action Luton and the Luton Assembly. Unfortunately, several community events are also due to take place at the same time and after careful consideration, a joint decision has been taken to cancel the event on Saturday and re-schedule to take place at a later date. This is to ensure maximum VCS representation at such an important event.
Keep checking this page regularly, as we will be releasing details of the rescheduled event soon.
Alternatively, you can email your queries to Salma directly at: assembly.admin@valuton.org.uk
Luton Family Poverty Strategy 2011 - 2014
The draft Family Poverty Strategy 2011 - 2014 is now available for viewing
You can contribute to the consultation that is now open for a Tackling Family Poverty Strategy for Luton.
Please click on the link below to view the documents;
http://www.luton.gov.uk/internet/references/do_it_online/current%20consultations1/tackling%20family%20poverty%20in%20luton
The consultation outlines the draft vision, principles aims and key actions to Tackle Family Poverty in Luton. There is a range of background information and research available (please follow the link above) to provide context and evidence underpinning the strategy.
There is a 15 minute survey to take part in consultation on this strategy (https://secure.luton.gov.uk/surveys/family_poverty_strategy/)
Please complete and submit your response by Friday 23rd September 2011.
If you would like further information or help with the survey, contact Sarah Allen at LBC.
Her details can be seen below:
Sarah Allen (Social Justice Manager)
Email: sarah.allen@luton.gov.uk
Tel: 01582 546979
A Full Assembly Event took place on 6th July 2011
Luton Assembly Event: 6th July 2011 (9:30 – 12:30)
The world is changing and Luton Assembly aims to change with it!
To ensure the voice of the voluntary and community sector remains relevant at a strategic level, Toby Blume, Chief Executive of Urban Forum, provided us with his extensive insight. Toby Blume is a long-standing and experienced advocate of the voluntary and community sector, having worked with central and local governments on issues such as social change and community empowerment and spoke at the event.
Toby is Urban Forum's chief executive, leading the organisation's policy work and government relations. Toby has served on a number of governmental advisory groups on LSPs, empowerment and sustainable development and was recently appointed to CLG's Third Sector Partnership Board. Toby is the author of the Handy Guide to Local Area Agreements. Toby was runner-up in the 2008 Most Admired Charity Chief Executive awards. He chairs a charitable trust that provides grants to Gypsies and Travellers and is currently obsessed with banking reform.
Urban Forum is a national charity and a membership organisation that supports communities to have a greater say over decisions that affect them. They work to influence government policy and by supporting their members to influence decision-making locally. By gathering evidence and feedback from their members they act as a bridge between policy-makers in central government and local community groups operating on the ground.
To find out more about Urban Forum visit their website: www.urbanforum.org.uk
The Event was covered in the Press by Luton News, which heralded Toby Blume as a Champion of the Voluntary and Community Sector. To read the full article click on the image below:
Click above on the picture to access the news piece.
If you would like to find out more about this event or to see the presentations from the day, please visit our Downloads page.
>Click here to be re-directed to the 'Downloads' page
Luton's Joint Commissioning Strategy for People with Dementia - Consultation
The Joint Commissioning Strategy for People with Dementia sets out Luton’s vision for the development and commissioning of services and support for people with Dementia and their carers.
This strategy represents a ‘work in progress’. It documents a transitional stage in commissioning dementia services, which will take us towards a more person-centred and personalised approach to care and support. The strategy will be refreshed each year in response to what people with dementia and their carers tell us what they want and as our knowledge and experience of ‘what works’ increases.
The draft strategy has been produced by a working group consisting of partners from various organisations including: - Luton Borough Council, PCT/NHS, Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Private Care Providers, Age Concern, Alzheimer’s Society, SEPT, and personal carers. In line with the National Dementia Strategy it is vital that we now take the strategy out to consultation to ensure that the priorities that we have set out in the strategy and how we intend to meet them are correct for the people of Luton.
They are currently also running an online survey which can be found at www.luton.gov.uk/dementia.
Please take time to fill this in, as all the results will be used to feed into the final strategy document. You will also find a link to the draft strategy at this address, along with a summary in plain English.
Click here to see the Dementia Strategy Summary
*Important Information for the Voluntary & Community Sector*
Are you aware that all public sector contracts by law have to be placed onto a new database called Contracts Finder?
Contracts Finder is a single platform providing access to public sector procurement related information and documentation. The government Buyer will post details about their procurement and contracting activities thereby meeting all of the Prime Minister’s Transparency in Procurement and Contracting commitments from January 2011. Suppliers will be able to search for opportunities, and, the public will be able to see what government organisations are spending, on what and with whom.
You can access Contracts Finder via www.businesslink.gov.uk/ContractsFinder
Allows Community Groups to Challenge Councils Over Public Service Delivery
The Localism Bill was introduced to Parliament on 13 December 2010.
This Bill will shift power from central government back into the hands of individuals, communities and councils.
www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/decentralisation/localismbill
The Luton Assembly has a new Chair
Anwar Haque
Luton Assembly Chair
Following the recent Assembly Chair Elections, Anwar Haque was welcomed as the new Chair of Luton Assembly at the Committee meeting on 10th November 2010.
Anwar is known locally for his work with children and young people. He has been a representative on the Luton Assembly for several years, having served on the 'VISION4' Children and Young People’s Network Committee and presently sits on the Stronger and Safer Communities Network Committee. He is also Vice-Chair of Luton Forum.
Linda Farrell is the Vice-Chair of the Luton Assembly, as well as an Assembly representative on the VISION4 Children and Young People’s Network Committee.
Linda Farrell
Luton Assembly Vice Chair
VISION4 CYP
