Latest News on Lowestoft
Together!
At a Lowestoft Together Board meeting held on
14th August, Waveney District Council asked the Board to
implement a moratorium on spending – essentially the awarding of
grants to local organisations – until 30th November
2008.
This request by WDC was because ‘forensic’ analysis of the
council’s accounts had shown a possible shortfall of nearly £5
million, and therefore “The Council’s Director of Resources has
statutory responsibilities in respect of the Council’s finances. As
a last resort in certain circumstances he would have to issue a
‘section 114 notice’ to Councillors, which would suspend all
spending other than that capable of improving the Council’s
financial position.”
Though awards have been frozen, it's still a
good idea to get bids for funding into Lowestoft Together. It is
likely they will be processed in the order they are received, so
the earlier the better.
more
To read the Lowestoft Journal article of the 8th August 2008
Click here
STOP PRESS! New Unitary
Council Proposals The Boundary
Committee have released the ideas for Suffolk and Norfolk that are
going forward for consultation. These could radically affect
your life, for good or ill. The more people respond, especially
with reasons for their point of view, the more likely it is that a
sensible and robust plan will result. New concepts are now
being looked at. See our survey form below for
update
Lowestoft Together is collecting opinions
and reasons from its residents.
Click
here
to see our survey form. Please complete and
send to us, either via email or post.
Max Caller, Chair of the Boundary Committee for England,
said: "Your responses to the draft proposal will inform the
advice we give so tell us what you think. More importantly, tell us
why you think that."
To download the document
click here or for further details
click here. After you have read and digested the mass of
information, why not communicate your ideas to The Review Manager
(Norfolk and Suffolk Review), the Boundary Committee for England,
Trevalyan House, Great Peter Street, London SW1P 2HW or
email. We have until 26th September 2008 to respond.
Lowestoft Seafront Air
Festival and Honda Powerboats
24th - 27th July
Typhoons, Vulcans and
Lowestoft Together!What more
do you want? For four days, Lowestoft Together occupied a
gazebo near the Claremont, along with a variety of other
community organisations, including the Food Co-op,
the Health Trainers, and Waveney Community
Forum.
The Team and Board
members talked with many people, handed out a thousand
leaflets, carried out a mini-survey, got brown, got sprayed by
Health Trainers sun-block (very necessary!), and generally got
the word out - Lowestoft Together works because it believes
that there are community solutions to community
issues.
Why did Lowestoft Together award the Air Festival with a
substantial grant? more
4 Towns Bus in London
Road North! The 4 Towns Bus, which
usually operates in the four market towns of Waveney, began a
series of appearances in Lowestoft this Weds 6th
August. It featured Lowestoft Together, Health
Trainers, and the Silver Surfers.
The bus will be appearing in the B&Q and Asda carparks, at the
Alderman PH, Whitton Green, and the north end of London Road North,
outside Westgate. For dates, see the Lowestoft Together
calendar
Lowestoft
Together garners praise
“Lowestoft Together has already done so much good, it’s very
important that it continues. It works with the community and for
the community" . More
Normanston
Love Your Neighbourhood did
happen!
for
report
click here
'Give or Take
Day' in Normanston
Park!
more
Lowestoft
Together garners praise
“Lowestoft
Together has already done so much good, it’s very
important that it continues. It works with the community and for
the community. What it needs is consistent support and not outside
interference.” So said Colin Law, Deputy Leader of Waveney District
Council and Oulton Broad Councillor, talking with workers from the
Neighbourhood Management team.
Lowestoft Together was holding an Open Evening, aimed at
informing local councillors all about what the community action
group had done, was doing, and wanted to do.
Bob Russell, Neighbourhood Manager, gave an overview of
the history of the group,
emphasising that it was community-led because of the number of
residents (all volunteers) on the Lowestoft
Together Board, and how this was one of the main factors
in its success.
Bob introduced some videos of local voluntary and community
groups, made by Street Level Media, who have been funded by
Lowestoft Together. Everyone thought they were exceptionally
good, looking and sounding professional, providing an interesting
and coherent picture of the various organisations.
(We’re hoping to create links so that you will be
able to download the videos, and I’ll be covering Street Level
Media in a separate article soon).
Bob then welcomed Clare Strachan and Richard Jolley of Fen Park
Friends. Clare explained the history of the park – thought to have
been first laid out in the early 1900’s – and how it had been
devastated in the great hurricane of 1987, and then rather
neglected, and left to its own devices. Which, of course, wasn’t
much, when it comes to a community park.
But in the last few years, with the help of many different
partners, including Waveney Community Forum, WDC and SCC, Fen Park
Friends have begun the long rollercoaster journey into making it a
wonderful community asset. A successful Lottery bid enabled them to
refurbish the play area, lay out some new paths and create the
sensory garden. ‘Please go see it’ said Clare. ‘It’s in full bloom
and the air is full of scents. It’s beautiful’.
Richard then outlined the next stage – rejuvenating Fen Park
Ponds. Lowestoft Together had awarded £150k towards this,
mainly for dredging, stabilising and piling the banks, and
re-building the islands. This is a major project, and as Richard
said ‘It’s going to look a lot worse before it gets better’. But in
the end, there should be a thriving pond area, crammed with
wild-life, and even the return of fishing.
Clare completed the presentation by listing the large number of
organisations, groups and businesses that had supported Fen Park
Friends, and what they wanted to do in the future, the main one
being ‘INVOLVING MORE PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY YOUNG ONES’.
For more information, check out
www.fenparkfriends.org.uk
.
After this inspiring example of voluntary effort, long-term
thinking, partnership working, and successful community enterprise,
the audience broke up to graze on the buffet and exchange
information, ideas and enthusiasms. (There was some buffet left,
which was taken to the Fyffe Centre, so no food in the bin).
The Lowestoft Together Neighbourhood Management Team
welcomed Councillors Mary Rudd, John Fryor, Allyson Barron, Diana
Law, Colin Law (Deputy Leader); WDC Officers Steven Archer
(Strategic Director, Regeneration and Environment), Stuart Halsey
(Community Cohesion Team); Board members Margaret Oldham, Sue
Henderson, Vic Kirk, Clare Strachan, Richard Jolley, Ian Robb and
Reg Brine; and guests Linda Jolley (Fen Park Friends), Fay Sheldon
(Waveney Community Forum), and John Henderson.
JE (Research, Publicity and Community Engagement Officer,
Lowestoft Together)
A
Little Give and Take
for the Community
Over 150 people attended another
successful ‘Give or Take’ day was in Normanston Park on
Saturday. Give or Take days are about keeping items out of
landfill and in use locally. People are encouraged to bring
items they no longer want and take items that they need, all
for free. Saturday’s event included donations of sofa’s, board
games, books, records, a filing cabinet and even a 1970’s
dressmaking kit, most of which found a home.
Sophie Leggett, Give or Take Day Co-ordinator said, ‘It was a
fantastic day made possible by fantastic people. We have a really
great team of volunteers who worked really hard on the day to make
sure that it all ran smoothly. There was a great sense of community
and everyone was keen to know when the next Give or Take Day would
be. I hope that we will be able to make Give or Take Days a regular
thing in Waveney.’
Maxine Narburgh, MD of Bright Green, the event organisers, said
‘The aim of the day is to minimise waste and encourage re-use at a
very local level. These events are fun for the community and good
for the environment.’
The event was funded by Lowestoft
Together as part of their Love Your Neighbourhood programme
for the Normanston area. If you would like to be involved in
organising future Give or Take Days call Sophie on 01502
584061.
Lowestoft Together
agreed to be the main sponsor of the Festival because it believes
that the Festival benefits all the residents of Lowestoft. It
brings money into the local economy, provides much needed financial
support to community groups, raises the profile of many worthy
causes, provides job opportunities and information on joining the
Uniformed services and finally, and perhaps most importantly, gives
the town the opportunity to show itself at its best both regionally
and nationally.
Lowestoft Together is a community group which is dedicated to
improving the quality of life of people living and working in least
advantaged ‘Super Output Areas’. These cover most of central
Lowestoft (Harbour and Kirkley and some of Normanston wards) with
the addition of the St Margaret’s and Whitton estates.
Lowestoft Together is responsible for allocating Safer Stronger
Communities Government funding and so far, it has awarded over two
million pounds to a large range of projects, organisations and
groups. This is a considerable amount of money, but has it made a
difference? Our partners seem to think so, “It’s made a huge
difference for us and our community,” said Colin Napper of Gunton
Signpost. “Our community hall has been re-furbished and got a brand
new kitchen, all which has greatly improved what we can do.” Gunton
Community Park and Gunton Tenants’ Hall have also benefitted and
the ‘Re-Mind’ project has really helped some people with
depression. Colin added”And with North Lowestoft Fairshare Trust,
Lowestoft Together have funded a youth worker to deliver our
Dream Worx project, which will have a direct, positive effect on
some young people’s lives.” These are just some of the projects
funded in North Lowestoft.
In South Lowestoft, Fen Park has been helped by Lowestoft
Together too. Richard Jolley, chair of Fen Park Friends, a
community group dedicated to revitalising Fen Park as a community
asset, says “With the money, we’re going to further improve the
park by dredging out and rejuvenating the ponds. It’s a very
exciting project, and will be of great benefit to the local
community and Lowestoft itself. It will certainly make a
difference”.
The Lowestoft Together Board has used the results of an in-depth
residents’ survey to decide where funding should be spent. Over
forty substantial grants have been made by the Board to a wide
range of community initiatives from Mum and Toddler groups to the
Credit Union, from Youth activities to the funding of two extra
Police Community Support Officers (PCSO’s). One of the major
positive legacies of Lowestoft Together is the potential for
long-term influence on services in local areas.
Residents are at the centre of decision-making of the
Lowestoft Together Board and make up the majority of its 19
members. This ensures that solutions both come from, and are
’owned’, locally. The Board is supported by a small Neighbourhood
Management Team. The first step in getting a project funded is to
have it considered by the Appraisal Panel. The Panel is made up of
members of the board, and always has a majority of residents in its
make up. Once the Appraisal Panel has assessed a bid it makes a
recommendation to the Board who have the final say on if the
project is funded. Lowestoft Together works very hard to
support those who apply for grants to ensure they are of benefit to
the local community. It believes that this is one of the key
reasons Lowestoft Together funded projects are proving so
successful.
Working alongside the Board are the three Lowestoft
Together Theme Groups. Each group has a different priority:
Health, Community Safety and the Environment, and Community
Support. These Groups are constantly evolving, but their main
purpose is to look for gaps in provision, develop ideas, and to
support local residents. The meetings are open to agencies as well
as local residents. Everyone is encouraged to be positive about
working together to tackle local issues.
Lowestoft Together is community led, and is always
looking for people with ideas, energy and commitment. If you have a
group, or even just a vague idea, about how to improve the lives of
people, please get in contact – see separate box.
“Margaret Oldham and Sue Henderson, co-chairs of Lowestoft
Together Board said, “We wish the Lowestoft Air Festival every
success, and look forward to meeting you at the Lowestoft Together
stall.”
Click Here for Lowestoft Journal
report
Fun
Afternoon at St Andrews
Church Hall - Click
to
download newsletter:
080531AccessAllAreasnewsletterfinal.pdf
F.U.N. Fun Exercise days Launched.
For more
info:
ExercisevarietyProg081updated.pdf
Whitton Life
Cafe Opening and
Love Your Neighbourhood -
May 10th Click here for
story and photos
JUMP official
launch
Click here for Lowestoft Journal
report
Latest groups
to have received grants from Lowestoft Together
funding!
Click here
Click to find
out
about:
Give or Take Day in Gunton - 1st
Results
What is Lowestoft Together?
It’s a Neighbourhood Management Community Action Group. It’s
dedicated to improving the quality of life of residents of central
Lowestoft.
Residents are at the centre of decision-making of the
Lowestoft Together Board, ensuring that solutions come from
and are ’owned’ locally, rather than being imposed. Increasingly,
Neighbourhood Management is seen by Government, Other Agencies and
local communities as one of the best ways to improve
neighbourhoods.
Lowestoft Together does have money. It is funded by central
government. It supports and invests in local community groups, and
organisations that aim to improve our lives. That is one part of
its purpose. It has granted funds to Gunton Signpost, Fen Park
Friends, St Andrews Church Hall, Whitton Life Project and the Yard
Project, and a whole host of smaller grants. It is passionate about
our community, and believes local residents collectively know
best.
But of course funding doesn’t last for ever. So the other part of
Lowestoft Together’s task is to help and ensure that the people who
provide our services give us the best service they can—right time,
right place, right sort. So we’ve funded two Community Police
Support Officers, and an Environment Support Officer, done research
into men’s health needs, and lots more. If the community shows
these things DO make a difference, and we can provide evidence,
then the service providers will usually be persuaded to do it
themselves. This re-directing of funds is known as ’service
bending’!
So Lowestoft Together is about three key things, empowering
the community to take or influence decisions, helping the community
to help itself and finding ways to make sure that services improve
to meet the needs of local residents.
Advice and support comes from Waveney District Council, CDRP,
WaveneyPartnership TV, Local Councillors, Energy Saving Trust
Advice Centre Anglia, and Suffolk County Council, amongst many
others.
It believes in the power of communities to get things
done.
How can I get involved?
If you are a member of a community or voluntary group that is
based in or operates in Central Lowestoft and the group has an idea
that would help the local community in any way— ring Bob Russell,
Neighbourhood Manager.
Lowestoft Together is made up of residents and other interested
parties, like elected councillors, council officers, and service
providers e.g. the Primary Care Trust. The Board looks at bids for
funds, and monitors the projects it funds. It has three groups,
which are: Health and Well-Being, Community Safety and Environment,
and Community Engagement and Capacity Building.
To get involved with Lowestoft Together, ring Bob Russell,
Neighbourhood Manager, on
01502 523183.
Email
bob.russell@waveney.gov.uk
Or
john.ellerby@waveneycf.org.uk
Lowestoft Together is based at 15 Surrey Street, Lowestoft NNR32
1LJ