The information below outlines Active Cornwall’s approach to the TIF. By using their current insight, connections with community organisations and a place based approach Active Cornwall have ensured that the funds are meeting the needs of the communities most in need.
What processes we went through before funding was allocated to projects:
- Active Cornwall project group set up from senior leadership team decision for the full funding to be focused within the Adult portfolio linked with Workforce.
- Focus of the project group (Rob & Craig) was to use this funding to build on the great work they have built with local partners, the decision was taken to initially focus our efforts with St Austell – one of Active Cornwall’s priority localities.
- Using the recent Building Community Capacity survey results we produced a list of potential organisations to focus this funding on, this list was focused on organisations linked with Social Prescribing, working with target audiences (People from Lower Socio-Economic Groups (LSEG), People with Long Term Health Conditions (LTC), sports & activities that would adapt themselves to Social Distancing and online delivery.
- Before we started to contact organisations locally, we thought how do we make sure we get the funding to the organisation and groups with most need.
- So, we set up a local steering group consisting of the 2 Social Prescribers (St Austell and Clays Practices), 2 Cornwall Council Communities Link Officer for St Austell and Clays, Community Maker (Volunteer Cornwall), Local Charity organisation, Workforce Lead and Adult Portfolio Manager from Active Cornwall.
- First meeting with the above group, was an introduction the Inequalities Funding and target audiences to the group following email/phone communication with individuals. Also, within this meeting we wanted to check and challenge our list of organisations and add any additional groups the local group thought are in most need. It was obvious from the group discussions and list started to form a number of walking groups who could potently be pulled together and similarly with Exercise, Movement and Dance, by the end of the discussion Craig and Rob had a top 10 organisations to contact.
- Craig worked on the Walking Group bid and Rob focused on the Exercise, Movement and Dance.
- Following phone calls/emails (outline why they have been contacted, what the funding is designed for) each organisation contacted were asked to complete an expression of interest form and told this did not mean they would receive the funding but would be taken back to the steering group and then finally would have to be signed off by Sport England.
- The following week Active Cornwall had 3 projects to discuss at the project group meeting and it was agreed for all 3 to be put forward for Sport England approval.
- All 3 projects were successful in being awarded the funding and now we have also had 2 other organisations from St Austell, each have completed an SLA with Active Cornwall and been set up, so the finances can be awarded.
- Alongside the steering group meeting it was agreed to pull the 5 successful organisations from St Austell together, this is to share learning, best practice, marketing and discuss challenges (First meeting July).
- We now have an activity calendar being used by the groups to populate what is taking place and at what time, once sessions have been booked they are added to the calendar and also added to the St Austell Social Proscribing App (Help @ Hand).
- Following the success of this structure, we have now moved to another Active Cornwall priority locality and duplicating this structure.
Learning:
- Local steering group had a massive impact and influence on the organisations to contact and this group was happy to meet weekly to sign off projects and support the development of this funding locally.
- Not all organisation contacted were eligible for this funding, but they were doing great work locally with individuals either - People from Lower Socio-Economic Groups (LSEG) or People with Long Term Health Conditions (LTC).
- Pulling all the walking groups together worked so well and will have a legacy for St Austell moving forward.
- Social Prescribing network is here to stay and working with this network helped with the reach of the funding and local partnerships.
- Local organisations needed support to think of the best ways to get back to what they were doing before
- Targeting organisation with activities such and Walking, Exercise, Movement and Dance really helped as they are activities that could easily be put online and when restrictions allow be moved outside with reduced numbers.
Thanks to Chris Hardy for sharing their work on Unsplash.