Funding

COVID-19: please support our local charities

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Cllr Peter John OBE

Dear resident,

I want to thank everyone in Southwark who is doing so much to help slow the spread of COVID-19. During these extremely difficult times the response of the Southwark community has been extraordinary.

We’ve been in lockdown since 24 March and yesterday the government announced that the end is not yet in sight and lockdown will continue for at least three more weeks. Whilst this doesn’t come as a huge surprise, given the tragic news we are hearing about hundreds of deaths each day, I know how difficult this is for everyone. We are all feeling the impact of spending most of our time at home, but there are signs that lockdown is working by slowing the spread of the disease and so it’s really important that we all keep following the rules by staying at home, protecting the NHS and saving lives.

Sadly, not everyone is safe in their own home, and it’s really important we make sure that anyone who experiences abuse at home knows there is support available, and that they do not have to stay at home with an abuser. There is information below for anyone experiencing, or concerned about, domestic abuse.

Supporting our local charities

I want to pay tribute to the many fantastic local charities in Southwark who are doing so much to support the local response in Southwark. Their work – in extremely challenging circumstances – to support vulnerable residents in our borough, has been absolutely vital in the borough-wide response.

We are working with United St Saviours to raise additional funds for local charities to help them to continue to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. This will, alongside the additional community grants that the council is offering, help to fund the extra work our wonderful charities are doing to support our communities.

If you’re able to, please donate to the Crowdfunder now.

In this newsletter you will find information about council services and support available to residents and businesses. This includes our latest announcement of a £2-million hardship fund for businesses. You can also check our website for regular updates.

Than you for your ongoing support,

Cllr Peter John

Do you know a vulnerable resident who needs help?

If you know of a vulnerable Southwark resident who can’t leave the house due to coronavirus (COVID-19), and who may not have friends, family or neighbours who can help with the delivery of essential supplies, please tell us straight away so we can help them.

Are you worried about domestic abuse?

If you or someone you know is suffering from Domestic Abuse, isolation rules do not apply. Police response and support services remain available. Nationally, there is advice and support available but you should call 999 if you are in immediate danger. Locally, the Solace Advocacy and Support Service is also available to women and men in Southwark aged 16 or over in Southwark.

Democracy Fund 2019/20 (Round 2) – Now Open!

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Dear all,

Round 2 of the Democracy Fund is now open for applications. The fund is part of the council’s Empowering Communities Programme for Southwark, which makes it easier for residents to discuss and get involved with the issues that directly affect them.

We are encouraging applications from people who may want to apply for funding to hold a one-off meeting in their community. The funding can be used for things like venue hire, equipment hire, publicity and invitations and refreshments.

A total of £20,000 per year is available to be shared between groups across the borough who want to hold meetings or events on issues specific to their local neighbourhood.

During the first year of the fund, there are two application periods with £10,000 available in each round. The first round happened in October 2019 and a list of the successful projects (pdf format) can be found here:  https://www.southwark.gov.uk/assets/attach/11449/Democracy-Fund-1920-Round-1-Successful-Awards-Table.pdf

The closing date for the second round is Monday 3 February 2020.

To find out more information about the Democracy Fund, please visit: www.southwark.gov.uk/democracyfund

Please circulate the attached poster to your contacts and networks.

Regards

Fitzroy Lewis

Empowering Communities Programme Officer | South Area

Communities Division| Housing & Modernisation Department

160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH

Tel: 020 7525 3084 | Mobile: 07958 779 060

Email: Fitzroy.Lewis@southwark.gov.uk

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpoweringDulwich/

Web: https://www.southwark.gov.uk/ec-south

Resident Involvement Review Update

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Dear all,

I attach a set of slides of the current resident involvement proposals that the council has been consulting on over the past 6 months and is currently in the process of discussing with representatives of Tenants Council, Homeowners Council and the TMO Committee .  The aim of the review was to improve the way that the council engages and consults with tenants and homeowners and find ways of ensuring that more people can have their say on their homes and neighbourhoods.

The consultation had over 1,100 responses and the current proposals reflect what people told us through the extensive and wide reaching consultation process, aiming to ensure that:

  • Everyone living in a council home has the opportunity to participate, with more choice of how and when they can get involved.
  • We direct more resources and support to the grass roots including through Tenants and Residents Associations, so tenants and residents have the support they need to improve their local estates and communities, strengthening and improving our support for TRAs and continuing our support for Tenant Management Organisations.
  • All residents living in council homes not covered by a TRA can participate (as well as working with tenants and residents to increase the coverage of TRAs where this is what residents want).
  • We retain elected representation of tenants and homeowners in the formal consultation structures so that tenants and homeowners chose their representatives.
  • We maintain five local housing forums (keeping them separate from the wider Ward Forums) to focus solely on housing issues in each area.
  • We maintain Southwark wide consultation forums for tenants and for homeowners to focus on issues that matter to tenants or homeowners, alongside a joint forum to consider the issues that tenants and homeowners have in common.
  • Residents continue to set the agendas for the housing forums so that they focus on the issues that matter to them, with forums chaired by residents and open to all tenants and homeowners in each area of the borough.
  • Decisions on funding for resident participation are based on what tenants and resident homeowners say they want.
  • We hold an annual Southwark Tenants and Residents Conference and an annual Homeowners conference open to all who want to attend to discuss housing issues in Southwark.
  • We use digital engagement as an additional way to get more people involved including an online panel of residents to give us their views alongside other forms of consultation.
  • We strengthen the link between tenants & residents and the council’s Housing Scrutiny Commission to enhance resident input to the scrutiny of housing services in Southwark.
  • We retain funding for independent support and advice for tenants and homeowners who need it.

In terms of next steps the intention is that we take a report to cabinet in February 2020 that sets out the proposed changes alongside an implementation plan and that we review these new arrangements after the first year to assess their effectiveness and whether any adjustments might be needed, with a report back to Cabinet by June 2021 on this review.

I know that all of your Area Forums are meeting in the next couple of weeks to discuss the housing revenue account budget and would welcome any comments that you may have from discussions at those meetings on our proposals.

Kind regards,

Cllr Kieron Williams

Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Modernisation

TOMORROW – Free Event for Women and Girls at the Livesey Exchange

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livesey

Free workshop session tomorrow afternoon for International Women’s Day 2017. This is a free event for girls to make their own toolbox and will be an excellent opportunity to learn some basic skills, make new friends, find out what is happening at the Livesey Exchange and go home with your own toolbox!

The session is open from 4pm – 8pm at the Livesey Exchange, Ledbury Estate, Bird in Bush Road SE15 1QP.

Tenants and Residents Social Improvements Grants

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Tenants and Residents Social Improvements Grants (TRSIG) – formerly JSI

Southwark Council Tenants and Residents Social Improvements Grant (TRSIG) 2016/17 programme is now open for application.

TRSIG aims and priorities

· Activities intended to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly among youth

· Activities for children when they return home from school

· Activities to alleviate isolation and loneliness among the older generation living on council estates

· Activities intended to equip tenants and residents for volunteering and employment

You are eligible to apply if you are:

• Tenants and residents associations

• Tenant management organisations

• Service provider working with the above groups (not on their own)

TRSIG Application 2016-17

The deadline for submission of completed application is Friday 11th March 2016 at 5pm. Please note that late applications will not be considered.

Kind regards,

Triumphant Oghre

Commissioning Officer

Southwark Council

Housing & Modernisation

Communities

2nd Floor, Hub 4

160 Tooley Street

London

SE1P 5LX

Tel.: 0207 525 7418

Black History Month, grant funding applications.

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Every year throughout October people, schools, libraries, groups and organisations host events and get involved with the celebration of Black History in order to:

Celebrate the talent, achievements and contributions of Southwark’s new and established black and ethnic minority communities
Provide opportunities for informal learning
Inspire, motivate and encourage the participation of Southwark’s diverse communities
Promote social cohesion by sharing histories and cultures

A limited number of Small (up to £500) and Large (up to £2,000) grants are available to help achieve this.

Each year has a different theme that guides the programming. This year it is:

Fit to Achieve – How our community has struggled and succeeded in Britain and how to build on this success.

Download the guidance notes and application form here. The closing date for applications is Monday 29 June 2015, 9am.

Southwark EnviroGrant – deadline 30th April

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The Southwark EnviroGrant scheme has now reopened for its fifth year.

Established by Veolia – recycling and waste partners of Southwark Council – the scheme has been designed to support projects that enrich the local environment.

Community organisations, resident groups and schools in Southwark can apply for up to £1,000 to put towards their project along with the voluntary assistance of Veolia employees who can be on hand to build, clean, paint or plant as needed.

So far the Southwark EnviroGrant scheme has helped over 20 community projects in the borough and awarded over £13,000 to enable these schemes to happen. In 2015 we are particularly looking for applications with a strong ‘3R’s’ theme – for example events and projects that:

Reduce the amount of waste produced, such as cooking demos to encourage use of leftovers or community composting schemes

Reuse more of the things we throw away, such as ‘Give or Take’ days Swap Shops; Swishing or community garden makeovers that reuse materials for containers or furnishings
Recycle and reuse more materials – such as community clear out days or neighbourhood recycling champion schemes
Organisations or groups can apply for EnviroGrant funding by downloading an application online. The deadline for entries is 30 April 2015; for more information please visit:

http://veolia.co.uk/southwark/your-community/your-community/envirogrant

Kind regards,

Ian McGeough

Programme Manager
United Kingdom

t: +44 (0)20 3567 2622
Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility, 43 Devon Street, London. SE15 1AL