Agenda item

Claire Haigh, Co-Founder and Director of Collaborate Out Loud CIC and Matthew Kidd, Director of Creative Inclusion Ltd to present information. Summary attached.

Claire Haigh, Co-Founder and Director of Collaborate Out Loud CIC and Matthew Kidd, Director of Creative Inclusion Ltd provided and update on the work that they have been doing within the community. A summary of their work and a video was shared prior to the meeting within the agenda pack. They have been working in Bury since 2019 to create spaces for seldom heard voices to be heard and spaces for the formal system to come together with communities and networks.

Matthew Kidd explained The Elephants Trail Project, which allows for policy makers and professionals to work effectively in partnership with people and communities, in particular people who are experiencing multiple disadvantages.  Individuals were recruited from the community to become collaborators, the work that they have done was outlined. The project looked at issues around power and ensuring that communities feel that the work is equal. The project highlighted issues of population health and viewing people by their assets, by looking at ways people can contribute to the community.

Going forward, the aim is to come together as a whole system in Bury. They have secured more workforce development funding to build further on the good work that is already taking place and to work through the strengths of the Let’s Do It Strategy.

Questions and comments were invited from members.

Councillor Simpson explained that the stories in the video that were circulated prior to the meeting were powerful and inspirational but raised concerns that a volunteer had said, ‘the more I do, the less they will do’. It was felt that community groups need to be supported either through grants or continuous funding. Councillor Simpson highlighted the importance of people with lived experience working with others, and for people to feel that they are supported by others.

Lesley Jones explained that volunteers cannot be substitutes for public services, they need to operate alongside each other. The difficulties of getting basic elements of support in public services were explained, this was due to barriers within public services around thresholds for services. It was explained that work needs to be done to see if we can help make a difference and improve people’s quality of life.

Tyrone Roberts thanked the people who have trained as collaborators and was struck by the good work that they have done.

In response to a member’s questions around the importance and longevity of funding, Matthew Kidd explained the importance of making sure the groups are sustainable and making sure the commissioning structure supports them.

In response to a member’s question around linking work with the neighbourhood teams, Claire Haigh highlighted the importance of connecting with services and the importance of developing more community collaborators.

Ruth Passman requested to meet with Matthew Kidd and Claire Haigh regarding Healthwatch’s offer around the level 2 improvement qualification. Ruth Passman explained the scheme, how it is taught and how the qualification can be adapted.  Ruth Passman explained that Healthwatch would like to do more work with volunteers in the community to hear about health issues and look at how the system can work better.

It was agreed:

1.        Matthew Kidd and Claire Haigh to be thanked for the update and the work they have been doing within the community.

2.        To progress a strategic piece of work to look at commission and funding as a whole system approach to fund groups.

3.        Ruth Passman to meet with Claire Haigh and Matthew Kidd.

4.        To look at ways public services can improve access to basic support for people, due to issues with barriers and thresholds that are currently in place.