Contact: Anne Odling, (01962) 847216, [email protected];

Annette Rebentisch, (01962) 847150, [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 Approval is sought for two one-off grants to two voluntary and community organisations totalling £16,550.

2 Reason

2.1 To make contributions towards the costs of services provided by the voluntary and community organisations which are compatible with the objectives, priorities and policies of the Social Services Department.

2.2 This decision supports Aim 1 (Maximising Life Opportunities) and Aim 5 (Improving Services) of the Corporate Strategy by financially contributing to services of voluntary organisations, and Aim 4 (Building Strong and Safe Communities) of the Corporate Strategy by its partnership approach.

2.3 The application in this report have been managed in accordance with the aims of the Hampshire Compact.

3 Other options considered and rejected

None

4 Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision-maker or a Member or Officer consulted

None

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

None

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent

Not applicable

Approved by: Date of decision:

Councillor Felicity Hindson

Presenter: Anne Odling, (01962) 847216, [email protected]

Contact: Annette Rebentisch, (01962) 847150, [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report seeks the approval of two one-off grants totalling £16,550 for 2004-05: £5,000 to Winchester and District Young Carers Project for 2004-05 and £11,550 to proteus theatre company for a six week tour of the Chaser play.

1.2 This decision supports Aim 1 (Maximising Life Opportunities) and Aim 5 (Improving Services) of the Corporate Strategy by financially contributing to services of voluntary and community organisations, and Aim 4 (Building Strong and Safe Communities) of the Corporate Strategy by its partnership approach.

2 Background

2.1 Grants to voluntary and community organisations for 2004-05 of £5,000 and more amounting to £507,871 have previously been approved against a budget of £1.09 million.

2.2 This report seeks the approval of two one-off grants of £16,550.

2.3 In dealing with the application regard has been given to the Hampshire Compact and its Codes of Good Practice.

3 Impact Assessment

3.1 In compiling this report, regard has been taken of the requirements of the Corporate Equalities Plan and Race Scheme. In the Hampshire Compact it is stated that the voluntary sector is responsible for having policies that ensure equality of opportunity. Additionally, equal opportunity and race relation policies have been sought from the voluntary and community organisations.

4 Winchester and District Young Carers Project - £5,000

4.1 The Winchester Young Carers Project supports young carers aged 8-17 living in the area covered by Winchester City Council. A young carer is defined as a person up to the age of 18 years whose life is affected in some way because of the need to care for someone at home. The caring role may be physical, emotional or both.

4.2 The Project supports these young carers by offering them an activities programme which includes short trips, holidays, activity days, and a youth club. It also has a befriending scheme and gives general support and information to young carers, and provides advocacy as well as signposting to other sources of support and activity.

4.3 The young carers can chose the activities they like to do with the befriender and are consulted about the other activities. The project manager meets regularly with the young carer and his or her family to receive feedback about the project's impact.

4.4 Currently, 36 young carers benefit from the project's activities with an additional 8 young carers receiving general support. It is estimated that in the coming year, 15 to 20 young carers will have been referred to the project by Social Services.

4.5 In previous years, the organisation had received non recurring grants from Social Services and a project development grant from Hampshire County Council's Education and Youth Service. This year, the organisation receives financial support from Winchester City Council, the Children's Fund and Connexions amongst others.

4.6 However, the organisation's treasurer has forecasted a shortfall of income for the last quarter of the year. Scrutiny of the independently examined accounts have shown that the organisation's reserves have fallen below the amount required by the organisation's reserve policy. The organisation therefore applied for a grant of £5,000 to enable it to secure the costs for the salary of the project manager from December 2004 to March 2005.

4.7 The Social Services Department would not wish to see the Winchester and District Young Carers Project fold due to a lack of financial resources. The Project is highly regarded by the department and therefore requests that approval be given to a grant of £5,000 for 2004-05 to the Winchester and District Young Carers Project funded from the Carer's Grant.

5 proteus, Chaser project - £11,550

5.1 The proteus theatre company is one of the leading touring theatre companies in the south, based in Basingstoke. It is a registered charity that is committed to producing theatre that entertains, educates and has the potential to effect change, and to integrating professional performance and community participation.

5.2 The theatre play Chaser, written by Kevin Dyer, is targeted at children aged 13 to 14 years old and aims to help them to come to terms with, and understand, the effect of peer pressure, empower them to say no to substance misuse, and to raise awareness on the outcomes and effects of substance misuse. After the play a 70 minute forum workshop allows the audience to participate and further examine the issues raised in the play.

5.3 Since its launch in 2001, Chaser has toured extensively throughout Hampshire working with approximately 17,000 young people. The evaluation of the Chaser play and workshop has showed that it influenced the young people's subsequent decisions and behaviour, proving highly effective in raising awareness of the issues the play raises. In 2001 Chaser received a Green Apple Award for environmental best practice.

5.4 Due to the strong demand for this play within Hampshire, proteus wants to extend the tour of Chaser from end of January to 24 March 2005 to reach a further 3,600 young people.

5.5 proteus has secured buy in for the play from the local authorities of Gosport and Winchester and Test Valley/Eastleigh PCT. Mark Helyar, Artistic Director from proteus, has approached the Recreation and Heritage Department for funding of the set up costs like costs for auditioning, rehearsal, set maintenance, and administration, which in turn has approached Social Services for half of the costs. The set up costs are estimated at £23,100.

5.6 The Children and Families Sector of Social Services are willing to fund the 50% of the set up costs, £11,550.

5.7 A grant of £11,550 to the Chaser project of the proteus theatre company is, therefore, recommended.

6 Recommendations

6.1 That the proposals for the support of Winchester and District Young Carers Project and the proteus theatre company's Chaser project be approved.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - Background Documents

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

1. Application for a grant in 2004-05 submitted by the voluntary organisation included in this report.

NB. The list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act