1 Summary

1.1 Approval is sought for a one-off grant of £5,000 to the Hampshire Bobby Trust.

2 Reason

2.1 Make a contribution towards the costs of a service provided by the voluntary organisation 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 has 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 other Executive Member 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

1 Summary

1.1 This report seeks the approval of a one-off grant of £5,000 to the Hampshire Bobby Trust for 2004-05.

1.2 The decision supports Aims 1 (Maximising Life Opportunities), 4 (Building Strong and Safe Communities) and 5 (Improving Services) of the Corporate Strategy.

2 Background

2.1 Grants to voluntary organisations of £5,000 and more amounting to £512,871 have previously been approved against the grants budget for 2004-05.

2.2 This report seeks the approval of a one-off grant of £5,000.

3 Impact Assessment

3.1 In compiling this report, regard has been taken of the requirements of the Corporate Equalities Plan and Race Scheme. The Hampshire Compact reinforces this requirement.

4 The Hampshire Bobby Trust

4.1 This organisation works with the corporate older persons group which aims to help older people to stay independent and to remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

4.2 The Hampshire Bobby Trust (HBT) was founded in 1998 to provide home security to the old and vulnerable, whose homes have been broken into. Approximately £400,000 was initially raised through fundraising to provide working capital for the HBT. In the event of a burglary at their home, older people at risk will receive advice on simple security measures, e.g. door chains, viewers, with a view to preventing "re-burglary".

4.3 The scheme has been very successful to date. The incidence of homes secured by HBT being burgled again is only 0.3%. The national average is approximately 6%. In the year to 31 August 2004 HBT had made 831 visits to the County with their work to secure homes costing some £72,000.

4.4 However six years on from their foundation, HBT's initial working capital diminished to the extent that they estimate that their funds will be exhausted by early 2006 if they are not replenished.

4.5 HBT are therefore asking all local authorities in the County to contibute £15,000 on a recurring basis. The Social Services Department is already investing £30,000 in a fund managed by Regulatory Services as part of the older persons project described in 4.1 above. This fund has financed such initiatives such as the Safe and Sound booklet. It is therefore proposed to contribute £5,000 to support HBT for the remainder of the financial year.

4.6 As part of the Cabinet Priority work related to Older People a "Contractor in the Community" fund is being established to finance works on homes in the community for older people. The HBT is likely to qualify for support from that fund in future years though it is envisaged there will be a number of other potential calls on that fund. In the event of such support not being forthcoming then HBT could make application for funding from the Social Services grants budget, as the Department would not like to see the scheme fold through lack of financial resources.

RECOMMENDATION

That a grant of £5,000 be made to the Hampshire Bobby Trust in 2004-05..

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.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

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

NONE