Archived decisions

Contact: Alan Edwards 01962 847158 [email protected]

1. Summary:

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

1.1.1 That approval to be given for the support of voluntary organisations in

2007/08, totalling £419,968 as outlined in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report subject to New Forest Disability Information Service and Neighbourcare New Milton being kept under review and the officers in consultation be authorised to agree revised grants for these.

1.1.2 That the following policy strands be reviewed with a view to establishing new criteria for consideration of grants applications in 2008/09:

1.1.3 Review of grants criteria.

1.1.4 Review of Age Concern Services in the context of the wellbeing and service modernisation.

1.1.5 Review of Information Services.

1.1.6 Review of appropriateness of transferring grants to contracts.

1.1.7 The schedule of grants of £5,000 and under be noted.

2. Reason(s)

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

2.1.2 This report supports the corporate strategy in terms of making Hampshire safer and more secure for all, maximising wellbeing, and enhancing our quality of place through award of grants to voluntary organisations who provide services covering those priorities.

3. Other Options considered and rejected:

3.1 It is proposed to fully review Adult Services grants giving policy in the context of wellbeing and modernisation of services, as well as appropriateness of transferring grants to contracts, during 2007 in time for the 08/09 grants round later in the year.

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive member consulted

4.1 None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee

5.1 None.

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

6.1 Not Applicable

Approved by: ........................................... Date: ................

Councillor Patricia Banks

Contact: Alan Edwards (01962) 847158 [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides a summary of application received from voluntary organisations requesting grants in 2007/08 and makes recommendations on award of grants those organisations seeking over £5,000. Authority to make grants under £5,000 is delegated to the Director of Adult services. In making recommendations, regard has been taken of the emerging Wellbeing agenda.

2. Recommendations

2.1 That grants to voluntary organisations as indicated in Appendices 1 and 2 totalling £ 419,968 be approved.

2.2 That the following policy strands be reviewed with a view to establishing new criteria for consideration of grants applications in 2008/09:

2.2.1 Review of grants criteria.

2.2.2 Review of Age Concern Services in the context of the wellbeing and service modernisation.

2.2.3 Review of Information Services.

2.2.4 Review of appropriateness of transferring grants to contracts.

2.3 That no further applications for grants above £5,000 are accepted for 2007/08 and that the balance of the grants budget is used to manage pressures and for developmental work.

3. Links to Corporate Strategies

3.1 This report supports the corporate strategy in terms of making Hampshire safer and more secure for all, maximising wellbeing, and enhancing our quality of place through award of grants to voluntary organisations who provide services covering those priorities.

4. Impact Assessment

4.1 In compiling this report, account has been taken of the requirements of the Corporate Equalities Plan and Race Scheme. The One Compact for Hampshire has social inclusion as one of its principles and states that all partners are committed to the importance of promoting equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and belief. Additionally, equal opportunity and race relation policies have been sought from the voluntary organisations that apply for grants above £5,000.

4. Grants/Contracts

4.2 The recent publication "A Guide to Procuring Care and Support Services", published by the Department for Communication and Local Government (published October 2006) draws a helpful distinction between grants and contracts.

4.2.1 Grants are defined as money to support a particular activity. It does not usually cover the entire cost of the activity and it is legally considered to be a one-side gift, rather than a payment in exchange for services.

4.2.2 A contract is a binding agreement to perform a certain service in exchange for an agreed payment.

4.2.3 In broad terms these definitions are an affirmation of those used by the former Social Services Committee for many years.

4.2.4 There has been a trend to transfer services from a grant funded to a contractual basis in the light of the above definitions, for many years. This issue is discussed more fully below, in 6.2.

5. Background Information

5.1 The grants over £5,000 require authorisation by Adult Social Care Executive.

5.1.2 The provisional budget for grants to voluntary organisations is at £588,750. The Adult Services Department's total spend in the voluntary sector in the next financial year will be approximately £ 40.23m. This latter sum is predominantly for purchasing services under contract arrangement.

5.1.3 In accordance with the outcome of the corporate Best Value Review of support to the voluntary sector, the Adult Services grants programme is advertised on the corporate website. Community Voluntary Services are also informed of the County Council's grant programme. Every opportunity is therefore given for organisations not previously funded to make an application. Organisations that received recurring grants in previous years are invited to apply.

5.1.4 64 applications have been received for 2007/08. 19 applications were received for more than £5,000; 45 for under £5,000. This compares with a total of 63 in 2006/07.

6. Grants and Wellbeing

6.1 In examining the grants applications received, it is felt that a thorough review of the Department's grant policy is required in the light of the emerging wellbeing and modernisation agenda. Some of this work will be extensive and will require staff resources. It is therefore proposed that grants be awarded in 07/08, on the basis of existing criteria but taking into account Wellbeing and social inclusion issues where they are evident in the grant application form. However, prior to the 08/09 grant round it is proposed that the following work be undertaken:-

· review of grants criteria. It is proposed that the voluntary sector also be engaged in this work; (by end of September 2007).

· Review of all Age Concern services. Applications from seven branches total £161,048. The services would be reviewed in the context of wellbeing, whether there are opportunities for improved coordination and the scope for services innovation and improvement in accordance with the modernisation agenda (by the end of December 2007).

· Review of information services, including in-house provision (by end of December 2007.

6.2 It is also proposed to examine the scope for transferring grants to contracts. This issue will need to be considered in the light of the new EU Advice on Part B (e.g. social care) services and the potential to destabilise voluntary organisations and voluntary sector provision of services.

7. Grants 07/08

7.1 A voluntary organisation may be considered for grant aid from Adult Services only if its services, projects or activities are in compliance with the aims and objectives, priorities and policies of the Adult Services Department and if it submits an application form with appropriate documentation. Grants are given to support services that are better provided by the voluntary sector e.g. the mobilisation of community resources to help vulnerable people maintain their independence (Hampshire Voluntary Care Groups Advisory Service and Andover Neighbourcare) and supported employment services (Cherry Tree Nursery).

7.1.2 All grant applications have been considered by senior operational and/or commissioning managers. These grants have been subject to detailed scrutiny on need for the service vis-à-vis the department's strategic commissioning objectives and priorities, as well as financial need. As mentioned in 5.1 above, grants over £5,000 require authorisation by the Executive Member for Adults Social Care.

7.2 Payment of Grants

7.2.1 Payment of grants is subject to financial need, and on submission of annual accounts. The Compact Code of Conduct on Funding states that: "Organisations will not normally be eligible for grants where they hold balances in excess of one year's running costs. Those organisations receiving recurring funding which hold in excess of three months' running costs may receive a reduced grant". This criteria, which accords with the policy of the former Social Services Committee, has been applied to the grants in Appendix 1. The majority have reserves of less than 3 months running costs.

7.3 Grants Applications 2007/08

7.3.1 Appendix 1 lists the voluntary and community organisations where a grant above £5,000 is recommended and gives information on the grant amount they received in the previous year, the sum they have applied for, and grant recommended. An inflationary uplift has been applied in line with the provisions of the Compact, which has regard to the County Council's budget for inflation, and where financial need as well as service need has been demonstrated. The recommendations total £419,968..

Appendix 2 gives background information on the organisations and the grant. Information is given on the activities undertaken by these organisations, the number of people who benefit from the award of the grant, the value for money aspects of the grant, and their "fit" with service strategies, and wellbeing.

7.3.3 Appendix 3 lists those grants for which more than 5,000 was sought but for which a recommendation is being made to fund a lesser amount or no grant.

7.3.4 Given the Department's budgetary situation, it is proposed not to accept any further applications in the financial year 2007/08.

7.3.5 The maximum total value of grant applications received under £5,000 is £102,000. There is therefore a balance of some £67,000 in the grants budget for 07/08, which will be used to manage pressures and to support developmental work.

8. Conclusion

8.1 It is considered appropriate to review grants at this juncture in the development of wellbeing and modernising services. It is important that the voluntary sector is invited to participate in this work so that any changes in 08/09 and beyond have mutual ownership by all those involved.

Appendix 1

Executive Member - Adult Social Care

13 April 2007

Grants to Voluntary Organisations, 2007-08

Allocation of grants above £5,000 to voluntary organisations in 2007-08

NB Havant & District Socially Independent Disabled received £6,447 in 2006/07 but have failed to submit an application for 2007/08 despite attempts to contact them

Appendix 2

Executive Member for Adult Social Care

13 April 2007

Grants to Voluntary Organisations 2007-08

Summary of services provided by voluntary organisations

Please note the paragraph numbers correspond to the numbering of proposed grants in Appendix 1 and the cash figures identify the amount of grant recommended for approval.

1. Older People

1.11 Age Concern Andover and District - £10,070

Age Concern Andover and District represents and lobbies for older people in the Andover and District area, provides information advice and needs-led services. The services give help, support to and care for older people to improve their quality of life. The organisation has worked in partnership with Hampshire County Council, and previous funding was provided through a contract. Since the funding goes towards core services, it was decided to change it to grant but with similar security. The grant helps people to live independently and sits well with the well-being agenda. Approximately 3600 people benefit from the services of the organisation of which approximately over 400 are referrals from the Adult Services Department. The organisation is an important partner not just for the Department but also for various other local voluntary and community organisations. The organisation holds reserves of 7 months' annual expenditure but it is expected to lose a significant proportion of this sum through deficits on funding some of their services reducing their actual reserves to less than 3 months running costs. It is recommended that a grant of £10,070 be approved i.e. last year's sum plus inflation..

1.2 Age Concern Hampshire, Information and Advice - £97,582

Age Concern Hampshire promotes the welfare of older people in Hampshire. The grant contributes towards the costs of the organisation's information and advice service based in Winchester, which fits with the Commissioning Strategy Action Plan. The information and advice service has achieved the Community Legal Services quality mark for general help. The service receives over 5,800 calls a year with enquiries on a variety of issues including benefits, adaptations to the home, insurance and transport. Referrals to the service are county-wide and Age Concern Hampshire is increasingly involved in advocacy. The total cost of the service is an estimated £118,419 for 2007/08. The organisation holds reserves of 3 months' annual expenditure. It is recommended that a grant of £97,582 be awarded, in last year's survey, plus inflation.

1.3 Age Concern Hampshire, Community Services in Basingstoke and

Deane - £26,266

Age Concern runs six activities centres for older people at various locations in the Basingstoke area, some on a half day, some on a full day basis, providing a total equivalent to 7065 half day sessions over the year. During 2005/06, some adjustments were made to locations to meet local need and the number of centres in operation increased from five to six. The centres provide social and leisure activities to older people who would otherwise have difficulty in accessing such opportunities and, thus, provide a preventative service and contribute to the well-being and healthy living agendas. The total cost of running the activity centres is approximately £46,125. This equates to a cost of £6.66 per half day session; the grant contribution would equate to a cost of £3.72 per half day session. This is a cost effective way of providing this sort of service. The organisation holds reserves of 3 months' annual expenditure. It is recommended that a grant of £26,266, i.e. last year's grants, be approved.

1.4 Age Concern Romsey and District - £8,500

Age Concern Romsey and District maintains a hall with full facilities which is dedicated primarily for use by older people, both through activities and events organised by Age Concern and by other organisations and charities in Romsey working with older people. The hall is also an information and signposting centre for older people. Over 400 older people benefit from the activities run by Age Concern Romsey. The grant, which is a contribution towards the cost of the Service Development Officer and Hall Administrator, provides excellent value for money. Both the Primary Care Trust and Social Services have contracts with Age Concern and these arrangements prove to be very effective and very well received by local people. The grant fits with the well-being and preventative strategy and forges the Department's local partnership in Romsey with a key voluntary organisation. According to the latest published accounts for 2005/06, the organisation held 1 months of annual expenditure as reserves. A grant of £8,500 is therefore recommended.

1.5 Age Concern Winchester - £11,556

Age Concern Winchester aims to promote the welfare of older people and to improve the quality of their lives by offering services that give practical help, advice and regular care and mental stimulation. 400 older people and their carers benefit from these services. The grant pays for the general running accosts of the organisation, including the costs of the Chief Officer and the Lunch Club Coordinator. Specific services like a Take A Break and Help in the Home scheme are funded by contracts. The Department has worked in partnership with the organisation for several years. The grant fits well with preventative and well-being agenda. It is covered by a three year grant agreement from April 2005 until March 2008 and is monitored through regular reports. The organisation holds reserves of 1.3 months annual expenditure. A grant if £11,556 i.e. last year's sum plus inflation.

1.6 Club Hampshire - £111,366

Club Hampshire provides clubs for older or disabled people and also serves as an umbrella organisation for these clubs. The clubs are run on a voluntary basis and provide a variety of activities for their members, which are flexible enough to meet individual needs, enable people to exercise choices, maintain their independence, feel fulfilled and to improve their quality of life. The organisation has achieved the continuation and development of 50 social clubs across Hampshire with 1204 members. Club volunteers receive training and support. The grant offers excellent value for money and meets the Department's objective of helping older people to remain at home and the Wellbeing agenda. The grant is covered by a three year grant agreement from April 2005 until March 2008 and is monitored by regular monitoring meetings and visits to clubs. The organisation holds no reserves. It is therefore recommended that a grant of £111,366 be awarded i.e. last year's sum plus inflation.

1.7 Winchester Live at Home Scheme - £10,000

Winchester Live at Home Scheme provide a Befriending Scheme, with volunteers visiting people who are isolated from their communities due to frailty or disability. A Friendship Club has also been established to provide a service to those waiting for the Befriending Service. A second club is being set up due to demand. The services are provided to those older people who do not meet the Department's criteria, but provide an important preventative resource in establishing social inclusion and maintaining people's well-being. A total of 76 older people benefit from their services. The grant is covered by three year grant agreement from April 2005 to March 2008 and is monitored by regular monitoring meetings. The organisation holds reserves of 5 months' annual expenditure, and it is therefore recommended that a grant of £10,000 be approved. 1.8 Andover Neighbourcare.

1.8 Andover Neighbourcare - £25,000

This organisation provides a range of services people in the Andover area. The objectives of the Services are related to social inclusion, enabling people to live at home, to provide a one stop shop for people to access all services, to promote volunteering and to develop user-centred services to meet the demands of the increasing older population, by involving service users in the planning of services. The organisation is highly regarded in the Andover area, providing a service to some 4,370 people. The local Districts refer some 500 people to them, and signposts a further 800. In the past, the various services have been subject to a contract. However, they are low in financial value and it is felt that any decision, should it arise to cease one of the services would have a disproportionate impact on the organisation's management capacity. Andover Neighbourcare are therefore seeking a grant for core-funding (£25,000). The application is fully supported by local managers. The organisation has 3 months reserves. It is recommended that the requested grant of £25,000 be approved. The organisation has sought approval to a 3 year grant agreement but given the review of grants referred to in the report it is recommended that funding should be confined to 07/08 at this stage.

2. Physical Disability

2.1 Hampshire Centre for Independent Living - £7,688

Hampshire Centre for Independent Living (HCIL) uses the experience of disabled people to promote and support independent living through the use of direct payments. HCIL seeks to ensure that the users' perspective is part of the development of services. The organisation support a large number of users through the circulation of the monthly newsletter `Direct', The grant pays for the organisation's core activities and is covered by a three year grant agreement from April 2005 to March 2008 and monitored annually. Regular meetings are held with the organisation's co-ordinator throughout the year. The organisation holds no reserves. It is recommended that a grant of £7,688 be approved i.e. the same as in 06/07.

2.2 Hampshire Deaf Association - £5,500

The Hampshire Deaf Association works to together with dumb/deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing people to improve access and provide information for people with a hearing loss. The grant would provide for outreach community support helping people with a hearing loss through longer term mentoring, also visiting elderly dumb/deaf people in their homes or in the hospital. The services reduces isolation, improves well-being and enable people with a hearing loss to live independently. 44 people of all ages would benefit from the services in reduction from last year. Both the Deaf Services team and the Sensory team use the services, saving the teams in some cases from having to apply to both the Older People and Physical Disability's funding panels for support worker input. The organisation is seeking £9,919 but given decreased activity it is recommended that a grant of £5,500 be approved.

3. Huntington's Disease Association - £8,602

The Huntington's Disease Association exists to support people affected by Huntington's disease, a neurological disorder that causes progressive mental deterioration and severe physical incapacity. The grant contributes proportionally to the Regional Care Adviser for Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire. The Department made 163 referrals to the organisation in 05/06. The service also promotes excellent joint working for a wide group of multi-disciplinary professionals and assists with care planning, organising and running training sessions for professional staff, rest and nursing homes, and schools. The work of the organisation is wholly consistent with the corporate and departmental strategies, is valuable and flexible and the grant provides extremely good value for money. The Regional Care Advisor is a skilled former nurse who offers outstanding advice and support. The grant is covered by a three year grant agreement from April 2005 until March 2008. The organisation holds reserves of 3 months' annual expenditure. A grant of £8,602 is recommended, i.e. last year's sum and inflation.

4. New Forest Disability Information Service - £6,000

The information Service aims to empower people with disabilities in the New Forest by giving them information and advice, thus enabling them to make informed choices and lead active lives in their community. To improve its outreach to people with disabilities, the organisation set up a Link service with GP surgeries and hospitals. A pilot has been conducted that showed the need for this service to help disabled people and their carers. The Link services also visited people at their homes. 2,300 people benefit from their services. The Department made 140 referrals in 05/06. The organisation has the CLS Quality Mark. The work of the organisation is wholly consistent with corporate and departmental strategies and follows all departmental objectives closely. They are seen by the local Area as potentially providing a brokerage service for people on individualised budgets. The organisation has experienced considerable financial difficulty in the last year. They have sought £10,000 but given the budgetary situation, allied with the review of information services, it is recommended that a grant of £6,000 be awarded at this stage, subject to confirmation of financial need through receipt of annual accounts which will be available in May.

5. Learning Disabilities

5.1 Test Valley Community Services, Andover Advocacy Alliance - £19,962

Andover Advocacy Alliance provides independent advocacy to vulnerable adults in Andover and North West Hampshire using a model of volunteer advocates and issue-based advocacy. Advocacy supports and enables people to take greater control of their lives through helping them to make more informed choices, have increased involvement in decision-making, a better understanding of their rights, and enhanced skills to assert those rights. A total of 245 people benefit from the service with 65 of them with learning disabilities. The organisation holds reserves of 3 months' annual expenditure. It is recommended that a grant of £19,965, last year's grant with inflation, be approved.

6. Mental Health

6.1 Cherry Tree Nursery, Supported Work Opportunity Project - £6,440

The Cherry Tree Nursery provides sheltered work rehabilitation in a supportive environment in a large plant nursery for over 100 adults with severe and enduring mental illness. The organisation also provides opportunities relevant for the wellbeing of the service users and for possible future employment. These services and projects enable volunteers to regain to take up their place in the community, and to develop work, social and communication skills. Cherry Tree has won two awards recently, namely the "Queens Golden Jubilee Award" and the "Lily Reintegration Award", helping them to promote public awareness of mental health. Adults from Dorset and Hampshire benefit from the Project. The organisation gets most of its income from plant sales and requested the small grant initially to cover a projected shortfall. The grant represents the proportional support for the beneficiaries from the Hampshire area. The cost is considerably below what the Adult Services Department would be expected to pay if these day care services would have to be spot purchased. Last year, seven regular and two occasional attendees from the Hampshire area worked as volunteers at Cherry Tree Nursery, totalling between 19 and 21 attendances per week. Two of these volunteers have progressed to paid employment, with the organisation providing a safety net in times of particular stress. The grant is covered by a three year grant agreement from April 2005 to March 2008 and is monitored through output reports and an annual monitoring meeting. The annual accounts are still being examined and therefore the recommended grant should only be regarded as a maximum indicative figure at this stage.

6.2 The Trinity Centre - £16,465

The Trinity Centre, Winchester, provides a day centre for homeless people. Its core service provides food, shelter, welfare, access to learning and recreational facilities for people who are disadvantaged because of homelessness, employment, illness, substance misuse, poverty, isolation or social inequality. The work of the Trinity Centre contributes towards meeting corporate and departmental objectives by helping to reduce social exclusion, contributing to wellbeing and protecting vulnerable people by providing healthcare services to those who might not otherwise access primary care services and providing a number of basic skills courses to build self-esteem and encourage centre users to increase their independence. The organisation holds reserves of 3 months' annual expenditure. A total of 50 people benefit from the service. It is recommended that a grant of £16,465 last year's grant with 2.5% inflation, be approved.

7. Other Services

7.1 Hampshire Voluntary Care Group Advisory Service - £48,971

The Hampshire Voluntary Care Groups Advisory Service supports voluntary care groups across Hampshire that provide a range of support, mainly involving transport, to enable people to live independent lives. The Service provides development work both in terms of establishing new groups and working with existing groups, and arranges insurance, provides grants, and negotiates for and on behalf of the groups. In 2005, 100 care groups delivered 100,00 tasks through their 3,500 care group volunteers. The grant is very good value for money and through its care groups supports the objective to enable more older people to remain at home, contribute to social inclusion, and is integral to the Wellbeing agenda. The grant is covered by a three year grant agreement from April 2005 to March 2008 and is monitored by quarterly co-ordinating committee meetings where reports from the two advisors are presented. The organisation holds no reserves. It is recommended that a grant of £48,971, i.e. last year's sum plus inflation, be approved.

Appendix 3

1. Eastleigh Citizens Advices Bureau, GP Outreach - £2,750

Eastleigh Citizens Advice Bureau provides an Outreach service attached to the Blackthorn surgery, Netley, but operating from Copse Land GP Surgery, Hamble, which covers much of the southern parishes of Eastleigh. Most of the people seen are older persons plus a number of carers. The service helps people in maximising their incomes via the take up of benefits, which accounts for more than half of the enquiries, and allows them to live independently. However, a policy decision was made in 2006/07 to cease funding CABs. It is therefore proposed to give notice not to renew the grant beyond October 2007. This will accord with the requirements of One Compact and allow the organisation to seek alternative sources of funding.

2. Artscape in Peterfield - £2,000

Artscape help people in East Hampshire suffering from mental disorders of a severe and enduring nature, who are sometimes also recovering from alcohol and drug misuses. They also raised awareness of mental health issues and hold exhibitions of art work produced by their service users at local venues. Some 15 people currently benefit from the services, all of whom have been referred by the Department. Artscape have applied for £10,000 but given current activity levels it is felt that £2,000 is more appropriate.

3. ROCC - £5,000

ROCC are a highly respected organisation who have received grant funding of £5,000 in 06/07 to improve effective communications and understanding between provider organisation delivering housing care and support services and purchases of those services. They have sought funding of £8,000 but it is being recommended that funding at last year's level be maintained, i.e. £5,000.