Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Proposed Executive Decision:

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report :

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area:

1.1. This report seeks approval for making a grant to Rushmoor Healthy Living (RHL).

2) Issues Covered in Report:

2.1. Details of the level of funding sought by RHL and the reason for the funding.

2.2. Background information about RHL.

3) Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

3.1. That the Executive Member for Adult Social Care approve a grant of £10,000 to Rushmoor Healthy Living.

MAIN REPORT

1) Purpose of the Report:

1.1. This report is in respect of a grant application received from Rushmoor Healthy Living (RHL) towards their core running costs.

2) Contextual Information:

2.1. RHL delivers a wide range of high-quality, effective projects aimed at improving physical health and mental wellbeing.  They target disadvantaged and vulnerable local residents of all ages, including BME groups (with work being undertaken to deliver services to the large Nepalese community in the area), with the aim of reducing identified health and social inequalities and improving beneficiaries' quality of life. A significant proportion of their work is aimed at older adults.

2.2. The organisation works in a different way to many others with its core activity focused on developing and organizing a menu of activities and services for vulnerable residents of Rushmoor and the surrounding areas. Many of these are not directly delivered by RHL but commissioned and co-ordinated by them in response to local need. The produces a flexible and responsive approach which is increasing in relevance as we move toward the transformation of social care and personalisation.

2.3. RHL currently receive a grant from Adult Services of £15,000 for the Physical Activity for Older Adults programme. RHL's core funding had previously been provided by Big Lottery funding and this came to an end in 2007-08.

2.4. Other partners that currently contribute financially to the core activity of RHL are; Hampshire Children's Service, Hampshire PCT and Rushmoor Borough Council.

2.5. The organisations main focus to-date has been the identified disadvantaged areas of the Borough of Rushmoor in North East Hampshire.  However they have started to expand geographically and are already working successfully in several neighbouring areas.  RHL's projects remove real and/ or perceived barriers and offer support, advice, encouragement and opportunities.  Amongst others, activities currently delivered include 18 weekly exercise sessions for older adults, a programme of social and exercise activities in residential care homes/ sheltered accommodation, a fuel poverty project, health trainers, smoke free homes, breakfast clubs for primary school children, a teenage parents mentoring project, and skilled for health courses aimed at improving basic skills levels using health related topics.             

2.6. During the financial year 2007/08 RHL achieved 39,700 beneficiary contacts, with approximately 5,000 different residents directly benefiting from this services (many more benefited indirectly).  As RHL has gradually increased in size, existing activities have been developed and new activities set-up as a result of needs identified.

3) Key Issues:

3.1. RHL are seeking £10,000 towards their core costs as continuation funding beyond the previously held Big Lottery funding. Importantly, the organisation delivers a wide range of services and activities that meet the needs of vulnerable adults within the North East Hampshire and contributes to the objective of Maximising Wellbeing. The funding would be used to contribute to the continuance of the organisations portfolio of projects.

3.2. The organisation delivers services in a different way to many other organisations, commissioning, co-ordinating and managing a range of activities and services both from within RHL and externally, for example, engaging specialist instructors to deliver tailored programmes based on the needs of different groups. They are also planning to develop as a Social Enterprise, seeking to generate income through a range of activities. This would include delivering activities in more affluent areas in order to generate surpluses that could be reinvested elsewhere. The organisations aim in this enterprise is to maximise income and reduce dependency on external funders.

3.3. Project evaluation demonstrates that these services are having a significant impact on the lives of local disadvantaged and vulnerable residents and the organisation has developed an excellent reputation for successful project delivery and community engagement.  Significant outcomes are being achieved including improved mental well-being, increased self-confidence, improved self-esteem, reduced social exclusion and improved physical health.

3.4. This funding would provide us with a good opportunity to work with RHL, to explore this potentially different way of working, explore the development of social enterprise models for the delivery of well-being services and learn how this fits with the transformation of social care and personalisation. A manager from the Commissioning Directorate will work with RHL to monitor these developments and disseminate outcomes.

4) Financial Implications

4.1 Funding for this grant has been identified within the Commissioning Directorate and will be allocated via the main Adult Services Grant programme.

5) Outline of Options:

5.1 None

6) Conclusions:

6.1. RHL deliver services to meet the particular needs of different neighbourhoods and groups within the North East Hampshire area, including BME groups. Funding for this organisation would allow Adult Services to contribute to the partnership around the organisation, to explore this potentially different way of working, explore the development of social enterprise models for the delivery of well-being services and learn how this fits with the transformation of social care and personalisation..

7) Recommendations:

7.1 That the Executive Member for Adult Social Care approve a grant of £10,000 to Rushmoor Healthy Living.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION: