Destination 2011

BLACKPOOL SURF JANUARY 2005- JANUARY 2008 REVIEW AND DESTINATION 2011

To promote participation in the renewal and regeneration of Blackpool

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BLACKPOOL SURF JANUARY 2005- JANUARY 2008 REVIEW AND DESTINATION 2011 “Achieving the Extraordinary” was the theme of the Blackpool SURF 2007 AGM. That theme fits well with many of our 80 member groups who regularly conduct marvellous work that enhances the quality of life of people in Blackpool. The theme is also applicable to Blackpool SURF itself. The organisation has achieved extraordinary things – but against the odds in a climate of instability and where funding has only been available on an insecure annual basis. Yet despite difficulties and the loss of key members of staff who sought alternative employment because of the lack of job security, SURF has continually made progress. This progress and the potential of SURF to develop, represents a rich vein of experience and enthusiasm that needs to be continually utilised. Blackpool SURF’s member groups and partners need to be urgently reviewing this untapped resource and ensuring that investment takes place to release that potential. TRI-ANNUAL REVIEW AND INDICATIONS OF A FORWARD STRATEGY FOR BLACKPOOL SURF 1. MEMBERSHIP In September 2007 Blackpool SURF recruited its 80th member. SURF is not an organisation that needs to be dealt with as a single entity; rather it is a network of a wide variety of voluntary and community organisations that focus on Blackpool. SURF membership is ‘authentic’ and the staff and Board Members of the organisation have real knowledge of each group and its activities and personnel. MAIN AREA OF WORK Adult learning Children and Young People Environment and Heritage Family Support Health, Illness, Disability Leisure LGBT Open Spaces Resident/Tenant Groups, Community Associations Support and Advice Services

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No OF MEMBER GROUPS 1 2 3 3 22 4 2 14 13 10

Youth Organisations 6 Note: These ‘area of work’ categories have been determined by SURF. It is not always easy to categorise groups. For example does TramShed Inclusive Theatre Company which helps children with identified additional needs integrate into mainstream theatre sit under the Children & Young People category, or as a youth organisation or under Health and Disability? Because of the nature of that group we have categorised them as a Youth Organisation. Blackpool Advocacy clearly works with young people, but has been categorised as Support and Advice Service for the purposes of this exercise. The above categories – and any new ones necessary – will be included on a future membership survey and on all new SURF membership application forms so that members can define their own areas of work. Each SURF member is a Blackpool focussed group carrying out specific activities that benefit the town and its residents. SURF’s range of Members include well known national charities like Barnardo’s and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, well known local charities like Blackpool Advocacy but also includes small local organisations involving just a handful of dedicated volunteers e.g. OCEANS who are a self-help group for sufferers of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Each member has a nominated representative and has rights to attend the bimonthly SURF Network Meeting. 35% of our members regularly attended the SURF Network Meeting in 2007 i.e. have attended more than one Network meeting. SURF full-membership is open to any constituted group that operates in Blackpool. Associate Membership i.e. non-voting membership is available to emerging groups or groups that do not have a local base or local Blackpool focus. A ‘welcome pack’ is issued to each new member organisation that explains the rights, duties and benefits of membership. In only three years SURF has built up its active membership base of 80 groups. Based on a collaborative approach with the CVS and Blackpool Council (Neighbourhoods and Communities Division, Faith and Equalities, Parks Department) and adopting a pro-active system to mutually refer groups to each other, then all groups in the town will benefit. A simple protocol will be proposed, which upon agreement, will enable and encourage partner agencies to mutually refer VCFS groups to the most appropriate services and relevant activities. This will help integrate communication and information-flow to and from groups. 2. SURF NETWORK MEETING Page 3 of 16

“We’ve benefited through consultation/involvement in Blackpool Employment Skills Consortium, LEGI bid and the development of Blackpool NeighbourhoodEmployment Team. We’ve used the Network to influence and secure funding for the voluntary sector” Marie Blackshaw, Citizen’s Advice Bureau The SURF Network meets bi-monthly on the second Monday of the month from 6:00pm – 8:00pm. The Network Meeting offers the most regular opportunity in Blackpool for voluntary and community groups to come together to discuss common issues. It is the basic meeting through which SURF members exercise their views and control over the organisation. It represents the ‘constituency’ of Blackpool SURF. The format of the meeting changes to suit the issues being discussed and can be traditional meeting style, presentation-led or workshop-led. Members have expressed a desire to have more opportunities within the meeting for more informal networking to enable groups to meet properly and share information. Each Network Meeting has a dedicated item relating to the LSP. This is the only voluntary and community sector forum in the town that has such a direct link with LSP business. The SURF LSP representatives have a duty to report back to the Network Meeting on LSP Assembly and Executive issues. The Network Meeting is also the conduit through which SURF proposals for the LSP agenda are submitted. Other business regularly discussed at the meeting includes the Board and Staff activity reports. Business frequently discussed in 2007 included the proposed SURF – CVS collaboration and the Third Sector Review of the Blackpool Local Area Agreement. Each Network Meeting is governed by a set of ground-rules. Most meetings have a dedicated ‘jargon buster’ sheet produced specifically for that meeting. SURF regularly reproduces its pledge to do everything within its power to enable members to attend and participate (child-care, transport, hearing loops, etc) subject to adequate notice and resources being available. Network Meeting Report Jan – Oct 2007 Meeting Held...

Guests Officers Non-regular issues discussed Present Present

Jan 07 March

Member groups Present 27 24

4 7

3 4

June

14

2

4

August

21

5

3

Sept AGM

43

30

3

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Blackpool LAA 1 Liveability Action Plan 2 Community Advice - strategy 1 Blackpool Local Infrastructure Hub 2 Open Spaces Network Update 1 Recycling 2 Shaping Blackpool’s Future 1. Showcase from Volunteer Centre

October 17 December 15

5 8

2 3

and Blackpool Tiggers 2 Straw polls on Collaboration with CVS Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy 1 Speed Networking 2 LAA Health Priorities

With sufficient commitment from partners, particularly through the referral protocol, the SURF Network Meeting could grow and develop into a far more representative and influential body. SURF has proposed to the CVS that a series of combined meetings of the SURF Network and the Voluntary Sector Forum takes place. The potential would be created to mobilise the latent membership of both organisations into one independent VCFS Forum that could claim 300+ subscribers. The Network itself could potentially diversify and have sub groups consisting of members committed to addressing thematic issues i.e. Open Spaces (see below), Children & Young People, Enterprise and Economic Development, Crime and Community Safety, etc, etc. The main Network might then only meet occasionally once or twice a year. 3. ACCOUNTABLE REPRESENTATION Blackpool SURF in its short existence since February 2005 has challenged the thinking in Blackpool about the concept of ‘community representation’. SURF as a member of a regional and national family of Community Empowerment Networks has been able to hone its thinking about representation based on this collective experience. Such thinking has been reflected by the DCLG (Department of Communities and Local government): “The aspiration should be to strengthen the voice of the sector, so that all communities can make the most of opportunities to influence local decision making, either directly or through a local third sector group that represents their interests. It is important to understand that it is not easy to represent what are often divergent interests and reaching agreement may sometimes prove impossible. The very process of involving people, canvassing opinion, consensus building and gathering and disseminating information is time-consuming and may at times appear chaotic. Yet it is ultimately worthwhile – when people are involved in decision making they are more likely to understand how and why decisions are made and consequently retain a greater faith in those who make them.” Principles of Representation, DCLG, Nov 2007

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VCFS accountable representation is concerned with collecting the relevant and diverse views of third sector organisations on specific issues, and conveying them to decision-makers. It is also concerned with communicating the results of representation and decision-making back to the constituent source of the views expressed. In the recent past, service providers have sought to involve service users as participants in decision-making in order to benefit from their unique perspective. Current practice seeks to involve representatives of service users to ensure that the broadest ranges of views are taken into account. Those that appoint or elect representatives in turn are entitled to know what has been done on their behalf. Accountable Representation consists of four components: 1. Constituency Representatives need to actually represent a body of opinion – however large or small that constituency may be. This constituency might be individuals or groups that share a common issue or share the same geographical location. Through its Network Meeting Blackpool SURF is providing an interested and accountable body for its representatives. Representatives report back to – and receive input and guidance from – the Network meeting. On occasion (e.g. the LAA Review see 6 below) Blackpool SURF has sought the views of a wider constituency i.e. the groups on the shared SURF-Blackpool Council database, the groups in CVS membership and through BCVYS members. 2. Communication Two-way communication between representatives and those represented is essential. Blackpool SURF feeds back reports, for example the LSP Assembly and Executive, through various methods:  Verbal and written reports at the SURF Network  Reproducing the LSP Agendas and summaries of proceedings and inviting questions;  Through regular mailings to members, offering a customised verbal or written report on LSP items to any individual member group that requests it.  Specific features in Blackpool Community News. The SURF Network has formally submitted agenda items to the LSP Assembly on Community Engagement Standards and the LAA Review. 3. Support Blackpool SURF supports its representatives in their role: Page 6 of 16

Briefing sessions with the SURF LSP representatives and the LSP Management Team were held in the period 2005 – 2006. These enabled the SURF representatives to thoroughly prepare for the LSP meetings and ask questions in advance so that more informed responses could be given at the actual LSP Meetings. This approach was seen as successful and the specific SURF/LSP briefing meetings were replicated and replaced by the LSP Management Team into a briefing and training meeting involving all of the LSP third-sector representatives. SURF has also provided its own additional support for representatives which consisted of  Specific training programme provided for potential representatives on Community Representation delivered by Navarro Consultancy in 2005.  Reproducing and providing synopsis of relevant publications and guidance.  Circulating related background papers.  Circulating information about the VCFS in Blackpool i.e. the constituency.  Providing support for individual representatives i.e. report writing, printing, seeking requested information, transport to and from meetings, writing up representatives notes, advice on feeding back, highlighting and summarising relevant pages, paragraphs, etc to enable quick and easy digest of information. 4. Impact Made In order to enhance the role of accountable representation then the impacts of that representation needs to be clearly recorded and communicated to the appropriate and other constituencies. As members of the LSP Assembly each SURF representative needs to take credit for achievements made and this should be reported back to the Network. This will help enhance the role of the individual representatives and the role of representation generally. Where influence has clearly been brought to bear on an issue, then this needs to be clearly registered and acknowledged also. Failure to do this will result in a cynicism developing in the role of representative with a reduced community interest in that role. It will lead to reduced consideration and competition for vacant positions. The concept of accountable representation promoted by SURF perhaps challenges the way things have been traditionally done in Blackpool. The role of community representative has traditionally been played by those who volunteered and stepped forward because of their previous experience in a voluntary or community group. While this will have been an improvement

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on the previous state of having no participation from the community, it is in itself a limited form of representation. The lack of a clear accountable body or constituency or mechanisms for communication inevitably results in the contributions of participants being limited to their own personal experience and views based on that experience. The lack of an accountable body with mechanisms for seeking contributions and issuing feedback can also strengthen the negative perception that the representative is in fact ‘un-representative’. All those who volunteer have useful knowledge and experience to bring. However, a representative needs to be able to gather and represent the collective knowledge and experiences of others. Service Providers need to be able to distinguish between participation and representation and determine what they actually require from the VCFS. Blackpool SURF provides a particular form of representation outlined above. It has a specific role description and offers specific ‘Consultation and Communication Guidance’ to representatives and members. SURF provides a constituency through its Network Meeting and has mechanisms in place for effective communication. It provides individual and group support to representatives through the staff team. These support services can potentially be extended to other third-sector representatives. SURF proposes to launch its unique support and training package for Representatives in the town entitled “Being an Effective Community Representative in Blackpool”. SURF provides a service that brings a wider viewpoint to the decisionmaking process. As such its service is intrinsically linked to the provision of community engagement services in the town. The Network provides one avenue through which accountable representation can take place. However, SURF is able to carry out wider community engagement activities with VCFS groups and also individual residents. We have acquired skills and experience in delivering Community Engagement particularly through participatory appraisal (see section 5 below). 4. SUPPORTING GROUPS “(The Network Manager and Blackpool SURF) acted as a mediator between our group and the early years team. We have advertised our services through the newsletter” Mrs Carol Jenkinson, Blackpool Seasiders Childminding Group

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Since its inception Blackpool SURF has been helping key individuals to establish new groups and offer ongoing support to them. These include: Blackpool Tiggers Tram Shed Inclusive Theatre Company Blackpool Music Academy Fighting for Freedom with Anorexia Nervosa OCEANS Open Spaces Network AIR disability group BAT (Blackpool Alcohol Team) Blackpool Rainbow Network Your Community Parents Forum Grange and Layton Area Parents Forum SURF has also supported groups through the Community Chest and the Cleaner Safer Greener Grants scheme. In fact before our first quarter of existence Jan – March 2005 the Blackpool Community Chest was under spent by £70,000. By the end of the quarter SURF had reversed that situation and the Community Chest was over-subscribed. In particular the current CSG grants scheme has seen significant development support and advice given by the SURF Grants Officer to: Red Shoes dance group Friends of Louis Horrocks Park Talbot & Brunswick Parents Forum David Slack Allotments Association In 2007 SURF had planned to initiate a new Network of smaller health-related groups. These small self-help and support groups operate purely on voluntary effort and generally do not appear on the lists of other agencies and networks. They share common characteristics and share common concerns. This planned work did not take place due to SURF’s requirement to under spend on its budget. Through arrangements with its partners SURF will continue to support new emerging groups, particularly those groups that for their own reasons choose not to be associated with the ‘authorities’. SURF has proposed to work with small health-related groups and establish a Network of such groups. And also to help establish themed networks of groups under the Enterprise Board and the Children’s Trust. 5. PARTICIPATORY APPRAISAL Participatory Appraisal, or ‘PA’ as it is known, is a family of methods and tools designed to involve people in decision-making affecting their lives. The vast range of methods and tools available can be used with small or large groups in almost any location. PA is about meeting people where it suits them and at

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their convenience. It is not extractive and intrusive as questionnaires and door-knocking and can be much more effective. In 2006 SURF held seven one-week PA courses. 50 local people were trained in PA techniques, each obtaining a University Foundation Award in PA practice. Five of these have received additional “training the trainers” guidance. Following the conclusion of the courses then several participants expressed a wish to continue to meet to practice their skills and look at opportunities to use these in a practical field work setting. SURF is available to offer its services, subject to funding being available, to deliver field work PA projects that address LSP issues or concerns. It is proposed that each project would involve a team of PA practitioners examining an issue using PA methods. The commissioner of the work would need to produce a clear brief and indicate target groups of people to engage. Each commissioned project would an initial ‘findings’ presentation as well as a formal report. This presentation would aim to involve representatives of those who have been involved and engaged through the PA work. This is crucial to the ethos of PA which requires that those who have given their time to take part should be allowed to see and hear how their views, opinions and contributions have been fed back. The ‘findings’ presentations would naturally involve those who have commissioned any work. Each piece of work would result in the production of a ‘findings’ summary as outlined above and the production of a final report that can be used by commissioning bodies. PA has been tested and proven to be a worthy form of investigative and problem-solving engagement. However, within Blackpool it is an unknown methodology. The projects described above would aim to demonstrate in practice the effectiveness of the methodology. 6. THIRD SECTOR REVIEW OF THE BLACKPOOL LAA “We have been able to get advice in areas we are not familiar with. We have the security of knowing there is help there if we need it”” Judith Gorrell, Winnipeg Residents Association The LAA Review has proven to be the most significant piece of work led and conducted by Blackpool SURF. It has been a unique piece of work and is the only national example of a LAA that has been independently reviewed by the third-sector. This is an achievement that can only strengthen Blackpool’s ongoing commitment to improve its practice.

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Despite initial suspicions from some quarters, the Review process has actually resulted in improved mutual trust and understanding, and stronger relations between the LSP and SURF. In Blackpool SURF, the LSP has a partner that has proven it can deliver community and voluntary sector engagement on even quite complex issues. That engagement, whilst occasionally resulting in very challenging outcomes, was still very constructive. SURF’s function as an independent ‘critical friend’ of the LSP has been confirmed. The Review process commenced with the establishment of a task group involving both SURF and CVS members who met between January and March 2007 to plan the process. The task group submitted a request to Government Office North West for Neighbourhood Renewal Adviser support. This was granted and the task group selected David Burnby to carry out the work. Four focus groups were proposed for April 2007 to discuss and analyse in some detail the experience of voluntary and community sector engagement in the LAA and to discover the extent of the knowledge of the LAA that existed. The focus groups were themed according to the ‘blocks’ of the LAA; Children & Young People, Healthier Communities & Older People, Economic Wellbeing, and Stronger & Safer Communities. Voluntary and community groups on the SURF and Blackpool Council joint database were circulated with a briefing document on the LAA and were invited to attend the most appropriate themed focus group. For those that could not attend a focus group, there was an option to complete a specially designed questionnaire. A questionnaire was also sent to the officers directly responsible for leading on each LAA ‘block’. The focus groups took place in April and the findings were presented at a Conference held on May 10th at the Blackpool Football Club entitled “What is the LAA – The routes to greater involvement and participation”. Participants at the Conference were encouraged to attend a workshop led by officers from each ‘block’. The workshops strived not only to review the experience of involvement in the LAA to date – but crucially – to look at how that experience might be improved in the future. The report by David Burnby presents a more detailed overview of this process and contains a series of conclusions; observations and recommendations. The report was fed-back to the third sector via the Conference attendees, and also through SURF, CVS, BCVYS and Blackpool4me. It has been formally submitted to the LSP Assembly for consideration. It has provided a means for all LSP partners to achieve improved practice in Blackpool regarding voluntary and community engagement in the LAA. Both Blackpool SURF and Blackpool Council have submitted formal proposals in response to the LAA Review.

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Blackpool SURF is proposing that it retains the function of ‘independent critical friend’ and provides similar annual Review activities relating to the LSP. For example, SURF might organise a review of the voluntary and community involvement in the LAA, the Sustainable Community Strategy, and the thematic partnerships – or indeed of the overall LSP work programme. 7. SPECIAL EVENTS “SURF - A source of information which updates us on current trends in socio-political matters” Hon Secretary, South Shore Community Association

It

was intended to run a series of quarterly special events so that groups could find out more about SURF and about regeneration issue in the town. The first was SURF’s ‘Big Event’ which took place on Thursday 4th May 2006 at the Winter Gardens. 71 people attended. Its purpose was to discuss the general theme “How can we help communities to get an effective voice in regeneration and gain greater control over their lives?” The event was run in an ‘Open Space Technology’ format: In short, this meant that the actual issues to be discussed in workshops were determined by the participants on the day – and not in advance by the event planners. This is perceived as one of the most democratic forms of conference event that it is possible to hold, precisely because the ‘agenda’ is set by the participants. Following an introductory presentation from the Network Manager who also launched SURF’s newly published promotional brochure, participants suggested what workshops they would like to take place. Participants then had a working refreshment break in order to ‘sign-up’ to the workshops that interested them. Of the 15 workshop ideas proposed 11 took place involving 53 participants. The ‘Digital Challenge’ was the theme of SURF’s September 2006 Annual Meeting. The event was staged in co-operation with Blackpool4me.com and featured a key presentation from one of the UK’s pioneers of ICT and internet based community development Professor Stephen Heppel who flew from an assignment in Thailand especially for the event. Blackpool SURF had planned a special event for small community-based ‘health’ groups for Winter 2006 “Low Flying Heroes”, but unfortunately this had to be put on hold as part of SURF’s commitment to Blackpool Council to under-spend on its 2006/2007 budget. 8. BLACKPOOL COMMUNITY NEWS

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In December 2006 the first edition of Blackpool Community News was produced. This involved the combining of “The SURF” and the “CDU News” and the pooling of resources of SURF and the Neighbourhood and Communities Division to produce the new publication. “The SURF” was a four-page colour glossy produced quarterly just for SURF members, and “CDU News” was a bi-monthly black and white newsletter for those 300+ individuals on the Council’s mailing list. The new combined publication is a 20-page bi-monthly in high-quality gloss with colour front pages. It has a circulation of up to 1,000. “Blackpool Community News” is an attractive publication which has grown in popularity with regular readership and contributors. It is a demonstrable example of collaboration between SURF and the Neighbourhood and Communities Division. Blackpool SURF proposes that external funding is sought to further develop “Blackpool Community News”, to:  Improve circulation and new readership from VCFS groups and active citizens through positive promotional activities o Promotion within VCFS groups o Promotion through schools o Promotion through Area and other Forums o Promotion through Public Buildings and ‘waiting’ rooms  Accessibility is improved through: o Production of a “talking edition” available on cassette, CD and USB technology o Production of foreign language editions i.e. Polish o Large print versions available on-line ready to print out. o Production of an ‘online’ version of the newsletter o Dedicated website to “Blackpool Community News”  Improve content and reader input through: o Dedicated Editorial Board drawn from the community o Reader-friendly workshop training and guidance being available on “How to write...” articles and “How to take better photographs...” and other relevant production issues. o Surveys, questionnaires and readers’ meetings o Freepost response address being available  Dedicated Staff Time for Admin Support, Production and Outreach Support.  Ensuring the Newsletter is sustainable through ‘selling’ space within the publication to partner organisations. 9. OPEN SPACES NETWORK

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“This year we are putting a bid together for over 80k via SURF’s OSN group to extend our building so we can turn it into a proper community facility” Sharon Davey, Secretary, Friends of Watson Road Park

The OSN (Open Spaces Network) has met every quarter since July 2005. It is facilitated and administered by SURF and jointly hosted between SURF and the Blackpool Council Parks Department. It comprises twenty two “Friends of....” parks groups, allotment groups and other community groups that have an interest in a particular public open space. The OSN was originally brought together quite informally through a “Networker” event organised by SURF. This approach involves groups meeting together informally, over food when possible, with a series of simple exercises on offer that encourages the groups to talk to each other and share information on common issues. The OSN has thrived on this informal approach and still meets in this manner. The meetings tend to be thoroughly enjoyable, but also very productive in bringing matters to SURF and the council’s attention. The Parks Department finds the OSN a useful body that can focus on particular relevant issues. The department manager can deal with these at one time at the OSN event rather than dealing with groups individually. It is useful for the Council to have the OSN independently facilitated and resourced by SURF. This was summed up by a statement from Blackpool Council’s Mark Scrivens, Head of Parks and Green Environment: “The (OSN) group has always been a friendly and positive forum and in addition to providing key information in both how to form and sustain voluntary groups, it has become a valuable vehicle in the circulation of information on how to acquire new volunteers to make new friends and share good practice. The role that Blackpool SURF has played in facilitating the group should also be commended, as their enthusiasm commitment and encouragement has born real dividends in the success of the group and the organisations that attend it.” Initially, facilitated by the Network Manager, the OSN is now managed by a volunteer who chairs the meeting and arranges the agenda which is usually drawn up by the previous meeting. The OSN remains one of the most grass-roots and effective thematic forums in the town. The OSN has decided to remain an informal body for the timebeing but would benefit from wider strategic Networking and being linked up to relevant strategic bodies in the LSP. Page 14 of 16

The OSN would further benefit from a dedicated budget to enable greater action and follow-up on its own specific agenda items. It would also benefit from resources to enable a series of fact-finding trips to relevant projects and representation at conferences that would enable the building up the ‘knowledge-base’ in Blackpool and lead to the more effective dissemination of good and better practice. The feasibility of a DEVELOPMENT PROJECT is being investigated by SURF. Such a project would offer independent, dedicated advice and assistance to help green space groups develop. The project would offer community and organisational development support and advice to OSN groups and assist them in strategic planning and fundraising. 10. CLEANER, SAFER, GREENER GRANTS PROGRAMME The Cleaner, Safer, Greener small grants programme has been managed by Blackpool SURF in agreement with the LSP via a Service Agreement with Blackpool Council. It maintains the existence of a small grants programme within Blackpool following the demise of the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit Community Chests Programme. The grants programme benefits from the work of a dedicated officer committed to managing the programme, advising applicants and promoting the scheme. The success of the Cleaner, Safer, Greener programme and the case for the continuation of a smaller grants programme and the value of such, will be the subject of a document “Sustaining Grants” produced by NAVCA with local contributions from Blackpool SURF using local Blackpool examples. This will be available shortly. Based on the experience and expertise acquired by SURF as a grantmaking organisation, through its stewardship of the Community Chests and the Cleaner, Safer, Greener grants then we propose working with the LSP, Blackpool Council and other third sector providers to make the case for a Blackpool specific small grants programme to be managed by SURF. 11. PARENTS FORUM WORK During 2006 the Blackpool SURF Community Development Officer initiated work with several groups of parents working to establish or manage Parent Forums. Blackpool SURF would work through a host partner organisation i.e. Home Start, Sure Start or Barnardo’s to support the parents brought together by those agencies. This support would consist of slow patient work customised specifically to each of the groups concerned. This work culminated in a parents and professionals ‘away day’ in January 2007 involving Parents, workers from the host bodies and the Children & Young People’s services of Blackpool Council through the Children’ Centres

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Coordinator. This event was facilitated by the SURF Community Development Officer. Unfortunately this vital work with parents ended in May 2007 following the resignation of the SURF Community Development Officer who, facing job insecurity at SURF, had sought more secure employment elsewhere. Blackpool SURF has had initial discussions with the Children’ Centres Coordinator and Barnardo’s Blackpool Project about an external funding bid to establish a Parents Forum coordination and development project. This would aim to work with parents on individual forum development and the creation of a town-wide network voice for parents. STAFFING Currently: Network Manager Administration and Information Officer Community Development Officer (2-days per week) Grants Officer (4 days per week) Since 2005 the organisation has directly employed eight people in various functions. PREMISES Blackpool SURF premises at 39 Springfield Road have served the organisation well. The premises provide office facilities for the current staff team. They accommodate storage space for equipment and facilities for SURF’s equipment hire service to its member groups. Equipment that has proven popular to hire include; a full public address system including roving microphones, a multi-media projector and kit for staging presentations, display boards and a gazebo. Meeting rooms and equipment are hired out free of charge to member groups (admin charge of £5 for evening meetings). Additional space is available to accommodate storage needs of member groups and until December 2007 a room was used under agreement by Blackpool Pride. Surplus capacity is available at Springfield Road to accommodate a growing organisation delivering a wider range of services. It is recommended that this report is noted by members as reflecting the good progress made by Blackpool SURF in the period 2005 – 2008 and providing the foundation upon which future community empowerment activities can be built upon in the town.

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