Wealth and Equality Specialist Strategic Partnership – 8^th June 2004

Going up pack

Mark Clayton gave a presentation to the Partnership about the ‘Going up pack’, which is designed to address issues faced by children leaving primary school and moving up to secondary school. The pack contains information on a range of topics including:

• Home and fire safety
• Tips on safer internet surfing
• Public transport information
• Advice on using buses and trains
• Information about personal safety

2000 copies of the pack will be distributed to schools during the last two weeks of term in July. Mark also talked about the Alive and Kicking magazine, which is aimed at the 65+ age group. Two events are being held for older people in Halton on the 8th and 15^th October. A range of partners will be in attendance, and the day includes free electric blankets and a slipper exchange to improve safety in the home.

Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership

Pauline Ruth gave a presentation to the group about the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership. The Government are placing a high level of importance on childcare targets, the aim being to ensure that everyone has access to childcare, enabling them to return to work after having children.

End of year monitoring report

Several successes were reported to the group, including Halton Borough Council’s Transport Division achieving Beacon Status and Benefits Express being short-listed for a national award.

The Independent Housing Co-operative is now underway, and generally all initiatives are progressing well. The Partnership expressed thanks to the Monitoring group for all their hard work.

Halton Strategic Partnership Board update

Karen Marcroft updated the Partnership about the recent Board away day where performance against targets had been reviewed. Evaluation from the day indicated that it had been very useful and afternoon break out sessions had stimulated some interesting new ideas.

The Audit Commission has recently conducted a validation exercise on the Partnership’s performance management framework. The report was expected in the next few days and early indications about its contents are very positive.

Community Empowerment Network update

The Community Empowerment Network are re-jigging their structure to match that of the Halton Partnership. This will aid the flow of communication and help the Network to play a more active role in the Partnership.

The Arts day at Norton Priory went well and the potential for holding a self-esteem conference in Halton is currently being explored.

Peripatetic support programme

A variety of spend options have been considered for this initiative, and it was agreed that the programme of support should not be limited to care leavers alone.

Date of next meeting – 1^st September 2004 at 1pm, Municipal Building.