SectionA:TheorganisationsandgroupswithinthepartnershipLeadapplicant

NameofOrganisation: CVSStAlbans

TypeofOrganisation: RegisteredCharity

Contactdetails: Contact- SophieStockdale

Email- StrongerTogether@cvsstalbans.org.uk

Phone- 01727814644Address- StAlbansCVS,GroundFloor,StAlbansCityandDistrictCounciloffices,

StPetersStreet,StAlbans,AL13JESummaryoforganisation:

SACVSworksinsupportofthelocalcommunity,particularlythemostvulnerableandexcluded,bysupportingtheactivitiesofmembergroups.SACVSisacknowledgedforthementoring,organisationbuilding,informationanddevelopmentsupportservicesitprovidestothevoluntaryandcommunitysectorofStAlbansDistrict.SACVSmobilisesthecommunityandsupportsvolunteeringthroughitsVolunteerCentre.WerunprojectssuchastheStrongerTogetherPartnershipwhenfundingallows.

Partner1NameofOrganisation: Emmaus

TypeofOrganisation: Charity

Contactdetails: Contact- MarkHardyEmail- mark.hardy@emmausstalbans.euPhone- 01727817295Address- Emmaus,StAlbans,Hertfordshire,AL40FS

Summaryoforganisation:

EmmausispartoftheStrongerTogetherEnvironmentPartnership.EmmausisUKbasedcharityandcommunityworkingtogethertoendhomelessness.ItscentreinStAlbanshasaround22companionswhoarehomelessandunemployed.Theyworkonrecyclingprojects,furnitureschemesandhavearetailunit:intheseways,theylearnnewskills

Partner2NameofOrganisation: StAlbansEducationalPartnershipforSchools'StEPs'

TypeofOrganisation: SocialEnterprise

Contactdetails: Contact- NikkiHowesEmail- www.stalbanseps.org

Phone- 07912792215Address- 7PhilimorePlace,Radlett,Hertfordshire,WD78NH

Summaryoforganisation:

StAlbansEducationalPartnershipforSchools'StEPs'isamemberoftheStrongerTogetherYoungPeople&MentalHealthPartnership.StEPsworksacrossHertfordshiretoimproveoutcomeforchildren,youngpeople,families,theelderlyandthewidercommunity.Thiscanbeforavarietyofreasons,fromsocialbehaviour,drugandalcoholabuse,domesticviolenceorbehaviouralissues.

Partner3NameofOrganisation: DaylightClub

TypeofOrganisation: RegisteredCharity

Contactdetails: Contact- SalpiGulbekianEmail- salpi@1Life.co.uk

Phone- 01727819214Address- StAlbansSportandHealthTeam,DistrictCouncilOffices,StPeter’s

Street,StAlbans,HertsAL13JESummaryoforganisation:

DaylightClubisamemberoftheStrongerTogetherPhysicalDisabilityPartnership.TheDaylightClubisafriendlysocialclubforadultsofworkingagewithphysicaldisabilitieslivingintheStAlbansDistrict.Theyprovidetransportviaminibusforthosewhocan’taccesstheclubbybus,have30+membersaged22–75.

Partner4

NameofOrganisation: ActiveLifestyles

TypeofOrganisation: RegisteredCharity

Contactdetails: Contact- CatherineAbrahams

Email- cjabrahams@aol.com

Phone- 01727830019Address- TownsendBowlsandTennisClub,8WaverleyRoad,StAlbans,AL35PA.

Summaryoforganisation:

ActiveLifestylesisamemberoftheStrongerTogetherOlderPeoplePartnership.ActiveLifestylesisavoluntaryorganisationthatmanagestheCaribbeanLuncheonClubinStAlbans.Theclubtargetstheover60sandhasover70membersfromover14nationalities,manyofwhomtravelacrossHertfordshiretoattendtheclub.

Partner5NameofOrganisation: RedbournCareGroup

TypeofOrganisation: RegisteredCharity

Contactdetails: Contact- Claire-LouiseLawlor

Email- cllawlor@btinternet.com

Phone- 01582795550

Address- RedbournVillageHall,HighSt,Redbourn,StAlbans,Al37bdSummaryoforganisation:

RedbournCareGroupisamemberoftheStrongerTogetherTransportGroup.RedbournCareGroupisacharitywhichaimstoprovidefriendlyhelptoanyresidentofthevillagewhomaybeill,haveexperiencedarecentaccidentorbereavement,findstheirlifeimpairedbylossofmobility,orwouldlikethecompanyofothers.Thenrunaminibusandcommunitycartransportschemewith70+volunteerdrivers.

Partner6NameofOrganisation: EastHertsWellbeingTeam

TypeofOrganisation: Statutorybody

Contactdetails: Contact- EmmaPaisleyEmail- Emma.Paisley@hpft.nhs.uk

Phone- 07810154853Address- RosanneHouse,Parkway,WelwynGardenCity,AL86hg

Summaryoforganisation:

EastHertsWellbeingTeamisamemberoftheStrongerTogetherMentalHealth.TheWellbeingTeamdeliversimprovedaccesstopsychologicaltherapiesinHertfordshire.Theserviceprovidespsychologicalinterventionsforpeoplewithmildtomoderatedepressionandanxietydisorders.

Partner7NameofOrganisation: CommunityConnectHarpenden

TypeofOrganisation: SocialEnterprise

Contactdetails: Contact- SimonGeorgeEmail- simon@businessindependent.co.uk

Phone- 08443585800Address- 61MaxtedRoad,HemelHempstead,HP27DZ

Summaryoforganisation:

CommunityConnectHarpendenisamemberoftheStrongerTogetherSocialEnterprisePartnership.CommunityConnectHarpendenisanewcommunitybusservicethatwillfocusonareasofHarpendenthathavelimitedcoveragefromexistingbusservices.

SectionB:Partnerships&StoriesWhatthepartnershipisachievingandlearning1. Yourpartnership’sprojectorinitiative.

Uniquely,theStrongerTogetherPartnershipprojectfocusesonstrengtheningtheimpactthatthevoluntarycommunitysector,andrelevantstatutorypartnersdeliverbyworkinginpartnership.7discreteStrongerTogetherPartnerships(STPs)havebeensetup.(Seebelow)Eachofthe7STPscomprises5-15Membersandmeetsupto5timesover7monthsusingactionlearningprinciples.Thefirstmeetingfocusedoninformationsharing,buildingtrustandsharingtheirStrengthsandNeeds:allPartnerssaidhowtheycouldhelpeachother.Importantlythe4subsequentmeetingswillbeusedtoaddressthetopthreeareasofneedidentifiedbyeachPartnership.Aprojectmanagercoordinatesandfacilitatesthemeetings,alsohelpingtosourcetheresourcesortrainingthatthepartnersrequest.Learningsandsuccessesaresharedacrosspartnershipsandtherewillbeacelebrationeventattheendoftheprojecttosharelearnings,anddisseminatebestpracticecounty-wide.

2. Howdidyourpartnershipcomeaboutanddevelop?

ThepurposeandfocusofthisprojectisPartnerships.TheprojectwasconceivedbyStAlbansCVSwhowitnessthefantasticoutcomescommunitygroupsdeliverdailyforthepeopleofStAlbansDistrictandinsomecasesthewholeofHertfordshire.Weknew,however,thatbyworkinginpartnershipthegroupscouldachievemore.WeconsultedourMembergroupsandreceivedaverypositiveresponse.WeweresuccessfulinsecuringBigLotteryFundingtodevelop6StrongerTogetherPartnerships:OlderPeople,YouthMentalHealth,AdultMentalHealth,Environment,SocialEnterpriseandPhysicalDisability.AsweknewthattherewasastrongneedforincreasedcapacitywehavesinceaddedCommunityTransport.Theprojectworkerapproachedover170communitygroupsandsomestatutoryservices,rangingfromthoseworkingCounty-widetothoseworkinginasingleward.LinkingtoourInspiringSocialEnterpriseproject,wehavealsoinvitedentrepreneursthatwehaveencounteredwhoareconsideringestablishingnewcommunityenterprises.ThePartnershipsareopentoallandweexpectthemtodevelopandgrow,assomePartnerscouldnotattendtheinitialmeetingandotherstatutorycommunitypartnersarechoosingtojoin,aswehavesharedtheinitiallearningsandsuccesses.

3. Impact.Pleasedescribewhatoutcomesyouareachieving,yourimpactorhowyouaremakingadifference.

ThePartnershipswerelaunched6weeksagoandhavealthoughtheyhavemetjustonce,theoutcomesarealreadycreatinganimpactforthegroupsandtheirbeneficiaries.ImprovedResourceSharingtodeliverbetterPerson-CentredsupportTheYouthMHSTPveryambitiouslywantedtocreateaYouthMentalWellnessHub.OnePartnersourcedpremisesthefollowingweekand4ofthepartnershipplantosharethepremises.IfayoungpersonvisitspotentiallyallthePartnerscansupportthemindifferentways.BetterinformedPartnersviaInformationSharing

ManyPartnersdidnotknowaboutHertsHelp,sowehavearrangedforthemtohaveapresentation,workontheirprofilesandloadontotheHertsHelpwebsitetoincreasetheirreach.ManygroupswereunfamiliarwithDialaRidebutnowtheTransport,OlderPeopleandDisabilitySTPsareconnectedtotheirservices.OneYouthMHgrouphasvacanciesfornewclients,whereasallothershavewaitinglistsofover4weeks,sotheynowknowtheycansignpost.JustbymeetingattheEnvironmentSTP,GroundworkwillnowprovidegardeningvolunteerstoTransitionStAlbanstocreateabee-friendlygardenonHighfieldParkTrustland.PlantorecruitTransportVolunteersThreePartnershipshavedeclaredthelackofvolunteerdriversisoneofthegreatestissueslimitingtheirimpact.WehavedevisedaprogrammetotargettheuntappedpotentialofMumsofschool-agedchildren.Importantlywewilllookatimprovingretention,motivationandrewardoftheircurrentvolunteerdrivers.

4. Howpartnershipworkingishelpingyoutoachievemore.

FurtherexamplesofhowpartnershipworkingwithinSTPsisalreadymakingadifference:Enablingpeoplewithdifferentabilitiestomix.IntheDisabilityPartnership,theMEgroupreportedYogaasbeingbeneficial.TrinityCommunityGroup’sclientswithLearningDifficultieswantedtotryYogabutcannotfindateacher.TheME(Myalgicencephalomyelitis)grouphasofferedtoruntheirsessionsatTrinity’shall,whichtheyhaveofferedfreeofchargeiftheirMemberscanjoinin.TheresultisthatpeoplewithLD,MHissuesandMEcannowmixtogetherandenjoythebenefitsofYoga:thiswillbeafirstforthosewithLDwhoareoften‘segregated’.SharingideasforImprovedefficiencyOnePartnerisgoingtoexplorethebenefitsofanapprentice,havingheardhowmuchvaluetheyareaddingtoanotherPartner.InoneSTPaPartnermentionedthattheyhadhadawebsitebuiltbutitwasn’tuser-friendly.AnotherPartnerofferedtheirpairofITvolunteerstoreviewthesite,makerecommendationsforimprovementsandpotentiallyhelpthemmaintainit.UsingITsolutionstosolvecommonproblemsTransportPartnerswereunawaretheywereeachindependentlylookingforsolutionstomakeschedulingvolunteertransportjourneysmoreefficient.TheprojectcoordinatorisreviewingarangeofIToptionsusedbyothertransportgroupstopresentatthenextmeeting.Results:animprovedserviceforpeoplewithmobilityissues,alowercostsolutionandpotentiallyhighervolunteerretentionratesastheyfeellessfrustratedbyinefficiencies.

5. Howyouaremakingsurethatthepartnershipisworkingeffectively.

LeadershipandfocusonBeneficiariesThepartnershipsarecoordinatedbyanexperiencedprojectworkerwhohasrunsimilarprojectsbeforeinLeedsandNorthYorkshire.HerexcellentfacilitationskillsmeanthatallthePartnerstrustherimpartialityandwanttoactivelycontribute.ShehasalsoensuredthatthePartnersfocusontheirendbeneficiariesratherthantheirinternalprocesses,thusemphasisingtheircommonpurpose,breakingdownsomehistoricissueswheregroupssawthemselvesincompetitionforclients.BuildingTrustAteachoffirstSTPsessionsweusedicebreakersandthePartnerstalkedthroughtheground-rulestheywantedtoadhereto.WehavehelpedthemtosetupclosedFacebookgroups.DoingwhatwesaywewilldoAstheprojectcoordinatorisworkingforCVSStAlbansshehasaccesstoallourlocalknowledgeandresources.Weknowthatthecommunitygroupsareexceptionallybusysowehavetakenoncompletingsomeofthefact-findingtasksinadvanceofthenextmeeting.Similarly,thePartnershaveallagreedaspartoftheirground-rulestohonourtheircommitmenttocompletetheiractionsbetweenmeetingsandbemutuallyaccountable.SharingSuccessBysharingtheearlysuccessacrossofeachofthePartnershipswehaveensuredthattheystaymotivatedandcanseethebenefitsofworkinginPartnership.TheeventattheendoftheProjectwhichwillinvolveallwillcelebratesuccesstoeach-otherandbyinvitingothergroupsacrosstheCountywillencouragereplicationelsewhere.

6. Whatyouarelearningfromeachother.

Themainlearningisthatthereisarealneedforcommunityorganisationstomeet,shareandplantoworktogether,importantlyinaneutralenvironment.IntheYouthMentalHealthPartnershipmanyofthegroupswantedtoaccessschoolstomakemoreyoungpeopleandschoolstaffawareofwhatisavailable.OnePartner,StEPsissuccessfulinthis:atthenextmeetingStEPswillleadasessiononhow,asaPartnership,theycanapproachschoolswithajointoffer,ratherthan12differentorganisationsapproachingschools.ThinkingtimeisaneffectiveinvestmenttoimprovingPartners’organisationalefficiency.ManyPartnershavereportedthatthisisthefirsttimeinyearsthatthoughtabouttheirserviceegStarScopeTrusteeswillreviewtheirstrengthsandhowtheycanusethemtobesteffectforpeoplewithCerebralPalsy.SomePartnersaremoreestablishedandcanhelpnewerenterprises.RedbournCareGroup’scommunityminibushasevolvedtorunaprogrammeofsetrouteseachdaywhichencouragespeopletoattendcommunityactivities,egMondayswimming,Thursdayvillagehalldropincentre.ThenewHarpendenHopperServiceisnowconsideringdevelopingthisapproachandthetwoPartnersaremeeting.