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1. Who we are .The Parson Cross Community Development Forum acts as an umbrella body, representing many different interest groups and organisations across the neighbourhoods of Parson Cross. The Forum is based in an office on Margetson Crescent. This is open to our members and the general public, each weekday from 9 to 5. The Forum also regularly hosts meetings in the evenings and at week ends. The Forum was originally based on an alliance of local tenants and residents organisations which came together in 2001 to cooperate in dealing with area wide initiatives around council housing and estate management. It has now broadened its membership to include representatives of organisations that work in many different fields but each with a common purpose of improving the social welfare of this community. The Forum’s membership has grown from 9 to 146 organisations during 2003. In addition to organisational members, many key individuals and activists from the community participate in the Forum’s work. The Forum incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 31 st December 2002The Forum is managed by a board of Trustees appointed by members to serve for no more than three years. One third of the Trustees retire in rotation at each annual general meeting. Nominations for their replacements are requested from member organisations. This system provides for both continuity of management and opportunity for new trustees to be appointed to add knowledge, skills and variety to the Forums work. 2. What we do. The Forums work is divided into 3 key areas. • The Community Action Plan. This is a major piece of work that sets out a timetable and lists the priorities for action in our community. The Action Plan forms an agreement between the major service providers and the voluntary, community and faith sectors in the area. This agreement enables time and resources to be focused on local peoples needs. The action plan plays an important part in directing the work of the Forum.• Neighbourhood Strategy. Unlike the action plan the neighbourhood strategy details the significant aspects of our community’s physical characteristics and scope for changes and improvements. Architects have been employed to work with local people to design new developments and infrastructure. Feasibility and financial appraisals of development plans have been carried out. Much work is now being done to implement the plans and complete the developments.• Supporting People. This more hands on work is dedicated to providing support for those in our community who find it difficult to deal with every day life whether this is due to illness or disability, age and infirmity or family crisis. We help people to deal with authority and bureaucracy, and to cope with major changes in their life. Helping people to live independently and deal confidently with every day issues. Supporting people does not always mean we work directly with individuals. The Forum also lobbies for improvements across the area as a whole, encouraging other service providers and statutory bodies to do more for those in need.All our work requires the support of our members and the organisations they represent, much of the day to day activity is carried out by volunteers assisted by workers employed by the Forum. 3. How we do it. The Forum receives funding and support for its work from a variety of sources. The most significant is a contract between the Forum and the European Objective one programme. This funding is coordinated through the local regeneration partnership board (SOAR) and provides sufficient money to employ three full time workers until June 2005. The purpose of this funding is to coordinate the neighbourhood action plan and the neighbourhood strategy elements of the forums work. In addition to Objective One funding the Forum employs two full time workers through an ILM (intermediate labour market) scheme. The ILM workers extend the ability of the Forum to carry out its key areas of work. In addition, a new post has been created through a community apprenticeship scheme, employing a worker to train in community development work. The Forum also receives funding through the Sheffield City Councils area panel and local initiative funds. The purpose of these monies is to attempt to intervene in specific areas of need within the community such as activities for elderly residents, street scene improvements, youth involvement activities. A growing area of work and income derives from our services to other groups and organisations. The Forum has a portfolio of services that it offers to groups at very competitive rates. These include bookkeeping and accounting services, supply of office equipment and materials, technical advice on computers and other technology, training courses, exhibition and displays, data collection, market research, report writing and advice on funding bids. 4. What we don’t do. • We rarely say "no" to any request, but there are limits to our capacity to meet demand, whether due to lack of funding or lack of expertise. However, we are in a position to point people to relevant provider organisations, many of which will be members of the Forum, and we do have access to a wider range of services across the region.• We try not to step on other people’s toes. The Forum’s clear role is to help other organisations to do their job better rather than take over. If no relevant organisation or other source of help exists then we try to set up new groups or ask that existing services extend their range of assistance to meet the gaps.• We do not provide funding to individuals directly, the Forums funds are for the benefit of the public at large, and there are legal and ethical restrictions on how that money s used. We do have access to funding for groups and organisations and we can pay for certain training activities and expenses for volunteers.• We don’t restrict our services and activities to any particular age or gender, race or creed. We promote an inclusive and diverse community where everyone is valued and everyone has the opportunity to participate.• Neither do we discriminate on grounds of physical or mental ability. Rather we encourage people to explore their potential and to give what they can when they can.• We don’t demolish houses; instead we work with the council and the private sector to ensure that there are suitable, affordable and decent homes available for everyone. We campaign for investment in existing properties to ensure they meet acceptable standards and we also campaign for investment in new properties ensuring that those people who want to stay in our community have a range of opportunities of tenure and price.• We don’t promise what we can’t deliver. We are often just as frustrated with official delay and bureaucratic red tape as any one else.If you want to know any more about the work of the Forum, or are interested in becoming a member and helping us to make our neighbourhood a better place to live, then give us a call
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