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 No OF MEMBER GROUPS

Adult learning 1
Children and Young People 2
Environment and Heritage 3
Family Support 3
Health, Illness, Disability 22
Leisure 4
LGBT 2
Open Spaces 14
Resident/Tenant Groups, Community 13
Associations
Support and Advice Services 10

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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 bi-
monthly 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

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 “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 Member Guests Officers Non-regular issues discussed

Held... groups Present Present
Present
Jan 07 27 4 3 Blackpool LAA
March 24 7 4 1 Liveability Action Plan
2 Community Advice - strategy
June 14 2 4 1 Blackpool Local Infrastructure
Hub
2 Open Spaces Network Update

August 21 5 3 1 Recycling
2 Shaping Blackpool’s Future
Sept AGM 43 30 3 1. Showcase from Volunteer Centre

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 and Blackpool Tiggers
2 Straw polls on Collaboration with
CVS
October 17 5 2 Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy
December 15 8 3 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:

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 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 decision-

making 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 Well-
being, 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

It
trends in socio-political matters”
Hon Secretary, South Shore Community Association
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 time-
being but would benefit from wider strategic Networking and being linked up
to relevant strategic bodies in the LSP.

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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 grant-
making 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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