NEWS RELEASES
A new emphasis on community development
12th November 2004
FOR many years, indeed ever since the re-shaped Horsham District was created in 1974, we have been working to create safer, healthier and happier communities.
In doing so we have gathered together a very experienced group of people who have become expert in a host of different areas, and as part of the Council's restructuring we have brought them together for the first time as our Community Development team.
Often working very much in partnership with other local bodies and organisations, the new team links the existing leisure and community work of the Council closely with that of the likes of the Primary Care Trust, the Police, the Youth Service, the YMCA, emergency services and many others. It is there to help people in all walks of life, those who want to start up new ventures, those who perhaps have problems gaining access to Council services or others who simply need sound advice.
We have an 18 strong team that includes specialists in safety, health, sports, arts, youth, older persons, lottery applications and grants money, and their joint record to date is very impressive. Thanks to our Leisure Link team some 200 new arts, sports and recreation groups have been set up in the District in the past 13 years. There have been many initiatives for young people and music fans including the SNAP under-17 dances that have been filling the Drill Hall, the highly successful Horsham Music Festival launched in the summer, the Snack Wagon service and the imminent launch of a subsidised taxi scheme for young people living in the Mannings Heath area.
For the over 50s we recently staged another Life is for Living exhibition which we expect will result in many more people taking part in local activities. At a well attended Community Transport Day at Billingshurst last month we have been exploring ways of setting up new rural transport schemes.
The job of our Community Development staff is to identify needs and then to respond to them. During our first Life is for Living event in 2002 many older people told us about their concern over the high cost of household repairs and the fear of being duped. As a result we set up the new Handy Van service, together with Saxon Weald, which offers residents the chance to get household jobs done for just £17.50 a call. There is probably no better example of what can be achieved than this.
Neighbourhood wardens are helping to make life more pleasant for many. We pioneered them at Ashington, and now they have been extended to other villages whilst Community Development Workers are now in place at the Needles area in Horsham, thanks to joint venture with YMCA. Young people are getting a say in local affairs thanks to the launch of Horsham Youth Council, and we are now in the process of establishing an Older Persons' Council designed to give over 60s a similar opportunity. I hope that many of you will want to give support to this venture.
All these things are bringing people together and making life in our communities more dynamic. If you would like to know how Community Development might assist you, please telephone (01403) 215385 or e-mail: community.development@horsham.gov.uk
Ends
Councillor Sheila Van Den Bergh, The Chairman, Horsham District Council, Park North, North Street, Horsham, RH12 1RH.
E-mail: contactchairman@horsham.gov.uk
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
(01403) 215549