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INTERLINK CONFERENCE REPORT

Citizen Powered Communities

– Is your voice being heard?

13 November 2019 at Soar Centre, Penygraig, Tonypandy, RCT

REPORT CONTENTS

1.0 CITIZEN POWERED COMMUNITIES: EXECUTIVE

SUMMARY

2.0 KEY NOTE SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS

3.0 THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES PRESENTATIONS

4.0 CITIZEN CENTRED COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE

PROGRAMME

5.0 CITIZEN POWERED COMMUNITIES WORKSHOP NOTES

6.0 EVALUATION: CITIZEN POWERED COMMUNITIES

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1.0 CITIZEN POWERED COMMUNITIES: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

‘Equal partners – always. We are equal, we have the power.’

The event was focused on the power of communities to take action to transform

communities and how that can be better valued and nurtured. The event was

attended by individuals, community and voluntary organisations and partners.

Those attending were treated to exceptional talks from key note speakers and

heard about the transformational work being carried out and led by community and

voluntary organisations in RCT. There was a common thread from everyone who

spoke, and that was the work being delivered by individuals, community and

voluntary organisations in Rhondda Cynon Taf is of vital importance in every

community in RCT; and we all need to work together better to support communities.

The Citizen Centred Communities Workshop focused on relationships with the

public sector. It gave people the opportunity to talk about what is good about

communities, how we can further support and strengthen it and what gets in the

way. There is a strong desire to work together better, on equal terms with

communities, valuing what communities do and improving communication. Some of

the main points coming out of the workshop include:

1. What have we got that works?

Community organisations, local connections and networks

Self-sustaining community groups – community café’s; arts/ crafts; walking

groups; gardening groups; and support groups

The benefit of having local authority officers with third sector experience

and understanding

2. What does brilliant look like?

Equal partners – always. We are equal, we have the power

A change in a top down culture – starting from the community -

grassroots

A local authority that understands and listens

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3. How do we get there?

Continuing conversations

Collaboration is of utmost importance and must be supported

A public sector that is more visible in the community - attending events /

groups to gain a feel for what is going on and to develop relationships.

4. Are there particular enablers or areas of good work we can identify?

Where local authority officers have been in the community – enabling is

brilliant!

Breaking down competitive ideas / mind-set, sharing skills and ideas

Advocacy – the importance of influencing policy, strategy and delivery

5. Why is it not more widespread? What are the barriers/blockers?

Corporate culture clashes can clash with community development

Lack of trust and decisions can be made without consultation

Local authority outcomes can be forced upon groups and this can be

detrimental to collaboration

6. What actions do people want to follow from the event?

Write up, report and together take action

Continue the conversation about the value, recognition and the equal

voice of citizens, community and voluntary organisations.

Explore opportunities for the public sector to spend time building

relationships with community and voluntary organisations

Develop strategic collaborative forums to work together better, build

relationships and share information

Invite people who want leading roles in communities to meet and have a

further conversation

Cwm Taf Morgannwg Social Value Forum and RCT Hub Networks –

promote, invite and encourage attendance

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2.0 KEY NOTE SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS

Cllr Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council (RCTCBC)

gave a passionate speech about the value of community organisations in providing vital

community activities, services and facilities. He provided information on how RCTCBC

was supporting organisations to take on leases of local assets and the investment in

support and funding from the Council. He talked about working together to develop

community hubs and networks and working with and responding to each community.

Chris Johnes from the Building Communities Trust (BCT) talked about the work on

understanding the policy rhetoric around empowering local communities. Currently there is

no underpinning framework to support local communities. To help address this, BCT are

working with a steering group to consult communities throughout Wales on the relationship

between communities and the public sector (and a proposed ’Community Wealth Fund’).

This was the basis of the Citizen Powered Communities Workshops.

Syd Dennis, the Head of a new Community Development Team in RCT, talked about

working together with local communities on the development of hubs and networks and the

support available from the Community Development Team.

Simon Pritchard, Town Councillor, Pontypridd Community Council, talked about the Town

Council reinventing itself and how it was looking at opportunities for involving the

community to decide on local priorities and to work together to take action on what matters.

3.0 THE POWER OF COMMUNITIES PRESENTATIONS

The audience were inspired by the exceptional presentations from local groups who are

demonstrating their ability to give people a voice through community action.

Ynysybwl Youth Enterprise Programme showed how creative young people can be

when they are in a position to lead, setting up Cyhoeddiadan Lemoned Publishing as well

as providing peer support through crafts, upcycling and recycling.

Avant Theatre showcased innovative productions that enable local communities to have

access to arts and culture while supporting young people to realise their potential. Avant

Theatre brought Romeo and Juliet into the outdoors in the Penrhys ‘Amphitheatre’ and are

planning ‘Twelfth Night, The Tribute’ to the Parc and Dare and Penrhys in July 2020.

Grapevine are a recently formed group looking to provide a connection between and a

voice for people and carers with lived experience and talked about the challenges in

increasing the voice of people with lived experience and carers on decisions.

RCT People’s First talked about their journey as a user-led organisation working with

public services to improve the lives and opportunities for people with a learning disability.

They have received funding for work to increase the voice of service users and carers and

support the local implementation of the Social Service and Wellbeing Act.

Lee Gardens highlighted the power of community action, having turned what was a run-

down paddling pool into an incredible asset and focal point for the community, involving a

huge number of volunteers of all ages along the way.

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4.0 CITIZEN CENTRED COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

Welcome Simon James, Interlink

Facing Future Challenges Cllr Andrew Morgan, Leader, RCTCBC

Changing the Conversation Cllr Simon Pritchard and Tony Graham

Pontypridd Town Council

Building Power within

Communities

Chris Johnes, Building Communities

Trust

Neighbourhood Networks Syd Dennis, Service Manager,

Community Development, RCTCBC

Break and Networking Networking and Activities

Enterprising Young People Ynysybwl Youth Enterprise

Led by Young People Avant Theatre

Involvement and Coproduction RCT People First and Grapevine

Lee Gardens Pool Diane Locke

Lunch and Networking

Interlink AGM Pauline Richards, Chairperson

Citizen Powered Communities Workshops

Next Steps Simon James

Close Pauline Richards, Chairperson

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5.0 CITIZEN POWERED COMMUNITIES WORKSHOP NOTES

What do we want for our communities?

• Communities that are strong, independent, connected and resilient.

• Communities that have the resources to provide local facilities and

opportunities that respond to what matters to the community and meet local

need.

• Communities that have the opportunity and want to work in partnership with

the public sector but are able to act independently.

How do the actions and behaviour of public bodies affect achieving these

goals?

Participants were asked to discuss the impact of public bodies’ actions and

behaviours on supporting communities to become stronger.

1. What have we got that works? Provide clear examples where possible

2. What does brilliant look like?

3. How do we get there?

4. Are there particular enablers or areas of good work we can identify?

5. Why is it not more widespread? What are the barriers/blockers?

What have we got that works? Provide clear examples where possible Community organisations, local connections and networks

Community groups – community café’s/arts and crafts/walking groups/gardening groups/support

groups (self-sustained)

LA Officers we work with have a third sector experience – often still have third sector in their lives

Successful projects – asset transfer e.g. Canolfan Pentre, Cynon Valley Museum, Lee Gardens (not

always an easy process; learning process us and the LA)

‘We did the LA a favour not vice versa.’

Understanding what already exists in the community

Place based approach

Know who is who in the LA – when relationships are built, support has emerged

Communities are starting to identify their own assets

Collaborative working in third sector and across organisations outside the council e.g. libraries

and Play It Again in Rhondda

We have very little contact with LA’s – we just get on and do it!

Paddling pools

Commitment – Canolfan Pentre, Lee Gardens

Rhondda Radio linking with key organisations to help them work together and provide them with

a voice

Rhondda radio promoting the wonderful community groups/providing them with a voice and

sharing good practice. Rhondda Radio now covers Rhondda Fach and Rhondda Fawr therefore

reaching the whole of the Rhondda communities.

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Interlink Community Coordinator bulletin – providing and sharing key information

Stronger Rhondda – partnership working

Networks

Talking therapy MIND

Gofal support works well for individuals

What does brilliant look like? Change in culture – grassroots up

A local authority that understands and listens

Equal partners in the mix – always. We are equal actually we have the power

Cultural change

‘What matters most to you’ conversations throughout all sectors

Place based approach first and understanding what already exists in community before adding new

things

People identifying their own community and strengths – building from passions of the community

Bottom up approach – what do the people want?

Brilliant would look like valuing and trusting third sector groups and put money where their mouth is

and not be risk adverse. Officers can feel like they have a split personality.

Andrew Morgan is passionate about community – LA people need to be ‘people centred’ not ‘process

centred’. Seems embedded in their culture to stop thinking about the person

Third sector on same footing as public sector

Grassroots up – young people - advocate support

How do we get there? Continuing conversations

Collaboration is of utmost importance and must be supported

Public sector more visible in community - attending more events/groups to gain a feel for what is

going on - develop contacts

ABCD community development should be main stream for everyone

Share the vision of how things should be done

Consulting with people in the community where they are

Gaps in services being recognised and filled - better pathway to knowing who to talk to and who

can help.

All third sector/council/health coming together more often to discuss needs – networks (equal

representation)

Relationships need to be built

Interlink needs to be better at representing the sector and value what we do so well!

Communication – examples – stories ready to present to those with influence / money at the

right time

Improving relationships with and within local authority and health, etc.

Less jargon used – better lines of communication

Less jargon – layman’s terms

Buzz words

Language/Communication

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Are there particular enablers or areas of good work we can identify? When there are LA officers that have been in community – enabling is brilliant!

Breaking down competitive ideas/mind-set and sharing skills and ideas

Advocacy – so important to influence policy, strategy and delivery

Listening networks and partnerships

Capacity, lack of understanding of what local means.

Know who to communicate within the LA. Andrew puts himself out there – he wants to know

Mechanisms for groups to engage and influence internally – this is missing – middle bit of LA is

not connecting – the strategy writers

Community involvement is now written into every Welsh Government policy

Identify gaps – ready for money/funding when it becomes available

Recognise third sector as equal partners

Mentoring within the third sector

Consortia

Passion

Public money for public services properly resembling what LA demands

Collaboration doesn’t align with government or funders

Why is it not more widespread? What are the barriers/blockers? Influential people are too far removed from communities

Listening and involving is lacking from LA – this is not connecting.

LA outcomes are being forced on groups – asset based. Can be detrimental on collaboration

Corporate culture clashes with community

Lack of trust/decisions made without consultation of community

Gap between what is happening on the ground and delivery; and what is perceived by the

hierarchy

Health & Social Care – Public Service Boards – should be combined not them and us – should be

stronger together

Funding available – money goes straight to the community where it’s needed – don’t pay layers

of LA officers to process funding – give it to Interlink to distribute

Vision only as good as the process

Organise yourselves as a structure speaking LA language to develop funding

Complain? Are they productive?

LA top down, imposing their authority – this has been a learning curve – us third sector – them LA

Why is there a need for LA Hubs and Neighbourhood Networks? Is it power? Or do they not know

how to involve? Is it self-promotion for themselves?

Change the culture of the LA – the RCT workforce in LA predominantly live in RCT – why do they

not make their home/community the best for their community and families?

There is listening, no involving

We should not be getting the 20% ‘crumbs’ from Integrated Care Funding – we are helping the

people directly that need the support of the funding

Assessment and support need – identified but overturned

Listen to the people, really listen!!! ACT ON KNOWLEDGE

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Libraries are natural hubs with community minded workforce – normally living in the library’s

community

LA approach - What can we do (LA) to support you (Community Group)?

LA’s role is not to question ‘why?’

Recruit people who see community work as a vocation not job

People’s personalities – power driven people seek attainment of rising higher in LA – lose their

connection with community. Forget their roots and learning about how to work with the

community

Risk management – excessive policies/red tape etc. – inflexibility in what support provided.

Red tape/risk management

Lack of flexibility/common sense

No clear line of communication (alternative methods of communication – hard to reach’.

Communication/listening to needs/gaps

How networks/neighbourhoods have been split so far

Outcomes – ticking boxes?

Funding

Burnout – of staff/projects

Access to the right people (e.g. decision makers/funding) offered. Person of contact – to have

conversations

Save the LA so much money on a daily basis ‘we do not feel valued’ ‘we are volunteers that are

skilled, qualified, professional individuals – all volunteers in Canolfan Pentre

Next Steps

Write up, report and together take action.

Invite ‘leaders’ however you define ‘leader’ to meet and have a conversation before Christmas?

Public services to invest in approaches to work alongside third sector / community organisations.

Explore secondments, UHB/LA staff work in communities and third sector organisations

Event for communities and third sector (without public sector) in 6 months’ time.

Dilemma - no strategic place to have conversations in RCT and across the region.

Place–based networks –– who needs to be there and who decides?

Do we need a framework – how do we help each other to know what is going on? How can

Interlink help?

Forum – for relationship building, sharing info, etc.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg Social Value Forum and RCT Hub Networks – promote, invite and

encourage attendance

Time and resource costs that organisations do not have to keep in touch? Find local solutions,

make it worthwhile. WhatsApp group and using technology to come together

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6.0 EVALUATION: CITIZEN POWERED COMMUNITIES

Rating - How would you rate the event overall?

Number of Attendees - 54

Excellent 9 Very Good 9

Okay 2 Poor 0 Very Poor 0

Please give comments on the venue, times, refreshments, etc.

Excellent

All good

A bit cold otherwise excellent

All good, but more water please

Venue/times great. No vegan, gluten or

dairy free though

Lunch was excellent – all good

Lack of vegan friendly food

Bit cramped around tables. Times ½ day

is sufficient

Very good

Food was very good

Venue great – good to see community

venues being used

Parking problematic

Acoustic was poor in room. Room wasn’t

very warm

Dark space – left with headache

Event too long

Please give comments on the presentations – what did you like / dislike?

3rd Sector presentations inspiring. Public

body - rediscovered community

development!

Liked the variety. Would like to see

more panels for more questions and

answers.

Celebration of good practice – via

examples from Lee Gardens etc.

Very informative workshops lots of new

ideas to take forward

A good variety of speakers, great

diversity

Good pace, interesting variation

More info on outcomes/vision of PSB

Very refreshing to hear the good work

All very interesting

All good

Excellent – inspirational and moving

particularly Avant Theatre and Cwm Taf

People First

Microphone next time?

Liked them all

Lots (possibly too much) to take in –

rushed on occasion

Very good presentations, but too long

Very informative – great!

Presentations all good – maybe too many

Please give comments on the workshops – what did you like / dislike?

Liked the chance to discuss. Want to see

action now!

Opportunity to highlight issues – but to

offer solutions as well

All good

Really dynamic and great searching

questions as a framework

Useful, disappointing some people left

Enjoyed the workshop – well facilitated

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Good to talk about issues and try to find

a way forward

Positive

Loved the workshop. It was lovely to

speak to people from other organisations

Very informative and thought provoking

Very useful!

Workshop good – good chance to have

meaningful conversations

More time on workshops would have

been useful Room was dark and

concentration poor

How would you rate the following overall before and after the event?

Percentage improvement: Understanding 71%

Knowledge 65%

Contacts/Networking 88%

Please tell us what needs to happen next - any issues that need to be addressed and any further learning or development you think you or others need.

Public bodies and 3rd sector to meet in the middle so that there is mutual respect and understanding

Conversation without public bodies or funders!

Follow up with actual actions

Further use of voice to influence. Excellent examples of good practice but needs more time/exposure

Points mentioned at the end – particularly networking forum

Secondments and stronger forums and networks

Further meetings

Informal 3rd Sector Forum There needs to be an improved method of communication with public members about

ideas and decision making i.e. social media, questionnaires, events etc. Please provide any other comments or feedback:

Cynon Valley Museum is happy to host staff and/or lead on collaborative projects

Good day

How do we roll this wider, Merthyr and/or Bridgend

I feel to commit to a full day event is difficult – evidenced by the number of absentees after lunch – a half day event/AGM with lunch/networking after is sufficient