Agenda item

The Assistant Director for Communities updated the Panel on the Council’s community action scheme (Here2Help).

Here2Help (H2H) was originally dedicated to helping those who needed support during the COVID-19 pandemic. The service was designed to capture and co-ordinate offers of help from individuals and companies to help meet the demand from those having to shield, self-isolate and/or who had additional needs as a result of the pandemic, which could not be met by family, friends or neighbours. Due to the success of H2H, it was now being evolved to offer advice, support and help on a wide range of services across Worcestershire.

The Chairman invited questions and the following points were raised.

·       A Member made the point that the success of the H2H service was reliant on a collaborative approach and queried how robust the links were with the various partners involved. The Assistant Director explained that there were always challenges for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) but funding had been made available for the recruitment of a Strategic VCS Lead to sit in the VCS Sector, which would add capacity.

·       It was confirmed that the mobile library service would have access the H2H to a degree, as they would be able to access the Community Services Directory.

·       As part of the next stage of development in the H2H Service, the Assistant Director advised of plans for the residents focus group to become more localised in districts in the future.

·       It was agreed that the Panel would be provided with a breakdown of the ’other requirement’ category detailed in the Request for Help by Category of Support (Page 9 - Appendix 1).

·       A Member suggested that the Panel should recommend to the CMR that as the VCS were suffering from a reduced uptake of volunteers, the H2H Service in their role as community outreach, should run a volunteer recruitment drive highlighting the benefits of volunteering ie that it was rewarding, good for career development etc.  The Assistant Director was supportive of this suggestion.

·       It was confirmed that the H2H telephone number was charged at a local rate charge.

·       In response to a Member query about whether a cost analysis was available in respect of the Service, the Assistant Director advised that longer term, there would be a performance matrix to show costs and links with statutory services.

·       The future funding of H2H was questioned, the Assistant Director advised that there was uncertainty around whether grants would continue. It was expected that the demand for the Service would continue to increase, with potentially no additional resource.  Where funding was available for the VCS to bid for, the Council would signpost.

·       A Member questioned whether a contingency was in place should the H2H Service be withdrawn, the Assistant Director explained that the Council was not providing additional investment in the Service but using current resource and smarter working to ensure resilience and sustainability.

·       A Member queried whether there was an Exit Strategy for H2H and was advised that eventually H2H would become business as usual.

·       The reliance of the VCS was discussed and how the Council managed risk in this area, whilst also being supportive.  In response, the Panel were advised that although the Council was risk averse, it could never be totally eradicated.  A DBS check was always required by the Council for any formal volunteering but there would always be informal volunteering.

• The Assistant Director agreed to check whether H2H Directory could be provided to Members in PDF format (with the proviso that a PDF version would be quickly out of date).
• A Member queried the cost of DBS checks to VCS and whether the Council could assist with this.  It was agreed that the Panel would be provided with a briefing on the process with a view to considering if the Council could provide support with the costs.

In summary, the following action points were agreed:

• A breakdown of the Request for Help by Category of Support Requests Reviewed by Category and Month relating to  “other requirements” would be provided to the Panel
• The Assistant Director would check whether H2H Directory could be provided to members in PDF format 
• The Panel would be provided with a briefing on the process and the costs of DBS checks on Volunteers with a view to considering if the Council could provide support with the costs.