MAGNET Project

Descriptions

BackgroundVAMT has been successful in securing funds from the BIG Lottery Community Voice programme to project manage a portfolio of projects over the next 4 years. The portfolio is called MAGNET – Merthyr Achieving Greater Networking and Empowerment Together.The vision for the portfolio is partly inspired by an ITV "Wales this Week" programme entitled "The Real Merthyr Tydfil". The programme stated that according to the press and politicians Merthyr Tydfil is deprived, disadvantaged and disillusioned. It questioned whether the facts support the reputation and interviewed contributors who suggested that Merthyr Tydfil needs to be re-branded and a more balanced picture presented.The aim of the portfolio is to put citizens' voices at the heart of local decision making so that their contribution to Merthyr Tydfil life is fully understood, recognised and used to wider positive effect including, finding solutions to local issues, conveying positive messages about the area and challenging negative perceptions.The portfolio includes seven projects being delivered by partner voluntary organisations;-Belonging: Perthyn – Merthyr Valleys Homes. An inter-generational project between younger people and older people living in social housing which focuses on the customer experience over time of housing policies, investment and management policy of local social housing providers. The project will be delivered in Caedraw,Gurnos and Trelewis.Project Status – Project Worker in post 27th August 2013-Bridges – Tri County Play Association. An engagement project with the gypsy / traveller community to build confidence and skills and create opportunities for effective engagement with the local authority, health service, police and shape policy and service design.Project Status – Project Worker in post 5th July 2013-Focal Point – Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association in partnership with Polish Community of the Valleys Association. A project which will engage migrant workers to facilitate inclusion and also cohesion by improving cultural awareness in the wider community. The project will look to identify and support champions, create their own support groups and enable engagement with service providers to shape future services. The migrant workers primarily originate from Portugal, Poland and other eastern European countries.Project Status – Consultant to be commissioned by the end of September / October 2013.-One Voice – VAMT. This is an advocacy project to empower disabled persons to be able to speak up and create forums for disabled people to agree collective action and engage with service providers.Project Status – Project Worker in post 1st July 2013-POSSIB – Canolfan Soar in partnership with 3G’s Development Trust. A bilingual arts project to engage residents within the Northern Communities First Cluster to give them the self-confidence, expertise and motivation to express themselves and the ambitions of their communities. The project will engage with working aged men, and parents and children prioritising the areas of health, employment and education.Project Status – Project Worker anticipated to be in post end of September 2013.-Up & Coming – Safer Merthyr Tydfil. A youth media project where young reporters will use both traditional and new media to convey positive messages about young people and Merthyr Tydfil, and also communicate with service providers and decision makers. This will build on existing work with the Merthyr Tydfil Borough Wide Youth Forum and the Youth Mayor / Youth Cabinet.Project Status – Project Worker in post 9th September 2013.-Visible – Safer Merthyr Tydfil. This is a project which will work with lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender (LGBT) persons to provide support, bring people together and promote the voice of LGBT communities within Merthyr Tydfil.Project Status – Project Worker in post 9th September 2013.The portfolio has four outcomes, each with three indicators:Outcome 1: Young people (ages11-24) and children have increased opportunities to engage with service providers and influence policy and services, and in the process, promote positive messages about young people and increase their participationa. Number young people/ children engaged in the outreach events and activitiesb. Number positive messages about young people emanating from projects and reported more widelyc. Number young people/ children who become more involved in activities to express needs, engage with service providers and shape servicesOutcome 2: Marginalised communities and communities of interest work with service providers to strengthen routes to influence service provision to meet their needsa. Number people from marginalised communities and communities of interest engaged in the portfolio project activitiesb. Number of forums/ engagement mechanisms established or strengthened for marginalised communities/communities of interestc. Number people from communities and communities of interest who undertake more detailed work to identify and express needs, engage with service providers and shape servicesOutcome 3: Communities, communities of interest and young people have access to improved services that are better at addressing their needsa. Number new services developed (by the public sector; through co-production with the public sector; or conceived and delivered by communities)b. Number using services and numbers reporting that services have improvedc. Number policies/public services influenced or changed to become more appropriate to needOutcome 4: Strengthened participation and engagement arrangements that communities have greater confidence ina. Number of public sector representatives (organisations, strategic partnerships, scrutiny committees, service provider agencies) that report a better understanding of citizen engagement and improved practice in their organisationsb. Number from communities who report having increased skills and knowledge and the confidence to make a differencec. Number from communities who report they are more positive about/ involved in the mechanisms and processes in place to have their voices heard and influence servicesThis opportunity focuses on Outcome 4.Aim-To establish within each of the seven MAGNET projects the level of influence currently being experienced by each of the target groups in the design and delivery of public services and policies.-To establish a priority of public services and policies that each of the target groups wishes to influence first.-To establish the current level of understanding in the development and delivery of policies and services by the public sector service providers to meet the needs of the target groups.