Pan-London Culture & Faith Pilot Project - Brent
Community Partnership Initiative
A community-led approach to engaging minority
ethnic communities in child protection
Aims and Objectives


To enhance links across the diverse communities in
Brent in order to increase understanding of
safeguarding (LSCB Business Plan 2011)
◦ Community engagement project set up
◦ Community reference group established
To ensure that the voice of our communities is heard
by strategic and policy decision makers
(VCF Community Engagement Model)
◦ Consultation; questionnaire, seminar – to identify
child protection/safeguarding needs
◦ Creation of community-led advisory group; terms of
reference, membership structure – to support LSCB
aims/objectives, and to progress identified needs
Phase I - Consultation

Consultation Questionnaire (online/printed);
distributed to community groups

Consultation Seminar with safeguarding
professionals and community groups

Report findings and analysis to community
groups and partner agencies
Consultation Questionnaire

Distributed to known VCS groups 15 Mar 11 (deadline
31 Mar 11)
◦ Email with printed version attached and link to online
survey (SurveyMonkey)
◦ VCF direct action with community groups through
outreach activities, due to low response to
questionnaire
◦ Briefings to Brent Multi Faith Forum (March/June),
Focus session with community groups in Brent (Sep)
and BME User Consultancy Group (Sep)
Consultation Seminar


Multi-agency seminar; Wednesday 20 October
(Willesden Green Library Centre) – details posted on
LSCB website / VCF email distribution to VCS groups
Pre-Seminar Communications
◦ Email distribution to voluntary sector; project
introduction and advance notice of seminar
◦ Email distribution to voluntary/community groups –
seminar programme
Identified community groups in
Brent (Consultation Outreach/Seminar)
African Women’s Care | Al Fajr Muslim Girls Workshop |
Black Women’s Mental Health Project | Brent Indian
Association | Ethiopian Refugee Association | Greater
London Somali Community | HIV/Aids Association of
Zambia | Islamic Information Centre | The African Child |
Community Health Action Trust (CHAT) | Chalkhill Youth
and Community Centre | Dudden Hill Community Centre |
Kingshall Youth & Community Centre | St Raphaels Youth &
Community Resource Centre | Abbey Community Centre |
Brent Indian Association | The Millennium Day Centres |
Harlesden Ummah Community Centre | The Willow
Children’s Centre | London Tamil Centre | Church End and
Roundwood Unity Centre | Copland School | AfroCaribbean People’s Organisation (ACPO) | An-Nisa Society
Identified voluntary groups in
Brent (Consultation Seminar)
List of groups on BrAVA website, Brent-funded service
providers plus
Mencap |Solace Women’s Aid | SHOC | Addaction |The
Place 2Be | Resources for Autism | EACH | Teens &
Toddlers | Brent Centre for Young People | Brent
Community Services | Brent CAB | Meanwhile Family
Therapy
Phase I: Outputs
Presentation / Project Briefing to Brent LSCB (Dec 10)
 Consultation Questionnaire to Funded and other
community groups (Mar 11)
 Briefing to Brent Multi Faith Forum (Mar/Jun 11)
 Pan London Culture & Faith Interim Report (Mar 11)
 Safeguarding Children Conference (May 11)
 Focus groups with BME community in Brent (Sep 11)
 Multi-agency Seminar (Oct 11)

Phase I: Issues



Delayed start to project (within Pan London Culture and
Faith project timelines) which has been extended to Dec
11
Consultation seminar delayed due to
◦ poor response to consultation questionnaires and
lack of local CVS distribution (VCF sought volunteer
assistance to compile email addresses for distribution
to local groups)
◦ Decision (May 2011); direct action required by VCF to
consult more widely with community groups through
its outreach programme
Funding not sufficient for dedicated resource; led to
competing priorities for VCF staff
Phase II – Community-led group

Create community-led group; determine terms
of reference, membership structure, identified
needs for action planning

Initial community-led group meeting with
interested parties; comprising community and
voluntary groups, and statutory partners –
selection of chair and deputy to represent
group at relevant LSCB sub-group meetings
Outcomes & Opportunities

Brent pilot forms part of wider LSCB strategy to engage
minority ethnic communities (*)
◦ Brent is one of two pilot boroughs working with VCF
to pioneer its community engagement model
◦ Brent project has highlighted need for mapping /
commissioning of groups delivering services within
the community
◦ Brent project has identified lessons for the future
delivery of community engagement; understanding
key structures within local authorities, more focused
outreach activities at initial stages
(*) LSCB Strategy for engaging minority ethnic (often socially
excluded) communities, groups and families’ incorporates
VCF Community Engagement Model
Learning for Brent
Adapting the core model to suit Brent LSCB
 The community is diverse and moves at own pace
 Trickle effect of sharing information vs. comprehensive
launch
 Explore what community engagement initiatives are
already in place – may be more than you think!

Learning from VCF: the model


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
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In-depth outreach required for cooperation between
statutory partners and the community
Budget should provide for a dedicated resource, to
avoid competing priorities
To develop and implement the model requires full
support of the LSCB and close working relationship with
LSCB Business Manager
A mechanism to recruit lay members
The model allows us to identify community groups
delivering services to children and young people, and to
address their needs around safeguarding (legal
framework)
Phase III – Communication Strategy
Out of scope for the Pan London Culture and Faith project
 Communication strategy between LSCB and communityled reference group
 Mapping of voluntary/community groups as service
providers
 VCF handover to reference group and/or dedicated
resource
 Actual and wider virtual groups to take work forward,
steered by the LSCB business plan
 Input into LSCB Task and Finish subgroups, as
appropriate
Contacts
Brent LSCB
Sue Matthews
020 8937 4299
sue.matthews@brent.gov.uk
http://www.brentlscb.org.uk/
VCF – Victoria Climbié Foundation
Stephanie Yorath
020 8619 1191
info@vcf-uk.org
www.vcf-uk.org