Rother Community Links,index

Rother Community Links

Latest News
25th March 2002

Previous News

Day Care Services for older people under threat in East Sussex

Last April the Social Services Department issued a paper to the SS Committee setting out proposals for the 'Rationalisation and Remodelling of Day Care Services'.
The aim of the review was to ensure 'Best Value' and to allow Social Services to concentrate their support on more frail and dependent older people to help them rehabilitate into the community and return to independent living, whilst reducing their support to more able older people requiring a lower level of care and socialisation.
The paper put great weight behind the proposal to transfer the long-term 'social' element of day care to the voluntary sector with (quote): 'Social Services Assistance'. It further went on to name Age Concern as one of the organisations with whom they could explore a 'joint initiative' to provide this care.
Rother has benefitted from day care service provided by Age Concern for some years very much on the lines that the Social Services Department is wishing to see provided across the county.
As well as much needed socialisation, the service provides care for the more mentally and physically frail older person who needs continued support to remain at home. Very often this follows the time-limited input of rehabilitation, and also offers the necessary respite care for carers. For some carers this is the only break from caring that they get.
It is with sadness and disbelief that RCL has learned that this provision will probably cease from April because funds from Social Services will 'not be available'.
We want to know exactly what 'joint initiative' and 'Social Services Assistance' mean, if there is no money to fund the vital services that vulnerable people need.
With the pending closure of Social Services residential homes, the re-vamping (ie reduction) of services to people with learning disabilities and the remodelling of day care services to older people, it seems that, for whatever reason, statutory service provision is shrinking around us.
If the voluntary sector cannot be funded to replace these, then where will the most vulnerable members in our community turn for help?

Who will speak up for them?

If you wish to make a comment to be included on this website, click the Discussion link in the navigation bar on the left.
If you wish to lobby the Older Peoples Working Group for Hastings and Rother, send your comments to Rick Stern at the Bexhill and Rother PCT Office, fax no: 01424 735601, email: Stern.Rick@bar-pct.sthames.nhs.uk
You can also make your views known directly to East Sussex Social Services Department by contacting County Councillor John Barnes who heads the team in East Sussex looking at Best Value. Write to him at County Hall, St Anne's Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1SW or email cllr.john.barnes@eastsussexcc.gov.uk
A list of all County Councillors with their contact details can be found at www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk/members/main.htm
Whatever action you take, do it quickly: be assured that collectively we can make a difference. Sandy Lazarus.

Diary dates: Steering Committee
Meetings of the Steering Committee have been provisionally arranged for 10.00 am at the Watch Oak, Battle, on the following dates in 2002:
Tuesdays, 26th March, 23rd April, 21st May, and 11th June.
For a map showing the location of the meeting place, click here

Revised Members Section

This section has been completely revised. It now contains information about the member organisations which make up Rother Community Links. If your organisation is not listed, it it because it is against our policy to publish items which have not been written, so please send in your information. This can be updated at any time, so the very latest details can always be included.
Send your information to the Editor at ed@rothercommunity.plus.com

The first two organisations to be included are Hastings & Rother Crossroads and ARRCC . Crossroads is well known for its work in supporting carers. Your Editor once thought that ARRCC stood for the "Association for the Reform and Rehabilitation of County Councillors". Sadly, that organisation, though no doubt for a very worthy cause, does not yet exist. I am very happy to report that ARRCC is in fact the redoubtable Rye & District Activity Respite and Rehabilitation Centre.

BT Community Connections: apply online by 12th April

BT Community Connections is a UK-wide award scheme that enables local community groups to access the Internet. Following the success of Year One, the second year of the award scheme is now underway and between January 2002 and June 2003, BT will be awarding over 1700 awards, complementing the 1734 awarded in Year One of the scheme.

The BT Community Connections 2002 website is now active. To apply on-line simply log on to www.btcommunityconnections.com and go to the "Applying" section where you will find a complete online application form. Completing an online application form will mean that your application is immediately submitted.

Alternatively, if you still require a postal application form please go to the "How to Apply" page within the "Applying" section and complete a "Postal application request form".

Applications for Round One will be accepted until 12 April 2002. Please note that applications that are illegible or are not completed in full may not proceed to the final judging stage. Applications received after this date will not be considered.

All successful applicants will be notified by post on 3 June 2002. The judge's decision is final and no discussion will be entered into. Should your application not be selected for an award you will not receive any further correspondence from BT Community Connections.

Rother Community Safety

Colin Boylett of Etchingham Neighbourhood Watch is expanding the e-mail discussion group entitled Rother Community Safety. For further details of the group, or to join, click this link: RotherCommunitySafety
or contact Colin Boylett at colin@cboylett.freeserve.co.uk

News Headlines
http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news.html

Ministers under pressure to step up poverty fight: Measures to tackle poverty must be reinforced with better public services and improved opportunities for low-paid workers to climb the income ladder, ministers have been told. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news293.html

Quango leads clamour for investment tax relief: Regeneration agency English Partnerships called for better tax breaks for private investors. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news296.html

Porritt blasts Treasury for 'unsustainable' policies: an approach to regeneration that fails to offer mainstream sustainability is heading for a fall, ministers have been warned. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news297.html

Treasury claim on funds threatens local groups: voluntary and community groups press regeneration minister Lord Falconer to prevent a Treasury clawback of unspent cash from the community empowerment and community chest funds. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news299.html

Blunkett beefs up 'slow and frustrating' "asbos": antisocial behaviour orders are to be strengthened after a Home Office review criticised them for being clumsy and time-consuming. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news300.html

SRB slow to break cycle of multiple deprivation: an independent review has praised the single regeneration budget's groundbreaking approach to area renewal but says it has been slow to achieve results. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news301.html

New deal partnerships escape cash straitjacket: the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit has allowed new deal for communities partnerships to carry unspent funds into the next financial year. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news302.html

Councils press for rethink of 'narrow' renewal fund: the neighbourhood renewal fund should be allowed to travel from the 88 most deprived areas to work in less deprived areas after an initial three year period, councils say. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news305.html

Revamped regional aid to boost Scots job hopes: Indigenous, high growth businesses in Scotland have been promised a better deal from regional selective assistance after complaints of foreign favouritism. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news306.html

Education reform casts youth as active citizens: Young people leaving education at age 18 or 19 could be required to show their involvement in community activity in order to secure a new 'matriculation diploma' under plans detailed in the education green paper. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news307.html

Treasury savings initiative threatens credit unions: Community finance organisations condemn Treasury approach to scheme for low-income savers. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news308.html

European trust mooted to reclaim derelict land: High-level Welsh policy-makers push case for Europe-wide regeneration trust to transform industrial wastelands into community open spaces. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news309.html

Ministers exposed over open space guidance: Government accused of betraying its own urban vision with 'seriously flawed' advice on open spaces. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news310.html

Audit casts doubt on viability of New Deal: The future shape of a multi-million pound government scheme to help young people into work has been questioned by government auditors. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news311.html

Civil servants are roasted over gap funding efforts: Regeneration initiatives are being let down by trade and industry officials and regional development agencies, a House of Commons select committee hears. http://www.newstartmag.co.uk/news312.html