DECISION BOOK. The decision book is open to public inspection at the Civic Offices between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm, Mondays to Fridays.

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1 DECISION BOOK Issue: 456 Date: 25 July 2014 Decisions set out in the book have been made under delegated powers by the Managing Director, Corporate Directors or the Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer, in consultation either with the relevant committee or Lead Councillor. This issue of the decision book will be in public circulation up until Monday 4 August During that period three Councillors may request in writing to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services that a decision should be referred either to a committee, or to the Council (as appropriate) for formal resolution. The decision book is open to public inspection at the Civic Offices between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm, Mondays to Fridays. The officer reports accompanying the decisions are attached. Contact: Richard Woodford Committee Services Tel: Fax: richard.woodford@reading.gov.uk

2 DECISION BOOK ISSUE JULY COMMUNITY LEARNING GRANT APPLICATIONS DECISION LEAD COUNCILLOR(S) WARDS AFFECTED PAGE NO. 1. COMMUNITY LEARNING GRANT APPLICATIONS COUNCILLOR ENNIS BOROUGHWIDE 1 This report sets out the decision to award grants out to a number of voluntary and community learning organisations to be funded from Community Learning grant from the Skills Funding Agency. These grants are available for learners aged 19+ and must be awarded in line with a Local Community Learning Network plan. The bid specifications were sent out to 36 members of the Reading Community Learning Network. The decisions have been made on the bid applications submitted and in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Education. Appendix A details the applications submitted and the awards to bade up to a total of 41,698 in grant aid. Seven applications were made from organisations working with vulnerable learners. (See Appendix A for further details) It is the decision of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Education to award Community Learning Grants (as listed in Appendix A) up to a total of 41,698 to be funded from Neighbourhood Learning Deprived Community Grants Organisation Learner No. Amount Destination Incentive Together UK 30 1, Readipop 100 5,000 1,240 Berkshire Autistic Society 70 3, Reading Community Learning ,000 2,480 Centre Thrive 50 2, GRAFT 70 3, WEA 250 9,250 N/A No grants have been refused, however 2 organisations have had their target number lowered from that requested in their bid due to possible risk in change of premises and over subscription

3 READING BOROUGH COUNCIL REPORT BY DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT AND NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES LEAD COUNCILLOR: COUNCILLOR JOHN ENNIS DATE: 25 JULY 2014 TITLE: COMMUNITY LEARNING GRANT APPLICATIONS SERVICE: NEW DIRECTIONS WARDS: BOROUGHWIDE AUTHOR: BARRY WREN TEL: (Mobex 88145) JOB TITLE: SERVICE MANAGER 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 This report sets out the decision to award grants out to a number of voluntary and community learning organisations to be funded from Community Learning grant from the Skills Funding Agency. These grants are available for learners aged 19+ and must be awarded in line with a Local Community Learning Network plan. The bid specifications were sent out to 36 members of the Reading Community Learning Network. The decisions have been made on the bid applications submitted and in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Education. Appendix A details the applications submitted and the awards to bade up to a total of 41,698 in grant aid 1.2 Seven applications were made from organisations working with vulnerable learners. (See Appendix A for further details) 2. DECISION 2.1 It is the decision of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Education to award Community Learning Grants (as listed in Appendix A) up to a total of 41,698 to be funded from Neighbourhood Learning Deprived Community Grants Organisation Learner No. Amount Destination Incentive Together UK 30 1, Readipop 100 5,000 1,240 Berkshire Autistic Society 70 3, Reading Community Learning ,000 2,480 Centre Thrive 50 2, GRAFT 70 3,

4 WEA 250 9,250 N/A 2.2 No grants have been refused, however 2 organisations have had their target number lowered from that requested in their bid due to possible risk in change of premises and over subscription 3. POLICY CONTEXT 3.1 Reading Borough Council has a mixed economy approach to funding the third sector, namely that grant aid is part of a package of funding that makes an important contribution to the third sector economy and that this is a mutually beneficial relationship. Provision of grant aid is made in line with the major corporate and service policies to match service priorities linked to the Tackling Poverty Report for Reading September At the Reading Community Learning Network (RCLN) Meeting on 28 March 2014 it was agreed with members the priorities for funding provision would be taken from the findings in the Tackling Poverty Report for Reading. These priorities would be linked to the Community Learning funding applications for (academic year) and additionally a new destination introduced to support the organisations in progressing their learners into employment, further education or volunteering opportunities. The feedback and recommendations were taken to the Community Learning Skills Advisory Board on Tuesday 13 May to be passed by the board members. 4. THE PROPOSAL 4.1 To provide grant aid as set out fully in Appendix A appended to this report. 5. CONTRIBUTION TO STRATEGIC AIMS 5.1 In awarding grants through the Borough Council s Grants Service priority is given to groups that operate in accordance with Reading Borough Council s Equal Opportunities statement. For the Community Learning Grants priority is given to applications that engage, offer specialist support, promote social inclusion and work with vulnerable adults to help them build their confidence to progress in their everyday lives whether that is to gain employment, progress to further education or take up volunteering opportunities. 6. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND INFORMATION 6.1 By awarding the grants as recommended the Council will be supporting and strengthening the role of voluntary and community organisations to work with vulnerable learners in Reading. 6.2 On the grant assessment panel New Directions invited representatives from Reading Borough Council Funding Services and Policy departments, and the Senior Commissioner leading the adult team to make recommendations based on their expert knowledge. 2

5 7. EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT 7.1 Under the Equality Act 2010, Section 149, a public authority must consider whether the decision will or could have a differential impact on: racial groups; gender; people with disabilities; people of a particular sexual orientation; people due to their age; people due to their religious belief. 7.2 The Community Learning Grant budget is part of the SFA grant allocated to Reading Borough Council s Adult and Community and Employment Service New Directions for academic year 2014/15. The bid specification was sent out to 36 organisations all members of the Reading Community Learning Network on 23 May according to published criteria for equalities groups to make funding applications. The allocation of grants is reported to the Community Learning Skills Advisory Board. Each organisation awarded a grant is monitored on progress to wards targets and quality throughout the Academic year. 7.3 Community Learning grants provide opportunities for organisations to develop their programmes to reach more learners. The scoring criteria encourages the organisations who work with vulnerable and hard-to-reach communities in Reading. 7.4 This decision book involves 7 applications where certain criteria were taken into account when assessing the bids. Does the application link to Reading s Adult Community Learning priorities? Who are the service users and how will benefit over time? Are you working with local providers and signposting? Evaluation of activities how did they benefit the learners? Quality framework are planning and tracking documents used? 7.5 Two organisations had their target numbers reduced, one due to concerns about a change of premises during the academic year and another due to over subscription linked to target numbers overall. 8. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS Grants are made using the following legal powers where appropriate: 8.1 GRAFT Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, Equality Act 2010 Thrive Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 Reading Community Learning Centre Local Government Act 1972, Equality Act 2010 Berkshire Autistic Society Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, Equality Act 2010 Together UK - Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, Equality Act 2010 Readipop Local Government Act 1972 S145 WEA Local Government Act

6 9. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Neighbourhood Learning Deprived Awards Budget Community Budget Allocations The Community Learning budget is: 94,000 Grants allocated through this Decision for unique learner targets and destination s from 1 September June , The next bidding round for Community Learning will take place June 2015 subject to SFA grant and conditions for 2015/16. VFM Risk Assessment: Financial risk assessment was discussed at the panel assessment on 1 July. These discussions concluded with the reduction of unique learner targets for two organisations due to a move in premises and over subscription. The organisations will be informed in a letter of confirmation sent out electronically on 18 July. Data: The enrolment forms submitted by the organisations count towards New Directions Community Learning target. The enrolments are entered onto New Directions management information system and are included in the Individual Learning Record submitted 3 times a year. Learner s can only be counted once per organisation. Various data reports are analysed to capture the rich and diverse range of learners that are accessing the organisations and produce benchmarking data for New Directions. BACKGROUND PAPERS (available on request) 10.1 Tackling Poverty Report for Reading September 2013 Reading Borough Council Corporate Plan New Directions Service Plan Reading Community Learning Network Plan 2014/15 4

7 Community Learning Grant Applications 1 July 2014 for academic year Appendix A ORGANISATION PURPOSE OF APPLICATION SUM REQUESTED GRAFT Reading Your Way -Together UK To provide funding for workshops in self confidence building, gaining active listening skills, managing challenging situations, effective job search support, CV workshops, interview skills, motivation and handling disappointment and gaining opportunities for volunteering, moving into employment or further education. To provide the funding to up-skill the peer support workers with health and safety, equality of opportunity and safeguarding training. Individual work programmes support the learner to progress to work in RYW premises either as a coffee shop assistant or take on cleaning responsibilities. The funding will also provide a range of taster workshops money management and budgeting, beginner sessions in new interest hobbies to include crochet, comic drawing workshops 70 learners 3,500 + destination learners 1,500 Destination 372 PREVIOUS COMMENTS - PANEL ASSISTANCE FROM Community Learning SFA Funding 2011 onwards GRAFT work with their learners often over a long period of time to support them via confidence building courses and employability skills to help them gain employment. The destination will enable them to work towards results onwards The application is based on up-skilling Peer Support workers who volunteer to support service users at Reading Your Way, provide individual employability training to provide opportunities for working in the organisation as a first step. 5

8 Thrive Berkshire Autistic Society Reading Community Learning Centre To provide funding for short workshops to use as an engagement exercise for a range of vulnerable learners who have an interest in gaining or developing their horticulture skills e.g. special needs, stroke sufferers, mental health and people with Parkinson s Disease. Horticulture improves health and wellbeing. To provide funding for essential workshops people with and ACS diagnosis and their carers giving everyone the opportunity to reach their true potential. Confident Communications learning essential communication skills to increase confidence around conversation whilst meeting and greeting people. These life skills help towards gaining employment, making friends and integrating in the community. Managing your money is based round the change in benefits and enables learners to understand ways to budget and achieve financial wellbeing. To provide a range of education opportunities for women from disadvantaged backgrounds especially the hard to reach. These courses help to develop community cohesion, break down barriers between cultures and foster mutual respect, understanding and friendship. Additionally they help towards building confidence, improving self esteem, provide pathways to gain skills for employment or 6 50 learners 2,500 Destination learners 3,500 + destination learners 10,000 Destination 2, onwards These short workshops will act as a carrot to engage learners and progress them onto longer courses non accredited or accredited courses onwards This application is based on supporting learners with an ACS diagnosis to improve communication skills and help them manage their finances effectively. Additionally, the funding will support the family and/or carers who also rely on BAS for advice onwards Funding will support a range of courses offered by RCLC annually - RCLC have notice to vacate their premises at the end of January 2015 discussion about risk taken for number of learners requested. Target requested 226

9 Readipop WEA progression onto accredited courses. Courses provided are IT, English Conversation at various levels, Sewing and beauty skills. To provide targeted programmes/projects to outreach groups and referrals from partnership organisations to the most vulnerable adults in Reading. Music projects will be offered to the unemployed through community bands and workshops,. Music projects will be used to improve antisocial behaviour, and health and wellbeing in community care homes and hospitals to engage and improve lives. Ongoing projects Move-on Community Choir for older learners, Beatroots, Small Strings, Conga Club, Get Gigging and African Drumming available for anyone to join. The funding will provide cultural studies courses mainly to retired residents of Reading who wish to maintain intellectual capacity, social connections and general health and well-being through participation in adult learning. The Reading Branch is run by a local group of volunteers who plan, promote and support the delivery. 120 learners 6,000 Destination 1, ,250 No destination learners, will be offered 200 learners 2011 onwards Readipop requested 180 learners for For Readipop s target was 60 learners, they ve exceeded this target to date by 17 and more enrolments are expected. Due to over subscription of targets overall it was decided to allocate 100 to Readiipop which still gives them a target of 100% higher than and more funding onwards WEA provide a culture and arts programme which recruits older learners. The learners all pay a fee for the courses and this funding offers a subsidy. 7