The Problem We Are Trying to Solve
The silos of health, housing, crime et cetera are protected not only from each other but also the social sector. The primary point of contact is contractual, a commission by a single system for a large social sector organisation to deliver a siloed service.
Most social sector organisations are small. Most work across system domains.
The voice of the resident is still underrepresented in Barking and Dagenham. How do residents experience the disconnects between systems, and between statutory and social sectors?
We are focused on Thames Ward. We want to build on the neighbourhood model advanced by the Council, exploit the opportunities for residents associated with the Integrated Care System advanced by health, use the network approach of the BD_Collective, and the new thinking on funding advanced by BD_Giving. We want to demonstrate what can be achieved in Thames Ward, and offer learning to the rest of the Borough.
Our approach
It starts with describing civil society in the neighbourhood, mapping the support networks and social sector organisations, and charting the flows of funding.
We will build on that with mystery shoppers of residents telling us about their experience of accessing help in the ward.
We will use this learning to build a network of social sector organisations
Working with CVS to boost their capacity individually and collectively
So enhancing their bargaining power in negotiations with funders
And so enabling cross system funding and working.
TWCP will act as an independent honest broker:
- Creating a place for people to be and talk
- Listening to resident action groups
- Building a network of social sector organisations
- To lead a change in the relationships
- Within civil society
- Between social sector organisations and public systems
- Across system silos.
Matt Scott, Thames Ward Community Project