Effective community engagement has been, and continues to be, an important part of our Partnership’s approach to improving the lives of residents. Our Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) is committed to finding new ways to work together to tackle a wide range of issues across the borough. An important part of this work is consulting with residents and the community groups to find out their views on our strategies and plans as well as finding out their priorities.
This information and partnership working forms the basis of our Sustainable Community Plan. The aim of the plan is to bring together local and national aims and objectives, as well as the views of residents, to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of this area. Our vision, objectives and targets describe what you want and expect St.Helens to be in 2018 - a sustainable, thriving, harmonious and inclusive Borough fit for the 21st Century.
Strong consultation and engagement mechanisms enable us to understand the views, needs and preferences of all our stakeholders. Consultation is tailored to the needs of specific target groups, at the neighbourhood level, we actively involve local people in decisions that affect them and their communities through our Ward Committees, Neighbourhood Action Groups and Neighbourhood Management. Our Neighbourhood Management approach in Parr has encouraged the Government to recognise St.Helens as a pilot area for developing Participatory Budgeting across all communities.
The LSP is also committed to improving Community Cohesion and supporting the development of good relationships within communities. This will involve promoting good relations in a diverse, welcoming community; continuing to reduce inequalities; building on the local sense of identity; and building on our success in making people feel safe and secure living in, working or visiting St Helens.
We have also encouraged communities to give voice to their needs and aspirations by helping to create, train and support a Community Empowerment Network (CEN) of individuals across St.Helens. The CEN will help to shape the future direction of the Borough through its innovative ‘Imagine St.Helens’ project. The Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) and CEN support and development work is critical to the sector being capable of responding to the opportunities for influencing decision making through local partnership working arrangements.
