Transformation Thurrock : Local People Help to Make Thurrock a Safer Place

Local People Help to Make Thurrock a Safer Place

Voluntary, community and faith sector representatives from across Thurrock met with police and council crime prevention officers to help better plan joint action towards a safer Thurrock last week.

The event was the first meeting of the recently refreshed Community Involvement Board (CIB) – one of five boards that make up the Local Strategic Partnership ‘Shaping Thurrock’. The CIB plays a key role in co-coordinating community engagement in agreeing the priorities for improving life in Thurrock.

Delegates received an informative presentation on the priorities that the community safety strategy aims to meet, and the associated challenges for Thurrock. On the positive side, the CIB was pleased to hear that Thurrock is overall a safe place to live, and one of the most important messages to get across is that people often fear crime because of national messages rather than the true local picture.

Organisations attending the meeting identified a number of ways in which their organisations could support community safety in Thurrock. These included talking to group members about the messages from the presentation, creating better links between communities (geographic and needs based such as disabled people) so that needs were better understood, and often delivering services on the ground that help to impact on wider agreed outcomes.

Voluntary organisations are increasingly valued for their ability to help bridge the gap between planners and communities who rely on services to meet their needs. Local planners across many agencies including Thurrock Council, South West Essex Primary Care Trust (PCT) that plans for healthy communities, Essex Police and Thurrock Development Corporation work to ensure that their policies compliment each other. Including the voluntary, community and faith sectors in these discussions helps ensure the right needs are met and delivered in the most effective way.

The Community Involvement Board has supported the growth of a Community Empowerment Network to better help local independent organisations influence public services in Thurrrock, and any local group keen to hear more should contact Mark Patchett based at Thurrock CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) on 01375 389881 or m.patchett@can-online.org.uk. Further information on the CIB is available on the relevant link at www.shapingthurrock.org.uk or by contacting Natalie Warren on 01375 413954.

The next meeting is between 6pm and 8.30pm at the Civic Offices, Grays and will consider Community and Social Cohesion. All are welcome.

Rob Groves, 12/08/2008