4. PARTNER ORGANISATION UPDATE:

Julie Mann gave an update on Libraries.

Libraries have been asked by the Council to work with Neighbourhood Forums so we can expand and enhance our role in the communities we serve.

The Council has also asked that we make the Forums aware of the contribution volunteers are making in libraries both in Wirral and in other parts of the country –

The Wirral picture - At present we have approximately 21 volunteers working as IT Support within Wirral Libraries. Our first aim was to replace the IT assistance formerly provided by PENTRA but we hope to extend this to all sites that require it in the future. As there are changes in the benefits system ahead which will require more and more people to apply online, it is likely more of Wirral’s population may require access to our computer suites and help in using the technology. We have volunteers currently working in Bebington, Birkenhead, Wallasey, Prenton, Bromborough, Rock Ferry, St James, Moreton, Seacombe, Heswall & Wallasey Village libraries and our recruitment process is ongoing. We carry out informal interviews, CRB and/or identity checks, obtain references and require all our volunteers to abide by the council’s policies on Customer Care, Data Protection & use of the Internet & Email. Our partners, The Reader Organisation, are recruiting volunteers who we hope will be able to go out to some of our “Home Reader” clients and read with them in their own homes – thus helping to alleviate loneliness & social isolation.

We are investigating the possibility of setting up a second-hand bookshop in one of our libraries, organised and staffed by volunteers.

The wider picture – volunteers are being used widely in libraries throughout the country. In some cases libraries are run entirely by volunteers as an alternative to a library closing completely. In some of these libraries, support is still provided by the council & by qualified library staff. Volunteers are also working alongside paid staff to support them and enable opening hours to be extended or at least not reduced.  Finally volunteers are used as extra help to enhance library services – acting as “meeters & greeters”, facilitating reading groups, assisting with the Summer Reading Challenge for children and with story time sessions, running second-hand bookshops, helping in home reader services and as local studies assistants.

The Council also believes that the Forums need to be aware of the particular needs of various groups such as children, older people, people with special needs, and asked to investigate the ways in which their needs can be better catered for in the library –

We already work with partner organisations such as Reach out, Connexions, CAB and the Wirral Society for the Blind and Partially-sighted and The Reader Organisation. Some of our libraries are used as bases for Literacy Buddies to work. A wide variety of courses are held in our sites.

We are careful to look at Equality Impact Assessments and are part of the Departmental Equality Group. We are actively involved in various projects that promote improved health & well being.

We provide an e-book download service that is available 24/7. E-books have the potential to address the issue of social inclusion & enable partially-sighted people to access materials otherwise beyond their reach in terms of cost & accessibility. They can provide other  benefits for these customers as today’s e-reader devices have excellent features to improve accessibility ( they are light and easy to hold, fonts can be increased, some have text narration, contrast can be increased or decreased etc) and these customers no longer have to wait for large print editions to read the latest best-seller.

 We have prioritised vulnerable groups such as our Home Reader clients and children to ensure that the current spending freeze will impact them as little as possible in terms of the service they receive from the libraries. We are keen that libraries continue to be seen as safe, welcoming, neutral spaces for all members of the community.

Libraries must ensure that all groups in the community have a chance to give their views - We utilise regular consultations and surveys to find out the needs and views of both users and non-users. A number of our libraries have “Friends” and “User” groups who are very pro-active in giving us feedback on our services & suggestions for improvements. The public can contact us in a variety of ways if they have problems or complaints – via written forms available from all sites or using the “Rate this Page” facility on the website. The library service plans to take an active part in the upcoming four-year Heritage project “Wirral Remembers” which intends to really engage with as many community groups as possible which could result in our services and resources becoming more widely known and better utilised throughout the community.

What’s happening at YOUR local library?

Beechwood Library:

Read Yourself Well - Providing a range of information (including books, leaflets and CDs), on medical conditions and treatments, including, mental health, alternative therapies, healthy living. Information on local support groups and services is also available.

Toy Library - provides a full range of toys and equipment for use by children and carers. The toy library is run and managed as a partnership between Wirral libraries, Sure Start and Early Years Partnership. There is an annual subscription to join the toy library, which is:
£5 for early years providers (which allows a maximum of 2 loans for parents and 6 for early years providers)  £2 for parents (which allows a maximum of two loans) . There is also a charge of 75p for each item loaned and toys can reserved for 80p per item.  Some of the more expensive items require a £5.00 deposit.

Computers  7   

Reading Group - contact the library for details.

Get into Reading - Adult Reading Group - Book at Beechwood, Fridays, 11am-12pm

Beechwood Bookworms - A children's reading group every Friday 4pm - 4.45pm

Reachout Work Club - Tuesdays 9:30am to 11:00am

Free confidential advice and guidance.

Information Point - which can provide information about a wide range of Council services.

St James Library

10 computers are available for public use /access to the internet.  Some IT support from volunteers.

Sure Start and the Northend Neighbourhood Collegeare also based in St James Centre and a cafe facility is available.

Read Yourself Well - materials include books, leaflets and CDs. They provide information on medical conditions, treatments, mental health, alternative therapies, relaxation, healthy living and lots more. Information about local support groups and services is also available.  

Get into Reading  - Adult Reading Group -Thursdays 10am -11.30am

Baby Bounce & Rhyme Session - For babies 0-18 months. Mondays at 11am

Story time for the Under 5's - for stories, rhymes, colouring and fun. -Tuesdays at 10am.

Reachout Work Club - Tuesdays 11:30am to 1:00pm FREE confidential advice and guidance.

Information Point - which can provide information about a wide range of Council services.

Ridgeway Library

10 computers for public use.  There are also two suites upstairs for computer courses run by Birkenhead Sixth Form College.

Get into Reading- Adult Reading Groups - There are two adult reader groups, which each meet once a week: Monday afternoons 2.30pm - 3.30pm and Tuesday mornings 9.30 – 11.00am.

Children's Story time - Wednesdays at 10.30am, term time only.

Children's Activities - Craft and entertainment sessions during the summer holidays. Also join our reading scheme to gain prizes through the summer. 

Information Point - which can provide information about a wide range of Council services.

Cllr Steve Foulkes – there are 24 libraries on the Wirral which is more that other Councils comparative.  The message we want to get across is that we are up for anything that the community want the Library to be involved in.  It is important that this core service can justify itself and provide a wider range of services.  There is not a huge budget so need to get maximum benefit.

Cllr Ann McLachlan – there was no proposal in the budget to close any Library and they are becoming hubs partnering with one stop shops. 

Community Safety - Steve Preston: Ian Lowrie and Jim Thompson send their apologies as they are both ill.  Explained they have been busy over Christmas in Bidston/St  James Claughton there has been trouble with anti social behavior.  Getting less calls as youths are meeting with partner agencies and CCTV with sound is working.  Crime in the area is rising as it is up by 22% in domestic burglaries but it is low as a Borough.  Urged forum members to shut PVCU doors and do not just pull the handle up.  Theft on motor vehicles has gone up slightly in December. Reminded forum members not to leave items on view in care.  Also, in the news recently was a burglary in Brassey Street recently.  Explained that regulations and statistics have to go through a team so would not have passed if it was not safe.  Domestic violence calls have reduced.  Dog fouling team and litter enforcement are now fining people.  Targeted people who throw McDonalds wrappers out of the window as this was feedback from forums. 

Q: What time do the dog fouling team come out?

A: Steve PrestonEffectively they are 24 hours as when they are off duty community patrol will take over.

Merseyside Fire & Rescue – Paul Murphy with budget meeting on 26^th February plans will be communicated.  Bonfires are down by 37% for last October.  The Fire Service is fully supportive of the Council moving to the constituency areas.  Birkenhead Fire Station is on target for August 2013 and there will be opportunities for people to use the community area.  Accidental dwellings last year were 14, this year 10.  Home fire safety checks continue to be delivered.  Deliberate secondary fires were 68 last year and 22 this year.  Road traffic collisions were 6 last year and 3 this year.  Terrific work with my staff and partner organisations.  For home fire safety checks can call 0800 731 5958.

Jim Parsons – landlords of empty dwellings could contact you and then these could be fitted whilst property is empty/vacant. 

Cllr George Davies – anything to do with preventing fires is fantastic but Carbon monoxide is what I worry about.  I would like see joint with Council and Fire while you do the fire checks if we could get the funding then you would be an ideal partner.

Paul Murphy – whatever we can do with carbon monoxide prevention we will do.

Cllr Steve Foulkes – thanked the joint effort at the Noctorum Estate.  They had the highest number of calls at bonfire night last year but thanks to Ridgeway who opened the school and put a bonfire on and thanks to everyone involved calls are now lower.

Cllr Pat Lansborough – explained he was the Secretary of Claughton Community Group and Birkenhead Park Rugby Club.  Cllr Lansborough then read out the following report:-

We at the park have been successful in obtaining £25k from my employer, Royal London Mutual Insurance Societies Community Fund to fund a project both promoting and developing participation in healthy sporting activities by young people, irrespective of gender and ability.

Main criteria was health promotion and giving the well established link between poor socio-economic conditions and poor health and shorter than average life expectancy, often linked to unhealthy diet and lack of exercise, I was to demonstrate the significant impact such an award would have on the health of the youth of our area.

The benefits of the funding of course go far beyond generating healthy lifestyles in that we are looking at heightening self esteem of participants, creating community and whole life skills, such as discipline, team work and respect and hopefully thus equipping participants to make challenges on job and career markets later in life.

My reason for bringing this to your attention is not simply to share good new but to ask for support from groups in advertising and promoting our project in their own areas.  We will be shortly advertising the project via the local press and radio media and also through engagement with youths in schools, colleges and community groups. The hope is that we can share the existing best practice and experiences of other local groups and by this collaborative approach, maximize the impact of our project on the provision of much needed activities for them in our area. 

Cllr Denise Roberts – congratulations. 

Jean McIntosh (community representative) I went to Arrowe Park Hospital as a ‘mystery shopper’ to see where the food is prepared and where it is stored.  The place was  immaculate and the food was amazing.  The bedding is sent to Blackpool at the moment and each ward has an allocated budget for linen and pillows but sometimes the bedding is taken when for example the patient is transferred in an ambulance to a different hospital or to a Nursing Home.  People just have to remember that the hospital has a budget for everything.  Even the curtains are provided by the League of Friends as there is no budget for this. I can do a report if you would like.

Cllr Denise Roberts – that sounds interesting.  A report would be good.

Jean – It has really opened my eyes.