All Together Now..

Sunday night and I am updating the blog. My RSS feed reminds that on October 15th is BLOG ACTION DAY in which all those reading or writing blogs will be doping something TOGETHER. Here's the link if you want to get involved. http://blogactionday.org/ Anyway the lyric reference gives me a chance to here The Farm again. I saw them live at the Crypt when their career was on the way down rather than up but their signature tune sounds as fresh as it did the day it was penned here it is in a rare live version
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEUv-rR-TD8&mode=related&search=

Praise You

Saturday beckoned with an early morning run with the dog over the Country Park and then on to a seminar to give a presentation. It's a funny thing this ipod business and it creates some very surreal moments when there is a difference between what you hear and what you see. Actually I have just finished a book (The Hip-Hop Years) which is a history of the rap and hip hop movement. This means I have been relistening to a lot of 80's and 90's rap. Including the seminal 10th Anniversary edition of the 1988 album Straight Outta Compton from N.W.A. They, were the rap collective that brought together Dr Dre, Ice Cube and Easy E who later dominated the West Coast rap scene. It is the hard core emergence of a completely new musical form which caused much controversy when it was released all those years ago. Anyway, in my ears is the kick drum dominated vibes of South Central Los Angelas gangland as I enter a room with a number of vicars drinking tea - a totally unreal juxtoposition! For today I speak at an event which launches Church and Community Week and a local initiative (Hope '08) which aims to link local churches with community activities. Hopefully what I say is informative and gets accross the contribution churches and other faith groups have made to the VSC both past and present. It is a nice group of people - lots of energy - although time defeats us as the workshops could have done with a little longer to make real progress. Anyway our lyric today is from Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) the video to this just always makes me smile!! Enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ULVQOneeZE

You can be my partner

Another partnership day with collegues cross county.

An early morning visit to the office responding to the urgent and the essential. To Wealden and a Dynamics of place workshop which I was not looking forward to and had agreed to having been pestered. Actually, this proves to be an extremely fruitful day and a new way of looking at the issues we face economic, housing, community in a new(ish) way. Very well facilitated and bringing together representatives from LSPs throughout the County. Despite my usual cynicism about such events we all work rather hard and produce some discussion which is actually rather creative about some key problems for the County. I still bang on abouty my key issues at the moment which are:-

1. The importance of understanding the informal economy
2. The value and improtance of community activism and how vest to support it
3. That those at the bottom of the pile (not suprisingly) have a different value base and, not suprisingly, do not believe the stories they have been spun (value of education, the harder you work the more successful you will be et al) and find their own ways of getting by.

Finally, I remind some people that one of the reasons people do not acccept low paid work is that they do not find the prospect of doing an unsatisfying job for 40 hours a week attractive when it will only net them about £12 more than the benefit level and frankly nor would I. Must find a way of making these points without sounding like some naive young socialist in the student union batr. Gravitas perhaps but, hell, why bother!

Anyway the journey back with two colleagues from the Local Authority. They are both good at their jobs and, thankfully, also good company so we put the world to rights on the way back. Tommorrow (saturday) and a conference with Church leaders looking at the role of the Church and Community. So long as I don't get struck by lightning or exposed like the child in Damien II (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNZrTgskUrI) I will report on the blog again tommorow.

Anyway our lyric today is The Stones and Tumbling Dice an absolutely brilliant song from the Exile on Main Street Album. If you have never heard this you are seriously missing out. Here is a video of The Stones doing it live in one of the larget concert venues in the world in Brazil. CYA!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3hCbFqRHKk

My Partners in Crime Hit me for my nickels and dimes

To the East Sussex Strategic Partnership and a curious dispute which has all the potential to significantly affect part of our work which might need to be scaled down as a result of a serious mistake on the part of either the Government Office, the County Council or both depending on whose version of events you accept – the e-mail battle between them is still raging as I write.

It is all a bit complicated to explain but think of it like this…

Imagine that the County Council, Borough Council and Government Office go out for a meal together. For the sake of argument in this analogy HVA is the bistro manager. A four-course dinner is ordered and the first course arrives and is enjoyed. Compliments are sent to the chef and all seems rosy. When the second course comes to the table a dispute arises about who is actually going to pay for the meal. Not us, say the Government Office, but you said you would say the County Council (waving it's LAA Agreement), oh no we didn’t and on it goes. The Borough Council say that we might have paid for the meal but we didn’t know that we would have to and the money we would have used is being spent on other things. HVA, by this time are playing the part of the waiter, trying to be patient but growing increasingly irritated by this unseemly dispute between the various layers of local and regional government. Eventually someone turns to the waiter “could you give us some really small portions for the remaining courses and maybe between us we might pay for it…if we can find the money”

You get the idea and for the remainder of the financial year it looks like salad rather than steak!! Part of me appreciates the problem and I want to work towards a constructive solution. Part of me also feels like placing the whole thing in the hands of the Local Government Ombudsman and letting them pick over the entrails of this little piece of maladministration. Anyway pleasing that the partnership saw it as very much a shared problem which should, hopefully break the log-jam.

Anyway by chance I join other members of the HVA team on the train as they are returning from another meeting before I duck out at Warrior Square and attend a meeting with Housing Services. This is a complicated discussions about how to preserve a service after a voluntary organisation closes. As it is to do with Bonds, rent guarantees and cash deposits it is all very complicated. Finally catching up with a member of the Neighbourhood Renewal team as we compare notes on the future of community engagement and preserving the best elements of all we have learnt through the njeighbourhood renewal process. Much change afoot and not a lot of it particularly positive. Tommorow another journey beckons but thankfully the Hastings LSP Cooridinator and her colleague come to the rescue with an offer of a lift. The County wide perspective - difficult though it may be appears to be is becoming increasingly important which accounts for my prescence in all parts of East Sussex this week.

Anyway two positive things happen in what is otherwise frankly a rather piss-poor day. Firstly outside a charity shop in a box for 50p is the Black Grape debut - and only - album proving that there was life after the Happy Mondays for Shaun Ryder and secondly I receive a box of chocolates as a thank you from the ESSP for facilitating a workshop at last weeks assembly.
Anyway thanks to the fans who responded with their own suggestion as to the lyric that best describes the East Sussex Strategic Partnership. I've gone again for Bob Dylan and here he is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-xIulyVsG8

We?...All Links in the Chain

Another fairly hectic day with a team meeting followed by a quick briefing on the Links meeting I am due to attend this afternnoon followed by a management meeting and then hitting (again) the coast train to Lewes for the LInks steering group. This is an initiative to get the public involved with the NHS and is a replacement for the Public Patient Involvement Forums which, in turn were a replacement for the old Community Health Council. Anyway the Government's bright and new public involvement approach is coming - so long as it receives Royal Assent in the next parliamentary session. This is expected but I hear talk of a General Election coming from the Labour Party Conference which would delay any parliamentary programme for a while - and possibly forever if there is a change of government . There is a steering group looking at the structure and process for East Sussex and the best and most transparent way of tendering for this service. Despite the best efforts of all involved it is desperately boring as we discuss the pre tendering qualification process and the contract specification. A redeeming factor is that I discover a really old pressing of a live Eva Cassidy album in a charity shop in Lewes which I listen to as I write this. Anyway our lyric comes from the late Tupac Shakur (2Pac) who was one of the grittiest hip-hop artists, a significant talent cut short by being the victim of a drive by shooting for his pains. His unique take on the urban world is to be found found here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xIMfbjhw6k

Tommorow a meeting of the East Sussex Strategic Partnership beckons so goodness knows what I am going to use as a lyric reference!! Answers on a postcard please.

And I've been working like a dog

By anyone's standards today was a very busy day. You know one of those days when you start running about 10-15 minutes late and never quite catch up with yourself. Anyway much of today exemplifies how difficult it is for a local voluntary organisation to become an employer and have all the things in place to be legal and "good practice". Today I dealt with three employment related issues on behalf of HVA members in quick succession. Although HVA don't really offer an employment law service my previous experience as a legal practitioner in this field (a veteren of over 80 employment tribunal cases) means that this is an area I sometimes get involved with. We began the day with a TUPE (transfer of undertakings protection of emloyment) issue and how the transfer of a contract needs to be accompanied by the transfer of staff from one organisation to another. The next group had a performance management issue and we discuss the most appropriate ways of measuring and evaluating team performance. We then move on to a restructuring issue and what happens in employment law terms when organisations need to fundamentally cut their coat according to their funding cloth. A quick dash back to the office and catching up with the outcome of meetings yesterday and a discussion about the volunteering project (which I am late for). Then a quick discussion about the team away day before I dash off to the University of Brighton. Here we discuss the supervision of disssertations. It is sometimes strange moving from an environment which is exceedingly practical into a more academic arena but I enjoy the challenge and really like supporting community work students at the end of their degree course. I have two students to supervise both of whom I know and thankfully have topics which are interesting. Back home about 7.00pm. Anyway the lyric reference is - as if you hadn't guessed the Fab Four and here they are singing it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Gl3i6qAYo must say I am glad to be back home and writing this with a glass of wine at my side.

May your feet be forever swift may you have a strong foundation

Bob Dylan provides us with our lyric reference and the Foundation in question is the Sussex Community Foundation which I attend this evening. Today was a day of meetings about communications (discussing the latest newsletter with John HVA's Information Worker) and discussing voluntary sector involvement with the new integrated Children Services Framework. Actually, Carlton the newly appointed East Sussex County Council officer in charge of all this is actually the same person I worked with years ago setting up leaving care projects when he was involoved with NCH and I ran a youth homelessness charity - it seems like another age. The Community Foundation by the way is a mechanism by which those who have money (wealthy individuals and companies) give money to community groups throughout Sussex. We have the grant giving board this evening which makes it a long day ('tis in Lewes) but there is always something pleasurable about giving away other people's money. As I leave to rush for my train Florence the Administrator for the Foundation whispers -" really enjoying your blog" so another convert to the revolution. Anyway, here is Bob singing the song from which todays lyric is drawn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il-WqilLCPM

Rock Lobster

The B-52s Classic gives us the perfect combination of fish and music to seamlessly introduce my weekend activity at the Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival where I attend the jazz breakfast to see one of Hastings best musicians Lianne Caroll. All the tickets were sold out but they told us that some tables were available outside where we could hear the music. Actually this proved to be a better deal as it was a lovely ,morning and we rustled up some coffee and toast from the angling club which meant seeing it all for free instead of the £8.50 ticket. Anyway the event itself was terrifically relaxed with a lot of wandering around tasting food and generally meeting the people you run into when there is an event on. It was one of those days where Hastings looks and feels like a really nice place to live. The B-52s perform their classic here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szhJzX0UgDM if you are interested.

WITH EVERY MISTAKE WE MUST BE LEARNING

This morning a mandatory Action Learning Set meeting for those projects - of whch we have one - which are funded through the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative. I say mandatory but attendance is poor with the committed and interested always there but with some notable absentees. We run through 2 case studies and a general catch up of the LEGI process. Would be nice to get more input as those who are engaged are those who already liaise well. But at least I was able to commit some funding to resource some training which another project was finding it difficilt to fund. Back to a pile of paperwork as usual pre weekend. The annual audit is also in full swing so we have to remember not to lock the auditors in when we leave for the night. Unfortunately the work will probably stretch into the weekend as I have a presentation to prepare which is not even conceived let alone prepared. But there you go.

Anyway todays lyric reference is a classic http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=T7qpfGVUd8c&mode=related&search=While%20my%20Guitar%20Gently%20Weeps%20-Eric%20Clapton-%20George%20Harrison

Time to plant seeds of reconstruction

A meeting of the Board of Hastings and Bexhill Rennaisance Limited which is the delivery arm of a body called SEASPACE - the Regeneration Company for Hastings - which is building a range of regeneration projects accross the Town. Ironically, I find myself on the board of the very company which will, in time, be knocking down our premises, which is a little like a turkey signing up for a Christmas Club I guess. Anyway we review the range of activities some of which are clearly on track like the creative media centre which is now fully let. The refurbishment of the Marina Pavilian continues to cause concern and is locked into an unfortunate vortex of delay and dispute. The end is in sight but not before time as SEASPACE are taking a big hit in the press over delays to its completion. To be fair some of the problems were unforeseen at the start of the project but that doesn't affect the public view that they have seen a building site for too long.

At the meetings conclusion I raise the issue of the Construction Charter. This is a Local Enterprise Growth Initiative project run by the Borough Council which, along with all the other LEGI projects we are helping to peer review as part of an Action Learning Set. I had assumed that as the company doing most building work in Hastings and as a major agent for the regeneration process SEASPACE/HBRL would be partners to the Charter - which aims to maximise the training of local people amoungst other laudable things. Unbelievably I was wrong and will be advocating for this to change. It seems unbelievably contradictoryif the very body seeking to regenerate Hastings isn't leading the way on this. I have asked for a detailed explanation and we shall see where it takes us. Surely it is the process of regeneration asd well as the final results that should benefit the local community!

Our lyric today comes from Pearl Jam. Architects - together with Nirvana and Soundgarden - whatever hapened to them - of the 1990's Seattle "grunge" sound. Here they are in full flight http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=t1CgfTOZpzU

I Still Remember

A very pleasant task opened my day to give an introductory talk at the Ore Valley Forum away day. They are planning their future activity and role over the next stage of their development. Unbelievably, the forum is now 14 years old and I was asked to speak as I am the only person still around who was at its inaugeral meeting when I was a young(ish) Labour Councillor. The OVF came out of a period when the Ore Valley had its fair share of issues - indeed a mini riot hit the headlines in the early 1990's which made service providers sit up and try and build a better dialogue with local people. That led to some real Action Planning an Estate Action programme. It was ice to share memories with people who were involved in those early years. Some really interesting work going on and some real grassroots activism which is getting results. It all looks a bit uncertain because of the debate over Neighbourhood Renewal Funding etc. I hope I was able t get the message accross that it is the people and not the programmes which will ensure that a strong community voice that shapes the future of the Ore Valley. As ever I had to leave to make another commitment but hope to join them later in the day.

The lyric today comes from Bloc Party - I bought the album yesterday and here they are but be warned they are LOUD... http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M0wcnKOfsu0

If you build it...they will come

With apologies to Field of Dreams I am amazed at how having a blog brings together people with similar interests. Welcome Laura Whitehead a freelance web designer and fellow CVS Director from Devon who has her own blog - heaps more impressive than mine by the way. Like me Laura has 2 cats and a dog which means that she is kind to both people and animals (a big plus point in my opinion). Today I attended a meeting of the East Sussex Assembly to facilitate two workshops with the East Sussex Strategic Partnership. A full day but met two people who regularly read the blog. For ages you feel that you are prattling away to yourself and then you find that you have an audience!!! A few more like minded people and we will start planning the revolution.

If you didn't get the Field of Dreams reference see the great James Earl Jones give "that speech" by clicking on this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDyM4CfExXU

I briefed the Sherrif (but I did not brief the Deputy)

Today we welcomed the Queens representative in East Sussex in the form of the High Sherrif who had been told about some of the work we have been doing with the asylum seeker/refugee communities and our broader community cohesion actiuvity. A visit and briefing was arranged and HVAs Community Cohesion worker Habibah, myself and Angela who has responsibility within Hastings Borough Council for cohesion work spoke at length about the issues raised. There are some pretty big questions here. What is the best way of making new communities feel welcomed? How should public services respond to specific needs which do not attract additional funding? and how can this all work in a context of high deprivation. An interesting discussion and I found the high sherrif to be well informed and had prepared extensively for the visit. Tomorrow looks like a day from hell as I found that I have four commitments all in different parts of East Sussex some of which will have to go by the wayside. A problem of high demand combined with limited capacity but we shall see.

And in case you need reminding just how good our lyric reference was just watch this...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WO2T42clWs

let's get together and feel all right

Well that was the NACVA conference then. An interesting couple of days catching up with the more national picture. Interesting contribution from Iain Duncan Smith - former Tory leader - who has been spending his time looking at issues of social exclusion and ways of tackling it. Having spent most of his political career either creating or supporting the conditions that made for so much social exclusion and community alienation it is, at least pleasing to see that he has a commitment to clearing up some of the mess he had such a hand in creating during the 1980's/1990's. Anyway the "quiet man" seems to have had a bit of a road to Damascus revelation and feels that small community groups, civic activism and reaching out the excluded is now the way ahead. IDS put his case well but missed a huge point which I raised at the end of the session. The whole existence of an underclass won't be sorted out by a little more reaching out and much of the writing in the US has examined the way in which the inner city underclass have effectively abandoned the idea of being embraced by the mainstream - given that it shafted them in the first place. There was no mention of the informal economy or the way in which many communities in poverty are topping up their income and finding their own way of surviving. It was also really nice to see people at the conference who - wait for it - had actually read this blog. Paul from the ICT Hub was met face to face which was good and others were very encouraging.

Anyway here is the thrust of what IDS is saying http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmp5VN9kulg