Invitation to express interest in the provision of a Community Engagement Project – The Real Benchill

Benchill is a distinct neighbourhood within East Wythenshawe, Manchester which approximately includes 1,400 individual homes. The area presents some challenges:

• Benchill is in the Top 1% most deprived in Manchester and UK (Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2015)
• Deprivation scores particularly high on health and income (ranks better for Housing and the Living Environment)
• 60% of households income of less than £20k, 35% earn below £15k
• In comparison to Manchester disproportionately high number in the following categories:
- Worklessness (ESA)
- Repeat Domestic Violence
- Referrals to Children's Services

However underneath these headline figures is a thriving and growing neighbourhood (ONS records 5,500 people living in Benchill, which represents a 26% increase from 2001 ONS) with an abundance of excellent facilities on offer; a well-run and utilised Benchill Community Centre including outdoor facilities, a very engaged and involved local primary school, an Enterprise Centre that provides facilities, support and advice for budding business entrepreneurs and start-up businesses – the ONS records show there are 3,550 people of working age in Benchill . There are many other well used and well established local facilities such as a boxing gym, dance troops and green space.

Over the last 10 years, following some particular negative national and unfair headline press about the area, a range of partners such as the local housing provider, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group, the City Council and Local Stakeholder services set up a ‘Real Lives’ Programme. This coordinated approach was put in place to ensure that the ‘real’ stories of Wythenshawe were told and that a coordinated approach to creating brighter futures by improving lives, neighbourhoods and prospects was put in place.

As Stage 1 of the Real Benchill Project nears completion, it’s time for the next stage, which has been developed into two distinct areas:

• Consider the development of a Collocated multi-disciplinary team to focus on improved service delivery to achieve a one front door approach - this will be led by the Real Benchill Project Team.

• Consider putting in place, initially for one year, a Community Builder role to work in the Benchill neighbourhood, building and developing community capacity along with sustainable solutions and strong effective partnerships with the overall aim of moving from dependency into independence – expressions of interest are being invited for this role.

If you wish to have an informal chat prior to submission, email Sarah Klueter, at: [email protected], or Vicky Clarke at: [email protected] so that a mutually agreeable telephone conversation can be arranged, mark your email Real Benchill Community Builder Submission.

Deadline: Monday 6 March 2017, 16:00