City renewal funds open to Norwich churches
 A new £4million package of government funding for neighbourhood renewal is being made available to areas of Norwich and churches are invited to join in the community programme. Rev Nicholas Vesey reports.
Norwich churches are being invited to become involved in new community programmes in the city using a new package of funding called the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.
Where people live can have a fundamental influence on their opportunities for life and ability to fulfil their potential.
People living in the most deprived neighbourhoods may face a range of issues including low achieving schools, high crime, anti-social behaviour, low skills and employment, flytipping and litter. This funding is aimed at them.
Neighbourhood renewal is about reversing this decline by working at grassroots level with communities to provide safer communities, a cleaner, greener environment, access to learning and improved health.
Norwich is a tale of two cities. While outwardly it is shining example of an economically growing city with a dynamic, vibrant city centre, it also hides high levels of deprivation, with many communities not able to enjoy and benefit from the cities many advantages.
Norwich is the most deprived local authority area in the Eastern Region based on national Government data. 43,500 people in Norwich, live in the 20% most deprived areas of the country and these statistics show that Norwich ranks 61st of 354 areas. Eight of the 13 wards in the City are in the 20% most deprived nationally. However, for education, skills and training the Mile Cross ward is in the most deprived 2% of wards in the country, and Crome, Wensum, Lakenham and Bowthorpe all rank in the most deprived 5%.
This deprivation is the result of the combined impact of a variety of factors and the mix and impact is different in each of the wards of the City
To reduce this impact nationally, the Government has designated 91 areas in the country to invest targeted resources to improve the quality of life for people living in these most disadvantaged areas. Norwich will receive this resource in 2006/7 and 2007/8.
The City of Norwich Partnership (CoNP) is responsible for overseeing this work and over the past months it has been identifying the issues in the deprived neighbourhoods as well as looking at best practice across the City and beyond which could be focussed in these areas to bring about positive change.
The neighbourhood renewal work will focus on six themes, these being:
Reduce worklessness
Raise standards in education
Reduce inequalities in health
Reduced crime
Better housing
Improved quality of the local environment
A key part of the programme will be the involvement of communities to ensure that the activities meet local need.
There will be opportunities for community groups who work locally in these areas to come together to play an active part in the programme through the development of local networks.
Churches can play a part and are invited to contact the City Council if they feel they have something to contribute to the programme.
The neighbourhood renewal activity will start to be rolled out in September and details will be provided about local activity at this time.
If you are interested in participating contact Bob Cronk at Norwich City Council – bobcronk@norwich.gov.uk or 01603 212373. or 01603 212373.
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