Aim: To develop and support empowered and inclusive communities so as to provide access for all to economic, social, democratic and educational activities.

Actions to tackle social exclusion are extremely difficult. There are many barriers to overcome - lack of understanding, disillusionment, fear or selfishness are just a few. Too often problems are 'hidden' and people 'suffer in silence' so that the agencies and organisations that could help remain oblivious to their problems. In fact, people who are socially excluded often view those agencies as 'the enemy'.

Of course social inclusion applies to every section of this strategy. In particular, please read this in conjunction with Vibrant Communities. Many of the measures that will make our communities more vibrant will also make them more inclusive.

Important Issues to address

• Community fragmentation.
• Understanding the real needs of communities.
• Provision of appropriate information.
• Community involvement in decision-making processes.
• Under-representation of some groups in the voice of communities.
• Racism and discrimination against and lack of support for those that are 'different' in some way.
• Access to services, facilities and resources of all types.
• Affordable housing.

Key Objectives

• To encourage people to get together to discuss and exchange ideas and to encourage groups with common aims to work together.
• To identify community leaders to act as representatives and catalysts for increased interaction between agencies and their communities and encourage community self-help.
• To ensure that information is relevant, accurate, up-to-date and accessible (both in terms of being able to get it and also to understand it).
• To develop innovative ways of engaging local communities in decision-making.
• To identify those groups which are under-represented and develop innovative ways to engage them.
• To reduce discrimination and tackle 'isms' whether on the grounds of race, culture, background, age, sex or disability.
• To improve support for those with disabilities or other special needs.
• To gather the views of as wide a range of individuals, groups and organisations as is possible; listen to those views and value everyone's contribution.
• To open effective channels of communication between service providers and those that they serve via a variety of media.
• To ensure that elected representatives are connected with their community in the truest sense.
• To maximise the use of information and communications technology (ICT) to engage with people.
• To improve access to services, facilities and resources of all types.
• To encourage and support local initiatives for the improvement and development of cultural and leisure activities.
• To support the development of a credit union.
• To meet the need for high quality, affordable housing across all tenures e.g. social housing, owner-occupied housing etc.
• To provide supported housing to meet the specific needs of vulnerable groups e.g. teenage mothers, those fleeing domestic violence, those with disabilities etc.

Actions

• Fund and support voluntary and community groups in such a way that they and their activities are well known and sustainable through the Community Initiatives Fund which will make available £5 million over 5 years (until 2007).
• Extend community information points outside of the town centre by 2005.
• Identify groups which are currently under-represented on decision making bodies and develop ways of addressing under representation.
• Use and support existing channels to access hard to reach groups.
• Fund and support cultural and other non-traditional approaches to engage hard to reach groups.
• Support the development of a Foyer housing scheme in Shrewsbury by April 2003.
• Ensure the delivery of 500 units of social housing in locations throughout the Borough by the end of 2006.
• Provide safe houses for women and children fleeing domestic violence by April 2005.

Future Community Involvement

Although we have tried to involve as many people as possible in putting this strategy together, it is unlikely that we have managed to reach everybody. Over the coming year we will involve the community in further development of the strategy 

Monitoring

To include:

Links to other strands of the strategy

• Community safety.
• Health.
• Vibrant communities.
• The environment.
• Transport.
• Learning and skills.

Partners in Delivery

• Arts Forum
• Benefits Agency
• Community Council of Shropshire
• Community Development Organisations
• Community Groups and Organisations
• Community Health Council
• Connexions Youth Support Service
• Creative Arts Team Shropshire
• Employment Service
• Flex Benefits User Group
• Gateway Arts and Education Centre
• Music Hall
• Parish Councils
• Residents Groups and Associations
• Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council
• Shrewsbury Community Transport
• Shrewsbury Countryside Unit
• Shrewsbury Museums Service
• Shropshire County Council
• Shropshire County Library Service
• Shropshire Credit Union Board
• Shropshire Disability Consortium
• Shropshire Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership
• Shropshire Race Equality Council
• Shropshire Social Services
• Shropshire Wildlife Trust
• Shropshire Youth Service
• Sports Advisory Council
• Through the Doorway Healthy Living Partnership
• Voluntary Action Shrewsbury
• Voluntary Groups and Organisations
• Youth Groups and Associations