Agenda item

The Area Council Manager provided members with an overview of performance of all contracted services and made members aware that they were between quarters and expecting the Quarter 1 update in September.

Highlights were provided of each contract, with the mention that Twiggs continued to try and work with groups that had not yet been active following the pandemic, and that work was being undertaken to encourage new groups and volunteers following a fall in numbers.  A number of initiatives had been undertaken with businesses and work was ongoing with various Parishes.  The jubilee celebrations were supported with clean ups beforehand and afterwards.

Age UK were completing their last contract this quarter and reported to be back to face to face appointments following the pandemic, and a volunteer recruitment event was planned for September as part of the new contract in the hope to recruit people to be community car drivers for the car share scheme and also befrienders.  The Barnsley Older People’s Physical Activity initiative (BOPPA) was having a positive effect on both physical and mental health of the older people that participate.  Penistone Men in Sheds remained popular with an increase from 13 to 21 members and continued to take part in community projects including aiding Penistone Theatre Group with props and a new project was due to commence in collaboration with Twiggs on the Penistone Youth Club Garden.

The Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) had commenced its contract in April 22 for a 12 month period.  The target of 25 enquiries had been largely exceeded with the service receiving a total of 58 so far this quarter.  The service would be monitoring the impacts of the cost of living crisis and report back as necessary once further information was available.

DIAL appointments remained online and over the phone but health and safety assessments had taken place to commence face to face appointments in Penistone Town Hall on a Tuesday morning on an appointment basis. 

The Supporting Young People Grant Fund had funded a number of successful projects including Adastra, Post 16 Mental Health Support in Penistone Grammar School, Girlguiding Barnsley West and Angel Voices.  It was reported that the Penistone Leisure Centre had been unable to provide its full planned programme of activities due to a number of staffing difficulties but that the delivery of the Teen Box and Glow activities had taken place and were well attended.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.