WHAT NEXT?

Members will be aware that June 2006 sees the end of the initial phase of Integration Lincolnshire as a project. However, we have secured the short term services of a Bid Writer, Pat Barker, who is currently researching funding possibilities to enable Integration Lincolnshire to continue functioning with a Development Co-ordinator and the part-time services of a Company Secretary cum Administrator.

Pat will also be looking to secure funding independently for
(a) the initial set up of a Lincolnshire interpreting and translation service as a social enterprise which will eventually be self sustaining; and
(b) advocacy work over a three year period to be delivered by a core group of IL member organisations.

IL PROFILE:

Through Integration Lincolnshire a number of things have happened that had not happened before in Lincolnshire. We now have the basis for co-operation between a significant range and spectrum of organisations providing services, or, who otherwise have duties and obligations, to migrant workers and new arrival communities.

This in itself makes IL well placed to undertake and coordinate the development of infrastructure to support existing and new services for such communities.

By natural extension community cohesion as the ultimate goal becomes much clearer. Infrastructure, services, information and accessibility all make this goal achievable.

Consequently, as a parallel development, IL now forms part of a working group with the Lincolnshire Racial Equality Council and the County Community Cohesion Officer to deliver on the community cohesion agenda for Lincolnshire.

These developments immediately bring into focus IL's geographical reach. So far the focus has properly been on Boston and the South Holland Area but increasingly, we have been attracting to our membership more organisations with a broad-based countywide remit. We need to capitalise on this to develop an awareness about what's happening in the rest of the county.

GOOD PRACTICE:

From the very outset, IL has been keen to promote the projects it has supported as models of good practice.

The following criteria operate as "good practice" indicators for IL supported projects. These are the criteria funders find attractive:

• Willingness to collaborate on process
• Willingness to collaborate on service delivery, triage and referrals
• Empowerment of individuals from the community to benefit through training, employment and other means
• Enabler and benefit to the community of interest by facilitating communication, access to information, services and basic amenities, and participation at local level.

PROJECTS:

INTERPRETING & TRANSLATION:

The feasibility study of interpreting and translation need in south Lincolnshire has been completed by the Boston CVS. As part of this study a consultant from Lincolnshire Cooperative Development Agency was engaged to draft a social enterprise model for this service in Lincolnshire.

Additionally, IL was engaged to conduct a study into interpreting and translation use in the following Lincolnshire Criminal Justice Board agencies: Courts, Crown Prosecution Service, Police, Prisons, Probation Service and Youth Offending Service.

The parameters of this research were:

• To summarise the current levels and types of use of interpreters and translators in each of the six statutory members of the LCJB, the commissioning/contractual arrangements in place and their cost.
• By analysing data for 2003-4, 2004-5 and current year (where available) to project a best estimate of costs for 2006-7.
• To map geographically the use of interpreters and translators by frequency and language.
• To provide a risk analysis based on the findings and proposals in the form of a costed action plan as to how LCJB members might reduce the risks outlined above and any other risks emerging from the analysis undertaken.
• To provide examples of best practice and report examples of poor practice
  to the relevant agency.

It is anticipated that the reports from both studies will be presented to the I&T subgroup in June, after which recommendations will be made to the IL Board.

District Councils - Involving potential purchasers of the I&T project at this stage is crucial to maximising its potential and success as a Lincolnshire social enterprise. Accordingly, the Development Co-ordinator has begun a series of meetings with appropriate officers in the District Councils to promote the service and discuss possibilities for further engagement.

CHILDREN SERVICES:

The Development Co-ordinator has prepared a report on Children Services based largely on discussions with those involved in this area of work.
The intention behind the report is to generate debate about the issues presented. It recommends that IL support the Ethnic Minority Achievement Support Service (EMAS) in developing its excellent and on-going programme of bi/multilingual Community Support Workers.
Currently the report has been sent to a small group of people whose work it seeks to comment on, for amendments and comments before wider circulation.

PUBLISHED INFORMATION:

Leaflets, Booklets and Other Published Information.

Please contact publishers for information on availability of these publications The Welcome to Lincolnshire Handbook is (quoting its website) "available to buy with the option to bespoke specific information to match your exact needs. For more information about the Migrant Workers Handbook or to place an order call 0845 331 3123 ... or visit www.migrantworkershandbook.com".

• A Practical Guide to the Law for your Safety and Information. Published by the Police, Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership, and the Lincolnshire Criminal Justice Board. In English, Kurdish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese and Russian.
• Migrant Workers: Truth or Myth? Developed under the auspices of South Holland District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Police (Immigration), and Jobcentre Plus by South Holland Citizens Advice Bureau. In English.
• Welcome to Lincolnshire & Rutland: Handbook for Migrant Workers. Produced by Prospects Services Ltd. - managing agents for the Nextstep contract in Lincolnshire and Rutland in association with the Trades Union Congress, the GMB Union and the Learning & Skills Council. Researched and written by GMB Reaching out to New Communities Project workers. In English and Polish.
• The Early Years: A Guide for Parents with Children 0-4 Years. Published by Lincolnshire Chinese Community Supporters. In English and Chinese.

Paula Noble
Development Co-ordinator