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Action Groups

SIPSE worked to its Business Plan through its Main Group and time limited action groups. Between 2003 and 2008 SIPSE carried out work through the following time limited action groups:

• Exclusion through Disability - a focus on children and young people
• Older People
• Financial Inclusion (FIAG)
• Community Development
• Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities and Asylum Seekers
• Child Poverty

Exclusion through Disability - a focus on children and young people

This action group produced a resource pack called 'Don't Leave Me Out' which was published in 2004. It looks at the everyday life of disabled children and the barriers and issues faced by them and their families. The pack contains a report, case studies and useful tools. It also includes a CD-rom with video clips from interviews with disabled children their parents drawing on their experiences of exclusion. For more information click here .

Older People

This action group produced the report Ageing Assets. The report highlights that it is wrong to see older people only as dependent or frail. Older people are employees, carers, they run businesses and are essential volunteers. However, many older people are excluded from employment opportunities purely because of their age. The report goes on to say that if the regional economy is to retain the experience and skills which it so badly needs, the barriers which prevent older people from participating more fully must be removed.

The report aims to inform regional and local planning by setting out key information and projections relating to the older population of the region over the coming years. For more information and a copy of the report click here .

Financial Inclusion

The Financial Inclusion Action Group helped the region to secure around 1.4million investment into face to face debt advice from the Financial Inclusion Fund. The Financial Inclusion Action Group completed its final report identifying that despite its great wealth the South East of England is facing significant problems of financial exclusion and making a recommendation for a Financial Inclusion Strategy for the region. This recommendation is currently being taken forward by SEEDA. To download a copy of the report click here .

Community Development

This action group was set up to explore issues of social inclusion and its effects at community level. It was felt that one of the ways of doing this was to bring together some of those who have influence on communities and stimulate discussion which perhaps would not normally take place. Policy makers, frontline workers and local residents do not normally have time or opportunity to come together for this sort of dialogue.

The action group has held events in Ashford and Milton Keynes and produced reports from these events. The reports can be downloaded below:

• Ashford - 5th December 2006
• Ashford - 30th April 2007
• Milton Keynes - 21st June & 16th July 2007

Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities and Asylum Seekers

This action group initially commenced its work in 2004. It was set up 'to enhance/maximise the life chances of socially excluded people from BME communities by promoting equitable access'. The action group has:

• Produced 'The South East Commitment: Advancing Race Equality in the South East', which has been endorsed by SIPSE members and was launched in September 2005. To download a copy click here
• Held two 'Tackling the Barriers to Success and Achievement' events, which identified changes necessary in organisations if barriers to success and achievement faced by BME staff are to be removed
• The action group also developed an Equality Impact Assessment Framework (EQIA). We hope that the framework can be used by regional organisations to help identify when EIA's should be carried out and what the key stages are. To download a copy of the EQIA Framework click here

The Role of the Action Groups

The groups will have a fixed term, probably a year, to implement specific actions agreed by the Main Group. The fixed term will be extended by agreement with the Main Group in exceptional circumstances only. Appropriate actions properly implemented should be 'doable' in the agreed timeframe. Prolonging the life of one action group would deny life to a new one.

Composition of the Action Groups

Each group would comprise not more than 12 people. A majority might, & the Chair and Vice Chair should, comprise individuals sitting around the SIPSE table. 'Additional' members should be suggested & approved by SIPSE's Main Group and might comprise:

• Individuals who did not sit around the SIPSE table but worked for organisations
• Individuals representing organisations wanting to be represented at the SIPSE table (who could be 'vetted' during the life of the action group)
• Individuals/organisations with particular expertise in the action group's subject matter & invited by the group.

Resources

Each action group would be officered and resourced via the Main Group. In its monitoring and evaluating roles, the Main Group would ensure core SIPSE resources were properly and fairly used across the action groups. Action groups are encouraged to identify and secure their own additional funding or officer resources where it responds to the aims and needs of the group.

Accountability

The action groups' sole accountability would be to the Main Group. Each action group would report to the Main Group at each of the Main Group's meetings.