North East Community Solutions CIC

1. North East Community Solutions CIC 2012

2. About us • North East Community Solutions CIC (NECS CIC) is a social enterprise, which came to being in April 2011. Company registered in England and Wales, registration number: 7601003 • We work to improve the wellbeing of people in the North East of England • We do it through a range of targeted approaches • We deliver services, implement projects and organise events • Our approach is to work with the local community to utilise its assets and address the needs ad its causes.

3. Background • The directors had been running the International Community Organisation of Sunderland (a community group, which became a registered charity in 2011) since 2009 and have vast experience of delivering Information, advice and guidance, organising cultural projects, information and consultation meetings and events • NECS CIC is well embedded in the local community, in particular, we have experience of working with BME communities in Sunderland and other areas within the North East • We enjoy a particularly strong relationship with the Polish community

4. Background (2) • Partnership work – we are always keen to cooperate with other organisations, so far we have worked with organisations including: • LINk Sunderland • Stroke Association • Gentoo • SOTW PCT • SIDE CIC • Sunderland City Council • International Community Organisation of Sunderland

5. Projects and events • In August 2011, we organised a family health information event in Sunderland`s Valley Road School, during which more than 200 Polish and British People had a chance to access free health checks and wellbeing information from a range of organisations (e.g. Stroke Association) – this was also a chance for both communities to overcome barriers and an opportunity for a great family day out, with activities for children such as face painting available.

6. Projects and events • In partnership with SIDE CIC, we engaged 15 minority ethnic people through the Memories Cafe project – the project helped them to improve their wellbeing through learning new skills, overcoming cultural barriers, improving confidence and developing an interest in art (e.g. creative writing and collage). • Our involvement included advertising, engagement and translations/interpreting

7. Projects and events(2) • In October 2011, together with LINk Sunderland we organised consultations with Polish families, in order to capture participants’ views and experiences of the local health and wellbeing services, in which more than 40 people altogether took part. As a result, LINk has now send a list of recommendations to the local PCT (South Tyne and Wear), which in turn caused the PCT to commission a research into minority ethnic people’s access to health services in the area

8. Projects and events (3) • In April 2012, together with Gentoo (the main housing groups in Sunderland), we organised an engagement event with the Polish community living in Sunderland. It explained the eligibility criteria for council housing and what new and existing tenants could expect from Gentoo – there was also an opportunity for feedback

9. Projects and events (4) • In June and July 2012, we organised a series of sports activities to commemorate the London 2012 Olympics – these served the purpose of engaging minority and ethnic people in sport activities and through this – improving their wellbeing. Taster sessions included Archery, Climbing, Golf and Tennis and were very well attended – more than 30 participants, with each event attended by an average 20. 5 volunteers also gained extra skills while working on the project. This project was supported by Sunderland City Council through its Sunderland in 2012 grant scheme

10. Projects and events (5)

11. Projects and events (6) • At NECS CIC, we provide a free smoking cessation drop - in and we are able to provide smoking cessation advice in English, Polish and Slovak. Since the start of our smoking cessation service we have advised more than 55 people through our smoking cessation service, we have been successful at working with harder to reach individuals. We currently have 3 Level 2 accredited Smoking Cessation Advisors and 2 Health Champions within the organisation. The smoking cessation service is a service level agreement with South Tyne and Wear PCT and we work with clients from Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside

12. Projects and events (7) • We are currently providing a free translations service for minority ethnic people, who have problems understanding and responding to official correspondence or filing in forms and documents. Since our Community Translations project has started in September 2011, we have helped 57 individuals to write or respond to individual correspondence and dealt with 175 cases altogether. We have enabled 7 volunteers to learn new skills, gain experience and contribute to their local community. The project is funded by Big Lottery Fund • This is a multilingual project…

13. Projects and events (8)

14. Services we offer We currently offer: • Translations and interpreting We can: • Translate your information to Polish Act as interpreters to help you communicate with your Polish speaking clients • ... For competitive prices: • Written materials - translations - £25 for the first 200 words, £20 for every 200 words thereafter • Interpreting - £25 per hour per interpreter, £20 for each our thereafter • Specialist documents, such as legal or medical: Please ask us for a quote • WE ARE FLEXIBLE

15. Services we offer (2) We currently offer: • Bid writing (our experience include Sunderland’s Communities Living Sustainably Big Lottery Bid) • Project management • Advertising • Event organising • Representing your organisation in Poland • Managing your communication/social networking in Polish • Also: meeting room hire: £15/h or £40 for 8 hours Please ask us for a quote

16. Achievements Case study: Maria Maria came to NECS CIC in July 2011. She did not have a job as, as the job market in Sunderland was very difficult and she did not have recognised qualifications. NECS helped her to improve her employment prospects – she received help in creating a CV in English, as well as help with correspondence from various agencies. After a couple of months of receiving help from NECS CIC through the Fear the Postman No More project, Maria started helping other with their forms and correspondence, which immensely increased her confidence. In February 2012, after half a year of engagement with NECS CIC, Maria found a permanent job in a local restaurant, a job she says she is proud to have and she enjoys doing. Maria now plans to progress to become a translator and is currently learning to other languages, apart from improving her English language skills. In the meantime, she has completed a Level 2 Hygiene Certificate course at her new workplace.

17. Achievements (2) In her own words: “My involvement with North East Community Solutions CIC has helped me to increase my self confidence. Thanks to this voluntary organisation I have discovered routes which have improved my job prospects. Thanks to the commitment of the wonderful people who work at NECS CIC– Daniel and Michal, I have started to volunteer myself. Since joining NECS CIC as a volunteer I have made new friends and taking part in the project improved my English language skills – I now know many English expressions I did not know before. I can now do many things on my own. I feel much more confident using English. “

18. Achievements (3) The total number of our direct beneficiaries is 400 and we estimate that the number of indirect beneficiaries to be about another 300 people (e.g. family members of people who have stopped smoking). As outlined above, we have extensive experience of successful community engagement

19. Achievements (4) References: Jeanette Harold, Continuum CIC Michael Lowthian, Sunderland LINk Gillian Laverick, SIDE CIC

20. Contact Details Arrow Business Centre 14 Foyle Street Sunderland Tyne and Wear United Kingdom SR1 1LE www.necs.org.uk michal@necs.org.uk 07596538482

21. THANK YOU NECS CIC