Devon County Council

devon.gov.uk

From Mike Bomford, Exeter 382173, November 20, 2008

A Devon project that tackles exclusion and isolation of older people has won a national photograph competition, to show how social enterprise is transforming real lives.

The Upstream project in Mid Devon, which receives funding from Devon County Council, works with communities and health professionals to identify people who have become isolated or are at risk of isolation for all sorts of reasons, including where they live, family and personal reasons, ill-health, disability, community fragmentation, and much more.

Their photograph, 'Devon Drummers', shows three older women participating in an African drumming class at Upstream and is a great example of how the project is making a remarkable difference to people's quality of life.

The picture, taken by staff mentor Laura Conyngham, includes a former local teacher, a former pub landlady and a lifelong farmer enjoying each other's company while trying out African drums for the first time.

The photograph was entered into the competition to mark Social Enterprise Day on Thursday 20 November; a national day to celebrate and promote social enterprises - businesses set up to tackle a social or environmental need.

The results of the photo competition run by the Social Enterprise Coalition were announced today (Thursday 20 November) by Kevin Brennan, the Minister of the Third Sector, at an event in London celebrating Social Enterprise Day.

Devon Drummers was chosen by England's Social Enterprise Ambassadors after first winning the south west regional heat, judged by RISE - the south west Regional Infrastructure for Social Enterprise.

Lucy Findlay, Chief Executive of RISE, said:

"We chose Devon Drummers because we thought the photograph really exemplified the best of social enterprise. Three women who were originally excluded from social gatherings and creative stimulation, clearly having a great time trying out a new activitiy. We are thrilled they are now the national winners as well."

Jonathan Bland, Chief Executive of the Social Enterprise Coalition said:

"The photograph competition was conceived as a way to celebrate social enterprise in action, changing lives and communities. Upstream is an incredible example of a social enterprise that is innovative, entrepreneurial and truly changes lives. We congratulate them on their success in the competition."

Upstream encourages people to get involved in stimulating creative, learning and social activities that build self-confidence and self-esteem, prolong their active life, and help them to remain independent for longer.

People can make new friends, share new skills and experiences, find life more interesting, and talk about everyday ways to take better care of their own mental, physical and social health.

Upstream also include some intergenerational activities to bring older and younger people together.

Simon Goodenough, Director of Upstream, says:

"All our participants and our professional colleagues will be thrilled and amazed to receive this national award. They definitely share this success. This highlights the huge value of a stimulating and creative approach to genuine social enterprise, in which local solutions determined by local people doing things they enjoy and understand are seen to be the answer in tackling much wider issues.

"Upstream sees people daily make huge leaps of faith in themselves and each other, renewing hope and self-confidence, regaining control of their own health and quality of life. I am astonished at the courage and resilience of our participants, so many of whom have led difficult lives.

"We are also delighted and fortunate to be working with professional and community colleagues who appreciate the proven benefits of our creative approach to life, which also reduces costs to the NHS."

Upstream is a partner in a consortium commissioned by Devon County Council and Devon Primary Care Trust, and funded by the Department of Health to spread the benefits of community mentoring services like Upstream, countywide.

Now, thousands of people have been helped by local mentoring programmes; some benefiting from one-to-one help while others have been introduced to, and are enjoying, existing local community groups.

Devon County Council's Executive Member for Adult and Community Services, Cllr Hugo Barton, said:

"A wonderful achievement and many congratulations to Upstream for winning the Social Enterprise Day photo competition. It is very well deserved.

"Mentoring schemes are helping to build people's confidence and self esteem, and therefore helping people to remain active and independent.

"Their success, across the county, is evident not just from improvements in people's independence and quality of life, but also from their increased health and reduction in reliance on health services."

The winning Devon Drummers photograph will be published in The Big Issue magazine, and will be exhibited alongside other regional winners at the Contemporary Urban Centre Gallery in London.

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS

Notes on Upstream:

Upstream was started by local GPs and colleagues in the community who recognised the need to explore an additional service. Upstream has been rigorously evaluated by the Peninsula Medical School, which in its Report found clinically significant improvements in mental health and dramatic changes in health behaviour. The Peninsula Medical School continues to evaluate Upstream's work alongside its consortium partners to explore the cost effectiveness of the approach.

Upstream is a founding member of the Healthy Living Alliance, a national forum for community healthy living centres aimed at highlighting to government the value and success of community solutions to a wide range of health issues.

Upstream has been recognised by the Department of Health as a Social Enterprise 'Pathfinder' to explore better ways of using social enterprise to deliver the very best health services in the community.

Upstream has also been recognised as an NHS Live 'Leader' Project by the NHS Institute for Improvement and Innovation. The project celebrates imaginative and successful improvements to people's health and well-being.

Note on Social Enterprise:

Social enterprises are businesses set up to tackle a social or environmental need. They are different from normal commercial businesses because their social or environmental purpose is central to what they do, rather than paying out profits to shareholders. The social enterprise movement is extremely broad, including organisations such as co-operatives, community enterprises, housing associations, leisure trusts and much more. These businesses operate across a wide range of interests, from health and social care, to renewable energy, recycling and fair trade, just to name a few. Social enterprises such as Upstream can make a significant contribution to public service delivery by harnessing the energy of local communities to improve conditions for themselves. Upstream remains sustainable and independent by combining a public service ethos with a focus on efficient service delivery, innovation and good business practice.

• Leader of the Council - Cllr Brian Greenslade
• Chief Executive -- Phil Norrey

• Budget £800 million
• Key investments include:
• Schools £349 million
• Adult and Community Services £164 million
• Environment, Economy and Culture £106 million
• Children and Young People £101 million

• Other important County Council support includes:
• Building programme: £185 million for new schools, roads, care services, libraries and recycling centres

• Political make-up:
• County Council seats: 62
• 33 Liberal Democrat
• 23 Conservative
• 4 Labour
• 2 Independent
• Next County Council elections: May 7, 2009

• Key stats:
• Population: 741,000
• Schools: 365
• Pupils: 96,200
• Children looked after: 584
• Adults helped to live at home: 17,622
• Residential and nursing care: 4,212 adults
• Libraries and Mobile Libraries: 61
• Roads: 12,831 kms (7,973 miles)
• Bridges: 3,500
• Public Rights of Way: 4,960 kms (3,200 miles)
• Streetlights: 71,000
• Illuminated road signs: 10,917
• Recycling Centres: 20
• Recycling rate: 49.21%

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