News Release : 27 June 2005

ASSEMBLY SUPPORTS SOCIAL INCLUSION GROUP

The South East England Regional Assembly is helping to progress work on inclusive communities by giving £25,000 to the Social Inclusion Partnership South East (SIPSE).

This contribution will help SIPSE to champion awareness of social inclusion amongst policy-makers across the region. SIPSE’s three priority areas for 2005-06 are:

• Tackling financial exclusion as this links closely to the problems of social exclusion
• Exploring why, how and to what degree community development takes place
• Maximising opportunities for people from black and minority ethnic communities to access jobs and services.

SIPSE’s work to date has included many successful projects, including:

• A resource pack called ‘Don’t leave me out’, developed with young people explaining how to meet the needs of children and young people with a disability
• A high profile regional conference and publication called ‘Ageing assets’ ensuring older people are recognised as and remain active contributors in the community
• Events exploring leadership and barriers people from black and minority ethnic communities are facing, particularly through a ‘Statement of commitment’ endorsed by regional voluntary and statutory organisations.

SIPSE was created in 2000 as a result of the Assembly’s select committee on social inclusion. It has also been actively involved in implementing the region’s Social Inclusion Statement, and development of the South East Plan, Integrated Regional Framework and the Regional Housing Strategy.

Robert Jones, Chair of the Social Inclusion Partnership South East commented: “On behalf of SIPSE, we are very pleased with the Assembly’s contribution. Together with the funding from the Regional Development Agency and the Government Office, and with the work of many organisations in SIPSE’s work programme, we will be in a much stronger position to push the social inclusion agenda among policy makers.

“ We have an exciting year ahead of us and want to drive the actions that better recognise and improve social inclusion, ensuring we continue to build more inclusive communities as part of sustainable development in the South East.”

Cllr Nick Skellett, Chair of the South East England Regional Assembly said: “The Assembly believes in promoting social inclusion and is delighted to support SIPSE’s work for the next year.”

The Government Office for the South East and the South East England Development Agency have also contributed financially to SIPSE. With the Assembly’s grant, SIPSE now has a budget of £85,920.

Contact

Lesley van Dijk, PR Executive - 01483 555223

Heather Bolton, Head of Communications - 01483 555220

Notes to editors:

1. The South East Social Inclusion Partnership (SIPSE) includes the Assembly, Government Office for the South East, RAISE, SEEDA, Housing Corporation, Commission for Social Care Inspection, Local Skills Councils, Public Health Group, Culture South East, Legal Services Commission and the Big Lottery Fund. SIPSE is currently chaired by Robert Jones, who is also an Assembly member, one of several representing the voluntary and community sector. For more information see www.raise-networks.org.uk/sipse. The resource pack ‘Don’t leave me out’ is a report and PowerPoint presentation with video interviews of young people and their families. It includes personal portraits by pupils of Hazel Court Secondary School working with Artworks. It is downloadable from the SIPSE website or printed versions available by contacting SIPSE. The report ‘Aging assets’ and the ‘Statement of commitment’ are also available on the website.
2. The Integrated Regional Framework aims to encourage economic development that meets social needs while placing increased emphasis on protecting and improving our environment.
   
3. The Regional Assembly is the "voluntary regional chamber" for the South East. It was established in January 1999 to give a representative voice to the South East region which covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East and West Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Oxfordshire, and Surrey.
4. The Assembly is made up of 112 members including elected councillors nominated by the region's local authorities and 37 representatives from other sectors of the community (including business, trades unions, education, housing, health, sports, culture, tourism, faith groups, environmental, community and voluntary organisations).
5. The Assembly has three areas of core business:
1. It is the representative voice of the South East, engaging and representing its member organisations and, through them, the wider public.
2. The Assembly has a specific role under the Regional Development Agencies' Act 1998 to ensure the accountability of the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) to the region.
3. The Assembly has been the Regional Planning Body for the South East since April 2001. It has responsibility for proposing strategic planning and transport policies to Government.

Last updated: 21 August 2007

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