Sustainable Community Services deliver a range of key Council services for residents and businesses of Basildon District. These include:
- Careline:
Offering more than 1,500 local residents access to help at the touch of a button, 24 hours a day. Careline is an easy-to-install system that works to help residents maintain an independent lifestyle in their own home.
- Community Transport:
Administering a number of services aimed at promoting independence and inclusion for individuals and groups who may be vulnerable or at risk of being marginalised.
Services include Concessionary Fares (a free pass facility to more than 15,000 men and women aged 60 and over who are permanent residents of Basildon District.
The facility is also open to people with disabilities aged 16-59 who meet certain criteria.), the Subsidised Taxi Scheme, the Quality Taxi Partnership and funding for community transport provision, provided by our partners at Basildon District Voluntary Carers (BDVC).
- Day Centres:
Basildon District Council’s Day Centres provide a range of activities and social events for residents over the age of 50, with over 3000 visitors per year.
A significant Council function that is delivered from the George Hurd Centre is the Welfare Catering service, which serves in excess of 40,000 meals and snacks per year.
- Community Halls:
Operating 12 Community Halls around the District that are available for hire and assist a range of voluntary and community groups to provide a range of services for residents.
- Youth Development:
The team consists of a Youth Development Officer, who works with partners to deliver initiatives and projects aimed at engaging the district’s young people, youth workers who provide support and raise awareness around the use of illicit substances and sexual health issues, with more than 2,000 young people are engaged annually on this basis.
The Millennium Volunteers project currently supports almost 400 young people in community-based activities. The team also work closely with partnership bodies such as the Children & Young People’s Strategic Partnership  to deliver a coordinated approach to issues affecting children and young people.
- Community Development:
Focusing on capacity building within the District’s communities, the team promote engagement and participation with local people and arrange community events with a view to promoting social cohesion and democracy.
- Economic Development:
Working to raise the life chances of residents by promoting skills and developing adult learning opportunities for residents.
The team also works with partners to promote local business development and theBasildon District as the business hub of the Thames Gateway South Essex .
Sustainable Community Services works to address all of the community aims as set out in the Basildon District Community Strategy :
- Feeling Safe
- Living in a pleasant environment
- Health and social well being
- Life long learning and jobs
- Fair and equal life chances
We also work to deliver on the following organisational aims of the Council:
- Continually improve quality services
- A clean, pleasant and safe environment
- A vibrant community
Basildon has, and is, benefiting from a wide range of sustainable, community-based projects throughout the District, working with local partners to attract funds from a variety of sources to achieve the aims as set out in the Community Strategy.
Current major projects include:
 | Wickford Town Centre Master Plan | |
| Development of a Master Plan for the future development of Wickford Town Centre has been an ongoing process, ensuring that the views of local residents and businesses have been fed in to the final document.
The Master Plan was endorsed by Basildon District Council in February 2006. |
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| SureStart | |
| A nationally funded project, SureStart works to break the cycle of deprivation by providing support to children and young families in the Northlands Park area.
The project offers training opportunities, along with guidance and support sessions for parents. More than 600 families are assisted by this project annually.
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| Basildon District Council Social Inclusion Strategy |
| Under the Council aim of 'a vibrant community', a key priority for Basildon District Council is to'promote stronger communities where everyone is included.
Not only does this priority represent the fundamental ethos of Sustainable Community Services, but it represents the link between the Council's Strategic Improvement Plan and the recently endorsed Social Inclusion Strategy.
The Strategy draws upon national, regional and local legislation, policy and practice and has been developed by Sustainable Community Services in close consultation with our partners in the public, voluntary and community sectors. This Strategy provides a corporate framework for social inclusion and diversity issues. |
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