Safer Stronger Communities

Initiatives supported by Safer, Stronger, Communities Funding (SSCF) aimed to improve community cohesion and community safety in the Digmoor, Tanhouse and Moorside wards of Skelmersdale by:

• reducing crime, fear of crime, perceptions of anti-social behaviour and harm caused by illegal drugs
• creating cleaner, safer, greener public spaces
• increasing the capacity of local communities to participate in local decision making and influence service delivery
• improving quality of life in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods by helping service providers to be more responsive to local needs

A major part of the SSCF project was to introduce a Neighbourhood Management approach. This included the creation of an elected SSCF Neighbourhood Board to oversee project development and commission funded projects. Membership criteria ensured that Board members represented the interests of the wider community.

SSCF funding ceased on 31st March 2011. However, WLBC had worked with the SSCF Board putting procedures in place to help the Board become self sustainable once funding ceased.

As a result, from the 1st April 2011, the SSCF Board became the TMD (Together Making a Difference) Neighbourhood Board. Please download the TMD Board's Constitution, which shows the Board's future aims and objectives. Initially, the Board will continue as a community Board with a longer term goal of becoming a Community Interest Company.

Meeting minutes

• March 2011 (final SSCF Board meeting)
• February 2011
• January 2011
• December 2010
• November 2010
• October 2010
• September 2010
• June 2010
• May 2010
• February 2010
• January 2010
• December 2009
• October 2009
• September 2009
• June 2009

Praise for SSCF work

Following a tendering process the SSCF Neighbourhood Management Board appointed Chris Allen from Compass, to conduct and Independent Evaluation of the Safer Strong Communities Neighbourhood Management project. This evaluation took place in December 2009 and its findings were extremely positive towards the success of the project.

Please download a copy of the SSCF independent evaluation for your reference.

The SSCF project was recognised for its success including one of its initiatives "Your Community Matters" receiving a North West Together We Can Community Empowerment Award.