Tag: Cornwall Council

The press release issued by Cornwall Council on 15 October 2022.

Organisations across Cornwall are turning words into action following the Cost of Living Summit hosted by Cornwall Council last month.

Seven working groups have been set up with each responsible for effecting real change for people who are struggling to make ends meet during the current crisis.

They will be led by the likes of Cornwall Council, Citizens Advice, the local NHS, the voluntary sector and Cornwall business groups.

Actions to be taken by each group, which were agreed at a meeting of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board on September 30, include:

Our community response:

• Support the delivery of community hubs offering winter support across Cornwall. Led by Volunteer Cornwall, this is already underway.
• Review funding for the voluntary sector to focus on more long-term sustainable funding.

Maximising people’s income:

• Develop our understanding of the barriers and issues within the welfare system that specifically affect Cornwall and work with partners to alleviate those.
• Explore options to run a basic income pilot scheme across Cornwall, using evidence from other areas.

Preventing and reducing people’s debt:

• Support the use of the Low-Income Family Tracker (LIFT) to identify residents who may be eligible for additional welfare benefits and support them to claim their entitlement.
• Review debt collection practices (e.g. council tax, NHS prescriptions fees, bank charges and loans from financial institutions) to help prevent and reduce people’s debt.

Energy efficiency and fuel poverty:

• Support bids for new capital investment into Cornwall’s housing stock to reduce carbon and improve energy efficiency of homes (all tenures) and build on existing practice.
• Support Cornwall Council Public Health’s role to co-ordinate Winter Wellbeing activities to ensure Cornwall’s residents and organisations are aware of current help and initiatives.

Support housing security:

• Work with Registered Providers to understand the potential to suspend evictions (as during the pandemic) for rent arrears.
• Consider a rent cap on social housing rental increases in April.

Access to food:

• Create a Cornwall Food Strategy, and Food Security approach using learning from the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact approach.
• Identify land and support communities with an ambition to establish growing schemes.

Communications:

• Campaign to reduce the number of people with unclaimed benefits, help with anxiety caused by money worries, and encourage residents to ask for help before they get into debt, among other aims.

The summit, called Turning the Tide on the Cost of Living, took place at the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus on September 5.

It saw the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board meet with representatives from local communities, charities and businesses to share experiences and discuss how best to help people navigate the crisis.

Participants included Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum, Citizen’s Advice Cornwall, Voluntary Sector Forum, Volunteer Cornwall, Disability Cornwall, End Hunger Cornwall, Department of Work and Pensions, Kernow Credit Union, Cornwall Council, NHS and Independent Food Aid Network/Trussell Trust.

Linda Taylor, Chair of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Leadership Board, said:

“At the summit we listened and talked, and now we are turning those words into action with the formation of seven workstreams, each with concrete plans and goals.

“The cost of living crisis continues to take its toll on our residents and only by working together to pool resources, share learnings and plan ahead can we offer them the best and most robust support, both in the short and long term.

“The workstreams will feed into an overarching strategic group and I look forward to hearing about their progress in the coming weeks and months. I am sure each will play an important role in making a real difference to people’s lives.”

The press release issued by Cornwall Council on 19 October 2022.

Cllr Connor Donnithorne, member for Redruth Central, Carharrack & St Day, is joining Cornwall Council’s Cabinet as the new Portfolio Holder for Transport.

His appointment follows the decision of Cllr Philip Desmonde to step down from the role from 1 November 2022, to spend more time with his family. Cllr Desmonde will continue to represent the communities of Pool and Tehidy on the Council.

Since coming to the role in May 2021, Cllr Desmonde has delivered a number of initiatives to improve transport in Cornwall and make it safer including the pledge to roll out 20mph zoning, delivering lower bus fares for residents and the launch of the Cornwall Transport Plan, with a vision based on better quality of life, connectivity and sustainability. The work on Cornwall’s bus fares has recently been recognised by the UK Bus Awards.

The Cabinet role being taken over by Cllr Donnithorne includes responsibility for transport and highways, parking strategy and the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry.

Cllr Linda Taylor, leader of the council, said:

“I would like to place on record my thanks to Philip who has achieved some milestone successes during his eighteen-month tenure as transport portfolio holder. He has successfully delivered on his promise to initiate the introduction of 20mph speed limits in appropriate residential areas and he has put in place a Cornwall Transport Plan with a vision for transport in Cornwall to be excellent, carbon neutral and connect people, communities, businesses and services in a way that enhances quality of life. To that end, he has succeeded in driving forward the introduction of £5 a day and £20 a week tickets for bus travel anywhere in Cornwall. At a time of the cost of living crisis, this is a significant achievement in driving down public transport costs for our residents. We have an exciting transport agenda to deliver in the coming years and I am confident that Connor will now build on Philip’s success in this role.”

Phillip Desmonde said:

“I take this decision with sadness but tempered with real pride about what has been achieved by this Cabinet in the last 18 months. I know that Connor will do a great job in this role and will continue to push forward our ambitious agenda for transport. In the next few weeks I will support Connor as he gets to grips with the transport portfolio and will continue to support my colleagues ‘from the back benches’ in any way I can.”

Connor Donnithorne, who has already had significant experience first as Deputy and more recently Chair of the Economic Growth and Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee, said:

“I am honoured to have been asked to join the Cabinet at such a crucial time. I understand that people need good transport links to be able to get to work, to connect with friends and family or to do business. As a local small business owner, I know just how vital it is for our economy and our communities to get this right. I look forward to working with Cabinet colleagues to deliver on our promise to build an efficient and sustainable transport system.”

The press release issued by Cornwall Council on 8 October 2022.

In its first year, more than 1,000 volunteers have signed up to a scheme to support people in Cornwall who are having suicidal thoughts.

The news comes as the county prepares to mark World Mental Health Day on Monday October 10.

The ‘Orange Button Community Scheme’ launched last September with the aim of creating a community of advisors who could be approached by anyone struggling with their mental health.

The idea is to make people who have already received mental health and suicide prevention training more visible to those who need help.

Hundreds receive training each year – for example through workplace schemes – but there used to be no way for a member of the public to identify who has been trained, and therefore who to approach for advice and support.

By wearing a distinctive orange button, these trained volunteers are easily recognisable to people having suicidal thoughts wherever they are, for example at work, in shops, pubs, cafes, libraries or just on the street.

The orange button signifies that the wearer knows how to listen, isn’t afraid to hear the word ‘suicide’, and will not judge them. Although they cannot offer counselling, they can signpost individuals to the right support services.

A year on, a total of 1,092 people have signed up to be an orange button wearer – and in that time they have helped dozens of people.

Sophie Alway, an Orange Button wearer from Falmouth, lost her daughter Georgia to suicide in 2020. She then set up the charity Georgia’s Voice which aims to reduce the rate of suicide among young women by making them realise they are not alone.

Sophie said: “I decided to become an Orange Button wearer so that people who are struggling would know I was a safe person to approach, that would listen without judgement and help with signposting to relevant support.

“It has been a positive experience and even if people don’t know what the orange badge is for they will often ask, so it often opens conversations and raises awareness that way.

“I have had several people approach me asking for help, all of whom I have been able to signpost.”

Sophie recalled one elderly man in particular who came into her shop in a very bad way.

“He was drinking heavily and arrived in tears,” she said. “He had recently lost a loved-one to suicide and I mostly just listened. He was too overwhelmed at the time to take in any information, so we agreed he would come back and I would provide him with some in a few days, which he did. I signposted him to a local men’s mental health support group, a grief support group, and an alcohol misuse charity. A few months later he came back in to say thank you and I hardly recognised him! He had bright eyes and a smile on his face; he had accessed the right support, was alcohol free and in employment again!”

The Orange Button scheme is led by Cornwall Council and NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Statistics show the rate of suicide deaths in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is consistently higher than the national average.

Paula Chappell, Public Health Practitioner and suicide prevention lead in Cornwall’s Public Health team, said:

“It’s great news that so many people have embraced the Orange Button scheme and we’re delighted with its success.

“Every single death represents an individual tragedy and a devastating bereavement for family and friends. The impact also extends into the wider community and to all services involved, with an estimated 135 people affected by each suicide. So anything that can help prevent this is hugely important.”

Cllr Dr Andy Virr, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health at Cornwall Council, added:

“In recent years, less than a third of people who died by suicide had contact with mental health services in the year before their death, highlighting the need for members of communities to learn active listening skills and know where to find signposting information to share.

“There is still a lot of stigma around suicide and mental health in general so schemes like Orange Button are vital to support people who might be suffering in silence in our communities.

“The more we can break down those barriers and empower people to speak openly and honestly about their feelings, the better for everyone.”

Tim Francis, Associate Director of Strategic Commissioning: Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly ICB said:

“It’s truly fantastic to see just how many people are stepping forward to train, and then offer themselves up to support others who may be struggling or reaching out for a conversation.

“This is an example of an idea which has become a reality, and one which represents a tangible commitment to a community of support and compassion. Wouldn’t it be great to see the Orange Button worn in every village or town and organisation large or small across our counties of Cornwall the Isles of Scilly?”

For more information check out the Council’s Orange Button webpage.

If you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health call the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 24/7 NHS mental health response line on 0800 038 5300. It’s free to access by anyone, any age, any time, day or night.