South Bucks Partnership Cohesion and Inequalities Strategy 2009 - 2012

Following the publication of the South Bucks Partnership’s Draft Cohesion and Inequalities Strategy 2009- 2012 on 4th September 2009, we invited residents and organisations to provide their comments and views on the internet. The consultation period ended on 16th October 2009. This summary outlines the main points and views provided by those who responded to us. A final version of the strategy based on the information provided will be published in due course.

During the consultation period we wanted to make sure that we received a broad range of views and comments to allow us to include these views in the final version of the strategy and action plan.

We sent 200 paper copy consultation questionnaires to organisations working with groups in South Bucks. We also ran a series of focus groups with a wide range of people within South Bucks including members of our residents panel and those who were considered to be harder to reach, seldom heard or vulnerable in order to include them and take on board their particular views.

The Focus Groups held included:

• A Romany Gypsy and Travellers Group
• A Disability and Access Group
• BME Women
• A cross section group taken from members of our residents panel
• A Youth Group in Gerrards Cross
• A Befriending Group
• Burnham Older Peoples Action Group
• Older Persons Group Beaconsfield -Thursday Club

Providing Feedback
We provided feedback verbally or in writing to some focus groups and this summary contains an update of our key findings, including the input from focus groups as well as written responses.

Key Findings

A total of 33 completed questionnaire forms were received.

1. Level of detail in the strategy
The majority of people (84.82%) who responded to us said they were happy with the level of detail in the strategy.
A small percentage, 12% said they were not happy with the level of detail and 1 respondent (3%) did not answer the question.

2. Was it easy to read?
The majority of people (87.87%) said the strategy was easy to read compared to 9% saying it was not and 3% having no view, having not answered the question.

3. Was jargon used?
The majority (87.87%) said there was no jargon included making the strategy difficult to understand compared to 9% saying that there was and 3% not answering this question.

4. Was it clear on what Cohesion and Inequalities is?
90.90% said the strategy made it clear what cohesion and inequalities is compared to 6% saying it did not and 3% not answering the question.

5. Did they agree with the vision for the Strategy?
90.90% agreed with the vision for community cohesion in South Bucks compared to 6% who did not and 3% not having a view because they didn’t answer the question.

6. Did the strategy clearly explain why community cohesion is important?
A large proportion of respondents, 90.90% said the strategy clearly explained why community cohesion was important in South Bucks compared to 6% saying the strategy did not explain this and 3% not answering the question.

7. Key Cohesion Challenges
100% agreed with the key cohesion challenges. General comments were made to enhance reasons why these groups had been identified.

• Those on middle income levels were mentioned as a group that may require help to access services, especially around affordable housing.

8. The Action Plan
78.78% agreed that the proposed Action Plan would help support the cohesion and inequalities priorities identified in the strategy compared to 15% who did not and 6% who did not answer the question.

Feedback - Focus Group Sessions

The focus group sessions agreed and endorsed the strategy but with some minor comments as listed below:

• Some parts of South Bucks are prone to experiencing transport difficulties when attempting to access services, this concurs with the strategy.
  
  
• Information should be made available in a range of different formats, such as in other languages, large print and audio as well as having translation facilities.
  
  
• South Bucks may wish to consider the use of websites like Twitter, Facebook and You Tube as forums for discussion.
  
  
• Maintain regular focus groups with residents, offer incentives and always provide feedback to participants.

1. Given the importance of the strategy and the need for lay people and practitioners from the community to understand it completely we recommend the inclusion of a more detailed explanation of what is meant by cohesion and inequalities in the Introduction paragraph.
2. A comprehensive action plan has been drawn up and will be taken forward through the South Bucks Partnership.