Sustainable Communities

Access Centres

"Promoting and developing Access Centres, which can deliver a mix of services to communities"

To identify and develop 'Access Centres' in local communities providing core services such as numeracy/literacy and IT training, access to childcare and job/career guidance and structured 'outreach' and progression in learning provision.

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Completion Date: 29/04/2004

Location

Countywide in areas of identified demand & need, including market towns

Project Description

The people of Leicestershire want access to public services where a range of services can be accessed at the same time… We will agree multi-agency arrangements for better access to services through new face-to-face access centres - Leicestershire Community Strategy, July 2003

Background
A three-year programme will be developed and overseen by the Leicestershire Together Board (Leicestershire's Local Strategic Partnership) to identify projects across Leicestershire which meet the following criteria:

• Meeting the 'definition' of an Access Centre and the core services provided.
• Projects which have already secured funding and have agreed mechanisms in place to ensure future sustainability, especially in revenue terms.
• Projects that can demonstrate partnership working with wide ranging benefits outside the lead organisation.

Site identification
Consultants were appointed by the LSEP to identify existing and potential additional locations, which can demonstrate the potential to meet the access centre defiinition. Approximately 230 sites were identified that have some or all of the core services that meet the access centre criteria.

Current Projects
Seven projects have been approved to be delivered in 2004/05:
- Coalville Library & Access Centre
- Ibstock Family Access Centre
- Broughton Astley Library
- Mobile Access Centre Project
- Mobile ICT Training Project
- Huncote Feasibility Study
- Thorpe Astley Feasibility Study

Future plans
The following four projects have been approved for delivery in 2005/6:
- Moira Youth & Community Centre
- Mountsorrel Library & Access Centre
- Bagworth PCT
- Internet Access for Mobile Libraries Project
(The Broughton Astley project will also carry forward to 2005/6)

The programme will be developed and linked to other area-based initiatives to ensure opportunities for joint working are maximised and co-ordinated effectively. The Programme Manager is currently developing further project ideas with partners at Wigston, Bagworth and Melton for delivery in 2005/6 or 2006/7.

Outcomes

Service delivery and promotion
• To increase the number of Access Centres in the county which can deliver a mix of services to communities. (Target - five Access Centres per annum.)
• To provide a co-ordinated network of information, advice and guidance on learning and work opportunities, community information, health, childcare facilities, legal advice and 'signposting'/referrals to other public services.
• To promote and improve the image of local access centres which can deliver a mix of services to communities.
Education and training
• To improve levels of Basic Skills(numeracy/literacy) in priority groups of people.
• To widen participation in education, learning and training and other community activities to all groups of people in a local community.
• To extend the provision of public Internet access points and use of ICT, including Broadband technology.
• To improve access to IT training, including basic 'taster' courses.

Project Contacts

Project manager:
Mandip Rai
Tel: 0116 265 7308
E-mail: mrai@leics.gov.uk
Website: www.leics.gov.uk

LSEP contact:
Gill Smitherman
Tel: 0116 257 5676
Email: gills@lsep.co.uk
Website: www.lsep.co.uk