Major project to deliver crucial services into Peterborough communities accelerated after Covid-19 pandemic success

The Peterborough and Cambridgeshire Think Communities team, which began in 2019, reacted to the crisis by opening a county-wide and several district hubs to distribute support to vulnerable residents, whether it be through the delivery of food parcels or fixing a walking frame.

And the success of the joined-up approach - which saw the team work closely with charities and community groups to deliver aid - has convinced Peterborough City Council to invest a further £247,000 to broaden its remit going forward.

This will in future years result in ‘one stop’ hubs being opened in community buildings where residents can access a wide range of support, including from police and health services.

Think Communities manager Matt Oliver said the new funding will ensure the project can develop, meaning that people will no longer have to access multiple services to receive the support they need.

Instead, there will be a “joined up” approach with a particular focus on health issues and preventative action.

Matt explained: “It’s about pooling resources, budgets and getting to the root causes of issues and preventing them before they escalate.

“People should be able to have a single conversation instead of multiple conversations so its joined up with other partners.

“Eventually, when we’ve moved forward a bit, it will see the creation of multi-disciplinary teams. There will be a one stop shop with police, fire and health people in it. It could be in a library or somewhere where people visit. It’s about bringing services to communities.”

Peterborough’s community hub is run virtually by the Safer Peterborough Partnership and includes two community connectors - who receive feedback from residents - and a place coordinator who ensures there is a joined up approach between different services.

Although the team was in place before the pandemic recent months have shown how successful the project can be.

Matt said: “We had the feeling in our hearts that this is the right way to work and Covid-19 has really put that into action.

“We’ve been doing some different things like mending people’s walking frames so they could get around their house while isolating.

“If people couldn’t get medicine or were suffering economic hardship the hub network would reach out into community groups such as PCVS (Peterborough Council for Voluntary Services), foodbanks and other places.

“It’s those guys who are at the heart of this, but it’s about working in equal partnership rather than the council saying this is the way to do things.

“We really feel this way of working is the way we want to move forward.”

The new funding, which was announced in the latest city council budget proposals, will enable the hub to continue to support people during the pandemic, as well as bring more services together.

Matt added: “It’s been phenomenal to see what can be achieved by working in true partnership with community and voluntary partners. It’s humbling to be sitting in the middle of that and to hear offers of support from council officers or volunteers.

“We want to take that forward for every issue, whether it be a global pandemic or crime in an area.

“I feel really excited by it and we’re working really hard to show that this way of working can benefit the people of Peterborough and Cambridgeshire.”

The hub can be contacted by ringing the city council on 01733 747474.