Purpose

Extension to current communities’ social
connection project for 18 months.

Decision

The Cabinet
Member:
 

1) approved
the continuation of the Derbyshire communities resilience and
social connectedness work across the County for a further 18 months
from 01 October 2025 to 31 March 2027;
 

2) approved
the allocation of £0.250m from Public Health grant reserves
to strengthen communities work in Derbyshire Localities from 1
October 2025 to 31 March 2027 in accordance with the breakdown of
allocations in appendix 1.2; and
 

3) note that
strategic development work was underway to facilitate a longer term
sustainable approach to social connectedness, as detailed in
section 4.23. 

Reasons for the decision

The project
outlined in the report would contribute towards building community
resilience, improving community cohesion and social connectedness,
and provide community engagement continuity as a longer term
sustainable public health approach to social connection was
developed.

Alternative options considered

Do nothing,
funding will cease from 1st October 2025: This was not recommended
as community resilience and social connectedness remained a
priority across all localities, and particularly in rural areas in
Derbyshire. This was also not recommended as the networks and
infrastructure that had developed as a result of the project
development to date could form part of a future public health
approach to pandemic response, community engagement, and were vital
for the implementation of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy
and Public Health departmental strategy. Maintaining the social
connectedness funding through the next 18 month review period would
allow the benefits to continue whilst a longer-term sustainable
approach to social connection was being developed and
implemented.