Tendring Community Assets Full Final Report

49 this varies between services rather more than it does geographically - some providers have a healthy supply of new volunteers, which might suggest it is service specific rather than geographic or general volunteer fatigue. 13.3.3 In terms of the asset map, there are many community activities available but these are concentrated in pockets and, as most have developed over a long period of time, are not evenly distributed across the district. There is not an observable pattern to the distribution; it appears mostly due to the enthusiasm of local leaders in setting up and maintaining groups or activities. The leaders themselves can vary from church leaders, charity volunteers to keen local residents. Identifying community leaders who can link people up has been demonstrated to have positive results. 13.3.4 Access to services and activities varies, depending on where within Tendring people live. Tendring East, at the coastal side, and parts of Clacton and Walton have relatively low levels of car ownership and limited access to public transport. While Community Transport Schemes make a significant contribution to plugging the gaps, coverage is limited, as is the ability to cover outlying and more remote areas. 13.3.5 Schools across the district generally have significant capability and good physical assets but it was hard to find many activities that are universally available and not just for pupils in the school. Stakeholders reported that they struggle to engage with schools to share resources or run events, with staff turnover and capacity seen as the main reason for this. Parents tend to move through quickly as their children grow up so there is a general lack of continuity, meaning that, even where relationships have been forged in the past, parents and teachers move on and those relationships are not always sustained. 13.3.6 There is an abundance of less formally established social events and activities such as fitness and exercise sessions, book clubs and mother and toddler groups as well as local interest activities. These sessions are also held in libraries, cafes, community centres and village and church halls and are often organised and run by users or enthusiastic local champions. However, finding out what is available, when it runs and from where can be challenging - there is no consistency in how this is done and details can be buried in obscurity. 13.4 Start Well - giving children the best start in life 13.4.1 There are a wide range of services for children and young people – mother & toddler groups, support to teenage parents, sports and fitness clubs, uniformed organisations, drop- ins, teen-led projects etc., but there remains an issue about attainment, mental health, self esteem and obesity. Projects supporting young people must be relevant to them and give them a sense of purpose and appeal to their interests. Again, going where young people go and inspiring them is a challenge for future planning. 13.4.2 There is scope to introduce more whole family activity, where children and families can attend together. 13.5 Feel Well - supporting mental wellbeing 13.5.1 The role of buddying and face to face engagement emerged strongly as a catalyst for engaging with individuals of all ages and circumstances. The most successful local groups report that the best way to bring people in is through direct contact, some have had to be quite tenacious but the results are impressive. They still use email and websites to share information and maintain contact, but it is not the way in which people are initially encouraged to participate in groups or other events.