neighbourhood network schemes...

" The jewel in the Leeds crown"

Promoting independence, health and well-being

The Neighbourhood Network Schemes are voluntary sector organisations that provide a range of services, activities and opportunities promoting the independence, health and well-being of older people throughout Leeds.

The very first Neighbourhood Network Scheme was established in Leeds in 1985. There are now over forty Neighbourhood Network Schemes working throughout the city. The Neighbourhood Network Schemes support over 25,000 older people every year.

Run by older people for older people

The Neighbourhood Network Schemes provide a range of activities that promote independence, health and well-being, including advice and information, help around the home, healthy living activities, leisure and recreation, transport and general support. The Schemes work with some of the most isolated and vulnerable older people in Leeds.

Each Neighbourhood Network Scheme is managed by a committee of local people and a team of committed staff and volunteers, including many older people. The Schemes are responsive and flexible. They work within communities to meet local needs and provide the services, activities and opportunities that older people want.

The Neighbourhood Network Schemes are funded by Leeds Social Services Department. Some Schemes are also supported by their local Primary Care Trust. In addition, the Schemes generate over £1 million every year through independent fundraising and receive over 100,000 volunteer hours, worth at least £500,000.

For more information about Leeds Neighbourhood Network Schemes contact the Forum

Adult Social Care and NHS Leeds Joint Review of

Neighbourhood Network Schemes (NNS)

Neighbourhood Network Schemes were created to improve the lives of older people in Leeds. They do a wide range of valuable work to reduce the isolation of older people and increase their involvement and participation in the community. Embedded as they are in their local communities, they have each evolved according to local need and as funding has become available over the last twenty years. This ad hoc growth, however, has led to inequities in funding and differences in the support provided to older people in different areas of the city.

As part of planning for the future needs of older people in Leeds, both Adult Social Care and NHS Leeds have therefore been keen to address these variations, to ensure that in future all older people will be able to obtain the same benefits from their local scheme, no matter where they live in the city.

A Review Team has been gathering data and evidence from and about the network since February 2008 to inform the review and has consulted with a wide range of people who have an interest in the schemes. This evidence is the basis upon which decisions about the future of the network will be based. All the review documents can be found below:

List of review documents

1 Baseline Assessment of NNS

Appendix 1; Tables 1-7 & map (Excel file)

Appendix 2; Tables 8-15

2 Older People in Leeds

3 Neighbourhood Network's Review in Leeds

4 Report on NNS, Infrastructure, Capacity, Review and Support Issues

5 2008 Survey of Views of Older People who are NNS Members

6 A Report of Focus Groups Held With Older People Attending Lunch Clubs

7 Headline Findings of Survay Conducted With Leeds City Council Citizen's panel (full report not yet available - will be posted asap)

8 Report of Consultation with Older People's Reference Group

9 Survey of the views of Adult Social Care Team Managers

The Council's Risk Management Unit facilitated two formal options appraisal and risk assessment days to support commissioners to make decisions around the future service specification, funding formula and procurement strategy for Neighbourhood Network Schemes. Below are the two full reports of these options appraisal days, detailing the decisions and how these were reached.

NNS Options Appraisal Day 1 Report

NNS Appraisal Options Day 2 Report

NNS Review Consultations

Please click on the relevant meeting to view the notes.

North East Consultation

West Consultation

North West Consultation

Leeds NNS brochure, Nov05