Hundreds of professionals, including staff from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, gathered together at the Kings Hall, Stoke, to show their support for the Cooperative Working programme.
The innovative programme, which is being led by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, provides support for local people to ensure they are able to live independent lives by making the work between organisations more streamlined.
The Stoke-on-Trent based programme includes partners from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Staffordshire Police, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, health services and the voluntary sector.
The event included members of the Working Together for Our Stoke Communities Board partners signing a memorandum of understanding to confirm their ongoing support.
Chief of Staff for the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in Staffordshire Glynn Dixon said: “The Cooperative Working programme is a great example of how multi-agency working can improve local people’s lives. The event highlighted the importance of efficient partnership work in order to reach those people who need our support the most.
“By working together we will be able to transform the lives of local people and allow partners to work together rather than in isolation which will not only provide tailored support for individuals in need but also saves taxpayers money by making the process more efficient.”
Stoke-on-Trent’s City Council’s cabinet member for housing, community and safer city Randolph Conteh said: “Cooperative Working is about turning people’s lives around, helping people to live their lives well.
“You can’t change the world on your own – you need partners. If you want to influence whole communities you have to start by working with individuals and couples and families, which is what Cooperative Working is all about.”
A Cooperative Working Service Exhibition was also held to showcase the work of partners and provided a networking opportunity to explore further ways of working together. Information on the “Business Crime Matters initiative” which provides free, confidential support for business victims of crime was handed out as well as details on the “Supporting domestic abuse victims in the workplace” programme.
More information about both initiates can be found at www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk.
To read more about the Police and Crime Commissioner’s key priorities in his Safer, Fairer, United Communities strategy go to: www.staffordshire-pcc.gov.uk/saferfairerunited/
