1985 - 1995 prior to charity status

The project was originally formed as the Oldington and Foley Park project in April 1985 with support and funding for a five year period from the Department of the Environment and Hereford and Worcester County Council. During this time the project was based at the Social Services office on Bromsgrove Street for some time and then moved to a Portacabin within the estate and later to a local church hall, Holy Innocents.
In 1990, once this funding came to an end, the project was re-named St Peters Community Development Project and was based on Birchen Coppice at St Peters Church . Funding was secured through Church Urban Fund and Hereford and Worcester Social Services for a three year period. From 1992, the administration of the project moved to the Social Services office at 124 Stourport Road.

From 1993, Hereford and Worcester Social Services picked up the funding and management of the project. From 1995 the Team Manager for Social Services took over the Chair of the organisation and work was carried out to set it up as a registered charity. During the period 1985 ­ 1995 the project was involved in a range of community activities. These include youth / play projects, sports activities, arts groups, support for residents groups, pensioners club, community service projects.

1996 - 2002 National Lottery Charities Board funds

In July 1995, charity status was achieved and the Oldington and Foley Park Community Network came into being.
Funds were then secured through the National Lottery Charities Board for a three year period starting in 1996. With the start of these monies the project moved to offices within the Community Support Centre at British Sugar. This first set of Lottery money paid for:

• The lease for the Dowles Road Community Centre
• Funding the set up of a multi-purpose sports area on Woodbury Road
• Employing two part time Youth Workers and establishment of two youth clubs
• Establishment of a furniture recycling and bicycle project, including suitable premises on Lisle Avenue and transport
• Employment of a Network Co-ordinator and Assistant

A second bid was prepared to the NLCB in 1999 and a further three years funding granted from 2000. The new team included the following posts:

• Continued employment of a manager, now Director, and assistant, now Admin Assistant
• Community Development Worker
• Advice Shop Administrator
• Furniture Project Manager and Sales / Admin Worker
• Funding for two Youth Workers

The following activities were undertaken:

• A range of successful training courses were run at the Community Centre, including two sessions per week of computer training; food hygiene; first aid; and a partnership with County Council to run a 32 week "Opportunity for Young Parents" course.
• A number of community events have been run, including activities / fun days and information sessions.
• Establishment of an Advice Shop, first at the Community Centre and later at the parade of shops.
• Continued running of the Furniture Centre, including taking on a Van Driver through money taken from Sales and establishment of a workshop for training.
• Youth / Play Work ­ further funding was secured for a third youth worker and to employ three part time play workers. The Network therefore employed four workers to carry out the different tasks.

2002 - Present

Since the end of 2002 OFPCN has secured funding from a wide range of sources to continue and expand it’s operations; moving from a reliance on one primary funder to support from over 20 sources of funding.

OFPCN re-structured its management team during this period, setting up shared resources with The Network (Worcestershire) for organisational management, finance and administration thereby focusing more resources secured to actual project delivery. In addition staffing levels have increased to over 30 employees necessitating the set up of the following service areas:

Furniture

The longest running of OFPCN’s projects, the Network Furniture Centre is now in its fourth set of premises having outgrown each of the existing locations and has also opened a shop in Kidderminster Town Centre.

The Network Furniture Centre collects reusable furniture items from across the Wyre Forest for sale within its showroom and shop environments. Although set up to provide low cost furniture to people in need, the Network Furniture Centre is open to all members of the public. This ensures a good turn over of stock, helps towards sustainability and supply of items to people who are in real need, and helps decrease the amount of furniture items going in to landfill.

The Network Furniture Centre has a long term relationship with West Mercia Probation Service, providing well over 100 hours of Community Pay Back supervision per week.

Children & Young People

From childcare through to eco-activities through to support for vulnerable young people you will find something for everything within our services. OFPCN currently provides childcare facilities for 50 weeks per year within the Birchen Coppice Extended School for 5-13 year olds, complimenting the Neighbourhood Nursery provision by First Class Nursery within the Treetops Children’s Centre also on the site.

Working with Wyre Forest District Council, OFPCN provides a range of environmentally focused activities within the Oldington and Foley Park, Walshes and Broadwaters wards. In addition the Network provides activities for young people aged 13+ in both Walshes and Oldington and Foley Park and Activkidz’s sessions within Oldington and Foley Park. These activities are open to all young people for 50 pence per session.

Providing focused support via self referral or referrals from parents or partner organisations, OFPCN’s Social Inclusion Team runs clubs in Oldington and Foley Park, Broadwaters and Walshes as well as a session for young people attending Stourminster School.

Advice Shop

The Network Advice Shop was set up in May 2000 to provide advice, information, advocacy and support for residents on any area of concern. Run primarily as a drop in provision open Monday – Friday 10-4 the project sees over 250 individuals per month. Covering everything from benefits and tax credits, through to CV writing and Careers interviews, to advocacy with utility companies or just the latest bus timetables the team are happy to help and support. The Advice Shop hosts a Time 4 U session every Thursday afternoon, employs a trained Careers Guidance worker and via the Training Section provides a weekly Skills for Work course to cover all the things you need to know to return for work.

Training Development

The Training Department runs a wide range of taster sessions and courses within the local community. The majority of courses are ESF funded via the Learning and Skills Council through a partnership of five learning centres led by Worcestershire County Council. This provides funding for individuals for attend a taster session and accredited training programme. Further funding is secured regularly for a range of other courses. Courses are run by our own in-house tutors in Catering, Food Hygiene, Skills for Work, Warehousing, Electrical Repair and Woodworking and via partners for Sewing, Confidence & Assertiveness and a variety of other sessions. Courses are always being updated so check with the training department for the latest programme.

Minibus

Available for hire with our driver, the minibus helps support our own and other partners projects by providing transport with full disabled access. The cost of hire is £15.00 + VAT per hour and bookings are arranged through our main office team.

The Network (Worcestershire) – Electrical Appliance Reuse Centre

Collecting household electrical appliances from across the county, The Network refurbishes items in its custom refurbished premises for sale in its showroom and via sales outlets run by Oldington and Foley Park Community Network, Worcestershire Lifestyles, St Richards Hospice, Ladywood Furniture Centre and Community Transport Birmingham – Furniture Scheme.

The Network will collect electrical appliances from households, asking for a donation of up to £10 towards their costs, and covers the whole of Worcestershire. Items are fully functionality and portable appliance tested and come with a 3 month guarantee. Our current appliance failure rate is 1.9%, less than that for new items.

The Network has now launched a service for local businesses to support their takeback services under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive); ensuring duty of care is met and promoting the reuse of whole items.