About SIPSE and the Social Inclusion Statement

The Social Inclusion Partnership South East (SIPSE) is a high level partnership within the region which was established in 2002. It has a role to promote social inclusion and through partnership working offer ‘SIPSE Products’ that can support organisations within the region to tackle or prevent social exclusion.

Context
There is no doubt that the South East is a successful region. Ranked among the top twenty regional economies in the world, it is the engine room of the UK economy. However, our economic success brings with it social, environmental and physical challenges which are potential inhibitors to maintaining both our, and the wider nations global economic position.

• Tackling child poverty.
   
• Supporting the development of affordable, quality housing.
   
• Creating safe and inclusive environments.
   
• Developing social networking opportunities that include all members of our communities.
   
• Developing appropriate care support.
   
• Providing a range of health, education and cultural facilities that are accessible and affordable.
   

Re-enforcing the role of communities of interest and geography, and the importance of individual engagement in the communities where people both live and work.

In supporting social inclusion we recognise the importance of ensuring that at a regional level, partners are engaged in helping to deliver the public service agreements (PSA). In total there are thirty PSAs with PSA 16 focused on increasing the proportion of socially excluded adults in settled accommodation and employment, education or training.

Our vision for the region
SIPSE members have agreed on seven inclusive targets for the region. The targets link to the social objectives in the South East Regional Sustainability Framework (RSF). The targets set out what a socially inclusive South East would look like.

1. Everyone would have the opportunity to live in a decent, sustainably constructed and affordable home suitable to their need.

2. The gap between the most deprived areas in the South East and the rest of the region would be closing.

3. Everyone would be able to access the services and facilities which they need.

4. Everyone would have the opportunity to go as far as their talents and efforts will take them, taking advantage of learning opportunities and participating fully to help acquire the skills needed to find and remain in work.

5. The health and well-being of the population would be high, inequalities in health would be reduced and everyone would have access to good quality health care and services.

6. All sections of the community would have the opportunity to participate in local decision making and be able to engage in cultural activity.

7. Everyone would be able to benefit from the economic growth of the region.

What can be done?
Resources, including funding, are key to helping reduce deprivation in the region but SIPSE also recognises that funding alone is insufficient. Social inclusion is everyone’s right and the responsibility does not just lie with regional policy makers, service providers and local authorities. There is also a very important role to be played by everyone. Partnership working is central to ensuring that the needs of vulnerable people in the region are met. There is a key role for Local Strategic Partnerships and we recognise the importance of bringing people and organisations together at the local level to set common priorities and targets. We hope others will be influenced by the document and be able to join us in making a commitment to our vision for the region.

This Social Inclusion Statement has set out the key issues facing the region. An action plan is being developed to accompany this statement and will set out what SIPSE is going to do to take this forward. Part of SIPSE’s work will involve monitoring progress towards the inclusive targets within the region.

You can find out more about the current areas of work on the SIPSE web site at

www.raise-networks.org.uk/sipse/