Grenfell recovery
The Grenfell tragedy continues to have a profound impact on the bereaved, survivors and the local community and supporting longterm recovery remains at the heart of our Council Plan. Against this backdrop, we will continue to focus on honouring our commitments to those most directly affected by the tragedy. This means continuing to support the search for the truth through the Grenfell Inquiry and the criminal investigation, adhering to the commitments set out in the Charter for Bereaved Families.
We will also continue to work with the bereaved, survivors and the local community to shape the next phase of the Grenfell Recovery programme, increasing the reach and impact of the services and renewing our commitment to community-led recovery. We will focus on working with residents and community partners to clearly demonstrate who we are reaching through the programme and what difference it is making.
As we do so, we must continue to adapt our approach to reflect the ongoing impact of the pandemic and the uncertainty around the future of the Tower and the Grenfell Inquiry. The fifth anniversary of the tragedy in June this year will also be an important milestone and we must do what we can to make sure that bereaved, survivors and local people are supported to mark this event in a way that is right to them.
Alongside this, we will also begin to look towards the future, focusing on embedding learning from the Grenfell Recovery programme to build a longterm, lasting legacy from the tragedy that is meaningful to local people.
Adapting support for bereaved and survivors
Over 95% of bereaved and survivors are accessing the Dedicated Service and we will continue to work with them to provide personalised, tailored support that meets their changing needs. In 2021- 22, we will focus on implementing the changes to the service that bereaved and survivors have told us they want to see. Here we have committed to increasing choice and control for bereaved and survivors, targeting support to those who need it most by communicating and engaging more effectively with those who use the service. Alongside the support provided by the Dedicated Service, we will continue to provide high quality housing management services to survivors in their new homes and additional support to those who may be struggling to settle.
Supporting community-led recovery
For those in the local community, we will continue to provide targeted support for children and adults, working with trusted local providers in schools and community-based settings. This includes a new peer support programme for adults, creating opportunities for local people to come together to support each other in recovery, and new projects for children and young people focused on celebrating young people’s voices and building resilience. Alongside this, we will continue to work with the newly established Resident-Led panel to shape the next phase of the Grenfell Community Programme, ensuring it reflects key community priorities. This will include delivering the next round of the Grenfell Projects Fund and Community Leadership Programme, working with the Panel to ensure that projects have maximum impact for local people.
Building a longer-term legacy from Grenfell
We will continue to work with residents to shape existing legacy projects that we have launched, including the Housing Legacy Fund, the Rehousing and Allocations project and the Curve Legacy programme, which will be shaped by a new community-led Steering Group. Alongside these, we want to look beyond the programme to focus more broadly on building a long-term, legacy from the tragedy that is meaningful to local people. In doing so, we will build on learning from Grenfell and from other disaster recovery contexts and work hand-in-hand with residents to develop new approaches that the Council and its partners can learn from.
Working in partnership
Our recovery programme is being delivered with a wide range of statutory and nonstatutory partners, including central government, the NHS, schools and local employers, voluntary and community organisations and, most importantly, residents themselves. We will continue to work closely with all our partners, recognising the enormous contribution they make to supporting Grenfell Recovery, to make sure our collective resources, skills and expertise have maximum impact for all those affected. As part of this, we will work with local organisations and residents to improve our understanding of the reach and impact of services and work with wider partners to monitor longerterm trends and changes in the local area.
What we want to see
- All survivors and the bereaved have been offered the specialist support they need and are taking positive steps towards the future.
- Communities in the surrounding area feel their voice is heard and they can access the services they need.
- Children and young people affected by the tragedy, to feel confident about their futures and local schools continue to support them to achieve excellent results.
- Communities in the surrounding area feel fairly treated in relation to one another and their trust in local agencies and institutions is being rebuilt.
What we will do
- Support survivors and the bereaved through the Dedicated Service to rebuild their lives and find their own personal paths to recovery.
- Provide tailored support for bereaved and survivor children through the Dedicated Service and deliver a wider programme of support for young people in schools and community settings.
- Facilitate community-led recovery for the wider community, helping residents to support themselves and each other to lay the foundations for a better future.
- Ensure that all initiatives and programmes are shaped directly by local people and adapted to take account of changing needs.
- Work with the local people to increase the reach of Grenfell recovery initiatives so that their impact is felt as widely as possible.
- Work with residents and partners to build a lasting legacy from the Grenfell tragedy, ensuring we continue to embed learning widely across the work of the Council and the wider partnership.