Eastbourne Borough Council’s services have been recognised at a national level by achieving Beacon status under the Government’s Beacon Authority Scheme. Eastbourne scooped the award from John Prescott under the theme, ‘Culture and Sport for Hard to Reach Groups’.
Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor Ian Lucas says, “This just shows how far Eastbourne has come in the last few years. It's an amazing achievement to get Beacon Status for the first time, and something everyone on the Council can be rightly proud of.”
The Beacon Scheme identifies excellence and innovation in local government. The scheme exists to share good practice so that the best authorities can act as Beacons for the rest. In total, 239 applications were received from 185 authorities for round seven of the Beacon Scheme. Only 8 authorities in the country were granted Beacon Status for Culture and Sport.
Eastbourne was awarded Beacon Status on the strength of its visual arts outreach programme Towner on the Town as well as for its Disability Sport programmes.
By working in partnership Towner on the Town has successfully demonstrated how cultural activity can make a real difference to the lives of young offenders.
Acting Chief Inspector Julia Pope, Sussex Police says, “Eastbourne Borough Council’s cultural programmes have made a significant contribution to the local Crime Reduction agenda, particularly in key target areas of prolific and youth offending, substance misuse and anti-social behaviour.”
A programme participant and registered prolific offender says, “Since attending this project I am more confident in myself and at ease around other people. As a result I have enrolled at college for the first time since leaving school.”
Jay Harley, Project Leader, Turnaround Community Detox Programme, Eastbourne says, “Our partnership with Eastbourne Council has demonstrably contributed to the highest success rate in the South East for Drug Treatment Testing Order completions. We have subsequently mainstreamed culture into our core work.”
