Organisations will be part of a West Focus Family network. It is proposed that the following will take place within the network: website hosting information, links, databases, newsletters, networking activities, workshops, seminars and conferences around particular projects/themes/target groups. Other consultancy work e.g. evaluation, public consultations, etc...The last event 'Reaching Out: a good practice seminar for organisations working with under represented communities' was held on the 28th June with over 70 delegates.

Director: Joanne Sibthorpe

A particular focus for this network is early exploration of the experience of migrant women with young children, including women who don't speak English, examining the nature of their informal social networks and drawing implications for inclusive practice in organisations providing community services. Why would organisations join the network? Access research and other knowledge in area, share knowledge and experience, network, improve performance in accessing families [especially hard to reach families], improve performance in supporting these families; support new ways of helping these families, making existing support reflect what families need/want, support organisations fund their work - including development of entrepreneurial skills/social enterprises. Support organisations improve professional and managerial skills, support organisations in partnership/multi-agency working.

Director: Elhum Ghandi

Encouraging and helping relevant agencies to improve services for those most at risk. This was disseminated at a WestFocus seminar on the 12th January 2006 (see Events section).

Director: Dr Aisha Gill

Working with a number of groups who represent the socially excluded to develop a toolkit that they and others can use to improve their organisational effectiveness; the tools would cover strategic positioning and objective-setting; internal and external communications; media relations; campaigning and advocacy; and lobbying. The toolkit would take the form of interactive self-diagnosis, leading to a programme of targeted training and development

Director: Dave Wright

Working for a Charity (now a part of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations' Workforce Development Team) has been providing face-to-face courses for people who are new to the sector for fifteen years. The purpose of the project is to make this provision available to the large numbers of people who have found it impossible or inconvenient to access the face-to-face courses by developing a distance learning alternative. Working for a Charity has collaborated with the School of Business and Social Sciences at Roehampton University and the Roehampton Education Development (RED) Centre to produce and pilot the first unit of the course - An Introduction to the Voluntary Sector - WFSIN are producing of three further units - fundraising; employment and volunteering; and governance - which would complete a basic course.

Director: Colin Rochester

A Compact is an agreement drawn up and endorsed by the voluntary and community sector and local statutory bodies concerned with partnership and working practices. It is a document of partnership that aims to take that partnership forward in an environment and spirit of mutual respect and understanding. Slough local government and voluntary and community organisations are currently in the process of developing such a Compact. As part of the WestFocus Social Inclusion Network, Thames Valley University and the University of Roehampton are currently assisting and facilitating the development of the Slough Compact.

Director: Nick Slope

The development of a network of leading edge independent and voluntary organisations with a mission to promote the self-determination and social inclusion of people with learning disabilities. They will use action learning methods over 18 months to strengthen the capacity of their agencies to deliver the mission; share and test their experience with a wider cross-section of interested agencies and codify their learning; and draw implications for local partnerships and systems. A core set of six innovative organisations agreed to provide the initial focus and test-bed for this network over the first nine months of 2005.

Director: David Towell

Social exclusion is both a cause and consequence of mental health problems. Conversely, social inclusion is a powerful support to positive mental health. This review of the literature will both develop a framework which links mental health and social inclusion and provide a basis for shaping positive interventions. The review will be the basis for consultation with relevant community service organisations about further elements in the Social Inclusion Network contributions in 2006.

Director: David Towell

The project aims to explore police practice in the London area with child victims (aged 8+) of sexual abuse, seeking the views of a representative sample of children; their parents and practitioners (police, social workers and possibly teachers), set within the context of inter-agency practice. The project should also explore the nature of police training and good practice guidance in this area seeking to inform police training and practice (and would have relevance for other practitioners working with child victims), making clear recommendations about how this might be improved upon/developed. This element of the work could inform the development of `The London Training Programme', but would have much wider implications for practice. The Project Team will wish to develop their own good practice guide, based upon the findings, which has an international application. The Team may also wish to develop training materials and a training programme.

Director: Dr Julia Davidson & Professor Antonio Bifulco