Mansfield's MARS (Multi-agency Rented Solutions) scheme which recently won a prestigious Delivering Chances Award from the East Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership, has also been selected as one of the first wave of pathfinder mutual companies announced by the government.

Click on the link bnelow to watch our short film about the MARS Scheme:
http://www.eastmidlandsiep.gov.uk/emiep-tv/1/47/mars-scheme-mansfield-dc/

Officers in Mansfield District Council's Housing Needs team developed the proposals themselves after the long term future of their current external Supporting People funding was put at risk. The proposals for the MARS scheme show a Big Society approach which means the service can not only continue, but also generate income and help stimulate the local economy. Staff, who are the real experts, can take over and deliver better services b by bringing empty properties back into use for the people who need them the most. By tackling problems when they first arise and not expensively managing them over many years, it is hoped that the scheme will become self-financing through the development of new income streams.

The Council will benefit from support as a pathfinder to create a model for the future of public service delivery through employee led social enterprises. They will be helped by mentors from the world of business and consultancy, including John Lewis Partnership, Tribal and the Office for Public Management.

The MARS Scheme which is one of our Delivering Chances Awards winners has been made one of the first 12 schemes to operate the government's new Mutuals Scheme.

Find out more by visiting: http://www.mansfield.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3784

The twelve Pathfinders are:

1. An awarding body setting up as a mutual by a consortium of FE colleges  
2. The London Partnership - creating a ‘Reducing Multiple Disadvantage' Community Interest Company from a group of DH, LA, PCT and NHS staff 
3.  The Department of Health's London and SE Learning Disability Team forming a regional Community Interest Company 
4.  Hammersmith and Fulham Children's Services exploring new models of delivery with staff, possible commercial partners and neighbouring local authorities 
5.  North East Essex PCT spinning out into a Community Interest Company 
6.  The creation of a social enterprise for delivery of housing support services to vulnerable people in Mansfield, bringing together a range of public sector workers 
7.  The Lambeth Resource Centre exploring options for coproducing services with employees, service users and third sector organisations to provide rehabilitation support for people with physical and sensory impairment 
8. NHS employees forming a social enterprise to provide joined up services for homeless people in Leicester 
9. Teaching and administrative staff planning to set up a Trust to run Newton Rigg Agricultural College in Cumbria 
10.  The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea working with employees to examine the potential for different models of employee led youth support services
11. Integration of Community Health and Adult Social Services in Swindon into a cooperative
12. Westminster City Council working with employees in Children's Services and neighbouring local authorities to move towards creating an arms-length mutual organisation.