Signpost March 2008

From Norfolk RCC

A New Start

As many of you will be aware, both the Local Network Fund (LNF) and the Rural Social & Community Programme (RSCP) finish on 31st March. Although we have lost funding and much valued staff, it has also given us the opportunity to rethink how we deliver support to the communities across the county.

We are now developing a core team of well-qualified, highly skilled and well-motivated people who will provide a broad high-quality support service in their geographic patches. These ‘field officers’ will each have a particular ‘expertise’ (e.g. funding or environmental stability) and will support their colleagues in that area. This system has already been tried out successfully over the last 15 months with the advice service to village and community halls.

In this way, we are able to continue to provide our full range of support services with a smaller staff, and deal with the loss of direct funding for particular areas of expertise. Both communities and field officers will get to know one another much better, building mutual trust and support.

It is our firm intention, fully backed by our board of trustees, to continue to serve Norfolk’s rural communities at the highest standards, despite the changes in funding streams. As the OCSI research has shown, the need for our work continues across the county (see website!).

We are very grateful for all the support we have received from you, our members, colleagues and friends, over the last 22 years. Now we have an even greater need of your support, so please be our ambassadors: recruit new members, encourage donations and tell people about our work. Above all, remember to renew your membership (if you haven’t already done so).

John Dixon CEO

NNVS

Please note that as of 17th March 2008 Norwich & Norfolk Voluntary Services will be known as “Voluntary Norfolk”.

It’s Goodbye from me…and the RSCP Access Research & Development Programme

As the programme finishes at the end March 2008, I would like to thank all the people in communities, groups, partnerships and organisations who have contributed information – via surveys, interviews, focus groups or discussions - to enable me to write a final report. The report will be available in full from the NRCC website, but I would like to share the following , including 5 recommendations:

There is a need to fully acknowledge the difference between urban and rural communities and understand that ‘rural proofing’ is not just ensuring that urban policies and strategies will somehow bring benefit to rural areas. Rural proofing may ensure there is no direct negative impact, but will not always secure maximum benefit.

1. Flexibility and understanding from local agencies, to support (incl. financially) less traditional solutions originating in and/or embraced by local communities - in short, many small voluntary schemes are working, learn why and help them

2. A choice of free concessionary travel or a set amount of transport vouchers for individuals to be spent as wished – not everybody can get to a bus stop or use public transport, calculate the average entitlement and let people choose transport vouchers instead.

3. Simplified and up-to-date transport information.

4. Find a way to value social impact, rather than just economic and share access costs across council departments in a more effective way.

5. Despite MyNorfolk not being fully realised, a renewed push for improved ICT and training is needed especially in areas where it can replace physical access.

Will this research make a difference for people in rural parishes? Apart from any help offered to existing groups, schemes and village halls during the past two years, work has been focused in two main areas: The North Norfolk Active Travel (NNCP £ 1million+ project to introduce a number of shared paths in North Norfolk) and the cooperation with WNVCA, West Norfolk Community Transport Project and other partners to introduce a new car scheme in the Downham-Upwell area. More time is needed to see what difference this will all make.

Margrete Thorsen-Moore Access Research & Development Officer

Local Network Fund Report

To see the full report ‘The Local Network Fund in Norfolk 2001/2008 An Overview’ please go to www.norfolkrcc.org.uk

Farewell from Geoffrey Leigh

Having worked for the RCC for sixteen years and reached an age at which retirement looks increasingly attractive, I will indeed be retiring at the end of March. Now before lots of people start to think that means I will be ‘available’ and ‘useful’ for their project, let me say quite unambiguously that for me retirement means exactly that!

Not that I won’t be doing all sorts of things. Yes, I have a lot of activities that I want to do planned and lots that are unplanned. But, and this is the big difference, they will all be for me, and perhaps for one or two other people. I may well change my mind in the distant future but for now: no more meetings.

Sixteen years is a long time in an organisation that I have enjoyed being involved with and has given me a great deal of satisfaction through the connections with people living in the many rural communities across Norfolk. That is the ultimate job satisfaction helping people to achieve what they have identified as important for their community, and seeing their pride in what has been achieved.

Back in 1992 the RCC was a very small organisation. I think I was the sixth member of staff and was appointed to work across practically the whole county. The office in Hingham was quite spacious when I started; I even had a room to myself. Not long after we began to expand taking on new projects and new staff so that we had a satellite office at Castle Acre (surely the best located RCC office in England overlooking the castle) and Fakenham. Hingham grew more and more overcrowded such that the move to Dereham was similar to moving to a spacious palace.

The RCC also grew in authority and was looked to for the knowledge we had about the ‘rural’ dimension. The important thing to remember is that that knowledge is gained from the day to day contact we have with people living in rural communities.

So, it is with the feeling that Norfolk Rural Community Council will go forward to meet challenges and to continue what it does best – working with communities – that I say farewell to all those with whom I have worked. As a far greater man than I said (slightly amended) at the end of all his news programmes: good luck and goodbye.

BROADS & RIVERS COMMUNITY CHEST – the very last chance!

The good news is that there is a small amount of unallocated money which is available to any parish in the Broads & Rivers area which has a short-term project that needs extra cash.

The deadline for applications will be Thursday 24 April and the project would need to be completed and the end of project report written by the end of July 2008. For further details please contact Sara Muldoon on 01362 698216 or email community.chest@norfolkrcc.org.uk

WREN WRG Challenge 2008

Through the WRG Communities Challenge WREN wishes to support the best community regeneration projects which demonstrate the greatest need and can make a significant improvement to people’s lives.

The Challenge will provide £2 million of funding for capital projects which breathe new life into tired or rundown facilities or provide much needed new amenities.

Organisations and groups are invited to bid for funding of between £75,000 and £250,000 for capital projects which will make a real difference to their community.

Projects must be not for profit, not operate a membership policy and be open to the general public. Such projects could include:

• Recreational areas such as Parks, community gardens or open green spaces • Community centres, village halls or youth centres • Play areas, skate parks or multi-use games areas • Nature reserves or community woodlands • Sports centres or recreation grounds • Museums and visitors centres • A combination of facilities

Projects can be for the creation of new facilities or the renovation of existing facilities. Funding will not be provided for the purchase of land or buildings. Bids can only be accepted from communities that are within 10 miles of a landfill site

Forms must be received at WREN House by 5.00pm on Friday 30 May 2008 at the very latest

For more information visit: http://www.wren.org.uk and look at WRG Challenge Guidance or contact WREN by telephone: 01953 717165