civic trust strategy

8/14/2019 Civic Trust Strategy

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CreatingBetter Places

for People

Strategy 2009 to 2012


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Contents

3 Whoweareandwhatwedo

4 OurHistory

6 Mission,visionandvalues

8 Strategicobjectives

12 Howwewillmeasuresuccess

CeinBeePlcesfoPeople

The

CivicTrustsStrategy

for2009

to

2012

01

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One of 3,500 properties which

opened nationwide to 1 million

visitors for Heritage Open Days in

2007.

Photo: Andy Newbold Photography

Cn f Wildlif gdnin,

Lndn

Our work encourages communities

to work together for the benet

of all.

Photo: Tracey Neil

Wkld Civic Sci Blu

Plqu

Civic societies make a real difference

to the places in which they live, from

appreciating heritage to working with

planning departments.

Photo: Wakeeld Civic Society

Cv Im: es Bch Cf, Lilhmpn

Photo: Andy Stagg


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Whoweareandwhatwedo

The Civic Trust works for better places in which people can live, work andrelax. We believe that these places must be designed and built to respond

to the needs of the people who use them. They must be accessible to,

and safe for, their communities.02

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heacde,

Bnsley

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hoto:KyleWilkinson


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The Civic Trust works for betterplaces in which people can live,work and relax. We believe thatthese places must be designed andbuilt to respond to the needs ofthe people who use them. Theymust be accessible to, and safe for,their communities.

We empower individuals and communities of

all ages and backgrounds to understand and

improve their places. We coach and support

them to own the regeneration, economic

growth and the change agendas for their

environment.

We raise awareness of the need to create

environments which bring out the best inpeople, celebrate the best places, and expect

the highest quality for all communities. We

believe in educating people about their

heritage through preserving the best of the

past, and designing for the future.

We champion vibrant, inclusive towns and

cities, and show how places can be better.

Above all, we believe that people can,

and must, play a part in shaping their own

communities.

We work in partnership with the public sector,

private companies, voluntary organisations

and communities to inuence policy, planning

and development.


The

CivicTrustsStrategy

for2009

to

2012Thebackground

totheCivicTrust

03

Fu spin S Ms,

Ws Mllin

Heritage Open Days enables

communities to celebrate their

shared heritage.

Photo: Katja Condy

rundwd Pk, Lndn

Buh f Bn

The Civic Trust works to raise the

quality of our green spaces for the

enjoyment of the whole community.

Photo: London Borough of Brent

essx Univsi Lcu Hll

Civic Trust Award winner. Elegant

and simple the building provides

facilities for both the university and

wider community.

Photo: Charlotte Wood Photography


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Founded in 1957, the Civic Trust isa national charity which campaignsfor better places in which peoplelive, work and relax. We helpcommunities to inuence andimprove their environment.

Fifty years ago, the Civic Trust was established

as a champion for the built environment and

for Britains rich heritage of historic buildings

and places.

For half a century, the Trust has focused not

only on conservation, but also on bringing

about change, improvement and higher

standards. Our campaigning and work with

communities inuences national policy,

changes legislation and brings about betterplaces for people.

We continue to be at the forefront of urban

regeneration, heritage protection and

citizenship. Our research, consultancy and

award schemes develop, recognise and reward

high quality environments in our villages,

towns and cities.

We are continuing to work with communities

and decision makers to ensure that spaces

and places are planned, designed, built and

protected for the benet of us all.

Ourhistory

04

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Our programmes encourage young

people to explore and appreciate

their environment.

Photo: Trafford MBC

BizFizz nwkin vn

Bringing together a network of

experienced volunteers to help new

entrepreneurs start new businesses.

Photo: BizFizz

Mnchs nih

Successful evening economies are

safe, varied and attractive to all

members of the community.

Photo: Hannah Mummery


The

CivicTrustsStrategy

for2009

to

2012


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The

CivicTrustsStrategy

for2009

to

2012

Mission,visionandvalues

05

The Civic Trust is the independent nationwide network dedicated tohelping communities make better places in which to live, work, and play.

We campaign for better places for people.

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zelwoodSchool,glsow

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hoto:AndrewLee


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MissionThe Civic Trust is the independent nationwide

network dedicated to helping communities

make better places in which to live, work,

and play. We campaign for better places for

people.

VisionThe Civic Trust will be a powerful, denitive

and distinctive voice which helps communities

to imagine, shape and deliver inspiring places

and an enduring future.

The Civic Trust will enhance the general

well-being and quality of lives of people and

communities by working with them to value,

enjoy and provide aesthetic, prosperous and

greener places for a sustainable Britain.

ValuesIt is important to us that the outcome of

our work:

Promotes a feeling of civic pridey

Fosters community involvement andy

facilitates active participation in

democratic processes

Preserves the best of the pasty

Designs for a sustainable futurey

As an organisation we will:

Empower people from all walks of lifey

who share our hopes and aspirations

Respect the views of others andy

continue to act as an honest broker to

seek positive outcomes for the whole

community

Collaborate in bringing about change fory

the benet of communities

Challenge those things that work againsty

the interests of a thriving community

Acknowledge the role of the businessy

community in creating prosperity

Nurture creative and inspiring outcomesy

Be professional and well informedy

06

Inc Blundll Hll

Over 35,000 volunteers are

involved in opening a wide range of

buildings for Heritage Open Days.

Photo: zestimages.com

ghluvl Pk, Wcs

Safe and well maintained green

spaces provide a breathing space

for all the community.

Photo: Worcester City Council

rin Windshl,

Blckpl

Civic Trust Award winner. The judging

panel for these unique awards

includes a community assessor.

Photo: Peter Cook, View


The

CivicTrustsStrategy

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to

2012


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The

CivicTrustsStrategy

for2009

to

2012

Strategicobjectives

1. To strengthen and grow an active civic movement

2. Empowering communities and residents to raise standards in their

environment of the future

3. Work with local and national government to inuence and shape policies

07

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redin

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Objectives Actions

Increase and broaden ourmembership to ensureeffective representation ofthe whole community

Actively promote the Civic Champions programme to Civic Societies,

empower them to expand their own networks and spheres of inuence

and inspire them to innovate

Work with voluntary and other groups to identify, focus on and engage

with excluded communities in our target areas

Challenge regional associations in our target areas to be proactive in

establishing new Civic Societies in deprived areas and in promoting tools

and approaches that Societies have successfully implemented elsewhere

Inspire and strengthen thegrassroots membershipthrough improved supportand coordination, training andinformation sharing

Develop and provide frameworks to enable the establishment of vital

neighbourhood networks and partnerships, enabling collaboration

between communities of interest to solve problems directly

Capture the imagination of our membership, providing them with

the tools, equipping local members to participate as constructive

stakeholders in the local democratic processes, including the

development and review of Community Strategies, Local Development

Frameworks and active participation in Local Strategic Partnerships

Understand better the needs and concerns of members and potential

members. Celebrate their successes and through lectures and education

events such as Paving the Way ensure new developments contribute to

our future heritage

Broaden the memberships opportunities for direct contact including

participation in regional and local meetings and fundraising activities

Develop improved tools to ensure we represent the collective voice of

the grassroots civic movement at the national level and support their

campaigns

Continue to increase the

diversity and appeal of ourvolunteering opportunities

Explore ways of engaging young people at all levels in Heritage Open

Days, allowing young people to shape what we deliver

Widen participation from BME and other third sector groups, establish

database of regional and local community and faith organisations /

groups in collaboration with English Heritage Outreach

Boost participation of families, especially from deprived areas, establish

links with local SureStart Centres

Extend opportunities for members of the public interested in their

local built environment to take part in the assessment process within

the Civic Trust Award scheme and to build relationships with qualied

professionals

1.Tostrengthenandgrowanactivecivicmovement

08


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CivicTrustsStrategy

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2012


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Objectives Actions

To reward, recognise andpromote those peopleand places that reach thehighest standard and make a

positive contribution to theircommunities

Develop and grow the Civic Trust Awards, inviting a wide

range of partners to support special awards aimed at

encouraging participation from more deprived areas

Launch the new celebration of the night time economy withthe rst Purple Flag awards ceremony in 2009, expanding the

scheme across the whole of England

Continue our innovation and research in design and master

planning best practice that supports new community

strategies. Use this to coach, develop standards and celebrate

excellence

Provide frameworks forcommunities to takeownership of regenerationand change agendas for theirenvironment

Utilise the learning from our community programmes, such as

High Street, to create new relationships between residents,

local authorities and the private sector, in which their

creativity, knowledge, skills and experience is recognised as

having equal worth alongside regeneration specialists andprofessionals

Lead on high street regeneration, through programmes of

action that support and grow the local economy

Provide an antidote to Clone Town by championing

distinctiveness as a lever for local economic growth

Facilitate the provision ofcommunity coaching andeducation that reaches and

empowers communities toimagine, shape and deliverinspiring and sustainableplaces

Develop new coaching products, building upon our previous

successes, to empower and educate our members and

supporters to make a difference in their own communities

Provide community engagement by recruiting and trainingbuilt environment professionals as volunteers to assess the

Civic Trust Award scheme

Empower residents to create and deliver their own holistic

solutions to high street regeneration and place shaping by

sharing structures and processes that have proven successful

2.Empoweringcommunitiesandresidentstoraisestandardsintheirenvironmentofthefuture

09


The

CivicTrustsStrategy

for2009

to

2012


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Objectives Actions

Promote the importance ofcivic pride, responsibility andcommunity engagement withdecision makers

Strengthen our relationships with Civic Societies, providing

tangible support for their development plans and evidence of

what works to guide and inform

Support our members in building lasting relationships withlocal decision makers and to encourage them to work together

on collaborative solutions

Provide opportunities for our members to engage with and

learn from each other through seminars, information sharing

and networking events

Strengthen consultationarrangements to ensurethe Trust can provide rapid,representative and evidence

based input to policydecisions

Develop and promote the Civic Trust brand to increase its

prole and inuence. Provide high quality responses to policy

consultations and to the concerns raised from our membership

Create and sustain meaningful relationships with senior

members of government to engage and inuence nationalpolicy

Broaden communication channels to ensure we listen to all of

our members so that in turn their knowledge and experience

can help inuence our agenda and policy

Use of web based tools and other social media to improve

coverage and quality of our consultation responses and to

provide fora for broader dialogue with members and those

engaged in civil society

Improved partnership and

networking to add the Trustsdistinctive and uniquevalue, complementing andsupporting the effortsof others in shaping andinuencing the policy agenda

Develop our communications and relationship management

strategies to deliver new and enduring partnerships withinthe planning, community engagement, town centre and local

economies, regeneration and conservation sectors

Utilise our evidence based research to develop new

programmes that support communities and inuence

government policy

3.Workwithlocalandnationalgovernmenttoinuenceandshapepolicies

10


The

CivicTrustsStrategy

for2009

to

2012


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The

CivicTrustsStrategy

for2009

to

2012

Howwewillmeasuresuccess

11

We will evidence the impact of our work through regular assessment and

reporting our performance against agreed baselines and annual targets.

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hintown,

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We will evidence the impactof our work through regularassessment and reporting ourperformance against agreedbaselines and annual targets. Inparticular we will be looking to seeimprovements in the following keydimensions:

Volunteer participation with oury

programmes - numbers, geographic

reach, diversity of backgrounds and ages.

Social impact of our programmesy

evidenced by surveys covering

perceptions of belonging, social cohesion

and satisfaction with their environment.

Volunteer learning and developmenty

based on surveys, interviews and practicalcase studies.

Numbers of members of the public whoy

have successfully completed one of our

courses, seminars or events and positive

evaluation results from these events.

Number of individuals participating iny

coaching.

Local business growth evidenced throughy

co-authored, outcome focussed measures

including; new business start ups,

business survival rates, job creation and

reductions in worklessness.

Evidence of improved communityy

engagement and social impact of

coaching through post event surveys,

positive evaluation results and interviews.

Membership numbers and improvementy

on the degree to which they represent

the community in which they are resident.

Membership service quality and customery

satisfaction survey results.

Diversity and number of grass rootsy

partnerships developed through

engagement with the Civic Trust and our

programmes.

Number of policy consultations andy

challenges where we have representedour members.

The results of our monitoring and

evaluation will inform our future policy

and programme development.

Howwewill

measuresuccess

12

g Mlvn Hih S

A partnership between local people,

businesses and authorities working

to develop a thriving local economy.

Photo: Bridget Orr

Bubn Ln, Fulhm

Civic Trust Award winner. The

streetscape creates a positive

atmosphere and neighbourhood,

giving the area character and

personality.

Photo: Morley Von Sternberg

Lcl lnin

The Civic Trust empowers local

people to come together to

campaign for better spaces and

places in their own communities.

Photo: Wakeeld Civic Society


The

CivicTrustsStrategy

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2012


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The Civic Trust

2nd Floor, Essex Hall

1-6 Essex Street

London

WC2R 3HU

Tel: 020 7539 7900

Fax: 020 7539 7901

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.civictrust.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1068759

Patron: HRH Prince of Wales

President: Griff Rhys Jones

civic trust strategy

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