1. Community Organising and Community Development- ground level reflections Marion Rayner Community Development Manager Rural Communities: development and organisingstate of play 2014 8 Jan 2014Reg. Charity No: 288117 Co. Ltd by Guarantee Reg. No: 1757334 VAT Reg No: 639386006 Registered with FCA No: FRN311971

2. Community First is the Rural Community Council (RCC) for Wiltshire and Swindonwww.communityfirst.org.uk 3. A rural county Market towns 257 parishes Salisbury Plain Community areas= market town + parishes 4. Our CO project Motivation- a different approach Hosting 3 Trainee COs - 1 F/T, 2 P/T Recruited April 13 2 based in Roundway 1 in Bishops Cannings Our impressions so far 5. Practical issues Choice of area Recruit out of area New neighbourhoods Practical concerns- safety, getting around, lack of meeting places, mobile signal, toilets! Existing relationships Rural vs urban differences 6. CD & CO approaches Some similarities with CD approach: Community empowerment values Capacity building support Differences: No predetermined agenda Works with individuals rather than groups Starts with individuals needs rather than communitys Less collaborative with existing networks and processes Legacy- holding team with contacts and asset lists 7. Strengths of CO approach Reach people that traditional methods miss Builds resource of community concerns, ideas and assets Builds sustainable relationships, networks and capacity New way of initiating community led activities New path into volunteering 8. Challenges Not invited in Door knocking- safety issues Emerging priorities differ from official ones Operating at grass roots -no linkage initially Care needed with existing relationships Reputational risks Community holding team? Sustainability 9. Opportunities Engage with hidden voices Role in supporting community rights Citizen involvement and volunteering Parish Council involvement Another tool in the box? A new approach for Community First 10. Community Organiser perspectiveAlex North Trainee Community Organiser for Roundway, Devizes 11. Sustainability? Employment start up grant 15K, match required Several scenarios: 1.Continue in existing areas 2.Expand into neighbouring areas 3.Combine CO work with CD support 4.Hit squad approach 5.Develop volunteer CO network Employed or social enterprise? Modify for sustainable rural CO 12. Any questions? www.communityfirst.org.uk mrayner@communityfirst.org.uk 13. Further information For further information about the work of the Community Organisers programme nationally www.cocollaborative.org.uk/ Community Organisers in Wiltshire: www.facebook.com/devcomorg www.twitter.com/devcomorg