rural community councils
DESCRIPTION
Rural Community Councils. David Wood Regional Development Officer Contact: 01473 242500 or [email protected]. Agenda. Introduce RCCs Describe the work of RCCs Describe the role of the regional organisation Suggest areas of support for development of sport in rural areas. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Rural Community Councils
David WoodRegional Development Officer
Contact: 01473 242500 or [email protected]
the regional voice for the rural community2
AgendaIntroduce RCCsDescribe the work of RCCsDescribe the role of the regional organisationSuggest areas of support for development of sport in rural areas
the regional voice for the rural community3
Confusion Warning!Rural Community Council or RCC is generic name for• ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural
England)• Community Action• Community First• Rural Community Charity• Voluntary Action
Nothing to do with Local Authority Councils!
the regional voice for the rural community4
What are they?Active in every English county Existed for up to 70 years• Considerable knowledge and experience
Registered charity• Some have associated Trading Company
Work in partnership• Countryside Agency, EEDA, LA, GO, DEFRA, etc
Federated to national organisationACRE: Action with Communities in Rural England
the regional voice for the rural community5
What do they do?Help rural communities to help themselvesImprove quality of rural life by overcoming:
• Physical isolation – lack of basic services• Social isolation – lack of leisure & social
services• Lack of affordable housing• Lack of (well paid) jobs• Lack of public transport
the regional voice for the rural community6
Core Activities #1Community & Social Inclusion
Village hall management, maintenance, improvementsAdvice on legislationTraining to individuals & groups
• Courses, resource centres, literature, magazines, leaflets
Organisation of conferences & workshopsCaring for people
• Good neighbour schemes, childcare groups, clubs for elderly, etc
the regional voice for the rural community7
Core Activities #2Rural Economy & Regeneration
Market Town Initiative• Support to town partnerships, specialist advice
Provision of ICT skills & knowledgeSupport for Community or Social Enterprises
• Business plans, marketing, legislation, accounting
Farming Diversification• Schools links, farmers’ markets, tourism
the regional voice for the rural community8
Core Activities #3Environment & Sustainable
DevelopmentCommunity Action (Parish) Plans
• Consultation, analysis, planning projects
Transport• Rural Transport Partnerships, Kick-start,
Community buses, brokerage, voucher schemes
Affordable housing developments• Countryside Agency & Housing Corporation
the regional voice for the rural community9
Rural Action East – Why?Umbrella independent charity for all six county RCCs in ER Response to political regionalisation policyProvide interface to new regional agencies & govt bodiesAchieve critical mass – size mattersCollaborative regional & sub-regional projectsShare experiences & knowledge
the regional voice for the rural community10
Rural Action East – RoleAdvocacy for the rural community• Partner regional government agencies
Research & policy definition• Influence rural programmes & their delivery
Regional projects• Exploit dispersed knowledge & expertise• Partner with other members of Voluntary &
Community Sector
Internal development• Share best practice
the regional voice for the rural community11
County Support for Rural Sport
Identify need & priorities• Parish Plans: full community involvement & support• Work with community groups: youth, child, elderly, etc• Action Plan for improvement projects, recognition of role of
sportFunding• Signposting sources of funds• Liaison with Sports Development Officers & LA Sports & Leisure• Assistance with applications
Links to Playing Fields Association• Hosted & administered by RCCs
Joint county workshops• Publicity/marketing• Importance of role of sport in communities
the regional voice for the rural community12
Regional Support for Rural Sport
Collaborative ProjectsResearch the state of sports facilities in rural areasIdentify action for development of rural sport in the regionJointly bid for implementation project
the regional voice for the rural community13
SummaryRural Community Councils
• Offer extensive & informed network actively engaged with rural communities
• Provide channel for sport to be recognised in community plans
• Support development of action plans• Assist in means to deliver sporting
aspirations, eg projects & their funding
the regional voice for the rural community14
ContactsBedfordshire Rural Communities Charity• www.bedsrcc.org.uk or 01234 838771
Cambridgeshire ACRE• www.cambsacre.org.uk or 01353 860850
Rural Community Council of Essex• www.essexrcc.org.uk or 01245 352046
Community Development Agency for Hertfordshire• www.cdaforherts.org.uk or 01707 695500
Norfolk rural Community Council• www.norfolkrcc.org.uk or 01953 851408
Suffolk ACRE• www.suffolkacre.org.uk or 01473 242500