Village SOS
Village SOS is a major new initiative from the Big Lottery Fund and the BBC. They will be searching for six UK villages with a great enterprise idea to benefit their community. They are also looking for six enterprising individuals to act as Village Champions and help them achieve their ambitions. There will be a chance to show the nation, what villages can do with a community enterprise idea and what change it can achieve in rural areas.
To find out more, tune into the One Show on BBC One on 01, 02, 03 June at 7pm. if you miss the broadcasts, log on to Village SOS 01 June.
Last Chance to Apply to Nationwide Foundation
The Nationwide Foundation has launched a £3.2m grants programme for charities dealing with financial exclusion, housing issues and homelessness. The fund will be split between a small grants programme and an investor programme. The investor programme will offer three-year grants of up to £300,000 to charities with annual incomes of up to £10m. One-off grants of up to £5,000 for charities with incomes below £500,000 will be offered through the small grants programme. Charities offering financial and housing support to victims of domestic abuse and to elderly people will be the fund’s main beneficiaries.
Applications for the investor programme must be made by 31 May, but the small grants programme has no deadline. More information on the grant programme is available at: http://www.nationwidefoundation.org.uk/grants.asp
CRC Reports on Rural Financial Inclusion
Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) has sent a report to Hilary Benn, Sectretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, outlining the impact of the recession on rural areas. The report highlights, amongst other things, the gulf between demand for and availability of debt advice and affordable credit in rural areas, focuses on specific policy issues and makes suggestions for Government actions.
The full report, which can be read here, will form part of Hilary Benn’s contribution to the National Economic Council which meets weekly to consider impacts of the recession and recovery measures.
Office of Third Sector to Address Collaborate|2009
Delegates to ruralnet|uk’s Collaborate|2009 event will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of Helen Stephenson, Deputy Director, Third Sector Support Team. Helen will address the morning plenary session, outlining the measures put in place by the department to help third sector organisations during the current economic hardships.
ruralnet|uk has been running the collaboration events since 2006, bringing together a range of third sector organisations to share new and innovative ways of working more effectively. This year’s event, supported by Charity Bank, will include:
- Help from Business Link
- The work of the Regional ICT Champions
- Use of social media
- Initiatives from Charity Bank
- Collaboration for funding
An Early Booking discount rate of £40 (excl vat) is available until 25 May; thereafter a price of £55 (excl vat) will apply. Book now as places are strictly limited.
For further information please visit the Collaborate|2009 website
Book now for collaborate|2009
ruralnet|uk is pleased to confirm the date and location for its annual collaboration event. Collaborate|2009 will take place at The Dunchurch Parl Hotel, nr Rugby on 25 June.
Book now and save over 25%.
From now until the 25 May, places cost £40 (excl vat) - normal price £55 (excl vat)
Since 2006 the ruralnet|uk collaborate events have given third sector organisations the opportunity to discover new and innovative ways of collaborating, learn from case studies presented by peer organisations and develop new ideas and partnerships. Collaborate|2009 will be no exception!
Sessions this year include the help available from Business Link, how social media can help you reach new audiences and a way of earning money just by searching the internet. All this plus the chance to network with old and new friends over a delicious lunch.
For more details about the day and to reserve your place visit collaborate|2009
ruralnet|uk responds to call for Rural Broadband evidence
ruralnet|uk has responded to a request from Rural Service Network (RSN) for evidence on the impact of broadband in rural areas, by producing a fascinating report outlining the current situation facing thousands of individuals and organisations across rural Britain. RSN particularly wanted to know:
- If the lack of availability of broadband in the UK is hampering service delivery in rural areas
- What services cannot or are not being delivered due to the infrastructure contraints
- Where there is innovation in services
- What efficiencies have been obtained through increased online/digital delivery
Jane Berry who carried out the research and compiled the report said:
‘ruralnet|uk co-founded the Community Broadband Network in 2004, and it was great to re-visit some of the pioneers and find them still very active - but it was disappointing to see these rural community champions still battling to get the same coverage and bandwidth that those in urban areas can now take for granted.’
Read the full report below
Rural Broadband - response to a call for evidence
ruralnet|uk take VIP trip with Minister for a Digital Insight
ruralnet|uk’s Simon Bland was amongst seven VIP guests to join Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, this week on a ‘digital fact-finding’ tour of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.
The tour was organised by the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) in the latest of a series of ‘Rural Experience’ visits designed to give senior executives an insight into rural issues.
Speaking ahead of the visit Hilary Benn said: “Technology has helped rural entrepreneurship to grow, and broadband is transforming lives, communities and jobs.
“I know that broadband is essential for rural communities and businesses. I will make sure that access for rural areas is central part of government plans for the future of broadband”
Read the full CRC press release below:
CRC Press Release - Rural Experience
Download the full report from the visit from the CRC website here.
Rural Britain on the Frontline of Economic Fightback
Carnegie UK Trust is today recognising five unsung rural champions across the country. The champions or ‘Rural Sparks’ were identified through a widespread search for excellence, run by the Trust.
The nationwide search for ‘Rural Sparks’ unearthed a variety of inspiring projects, from community-run renewable energy schemes, to initiatives promoting local produce, to residents who harnessed a local heritage spot as a source of community revenue.
The final award winners were chosen by a high profile judging panel, with TV personality Jimmy Doherty from Jimmy’s Farm, Eden Project founder Tim Smit, Deputy Editor of Regeneration & Renewal, Ben Walker and former Director of the Commission for Rural Communities, Margaret Clark.
Carnegie UK Trust rural director Kate Braithwaite said:
“We are constantly hearing about how the banks and some industries are being bailed out, however the resilience of rural communities could provide an inspiration to us all. As part of Carnegie’s commitment to rural areas, we wanted to acknowledge the extraordinary work being done in these communities. The projects we are recognising are innovative, involve large numbers of people and contribute to the quality of life enjoyed by all.”
The panel considered five projects, one from each part of the UK and Ireland, to be particularly inspiring.
• TR 14ers Community Dance Group - England
The TR 14ers are a remarkable group of young people who have transformed their lives and their community through Street Dance.
• Community Food Co-operative Project - Wales
It’s a simple system in which customers pool their money and orders, collectively giving them buying power. The suppliers deliver in bulk and the co-op volunteers divide up the produce to maximise value for money.
• Callan Renewable Energy Supply Company - Republic of Ireland
A programme of projects that involves renewable developments and working with adults with learning disabilities in the areas of community living and organic farming.
• The Rural Key Music Project - Northern Ireland
A group that organises contemporary music workshops for adults in Rural Ulster.
• Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop - Scotland
The group was set up to revive the dying art of playing and learning the Fiddle, part of the Argyle communities heritage.
Jimmy Doherty, Rural Sparks judging panellist said of the Community Food Co-operative from Wales:
“This project promotes healthy eating, and sourcing local produce brings a huge benefit to the local rural community. By using the Food Co-op model produce otherwise unaffordable or unavailable to some sectors of the community suddenly become accessible to all.”
Fellow panellist Ben Walker said of Callan Renewable Energy Supply of the Republic of Ireland:
“CRESO has successfully stitched together economic, social and environmental causes for the benefit of the local area.”
The successful projects will be recognised for their hard work and innovation at a conference to be held at the Eden Project on 15 April. The conference is a collaboration between four pioneering organisations: The Eden Project Cornwall, the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, Tipperary Institute Ireland and the Falkland Centre for Stewardship in Scotland. It will address the practical ways that rural communities can survive in these hard and challenging times.
For further information, contact Morag Pavich, Carnegie UK Trust
Tel: 01383 721445
Email:morag@carnegieuk.org
Calling all collaborators - ruralnet|uk want to hear from you!
ruralnet|uk is pleased to announce the date for its highly regarded, third sector focused collaboration event. Collaborate 2009 will take place on Thursday 25th June at the Dunchurch Park Hotel near Rugby. The Charity Commission report ‘Collaborative Working and Mergers - 2003′ highlights how collaborative working can bring many benefits to charities and the organisations that they work with.
This one day experience will promote the benefits of collaboration through a series of sessions advocating the latest technical tools available, encouraging best practice through case studies and practical advice and providing networking time for exploring new ideas. Further details about the event will be released shortly.
Are you a project that has benefited from a collaborative approach? This year ruralnet|uk want to showcase examples of projects and enterprises that demonstrate the benefits of collaboration. They want to find people who are looking for partners for a new venture that would like to present at the event, please contact Angela Brankley at a.brankley@ruralnet.org.uk with a short outline; but be quick, only a few places are available.
Rob Mannion, Business Development Manager at ruralnet|uk, “Collaborate 2009 is where collaborative ideas will come together for others to learn from and be inspired. There are so many ways of collaborating and it’s not easy. We want to hear from people who would be happy to share their experiences of collaborating at the event.”
ruralnet|uk help Digital Unite with new websites
ruralnet|uk have just completed a package of work for Digital Unite, creating five brand new websites for the organisation/charity. Digital Unite specialise in helping people over 50 use IT and they also work with individuals, public businesses and private enterprises - providing training schemes, running national campaigns, sharing their expertise and encouraging online learning. It is important that they have an effective and clear presence on the internet for all the different work they they do.
Emma Solomon, Managing Director at Digital Unite says,
“We went to ruralnet with a tight budget and limited knowledge of website design and what Wordpress could do. They helped us build a site that’s clear and easy to use (for our users and for us). They’re extremely helpful, very knowledgable and came up with creative solutions to our problems. We’d recommend them.’
The IT team at ruralnet|uk developed the websites using WordpressMU;
www.digitalunite.com - main homepage
www.silversurfers.digitalunite.com - for older people; information on local events can be uploaded easily
www.learning.digitalunite.com - people can ask & answer technical questions
www.tutors.digitalunite.com - provides details about technology tutors who can support people
www.dnc.digitalunite.com - ‘Does Not Compute’ feedback & ideas swapping blog for the tech-savvy
Tabs on the homepage take visitors to these separate sites, where information can be uploaded about new events without logging in. The learners.digitalunite.com site provides a place where anyone can ask a technology-related question and others can contribute their answers in a sort of ‘open forum’.
Take a look at the new sites using the links above!
