Voluntary and Community Groups from across the rural areas of Eden have until the 16 January 2012 to register their interest and project ideas for a slice of Eden District Council’s new £230k Rural Infrastructure Fund.
The Fund was launched at the Eden Community Conference, which was held on Saturday 26 November at Toppin Memorial Hall, Skelton. Over 70 community groups attended the event which was organised by Eden District Council and Action with Communities in Cumbria (ACT).
The event was chaired by the Council’s Deputy Leader and Communities Portfolio Holder, Councillor Mary Robinson, who said: “I was delighted so many groups attended the Conference and contributed their ideas for how the Rural Infrastructure Fund can benefit our rural areas. A deadline of 16 January 2012 has been set for community groups to register their interest in the Fund. To do this, they should simply complete and return the Expression of Interest Form on the Council’s website, giving details of sustainable projects they have in mind for their areas. We hope to receive ideas for projects from across the District.”
Before conference delegates went into working groups to bring forward their ideas, key speakers from Eden community groups shared their experiences of implementing successful projects.
David Graham from the Lyvennet Community Planning Group, spoke about how local people used a shares initiative to purchase, refurbish and sustain their local pub and how a Community Land Trust is delivering much needed affordable housing. ACT Project Officer, Annie Hamilton-Gibney, showed how different community groups are celebrating the distinctiveness of their area, including producing information to attract tourists.
Key themes drawn out of the Conference workshops include; a desire to see a wide geographical support of projects, a clear mandate from communities which could be in the form of a community plan, benefits for a diverse spectrum of people (including the young and elderly) and financial sustainability with projects providing ongoing revenue. A diverse range of project ideas were considered in the workshops, ranging from community cafes and shops to improvements to village halls, energy generation and community transport schemes.
Local MP Rory Stewart, who also attended the Conference, said: “I am delighted to be supporting the Eden Rural Infrastructure Fund. Eden has been in the national spotlight for its Big Society initiatives, and it is absolutely wonderful that our District Council is building on this success and recognising that local communities know more, care more and can do more than distant government. We are here to listen to you, and not vice versa, and finally we are seeing a long-overdue recognition that communities' decision-making is the most legitimate, and often the most innovative."
The next steps for the Rural Infrastructure Fund’s development are to seek nominations from local people to be a member of the Eden Community Partnership, a panel which will consider how money from the Fund is to be allocated and make recommendations to the Council’s Executive.
Councillor Mary Robinson said: “We are looking for the local community to nominate individuals to be a member of the Eden Community Partnership. This body will determine and agree the criteria for judging the projects the Rural Infrastructure Fund supports. To nominate a person to sit on the Partnership visit our website www.eden.gov.uk/ruralfund
As part of the support available to community groups, a range of case studies are available that show how areas of Eden District are achieving positive outcomes through community planning. These groups are working together with local councils and other organisations to realise their ambitions. The case studies are available along with other advice from www.eden.gov.uk/community-solutions
For more information about the Eden Rural Infrastructure Fund and how to register your interest or to nominate someone to be a member of the Eden Community Partnership visit www.eden.gov.uk/ruralfund or telephone 01768 817817.
