CCD News

• 05 July 2010PRESS RELEASE: funds to 'grow your own' essential local services, with CCD support
  

  Community And Social Enterprises
  making a CASE for rural services in Devon

   

  Rural communities across Devon are being urged to bid for funds to create innovative and sustainable ways to 'grow their own' essential local services.

  At a time when services in rural areas such as community shops and post offices , access to healthcare, village services and community facilities are under threat, a £7m+ Community And Social Enterprise (CASE) grants and advice programme has been launched across the South West.

  The CASE programme, funded by the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) through the South West Regional Development Agency, will help create or develop community and social enterprises which can 'grow their own' local services.

   And to help voluntary and community groups through the application process, a free support and advice service called 'Making a CASE, Making it Happen' has been set up.

  In Devon, Dawn Eckhart and Charlotte Weedon from Community Council of Devon are the CASE Advisers to contact for advice and information about the grants. Across the South West, there are seven Rural Community Council CASE Advisers available to help in each locality.

  Dawnsaid: "Along with my colleagues across the region, I am here to give voluntary and community organisations the best chance to develop the sort of innovative and sustainable projects which are most likely to receive funding to provide essential services.

  "We're looking for strong, enterprising ideas to provide local services which can run as a social or community enterprise, so it is sustainable and benefits people living in rural areas. These services could include access to child care, rural community shops, ‘multi use’ rural community facilities or even renewable energy projects which benefit the whole community and generate income."

  "We believe the Rural Community Councils are in the best position to offer this support and to reach as many rural organisations as possible and we’re delighted to be working in partnership with them."

  • For more information about the grant funding, how to apply and how to contact the Devon CASE Adviser, contact  Dawn Eckhart 01392 383681 dawn@devonrcc.org.uk and Charlotte Weedon 01392 383 345 charlotte2@devonrcc.org.uk or visit http://www.swan-network.org.uk/

  Ends

   

  Notes to editors:

  • The 'Making a CASE, Making it Happen' support service is managed across the South West by Gloucestershire First working in partnership with SWAN (the South West Network of Rural Community Councils). Each RCC has a dedicated CASE Adviser who can help and support local organisations to prepare applications for funding. For more information, see http://www.swan-network.org.uk/
  • What is a community or social enterprise?

  A community or social enterprise isa formally constituted group or business which trades primarily for social purposes rather than being driven by the need to maximise profits. Whilst governance and legal structures will vary, they exist for the benefit of the local community, either to promote a particular activity or service or to achieve a set of socially based objectives.

  • The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) The Community And Social Enterprise fund is just one funding stream within the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) which runs from 2007 to 2013. 

              RDPE is the 2nd pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy and aims to support the creation of genuinely sustainable farming, forestry and food sectors, whilst also bringing wider benefits for the economy, the environment and rural communities. It provides the major financial vehicle for protecting and enhancing the environment and securing a range of public benefits for society. Defra is the Managing Authority.

                          The RDPE has three priorities for rural development:

  1. Improving competitiveness of the agriculture and forestry sectors
  2. Improving the environment and the countryside
  3. Improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity    

  The aims, objectives and priorities for delivering RDPE in South West England were agreed for the socio-economic investments with regional partners and these are set out in the Regional Implementation Plan. On the basis of a thorough analysis of South West England’s rural characteristics and economy, the Plan sets out eight themes:

  1. Skills development
  2. Social enterprise
  3. Business support    
  4. Supply chain and adding value     
  5. Resource management (soil, water, energy, waste)     
  6. Sustainable rural tourism   
  7. Biodiversity and landscape   
  8. Community-led development

  Further information on the RDPE and the schemes see www.sw-ruralgateway.info

   

  The Community Council of Devon is an independent Charity committed to working for the future of rural Devon since 1961. We support the fundamental institutions of rural life, and help communities develop new and imaginative ways of meeting needs, working in partnership with statutory bodies and voluntary organisations.

        Visit our website on www.devonrcc.org.uk and find out more about us.

• [ all news items ]
• [ news archive ]