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Thanks to support from Raise Partnership and funding from North Somerset Council’s allocation of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, advice was provided to help the organisations collaborate and grow, with the aim of supporting them to better support their communities in North Somerset.
The project plans include:
Weston-super-Mare
- Creation of a Community Land Trust to identify, map, and mobilise resources to address challenges, promote growth, and improve the quality of life for community members. This will aim to provide affordable housing and services for marginalised residents. Race Equality North Somerset (RENS) are leading this project and successfully applied for UKSPF community grant funding for a feasibility study into taking over a disused building for this purpose.
- Re-purposing empty town centre units in Weston-super-Mare to provide long-term sustainable property alternatives to accommodate multiple uses including performance space, workshops and artists’ studios.
Clevedon
- Strategic planning for local organisations to have a physical base at Clevedon Community Centre to create a hub for the community and the arts.
Portishead
- The development of a new wellbeing hub involving collaboration between Walnut Grove Wellbeing Community Interest Company (CIC), community organisations, and the town council to provide health and wellbeing support to local people in Portishead who previously didn’t have access to these services.
- Walnut Grove Wellbeing CIC’s successful funding application for a UKSPF community grant has enabled the launch of a new set of health and wellbeing workshops and courses in Portishead, including an outreach programme into local care and assisted living homes e.g. stroke rehab, rehabilitation through music workshops, a menopause café etc.
The project has enabled community groups to better work together, increasing the likelihood of delivering long-term outcomes and the chances of submitting successful applications for new funding to take project ideas forward.
The support given was tailored to each individual organisation and included business planning, coaching and mentoring, strategic development, and property and construction planning advice.
The project also supported five locally-led groups to become CICs. This means becoming a business with social and community benefit at its heart.
Richard Savory, Managing Director of Raise Partnership Limited, said: “Following an incredible year in 2022 working with North Somerset Council on their Community Renewal Fund programme, it has been great to be back to support the council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund over the last 18 months. It has been a privilege to work with so many inspirational community champions and support at least 30 VCSE organisations during this time.”
Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council’s Executive Member for Spatial Planning, Placemaking and Economy, said: “We are delighted that our UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme has been able to support so many organisations to build their capacity and continue helping North Somerset residents into the future.”
For more information please visit: innorthsomerset.co.uk/ukspf/year-1/ukspf-capacity-building/