Themed Forums
Improving Reach - Rural Communities
Martin Bradley has been appointed to work with rural communities and groups throughout Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.
His role is to empower and develop rural communities and small organisations in a number of ways including:
• enabling communities to engage in decision making processes which affect them
• providing information, advice and guidance to existing rural groups
• supporting new and emerging groups to develop
• delivering group and personal development training
Contact Martin on (01282) 619913 or email martin@pendlecommunitynetwork.org.uk
Rural Conference 2009
A rural conference was held in May at Haslingden Community Link, attracting organisations from across Rossendale and Hyndburn and providing them with an opportunity to discuss the issues they faced in their rural work.
The conference identified several recurring themes:
• Information and Communication – there is a lack of effective communication between, local authorities, service providers and rural communities
• Engagement not Consultation – there is a need to move away from “consultation” and towards “engagement” with rural communities.
• Misinformation - agencies often do not think “rural” and there is considerable confusion over the meaning of the terms rural, urban and rural proofing.
Future Workplan
Four key recommendations for action have been identified to address the above issues and these will form the basis for the work of the Improving Reach Project Rural project over the coming months. These are:
• Development of a Rural Forum for Hyndburn and Rossendale
• Provision of Rural Specific Training and Workshops
• Improved Communication using: regular rural newsletter and e-bulletin items; website based information.
• Engagement with Rural Communities via a series of community based events bringing service providers and rural communities together.
For further information, please contact Martin on (01282) 619913 or email martin@pendlecommunitynetwork.org.uk
