Ex MoD Project Anne Cater – Community Development Worker

About Us Community Lincs is a Lincolnshire charity whose aim is to support Lincolnshire’s individuals and communities to improve local circumstances for themselves. Our objectives are to: Reduce rural isolation and vulnerability Increase community self-reliance through supporting the development of quality services provided by the VCS Increase skills and confidence of Lincolnshire people Make it more affordable to live in rural areas Increase the level of external funding available to the county’s Voluntary and Community Sector Improve the communication flow between people, service providers and policy makers and lobby effectively for service improvements

Community Lincs’ Work with the Ex MoD Strategic Steering Group To develop an overall strategy and action plan to deal with specific issues across the four communities To monitor progress in delivering this strategy and action plan at each meeting To assist the four communities with any major issues where the support of the public/voluntary services is required To ensure that information on delivery and action is fed back to the communities.

Strategic Steering Group Priorities Review of Managed Services Living Environment Developing Communities Improved Roads and Utilities Thriving Business Parks Review of Transport Broadband provision

Developing Communities – the first two years Community Lincs lead for Developing Communities Individual and community capacity building support Develop the skills needed to create and run local groups and activities Outcome of this work – More skilled individuals Clearly identified aims and objectives for their communities New volunteers Extra funding

Successes & Challenges Brookenby :5 new groups. Total funding secured for projects: £29, Volunteers: 47 Newtoft : 4 groups supported. Total funding secured for projects £22,000 Funding agreed in principle £75,000 Volunteers: 23 Hemswell Cliff : 5 groups supported. Total funding secured £21,865. Funding awaiting response £75,000 Volunteers 22 Challenges have included: Poor understand and working relationships between existing groups Lack of skills Poor communication and community engagement Lack of community facilities / venues Funding issues

Moving Forward Working with Brookenby PC and residents to create a vision for their community centre and develop a sustainable business plan Working with the Newtoft community to secure funding for a community centre and undertake the necessary training on governance, business planning and buildings management Working with Hemswell Cliff PC and residents to bring the former ball park back into sustainable community use Helping individuals to develop their skills and confidence through the creation of new groups suited to their needs.

How Our Work Contributed to the aims of The Community Covenant? The project addresses integration and well- being issues for ex Service personnel through the community level activity and partnership working with other agencies. The lessons learned through this project are also important for the future successful de- commissioning of other sites both locally and nationally.

Anne Cater