News & Events

Regeneration volunteers learn the keys to success

Volunteers and staff from 12 different Somerset Market Town Partnerships, Town Councils and Community Groups have benefitted recently from two bespoke training courses, which showed how to successfully plan and fund projects in towns.

The funding course gave an overview of funding, from grants to loans, fundraising via shares and membership, to new opportunities to bid for some public service contracts. There was also a summary of the funding streams that are commonly applied for by SMTF’s member organisations.

The courses were delivered by Steve Angove from CEU Ltd, a social enterprise based in Exeter. Steve’s knowledge of the sector was invaluable, having been part of a Market Town Partnership as well as many years working in the Community & Voluntary sector.

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Sarah Robson of Chard Town Council said “The projects course was a very productive day, I picked up tips from the others there, and Steve was a very good facilitator”.

Gerlinde Rambausek, from Frome’s Cheese and Grain community venue, said “The whole day was well planned and delivered, and I enjoyed hearing  other participants’ experience”.

Laura Tilling, a Castle Cary Town Councillor and member of the town's 'Use Less, Share More' group, thought “It was just the right balance of expert input with lots of opportunities for participants to share their own problems and experience of project management.  We all felt valued and included.”

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The groups represented were;
Chard Town Council, Somerton Town Council, Ilminster Forum, Castle Cary Town Council, Vision for Frome, Martock M3 Community Partnership, Somerton Historic Building Preservation Trust, Sedgemoor District Council, Frome’s Cheese and Grain, Sustainable Frome,Midsomer Norton & Radstock Chamber of Commerce and the Midsomer Norton Society.

Matt Day, Coordinator for SMTF, said “We had excellent feedback from both courses as well as requests for further training on specific topics. Organising training for our members really helps to build their skills and confidence in delivering their projects, most of which stem from their Community Plans, and they learn from each other’s experiences. No other organisation in Somerset is facilitating this kind of learning for volunteers in towns.”

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SMTF would like to thank Somerset County Council for their consistent support for SMTF and it’s member  Partnerships and groups in towns, who have influenced and helped deliver over £4m of investment in the County’s towns since 2000.

SMTF are happy to work with any local organisations who would like to jointly develop further training courses or events focussed on the economies of our market towns.

Created on February 22nd 2010

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