Resources
Useful Resources for community groups
On this page you will find documents that you are welcome to download and amend for your own purposes - such as formalising a group, applying for grants, putting together a press release etc - as well as Reports and other resources which will be of use to Community Planning/Regeneration partnerships.
Please email us with any documents you think would be of use to others involved in revitalising towns in Somerset.
All documents are examples only and you will need to do further research to tailor the document to what you need. This could include talking to your District or Borough Council Regeneration or Community Development Officer if you have one.
Other free resources are listed but have not been checked - please let us know what you think.
General Documents
Terms of Reference - example 1 Constitution Standing Orders
SMTF Business Plan Abbreviations for the Market Town regeneration sector
Policies
Child Protection Policy - example 1
Community Planning
There are two key resources that anyone looking to undertake community planning in towns should be aware of;
Countryside Agency Market Town Initiative Healthcheck - Countryside Agency Healthcheck Handbook CA Healthcheck Worksheets MTI First Year Evaluation 2002
ACRE Community Planning Toolkit and the 9 Step Process - general community planning checklist
The MCTi-inspired Resourcebook is overly complicated but does contain some useful case studies. You can get a free hard copy by contacting Matt Day.
Market Towns
Market Towns - Issues & Opportunities - an SMTF document showing Common Issues across the towns. Nov 2008.
Market Towns Vision - South Somerset District Council produced a report in 2005 on the experiences and lessons learnt from involvement with the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative, which included a framework for developing successful initaitives and sustainable partnerships. Download the report and appendices below - much of it remains relevant to all towns involved in community regeneration today. The South Somerset Market Towns Investment Group, a subgroup of the South Somerset LSP, was a recommendation in the report.
South Somerset Market Town Vision Report
South Somerset Market Town Vision appendices
Community Empowerment Paper - ACRE, AMT, NALC and Carnegie's response to the Empwerment White Paper. Useful document.
Community Empowerment
Community Empowerment Paper - ACRE, AMT, NALC and Carnegie's response to the Empwerment White Paper. Useful document.
Governance for Trustees and Committee Members
ViSTA have a Governance Support Programme that provides a number of different activities and resources dedicated to supporting individuals and committees who are involved in governing voluntary and community sector organisations. The Resources include a useful series of podcasts on various Governance issues, which you can download from the ViSTA website.
The Vista Governance pack and podcasts have been funded by Capacity Builders in a grant awarded to SVSN.
They run regular training courses in their public programme and can organise in-house sessions in order to work with the entire governing body as a group development initiative.
They have a confidential, individual support service offering trustees or committee members mentoring and coaching. ViSTA has a team of volunteer mentors who have been selected for their wide range of experience and expertise in relation to governing and managing in the voluntary sector. This service is available free of charge. If you would like to find out more, please email angela@vistaproject.org.uk
Funding
How to write a funding proposal
www.financehub.org.uk - free downloadable guidance on legal structures if you are receiving grants or setting up a CIC, explanation of the differences between a huge variety of funding sources and which are most appropriate depending on the structure/aims of your group. Also information on full cost recovery and managing cashflow etc.
www.grantsnet.co.uk - easy to use searchable database of funders
Somerset County Council's Market Town Regeneration Fund
The County Council's new fund for regeneration projects in Market Towns in Somerset. Mainly for capital projects though some revenue may be included in applications. Download documents below.
MTRF Key Facts MTRF Guidance Notes
MTRF Application Form
Marketing, Communications and Press Releases
Marketing for not-for-profit Organisations
Press Release examples: Axbridge Network Event Future Plans
Communications Strategy - example 1
Transition Town Langport flyer
Tourism and Promotion
Promoting Market Towns Executive Summary
Leader+ Self-Guided Trail Development (2MB pdf)
How to develop walking trails/routes - experience from 3 Leader+ areas including the Levels & Moors. Features the Church Walks, a local circular walks project.
Climate Change, Peak Oil and Sustainability
Transition Wiki - Wikipedia site explaining what the Transition movement is, links to Transition Initiatives and info on the Transition Network
Transition Culture - Rob Hopkins blog/site
Sustainable Development & Peak Oil - link to page where you can download this report (2MB pdf) which contains links to many useful climate change resources.
Sustainability Shaper Sheet - Sustainability South-West's generic questions sheet - is your project/development sustainable? See their site for more.
Traffic & Travel
SCC Highways - Speed Signs Guidance Information on current Highways policy on permanent and temporary vehicle activated signs.
Miscellaneous Research Papers