A Single Community Programme for Derby

Recent guidance from the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit (NRU) has said that money from Community Empowerment Funds, Community Chest and Community Learning Chest should be combined into one pot of money. This should then be used to increase and improve community participation in neighbourhood renewal work.

The Single Community Programme Action Plan will outline how this will be achieved. There are four objectives, set by the NRU, that the Action Plan needs to work towards. The Steering Group have also used Derby Community Network (DCN) members' comments and suggestions, made at a workshop in November, to inform the Action Plan.

The first objective of the programme is to set up and maintain Community Empowerment Networks. In Derby, this is DCN.

The purpose of DCN is to ensure that local voluntary and community groups are able to engage in the work of Derby City Partnership (DCP) and to bring a voluntary and community sector perspective to neighbourhood renewal.

This year the DCN will be concentrating on the development of geographical and issue-based cluster groups so that local voluntary and community groups have the opportunity to influence DCP on issues relevant specifically to them.

DCN will also have a presence across all major DCP groups through the involvement of DCN 'Champions'. These Champions will be a point of contact for DCN members and will make sure the Network is kept up to date with news from DCP.

Objective two is aimed towards supporting community learning, through the provision of small grants and the development of learning strategies. This is to enable people to have the skills and knowledge they need to engage fully in neighbourhood renewal. This means that Community Learning Chest grants will continue to be available from Derbyshire Community Foundation. We'll also be using the DCP Learning Plan to help find out what DCN members need in terms of learning opportunities in order to get more involved in neighbourhood renewal.

The third objective is to support the development of communities by providing small grants to community-based initiatives. Again, these small grants, known as Community Chest grants, will continue to be administered by Derbyshire Community Foundation.

The last objective of the programme is to support community involvement in neighbourhood-level partnerships. The three neighbourhood partnerships the Programme will be concentrating on developing first are those identified as neighbourhood renewal priority areas: Normanton and Peartree, Osmaston and Allenton, and Sinfin.

( If you have any queries about Derby Community Network, or you haven't yet taken the advantage of free DCN membership please contact Linda Stone, Community Network Development Officer on 01332 227749 or email lstone@cvsderby.co.uk

(from Network News, May/June 2004)