On Tuesday 14 August 2007, a very successful Parish Open meeting was held in The Preston Rooms. Carolyn Heydon of Norfolk Rural Community Council gave a presentation about creating a Parish Plan and the benefits to the community. At the end of the meeting people were asked if they would be willing to be on the 'Steering Group' and ten people put their names forward. I would like to thank them all for volunteering and I will be in touch again shortly. If you also feel you would like to help with the Steering Group or to go on a 'Skills list' please email jill.sharpe@tiscali.co.uk for further information.
WHAT IS A PARISH PLAN?
A Parish Plan is a printed report, based on detailed consultation within a community, carried out by community members. It describes features which are valued by members of the village; it identifies economic, social and environmental issues affecting the community and sets out the hopes and aims for the parish for the next five or so years. For example, the Parish Plan may identify actions in relation to:-
- improvements to the village hall
- a local newsletter
- a local environment working group
- activites for young people
- social enterprise
- community events and Galas/Festivals
services for older people
WHY DO A PARISH PLAN?
A Parish Plan allows 'the experts' to say what's needed in a community. 'The experts' are the local people who live and work there. So the completed Parish Plan will reflect the unique characteristics of a parish. A Parish Plan provides the community with essential evidence of needs, when applying for grants or when lobbying authortiies and agencies with issues of concern. The Parish Plan is available for any community group to use in this context; it is not limited to being the exclusive tool of the Parish Council.
HOW WILL COMMUNITY MEMBERS BE INVOLVED?
Everyone in the community can be involved in preparing a Parish Plan. Open meeting provide the opportunity for people to give their opinions and ideas - often by participating in hands-on activites. Those willing to help with the producton of the Parish Plan can join a Steering Group and help to organise events; deliver leaflets or questionnaires or offer specialist help - such as design or computer skills.
WHAT ARE THE SPIN-OFF BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY OF BEING INVOLVED?
By taking part in the consultation and receiving feed-back, community members often become aware of services which are already in place - but whose publicity hadn't reached all residents previously. This has actually occurred on several occasions in Norfolk, in relation to dial-a-ride bus services for example. Through forming working groups, community members widen wheir local friendship and support network and also learn new skills from one another. Norfolk Rural Community Council are one of the agencies that provide the appropriate guidance and support and therefore the total skill base of the community is strengthened, enabling new projects to be undertaken with greater independence in the future.
