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The Community Council for Somerset's straplineAbout us

 

Who are we?

 

The Community Council for Somerset is a company limited by guarantee No. 3541219 and a registered charity No.1069260  whose vision is for confident and sustainable rural communities.

  

What do we do and how do we do it?

 

We work to counter the threats to rural communities. 

 

Our mission is: to enhance life throughout Somerset by equipping rural communities to effect positive change, using their inherent resources, abilities and commitment. 

 

Our focus is about finding, keeping and supporting community champions in the hamlets, villages, parishes and market towns of the administrative County of Somerset.

 

The majority of staff at the Community CouncilWe try to deliver our aim of confident and sustainable rural communities by providing a service to those communities in one or more of the following three ways: 

 

1. Providing face-to-face support to community organisations, guiding them through the planning and implementation of their improvement ideas. This includes two specialist services: for village and community halls; and for parish planning and community consultation.

2. Providing an information service to appraise community organisations so that people have the tools they need and to keep them appraised of such issues as new legislation.

3. Linking projects together through training or networking events, newsletters, and our website, and/or signposting to other sources of information. Successful projects thereby serve as a valuable resource for others and the wisdom and experience of one community can be shared across the County.

 

Our latest Annual Review and Social Account are now available on line.  Click here to view. 

 

What kind of services do we provide?

 

Rural Advice:  We provide face to face support to new and existing rural enterprises and community groups, guiding them through the planning and implementation of their projects.

 

Village & Community Halls Advisory Service:  We provide bespoke advice and support to Village Halls and community buildings and a vital networking forum for Village Hall committees in rural Somerset.

 

Rural Women's Network:  We host this project, providing support through a website: http://www.rwn-somerest.org.uk/ , informal meetings and published articles, enabling all Somerset women to access advice and support regarding issues such as stress, debt, transportation, isolation and starting up/sustaining a business.

 

Hidden Somerset:  This sustainable tourism project helps to promote the unique and special hidden places, tourist destinations and businesses in Somerset through the website:  http://www.hiddensomerset.com/.

 

Broadplaces:  This project was undertaken to raise awareness of how broadband and ICT can improve access to services and, for the 14 communities who put in successful bids, to provide free computer equipment and broadband access.  The work continues with these communities to identify their training and information needs, improving their confidence and promoting sustainability.

 

Rural Housing: Through the work of our two housing enablers, this project aims to help deliver affordable housing across the rural parishes within Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset and Taunton Deane so that affordable housing provision can be targeted to the areas of greatest need. 

 

Parish Plans:  We offer support and guidance to parishes wishing to produce and implement a Parish Plan, providing people with the opportunity to say what they think about the social, economic and environmental issues affecting their community.  We take parishes through the 9-step process (survey to implementation) of designing and producing a Parish Plan as well as signposting them along the way to relevant organisations which can help with the implementation of the plan.

 

Somerset Market Towns Forum:  Hosted by the Community Council for Somerset, the Forum provides a focal point for the dissemination of good practice and support for market towns in Somerset through networking, training and individual support.  It has its own website:  http://www.somersetmarkettowns.co.uk/