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parish plan getting started straplineHow do you start a Community (parish) Plan?

 

As Community (parish) Plans will strengthen the Town or Parish Council's relationship with all sections of the community, it is essential that the Parish Council supports the idea of a Community (parish) Plan.

 

It is suggested that a STEERING GROUP for the project is established, perhaps containing representatives from the Parish Council, alongside other enthusiastic and committed members of the community.

 

The steering group itself can begin to address the issue of INCLUSIVITY if it contains members from different sections of the community. Maintain some flexibility around this steering group - keep open to new offers of support.

Parish Planning toolkit logo available from ACRE (Action with Communiities in Ru 

For more information and guidance, please check out the ACRE Community Planning Tool kit.   ACRE Community Planning Toolkit and the 9 step process - Click Here

For more information about support - click here 

Engaging the Whole Community

By the very nature of a community (parish) plan, everybody should have the opportunity to be involved.  Some suggestions of how to do this are listed below:

How about:

  • A leaflet drop to the whole village explaining the project.
  • A public meeting to discuss the process, to uncover the issues, to discover what useful skills members of your community have and enlist volunteers!
  • Special meetings with target groups - whether established groups like the Women's Institute, or informal groups like young people, older people, young parents etc etc.
  • Co-opt more people onto the Steering Group, divide and allocate tasks and particular areas of interest.
  • Spread the word through chat over a pint, after church, at the playground gate, at the bus-stop.  

Whatever, wherever! Just get people talking - and make sure they know who to talk to in order to be heard.
 

Defining the scope of the Plan - What are the most important issues to address?
 

Back to the people!  Now for the in-depth look at the issues and possible solutions. Use as many different techniques for gathering the information as you think will work for your community - questionnaires, open days, workshops, anything!
 

Publicise the results of surveys and open days - give everyone a chance to discuss and feedback. 

 

Prepare a draft - distribute it to everyone you can think of to get final comments.
 

Incorporate final comments - obtain the formal approval of the Parish Council, and publish.

 

For more information and guidance from the Community Council for Somerset contact us