Community Development involves the sustainable development of the community and voluntary sector, provision of services, liaison between organisations and the representation, direct and indirect of local voluntary and community sector views and needs to various bodies and agencies.

A core part of our work is to offer support to local community groups and organisations by;

giving advice and guidance on forming new groups
holding meetings with groups
giving guidance on constitutions and aims/objectives
advising on and signposting to possible funding sources
giving guidance on funding websites
being a point of contact
offering support

Our Community Development Organiser works with individuals or organisations and groups in Blaby District, providing support, guidance and information to those wishing to start up a new community group or develop an existing one.

Community Action Blaby District produces a quarterly newsletter containing information on the services it delivers, funding information, local events and strategic developments affecting the Voluntary and Community Sector.

Funding Advice and Guidance

Our Community Development Organiser  administers the Blaby District Counci’s Community Development Small Grant Scheme and promotes the Grant Scheme to local organisations. The scheme offers grants of up to £200 to local community groups who can demonstrate their service meets an identified community need. Contact Community Action Blaby District for an application form or email community@cabd.org.uk

You can also access some funding bodies through our useful funding page here.

For further information please contact Karri Aston, our Community Development Organiser, on 0116 272 7669 or email community@cabd.org.uk

Blaby District Voluntary Sector Forum:

The next meeting of the Voluntary Sector Forum for Blaby District which is open to representatives from any community group or organisation within (or delivering services within) Blaby District takes place on Wednesday 20th May 2009, 10.00am to 12.00 noon at The Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote, Leicestershire LE9 3BN.

The Forum aims to enable the sharing of information, issues and good practice and allow the development of good working partnerships and networking opportunities.

If you would like to join a mailing list for the Forum or receive copies of the minutes, please contact Bev on 0116 272 7669 or email community@cabd.org.uk

LAA Neighbourhood Development and Capacity Building

As part of the Leicestershire Local Area Agreement (LAA) a social capital survey has been carried out in 20 communities in Leicestershire including 3 in Blaby District.

The three Blaby District communities identified by the LAA to cut acros real neighbourhoods were Braunstone Town, Sharnford & Whetstone.

The government has set out 3 key indicators of a stronger community:

A place where people from different backgrounds can get on well together
A place where people feel they can influence decisions affecting their local area
A place where people engage in formal & informal volunteering

The purpose of the survey involves measuring trust, networks, neighbourliness, volunteering, diversity, inclusion and community cohesion through a series of questions posed on the doorstep to ten per cent of the adult population of the selected communities.
However, work after the survey will aim to benefit the whole communities of Braunstone Town, Sharnford and Whetstone, not just those in the surveyed areas.

Local Area Agreements (LAA)

The LAA initiative forms part of the 10 year strategy on the future for local government produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM). It sets out to encourage discussion between local & national government to improve quality of life and co-ordination of public services.
For more information log on to: http://www.leicestershiretogether.org/

The aim of Local Area Agreements is to:

encourage informed discussion between local and central government, based on a

shared understanding of national and local priorities
improve local performance, by allowing a more flexible use of resources and
devolving responsibility so that local partners can meet local needs
enhance efficiency and reduce bureaucracy by simplifying the funding
streams from Government going into an area
help local partners to join up service delivery and enhance community leadership

Bev Everington is our Neighbourhood Development Organiser and has presented the results of the surveys to local groups and residents in each of the surveyed areas. Where local issues have been raised Bev will work with residents to liaise with other communities or agencies where possible.

For more information please contact Bev Everington on 0116 272 7669 or email: community@cabd.org.uk