In a ground-breaking collaboration, the Carnegie UK Trust has launched a 'Fiery Spirits' Community of Practice for activists and professionals who have stories to tell about building vibrant, resilient communities.
Nick Wilding, Community of Practice Facilitator, says:
"This initiative is an example of Carnegie UK Trust's pioneering approach to philanthropy, exercising convening power to create lively spaces where people exchange hard-won experiences, prototype the sustainable rural communities of the future, inspire policy, and connect with wider movements for global justice and sustainability."
Face-face events 'with a buzz'
The Community of Practice comprises over 60 face-face events every year hosted by four varied and dynamic organisations, each with a unique perspective to share on the opportunities for rural communities to flourish in fast-changing times. Download our 2009 events flyer.
These pioneering “host” partners will support practical initiatives by rural communities in real places, demonstrating strategies that can be adopted by neighbourhoods anywhere. Our inaugural hosts are the Eden Foundation in Cornwall, the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, Tipperary Institute in Ireland and the Falkland Centre for Stewardship in Scotland.
FierySpirits.com - our purposeful social network
Our Community of Practice has over three hundred members, living across the breadth of the UK, Ireland and beyond. Members post blogs, films, create focussed discussions connected with face-face events, sow the seeds of collaborative future ventures, and enjoy the the active support of Carnegie UK Trust as they learn together. To join fieryspirits.com, click here.
The Community of Practice is underpinned by the outcomes of
- the Carnegie UK Trust Commission for Rural Community Development which culminated with the publishing of a Charter for Rural Communities containing a diagnostic 'petal model' in June 2007
- a large scale five year Rural Action Research Programme, co-funded by the Big Lottery Fund with over forty partners from across the UK and Ireland- find out more here