Carnegie UK Trust has long championed the needs of rural communities across the UK and Ireland. The provision of affordable housing has proved to be the most pressing issue in rural England.
Funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government is now enabling us to try out a new idea in Somerset and Dorset over the next two to three years to tackle this challenge and we are looking for an established organisation to work with us.
Already several village communities in the South West have taken on the challenge of providing affordable rented or part-ownership homes themselves, to meet specific local needs and keep their communities alive. Others have kept the village or farm shop going or set up local workspace or community buildings - or brought several of these ideas together.
The new project provides funding for a full-time experienced Development Manager to support communities who want to take on this development challenge through a Somerset and Dorset wide Community Land Trust under a steering group made up of local representatives. This Manager will be based with the organisation we are seeking to recruit.
The host organization will be an existing local body that supports the provision of affordable housing and local services. 12 invitations have been sent out to local housing associations, Rural Community Councils, voluntary organisations and local authorities. Any other organization that would like to put their name forward can request the brief for the role from Kirsty Tait (email kirsty@carnegieuk.org). Deadline for responses is 25 January 2010.
Kate Braithwaite, Director of Carnegie’s Rural Programme, says: “We are hoping to find a really enthusiastic organisation that wants to work with us on this and make things happen for rural communities in Somerset and Dorset. Local communities know that if they don’t take the initiative to keep their communities alive and vibrant, no-one else will but they need technical support to take on the complex task of asset development. We hope this project may provide the answer by marrying local enthusiasm and determination with technical and professional experience.”
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Background note
Carnegie UK Trust is one of over twenty foundations worldwide set up by Scots American Andrew Carnegie, working to support a more just, democratic, peaceful and sustainable world. Currently the Trust has two key programmes: a Democracy and Civil Society Programme and a Rural Programme. The Trust also supports efforts to strengthen philanthropy.
Carnegie UK Trust’s report, A Charter for Rural Communities was published in June 2007 and a new publication, A Manifesto for Rural Communities, builds upon the vision provided in the Charter but acknowledges the accelerating pace of economic and social change. In the Manifesto, Carnegie UK Trust sets out some very positive opportunities for rural communities (and indeed communities everywhere) to survive and thrive during what are proving to be turbulent times.
The DCLG funded Empowerment project complements this work. The Somerset and Dorset Community Land Trust aims to put expertise in the hands of communities to enable them to take on the challenge of providing their own affordable housing through local community land trusts.
More information is available at
http://rural.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/clts
www.communitylandtrust.org.uk
or from
Kate Braithwaite kate@carnegieuk.org/ 01383 721 445
Steve Bendle sjbendle@tiscali.co.uk/01225 335171
Kirsty Tait kirsty@carnegieuk.org/ 01383 721 445