Castleford Regeneration Regenerate Your Town

Date Published:

11/08/2008

Funding

Start applying for grants. Once your constitution is in place and key roles appointed, you can start applying for grants. There are lots of different funding sources available depending on your project, from small grants through the National Lottery Fund, charitable organisations and local businesses, to larger funds from statutory organisations, regional and national development agencies.

Cost up exactly what you want to do. “Don’t be frightened of going for money. Get on the internet; most voluntary sector organisations have websites with links to all the grants available, especially from national and local government funders,” says Alison Drake.

There is likely to be more money available if you propose to take on the long term management of the scheme as well, but you’ll have to form a limited company for that.

Working with your local council

Involve your local councillors right from the start. Keep them informed about your group every step of the way. David Barrie warns against getting a ‘them and us bunker mentality’. You need them and they need you. You’re the taxpayer and voter. But they can oil the wheels and make connections for you. 'They are local residents themselves. Don’t go with preconceived ideas or be antagonistic. People make assumptions that they don’t care but if you go to the meetings, the system can work for you,' he says.

Remember to lobby all parties and get political consensus on your scheme. Otherwise, if your supportive member loses their seat, your project might disappear with them.

How do your plans fit into the bigger picture? Read the urban framework plans or masterplan which outline the vision for the development of your area. You can find these exciting documents at your local authority’s website. They show you the priority areas for planning and redevelopment. If you can deliver your scheme in these contexts it becomes more viable.

Lasting legacy

If your campaign is successful, the results will be there for all to see – a new forum, play area, park renovation. But, as Castleford has shown, there are many other, less tangible benefits too- community confidence, pride, optimism. 'What you do doesn’t have to be immediately translatable into improvement in unemployment, literacy or health rates,' says Linda Mycroft, 'if you live in an area you are proud of, all those things will follow.' 'Good design brings identity and belonging,' says Deborah Saunt.

One of the lasting legacies of the project featured in Kevin McCloud And The Big Town Plan has been that community groups formed at the time are now in their fifth and sixth year, generating new projects and plans all the time. 'This is a huge dimension of what regeneration is about,' says David Barrie. 'What is critical is that people look beyond their own front door. If you feel passionate about the bigger picture, you will advance the entire local economy.'