 |
| Channel 4: The championing of the quality of public space and architecture in our towns and cities is at the heart of Channel 4's public service mission and the Channel has been keen to find an original and inspiring way of covering these important subjects. Earlier this year, in partnership with Wakefield Metropolitan District Council and a range of regeneration bodies, Channel 4 identified Castleford as the location of an ambitious project to enable the townspeople to make their town a better place to live. The project aims to deliver a series of improvements in the town which will contribute to the ongoing regeneration of the town by the key partner regeneration agencies. The progress of The Castleford Project is being filmed by production company Talkback UK and will be screened by Channel 4 as a major new series. |
| |
 |
City of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council:
Wakefield Council welcomes and supports The Castleford Project and will act as the accountable body for funding, letting contracts and maintenance of completed projects. The Project is closely aligned with the District's Community Strategy and with the Urban Renaissance Programme which are key to regeneration in the Wakefield District as a whole.
Further information: www.wakefield.gov.uk
|
| |
 |
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment: CABE champions the creation of great buildings and public spaces. A non-departmental public body set up by the Government in 1999, through public campaigns and support to professionals, CABE encourages the development of well-designed homes, streets, parks, offices, schools, hospitals and other public buildings. CABE welcomes the opportunity to work with The Castleford Project in bringing a better understanding of what is involved in the regeneration process into people's living rooms. The story is particular to Castleford but the hope is that the lessons will make sense elsewhere and encourage communities to champion the changes they want and deserve on their doorsteps.
Further information www.cabe.org.uk
|
| |
 |
English Partnerships:
English Partnerships is the national regeneration
agency supporting high quality sustainable growth
across the country. It is a key delivery agency
for the Urban Renaissance and the Deputy Prime Minister’s
Sustainable Communities Plan. Working in close collaboration
with public and private sector partners, its core
strands of activity focus on:
•
Building affordable homes and new communities
• Bringing new
life to established communities
•
Making best use of the nation’s scare supply
of land
•
Promoting skills, best practice and sustainability
Major initiatives include the National Coalfields
Programme, Urban Regeneration Companies and Millennium
Communities.
Further information at www.englishpartnerships.co.uk |
| |
 |
Arts Council England:
Arts Council England is the national development agency for the arts in England, promoting the value of the arts and distributing public money from Government and the National Lottery. We believe that involvement in the arts has a lasting and transforming effect on many aspects of people's lives and communities, creating opportunities and a sense of identity and purpose.
The Arts Council is delighted to be involved with The Castleford Project -
a landmark initiative for the town. We want to work to ensure that the arts are understood as a crucial and mainstream part of regeneration initiatives and that they reflect the cultural aspirations of the communities involved.
|
| |
 |
The Environment Agency:
The Environment Agency is the leading organisation for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. They are responsible for making sure that air, land and water are looked after by today's society, so that tomorrow's generations inherit a cleaner, healthier world.
In Castleford:
•They spent £1.5 million in 2000 on reducing the risk of flooding in the town.
•They are funding new angling platforms to provide improved access for anglers. We will also run events to give people the chance to try their hand at fishing.
•They have planted an orchard in the Cutsyke Community Garden and will also be removing harmful plants from along the river.
•They will promote recreation along the River Aire through contributing towards a cycle path.
•They have worked with schools and businesses in the Castleford area to raise awareness of their environment and impact on it.
|
| |
 |
| The European Regional Development Fund:
The European Regional Development Fund has contributed £60,000 towards two of the schemes within the Castleford Project, the Cutsyke Play Forest (£20,000) and The Green, Ferry Fryston (£40,000). Both of these projects have contributed to the development of communities within ex coalfield areas; tackled local environmental problems and addressed local and environmental issues in a sustainable way.
They have also both had very strong community involvement. Groups have worked with designers and the local authority to solve local problems, build capacity for the future and build vibrant communities which participate in local decision making.
|
| |
 |
Groundwork UK: Groundwork
is a federation of Trusts in England, Wales and
Northern Ireland, each working with their partners
in poor areas to improve the quality of the local
environment, the lives of the local people and the
success of local businesses. In 2002 Groundwork
supported nearly 5,000 projects across the UK encouraging
people of all ages to give more than 340,000 days
of their time to improve their neighbourhoods. Groundwork
Wakefield is supporting The Castleford Project as
part of its ongoing work to help residents get more
involved in improving the quality of life in the
town.
More information www.groundwork.org.uk
|
| |
 |
| |
The Coalfields Regeneration
Trust: The Coalfields Regeneration Trust
is an independent charity that aims to achieve social
and economic regeneration in Britain’s coalfield
communities. The Trust is no stranger to Castleford,
having invested in a number of local community projects,
including Chrysalis Youth Project, Cutsyke Community
Group, Smawthorne Community Project and Castleford
Heritage Group. In the past year, in light of the
closure of the Prince of Wales colliery, the Trust
has stepped up its level of involvement, providing
training and new employment opportunities to redundant
miners. In the months to come the Coalfields Regeneration
Trust will be extending its work, in conjunction
with the other partnership agencies, to ensure the
momentum in Castleford continues.
More Information: www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/ |
| |
| |
 |
Yorkshire Forward:
Yorkshire Forward is the driving force behind the
economic regeneration of the region, delivering
a programme of change that will make a positive
difference to its people, businesses and environment.
Yorkshire Forward’s pioneering Renaissance
Towns Programme is empowering communities to create
the ideal environments in which to live, work and
invest, by giving them the opportunity to work with
some of the world’s leading experts to develop
new and dynamic long-term visions for their towns.
Yorkshire Forward’s investment across the
region is maximised by attracting European Regional
Development Funding from the Objective One and Two
programmes.
Further information, barry.white@yorkshire-forward.com |
