The latest Plunkett Weekly News for the week ending 4 September 2009 is now online. Download (pdf)
Plunkett Foundation News
PLUNKETT PERSPECTIVE
This week’s perspective looks at the relationship between the work of the Plunkett Foundation and the academic world.
http://plunkettfoundation.blogspot.com/
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MAKING LOCAL FOOD WORK - SEPTEMBER CONFERENCE SOLD OUT
The second Making Local Food Work has sold out. The conference will take place on Wednesday 30th September 2009 at the Bristol Marriott City Centre Hotel. Titled ‘Making Local Food Work: Community Enterprise and the Future of Food’, the event will examine the key role that food-based community enterprises can play in shaping a sustainable, equitable food system for Britain in the future. Speakers include Professor Kevin Morgan, Professor of Governance and Development at Cardiff University, and Dr Tom MacMillan, Director of the Food Ethics Council. The Making Local Food Work Team is looking forward to hosting their largest conference yet.
http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/conference.cfm?frmAlias=/conference/
LITTON COMMUNITY SHOP CELEBRATES SUCCESS
Litton Community Shop has been celebrating after being named Derby and Derbyshire’s Rural Retailer of the Year. The Shop, which is located in the old village smithy, has been awarded £1,250 to reinvest in the business and help continue providing the village and surrounding area with a first class amenity. Litton Shop reopened under community ownership in 1999 and is run with the help of a paid manager and twenty volunteers. As well as providing basic groceries, the shop emphasises the importance of local produce and also creates a strong community core by providing a café area for villagers to meet. To find out more, visit Litton’s website http://www.littonvillage.co.uk/ . Our congratulations also go to Winster Community Shop who were awarded third prize of £500. These awards show the importance of Community-owned shops to local residents and are a fitting contribution to all the hard work of everybody involved. http://derbyshireruralretailer.co.uk/news.asp
MAKING LOCAL FOOD WORK – PROJECT MANAGER VACANCY
As part of the Making Local Food Work programme, The Soil Association is currently looking to appoint a Project Manager to provide efficient and comprehensive development and delivery of the Soil Association’s Community Supported Agriculture and Organic Buying Groups project. This project will widely promote the concepts of CSA and organic buying groups, provide practical support to new initiatives and organise training and learning opportunities to identify and encourage best practice.
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 16th September 2009
For further information please visit: http://www.soilassociation.org/Aboutus/Workwithus/Vacancies/CSAandOrganicBuyingGroupsProjectManager/tabid/483/Default.aspx
Co-operatives and Social Enterprise News
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE IN EVERY SCHOOL AS AMBASSADORS’ TARGET
Every secondary school and sixth form college in England will have its own social enterprise if the Social Enterprise Ambassadors get their way. The ambassador’s programme, run by the Social Enterprise Coalition, also aims to get ten FTSE 350 companies to commit to a two-way sharing of expertise with social enterprises and to influence public procurement to the extent that all public sector spending decisions should be required to demonstrate their social and environmental impact. These are the three big targets that have just been agreed between the 30 high profile social entrepreneurs to give the project a clear focus. The new targets fit with a new image for the ambassadors including a new logo and the launch of their new website. Work on achieving the schools goal will begin with a pilot in September when 15 ambassadors will go into a number of schools to help them set up their own enterprises.
http://www.socialenterpriseambassadors.org.uk
© Social Enterprise Ambassadors
£70 M COMMUNITYBUILDERS FUND OPENS
The government's £70m Communitybuilders fund, which will help community groups transform into sustainable community enterprises, is now inviting applications.
The Adventure Capital Fund (ACF), which manages the fund in partnership with Futurebuilders England and the Community Alliance, confirmed this week that all funding packages and details had been given the green light by the Office of the Third Sector and Communities and Local Government. The fund will provide development, feasibility or investment packages of loans and grants ranging from £2,000-£2m to organisations in England, helping them grow and reduce their reliance on grants. Development investments include a mentoring 'supporter', who will lead organisations through an 'honest exploration of the health of the organisation'.
To be eligible, organisations must be based in England, have a track record of community involvement and be locally controlled by local people or representatives of local groups making the spending, staffing and other decisions. To find out more about the fund, the eligibility criteria and to register interest, visit: http://communitybuildersfund.org.uk or call 0191 261 5200.
http://www.socialenterpriselive.com/section/news/%C2%A370m-communitybuilders-fund-opens-next-month
© Social Enterprise
THE KERRYGOLD CO-OPERTIVE AWARDS
In recognition of the many groups of people who work together to bring benefits to their communities as a whole, Kerrygold have created the Kerrygold Farmer Co-operative Awards. The awards are split into two categories - the most inspirational community project group, and the most inspirational young community group (for the under 18s). A £1,000 prize is on offer for the winner of each category.
To find out more about the awards and how you can enter, simply visit http://www.kerrygold.co.uk and follow the link on the bottom of the home page. All entries must be received by 5:30 pm on the 30th September 2009
http://www.kerrygold.co.uk/index.php?m=kerrygold-farmer-cooperative-awards,34
© Kerrygold
COMMUNUTY INVESTMENT KEEPS ON GROWING
There are over 4,800 co-operative enterprises in the UK and it’s impossible to pick a theme or industry sector that unites them all – they are of very different sizes, different types and work in a whole range of different sectors.
But over the last few months there has been one set of co-operatives that has become increasingly hard to ignore – those doing or have done community share issues, where finance for an enterprise is raised by getting the community to invest in, own and take control of that enterprise. Through Community Shares (a project between Co-operatives UK and the Development Trusts Association) more and more communities that already have undertaken community share issue have been identified. Research shows there are over 250 now – some, like many village shops, have raised only a small amount of money, but others have raised millions.
And it’s not just about money – community investment gives communities ownership and control over the services that affect them, something which is being demanded more and more by the people themselves as well as by Government. The potential that community investment offers is massive, hence the interest and number of investments keep growing and growing. See http://www.communityshares.org.uk for more information, as well as details of the launch of more support available to enterprises using community investment.
http://inthespotlight.uk.coop/2009/08/community-investment-keeps-on-growing.html
© Co-operatives UK
WELSH SOCIAL ENTERPRISES CREATE BIG VALUE, WITH LITTLE RECOGNITION
Welsh social enterprises are punching above their weight according to the amount they contribute to the UK's economy, reveals new research commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government. The research found that the social enterprise sector in Wales had an estimated turnover of £2.18bn. That is eight per cent of the UK social enterprise sector's turnover of £27bn. Yet, for the same period, the overall contribution of Wales to the UK economy was only 3.6 per cent.
The Wales Co-operative Centre is calling on Welsh social enterprises to enter the new Social Enterprise Awards run by the Social Enterprise Coalition. The first stage of the awards, which are the regional heats, will close at 12pm on Monday 28 September. Despite the fact that the Welsh social enterprise sector is estimated to account for more than 28,500 full-time jobs and 20,000 part-time jobs, a separate study commissioned by the Wales Co-operative Centre and carried out by the University of Glamorgan, found only 35 per cent of the general public had heard of the term social enterprise and only 17.5 per cent knew what it meant.
http://www.socialenterpriselive.com/section/news/welsh-social-enterprises-create-big-value-have-little-recognition
© Social Enterprise
Farming and Food News
DAIRY INDUSTRY ‘SLEEPWALKING’ INTO DISASTER
With milk production at its lowest level for 20 years, a stark warning that Britain is ‘sleepwalking’ into a dairy industry disaster has been issued by NFU Cymru’s milk board chairman, Mansel Raymond. With more than one producer a week selling off their dairy herds, he says belated Government recognition of a threat to future food supplies had probably come too late to stop the exodus. Mr Raymond, who produces milk, beef, sheep, potatoes and cereal crops on 2,800 acres in Pembrokeshire, said the number of dairy producers in Wales had nearly halved in the past 10 years from 4,270 in 1998 to 2,160 last summer because of rising costs and low returns.
Milk yield slumped from a peak of 14 billion litres in 2002-03 to 12.76 billion litres last year – a ‘massive cutback’ that left the UK only 60 per cent self-sufficient in milk. The slump is continuing, with 33 million fewer litres produced between April and July this year compared with 2008 – despite the best spring weather conditions for three years.
http://www.farmersguardian.com/dairy-industry-sleepwalking-into-disaster-nfu-cymru/27330.article
© Farmers Guardian
TESCO LAUNCHES MILK CARBON FOOTPRINT LABEL
Tesco has become the first retailer to carry carbon footprint labels on milk. The label is appearing on its full fat, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk ranges in what the company describes as a ‘major milestone’ in its pledge to have ‘footprinted’ 500 products by the end of the year. Tesco launched its first tranche of carbon labels on a range of products, including potatoes, last April. It said it was continuing to pursue the ‘groundbreaking’ initiative to ‘help to raise awareness of climate change and the carbon impact’ of its products.
The move will put the spotlight on farming’s role in producing greenhouse gas emissions. Tesco said the agricultural stage accounted for ‘by far the biggest portion’ of milk’s carbon footprint, with methane emissions from cows the single biggest factor.
http://www.farmersguardian.com/tesco-launches-milk-carbon-footprint-label/27324.article
© Farmers Guardian
WAITROSE INVESTS £18M IN FARMGATE MILK PRICES
Waitrose has invested £18m in paying dairy farmers in its dedicated milk pool a premium farmgate price over the past 10 years, now worth about 4p/litre over the industry average, the retailer says. It also says that from September, it will be the first retailer to stock 100% British dairy products in its own label range. The Waitrose Dairy Farmers Milk Scheme was established in 1999 and provides the retailer with its 70m-litre milk supply each year through processor Dairy Crest. Until recently all milk has been branded as "Select Farm" in Waitrose stores, although it has been recently repackaged to supply its "Essentials" range.
The pool, which produces about 100m litres a year, was developed to ensure the retailer had continuity of supply of high-quality milk. It now supplies all fresh milk and cream for Waitrose's Essentials range. Milk is collected from farms in six counties in southern England, mainly Wiltshire, Dorset and Oxfordshire, and is processed at Dairy Crest's Severnside plant before being shipped to Waitrose's Bracknell depot for distribution.
http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2009/08/26/117398/waitrose-invests-18m-in-farmgate-milk-prices.html
© Farmers Weekly
Rural Development News
RURAL JOBS HOPE AMID RECESSION
Poeple finding work in sparsely populated areas are outnumbering those registering as unemployed. Stuart Burgess, chairman of the Commission for Rural Communities, said "signs of hope" were emerging from the recession in rural areas. Although many people faced economic challenges and genuine hardship, there were also reasons to be positive, he said. Dr Burgess was speaking on the first day of the National Association of Local Councils annual conference in London on 4th September. Growth in small and micro businesses had been much higher in rural areas than in the rest of the country, said Dr Burgess. Rural areas also had higher levels of female entrepreneurs and rural businesses were more likely to export to international markets when compared to their urban counterparts.
http://www.rsnonline.org.uk/business/rural-jobs-hope-amid-recession.html
© Rural Services Network
LOCAL COUNCILS ‘KEY TO REGENERATION’
At it’s annual conference, The National Association of Local Councils’ (NALC) has been told that Parish councils are key to rural regeneration. The council represents 8,500 parish and town councils throughout England. It was highlighted that local councils have an opportunity to develop their role and services to enhance their position as community representatives.In a separate address, Lib Dem MP Matthew Taylor said community engagement should be at the heart of any rural housing and development process. “Local councils and communities should be the starting point of looking at the way community could look in 10 years.”
http://www.rsnonline.org.uk/politics/local-councils-key-to-regeneration.html
© Rural Services Network
FUNDING FOR RURAL BUSINESSES IN YORKSHIRE
Yorkshire Forward has launched a major drive to encourage rural businesses in Yorokshire to access funding through the Rural Development Programme for England. If you are looking to start, grow or improve a business in rural Yorkshire, you could be eligible for support. Almost any enterprise with a rural yorkshire postcode could be eligible for funding, including those in tourism, food and drink, creative industries, forestry and woodland and renewable energy. For more information, including help with checking if you’re eligible for these programmes and a handy, step-by-step guide to the application process, go to
http://www.yorkshire-forward.com/rural
© Yorkshire Forward
RURAL COST OF LIVING
The Commission for Rural Communities CRC is holding a discussion group in Cheltenham on 22nd September 2009. The CRC, together with the Centre for Research in Social Policy (CRSP), is researching the cost of living for households in rural areas and are looking for people to take part in a discussion group to help this research. Anyone interested in rural issues and the cost of living for rural households is invited to participate and no preparation or specialist knowledge is required. Participants will take part in a group discussion on various topics relating to the different or additional costs that rural households may face.
For more information contact Ruth Gibson on 01242 533489 or minimum.income@ruralcommunities.gov.uk
http://www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk
© Commission for Rural Communities
ACTION FOR MARKET TOWNS NATIONAL CONVENTION 2009
‘Beyond the Recession’ is the theme of the Action for Market Towns (AMT) National Convention 2009 being held in the Leicestershire market town of Melton Mowbray on October 13 and 14. This year, AMT has joined with the Rural Services Network to plan a convention which will both look at practical steps which towns can take to get through the recession and prepare for the upturn, and also help the process of drafting a Rural Services Manifesto, which will be launched in November. The Convention programme contains an exciting mix of Study Tours hosted by the local organisers in Melton Mowbray, and Workshops on a variety of practical and policy themes.
There are some special volunteer discounts available to Action for Market Towns members who are independent partnerships (i.e. not local authority or corporate members) and volunteers. A two-day convention pass costs £150, which includes meals and the Gala Dinner
http://towns.org.uk/2009/07/02/amt-convention/
© Action for Market Towns
International News
IRISH RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: EC APPROVES AMENDMENTS
The European Commission has informed the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs that they have agreed to a proposed amendment in relation to Axes 3 & 4 (LEADER Axes) of the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013.The Rural Development Programme represents an overall public investment of €425 million which will facilitate improvements to the quality of life in rural areas and the diversification and development of the rural economy. It has now been agreed that “additional public funding from relevant local authorities may be used in respect of community projects of a capital nature. This is permissible under the three measures - Basic Services for the Economy and Rural Population, Village Renewal and Development; and Conservation and upgrading of the Rural Heritage.”
This will be a major boost to local communities and local authorities in funding projects under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. For non-commercial projects, the maximum aid available under the Programme to date was 75% but many communities were finding it difficult to raise the other 25% for the provision of Village Renewal, Conservation of the Rural Heritage and Basic Services Projects. As the European Commission has now agreed that up to 95% of funding can be provided between LEADER funding and local authority funding, this will enable projects of a larger scale and of a greater variety to proceed.
It is estimated that this change to the programme will facilitate the expenditure of an additional €21m of national funds in the delivery of this major Programme.
http://www.nrn.ie/general/2009/08/irish-rural-development-programme-ec-approves-ammendments-to-axis-3-4 /
© National Rural Network
PAYMENTS HAVE COMMENCED FOR THE 2007-2013 LEADER PROGRAMMES
Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., Minister of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, has announced that payment for projects has commenced under the Rural Development Programme through LEADER companies. LEADER companies are also currently processing applications for more projects worth over €25m.
Speaking last week, Minister Ó Cuív said: “This announcement today comes on the back of the launch late last year of the new Rural Development Programme which promises some €425m of State and European funding up to 2013. I am delighted that projects on the ground are beginning to see real impact of this funding. The indications are that spending under this Programme will increase rapidly over the coming months and it is envisaged that the full amount of €425m will be spent by 2013”.
http://ow.ly/noGK
© National Rural Network