Last Monday members of the Big Local Core Group met with Irene Evison, who visited on behalf of Local Trust to find out more about the thinking behind our Big Local Plan.
Irene explained that a key part of approval process for Big Local plans is visiting the local partnership (we call ours the Core Group). After the meeting Irene would fill in an assessment form and send it to Local Trust. It includes her recommendation to Local Trust. They make the decision on whether to agree funding based on the plan. We should hear what their decision is in a month or so.
Irene had read our Big Local Plan thoroughly and said that she found it easy to read. She said it gave her a good feel for the area and a clear picture of the vision. She explained that she wanted to find out more about:
- How the plan came to be what it is.
- How did priorities were decided.
- How it was agreed to split the funding in the ways shown in the budget.
Irene said she was impressed with how many people were around table (there were 12 Core Group members present).
The following gives a flavour of the discussion.
How did we get get from talking to people to having a plan?
Chris Cambell said “With food!” He was referring to all the great Jubilee celebrations and community events. He explained the collaboration with the Eden Project for Big Lunches. Chris explained that the event were used to fin out what people wanted Big Local investment to be used for. Phil Harris described the Community Forum meeting where we put 100 ideas on cards on the floor and sorted them in to themes. Hazel Broadhouse explained that at a later Community Forum meeting everyone looked at quick wins, longer term goals and what we could do ourselves, what we would need external support for – in relation to all the ideas. Carolyn Ball added that we had found some things people wanted that were already happening and we had to think about how to let them know that those things were running.
How was Dudley CVS chosen as a Locally Trusted Organisation to hold the Big Local money?
Phil explained that Dudley CVS was already known to people and groups in the area. Dudley CVS staff have helped and given guidance to local people on many projects. Why go elsewhere when it works? Chris added that he was confident that Dudley CVS will be clear if they aren’t the experts, they will come forward and suggest others, and seek advice from Local Trust.
Has there been any thinking about forms of social investment beyond credit unions?
Group members responded with a no, not yet. They will seek advice, but had picked up from discussions with local people that personal debt was an issue so that became the priority.
Gerry Clarke thanked Irene for raising questions that group need to think about, for example about evaluating and reviewing the plan every year.
Gerry asked if any other Big Local areas had experiences which East Coseley could learn from. Irene said there were no big issues yet, areas are feeling their way. There is lots of interest in social investment and keep the money working.
Reflections from Core Group group members on the discussion
- I found it useful to focus on the outcome of our work over the last few years. You do tend to forget what you’re trying to achieve.
- It was good to hear the questions and the ways we responded.
- Having not been able to get to a meeting for ages, it is totally different now. Coming and seeing a plan, seeing everyone answer questions, I like the plan and that it isn’t too tied down, the beauty of it is the way it has been developed – the Coseley way.
- I think Irene appreciated we were talking honestly, and what stood out was that we need to develop monitoring and evaluation.
- I am extremely proud of everybody. I hope that the two things which stood out were how passionate we are and how much work we’ve put in.