Your Community Needs You: useful contacts
Organisations that can help
Help your community thrive, and improve its social life, with expert advice from our useful contacts below.
Click here to find out more about 'Your Community Needs You!'
Food organisations
Incredible Edible Todmorden
www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/home
Ian Sturrock
North Wales grower of heritage fruit tree varieties
Pextemement Cheese Company
Camel CSA
Making Local Food Work
Five-year lottery programme funded by the Big Lottery. Partnership project between seven organisations, the website includes advice, information and support to local food enterprises
England
Local Foods
Searchable directory of farmers’ markets and farm shops approved by FARMA, the National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association. Plus guidance on how to set up a farmers’ market
UK-wide
Stroud Community Agriculture
Probably the longest established CSA scheme in the UK, the website has lots of helpful information and a downloadable PDF with a very full history of how they made it happen
www.stroudcommunityagriculture.org
Soil Association Community Supported Agriculture
A “beginners start here” resource from the Soil Association for anyone wanting to learn more about CSA, including setting one up. Includes action manual, case studies, funding ideas, links
England
Sustain
General portal site for the Sustain alliance for better food and farming. With reports, publications, campaigns, microsites and links to about 100 national bodies who make up its membership
UK
Community Supported Baking
From Sustain’s Real Bread Campaign website, ideas, links, funding sources, advice on how to set up a Community Supported Baking enterprise
www.sustainweb.org/realbread/community_supported_baking/#csb_ideas
England, Scotland, Wales
Allotment Regeneration Initiative
Resources, occasional grants, case studies, practical advice for groups wanting to reclaim land, establish allotment societies or improve allotment sites
www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari/home
UK-wide
The Orchards Path
Information resource run by Common Ground, with case studies on how to rescue an old orchard or create a new one for community benefit. Also publishes the Community Orchards Handbook
www.england-in-particular.info/orchards/o-comm1.html
England
Culture
Arts & Business
Provide advice on how to work in partnership with business, including free fund-raising advice
http://artsandbusiness.org.uk/
UK-wide
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Quango with some useful reports and case studies, nearest thing there is to an overview body for libraries, but is closing down in 2012
England
Booktrust
Promotes books and reading schemes, including bookgifting schemes. Many links to other Booktrust campaign websites and related organisations
UK
Arts Council Wales
Runs major funding programmes for Welsh arts and film organisations. Lots of research reports
Wales
Arts Council England
Runs the major funding programmes for arts organisations in England. Has policy and research publications
http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/
England
Creative Scotland
Promotes the arts and film in Scotland and runs the major funding programmes
http://www.creativescotland.com/
Scotland
Arts Council Northern Ireland
Promotes the arts and runs the major funding programmes in Northern Ireland
http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/
Northern Ireland
Night Out
Arts Council of Wales website for community arts groups, aimed at bringing arts to even the smallest venues. Includes practical detailed advice on every aspect of organising an event, a directory of performers, venues and lots of links. Excellent resource
Wales - but the practical guidance is useful for everyone
National Rural Touring Forum
Membership organisation promoting rural touring schemes in England and Wales. Has a directory of schemes and organisations who perform in smaller rural venues
England & Wales
Voluntary Arts Network
General information resource for community and small-scale arts and crafts. Includes a directory and lots of very practical information leaflets that can help the smallest groups. Includes a good section on fundraising advice
UK-wide
Heritage
Heritage Lottery Fund
Grant programmes for small and large heritage projects. Clear information on grant programmes plus links to local projects and offices
UK-wide
Funds for Historic Buildings
Very helpful portal site which has brought together all of the main historic building funding schemes and sources, alongside lots of relevant information and advice about how to secure finance
http://www.ffhb.org.uk/index.php
UK-wide
Architectural Heritage Fund
Independent charity that promotes the preservation of historic buildings. Explains how to form a building preservation trust, has case studies, advice notes, several funding programmes and information on other funding sources
UK-wide
English Heritage
Official government quango advising on heritage. Broad policy and strategic guidance, information and funding programmes
England
Historic Scotland
Official umbrella executive agency for Scottish government. Site includes funding links for different categories of heritage projects
Scotland
Cadw
Official agency of the Welsh assembly government for the historic environment, has good links page for other Welsh organisations
www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp
Wales
Environment and Heritage Service NI
Official government agency, heritage and conservation are part of the overall environment website
Northern Ireland
The Churches Conservation Trust
National charity working to protect historic churches at risk. Also hosts the Regeneration Taskforce. Has case studies, policy papers, good links
England
Churchcare
Church of England resource for those involved in any aspect of conservation or preservation of church buildings, including advice on legal, funding, maintenance and restoration issues
Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust
National charity, offering assistance to groups of any denomination in Scotland to help them maintain and repair their historic church buildings. Offers technical and funding support
Listed places of worship grants scheme
Government grant scheme to reimburse some aspects of VAT related to repair costs for listed places of worship. Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport
UK-wide
Community Archives and Heritage Group
Both a national directory of community archives, showcasing lots of material, and a really useful resource site, a great starting point if you want to set up your own community archive
http://www.communityarchives.org.uk/
UK-wide
The Prince's Regeneration Trust
Works in partnership with statutory and community organisations to rescue important historic buildings from neglect and dereliction. Focus is on areas of deprivation and poverty
UK-wide
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Quango with some useful reports and case studies, nearest thing there is to an overview body for libraries. Is closing down in 2012 as part of the quango cutbacks
For your community's social life
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)
Rural support body, England only but good resources with general relevance. Lots of excellent research and advice on village and community halls. www.acre.org.uk
British Federation of Film Societies
Essential starting point for setting up a film socIety or community cinema in the UK, with advice and guidance on the tricky bits. www.bffs.org.uk
Pub is the Hub
Advice, resources, case studies for those wanting to save or open a community pub in England and Wales. www.pubisthehub.org.uk
The Plunkett Foundation
Good case studies, information, advice on setting up and running community shops. www.ruralrevival.co.uk
For all-round community improvement
Funding Central
Guide to 4,000 sources of grants and loans to the voluntary sector, community and social enterprise groups. Run by the NCVO
England
Action for Market Towns
UK-wide organisation that combines research, lobbying, information, advice and examples of best practice to help social and economic development and sustainability of small towns. www.towns.org.uk
Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)
Rural support body with good resources with general relevance. Lots of excellent research and advice on village and community halls, in England only. www.acre.org.uk
Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland
Focuses on landscape and planning issues. www.ruralscotland.btik.com
Awards Programme
Information and applications to a couple of social enterprise grants schemes in Scotland. www.socialentrepreneursfund.org.uk
Big Society Network
Independent but 'official' body to promote the government's Big Society ideas across the UK, as they unfold. Good for news and updates on Big Society initiatives. www.thebigsociety.co.uk
Business in the Community
Prince of Wales' long-running UK-wide charity to promote social enterprise and responsible business. Policy-led but has links, case studies, publications. www.bitc.org.uk
Campaign to Protect Rural England
Campaigning body for protection of the countryside. Works across the range of rural issues but has a traditional strength in planning and devleopment law. Resources, links and local campaigning groups. www.cpre.org.uk
Charities Aid Foundation (CAF)
UK-wide finance organisation for the charity sector, has its own CAF bank and Venturesome social investment fund: loans and equity finance for non-profit organisations. www.cafonline.org/default.aspx?page=18929
Community Energy Scotland
Advice, grant funding and finance for renewable energy projects for community benefit. www.communityenergyscotland.org.uk
Community Right to Buy
Official government website with briefings and information on the existing Scottish Community Right to Buy powers. www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/farmingrural/Rural/rural-land/right-to-buy/Community/Guidance
Cooperatives UK
UK-wide umbrella body campaigning for and representing the interests of co-operative and community businesses. www.uk.coop
Development Trusts Association
Umbrella body representing and supporting local development trusts n England, Scotland and Wales, each of which has a community enterprise or regeneration purpose, providing a diverse range of services, facilities and support to communities. www.dta.org.uk
Fiery Spirits.com
This is a community of practice site, a super-forum in which members can swap ideas, experiences and information about community projects, schemes, dreams and ambitions. UK-wide www.rural.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/fieryspirits
Firstport
Scottish government-backed portal for social entrepreneurship advice. Runs a £1m seed fund (up to Mar 2011). Website has directory of social enterprises in Scotland. www.firstsport.org.uk
Get Legal
Legal advice site of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). Free online reference and decision-making tool for those involved with charities, social enterprises and co-operative organisations. www.getlegal.org.uk
Landfill Communities Tax Fund (ENTRUST)
UK-wide umbrella body regulating the Landfill Communities Tax scheme, through which local groups can fund environmental and community improvements. Website gives scheme details and links to local funders. www.entrust.org.uk/home/lcf
National Community Land Trust Network
Coordinating organisation for England & Wales with website to promote and inform about Community Land Trusts (CLTs), local bodies that can be established to provide affordable housing or other asset-based community-benefit projects. Also has a fund for helping CLTs get up and running. www.communitylandtrust.org.uk
Rural Communities Action Network (RCAN)
A network of 38 England-wide non-profit independent rural development agencies, whose umbrella body is ACRE. Can provide local level advisory support and assistance. www.acre.org.uk/aboutthenetwork_index.html
Rural Network N Ireland
Overview rural development body with resources, case studies and links, all about rural communities. www.ruralnetworkni.org.uk
Scotland National Rural Network
Overview rural development body with resources, case studies and links, all about rural communities. www.ruralgateway.org.uk
Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition
Policy and lobbying organisation on behalf of the interests of social enterprises. Some case studies and publications. www.scottishsocialenterprise.org.uk
Social Enterprise Academy
Offers training and development to social entrepreneurs in Scotland. www.theacademy-ssea.org
Social Enterprise Coalition
Website offers a large range of information, advice, case studies - England & Wales. www.socialenterprise.org.uk
The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales
Rural issues campaigning body. www.cprw.org.uk
The LankellyChase Foundation
Charitable trust running several awards programmes in England (not London), Wales, Scotland including 'Local People, Local Places' scheme. www.lankellychase.org.uk
The Plunkett Foundation
Support, networks and knowledge for UK-wide rural communities. Especially strong on community-run shops. www.ruralrevival.co.uk
The Prince's Countryside Fund
Funding is mainly for agriculture or farm-related projects, UK-wide. The website has information and case studies. www.princescountrysidefund.org.uk
UK National Rural Network
Overview body, mainly policy focused, but with publications, links and contacts. www.uknationalruralnetwork.rroom.net/
Un Ltd (the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs)
Resources and small seed-corn awards to social entrepreneurs across the UK. www.unltd.org.uk
Wales Rural Network
Overview rural development body with resources, case studies and links, all about rural communities. www.wales.gov.uk/splash?orig=/topics/environmentcountryside/farmingandcountryside/ruraldevelopment/walesruralnetwork/
Click here to find out more about 'Your Community Needs You!'
Click here to find out more about the Your Countryside Needs You! campaign
