Building Success Developing Networks

In September 2004 Vicki Howling joined Norfolk Rural Community Council as the Building Success: Developing Networks Project Officer for the Fens LeAP LEADER+ area.

The overall aim of the Building Success: Developing Networks project was to promote, boost and record the efforts, lessons and opportunities of rural development through the LEADER+ programme in the Fens. In this personal reflection, originally used in 'LeAP Ahead', the Fens LeAP area LEADER+ newsletter, Vicki looks back over the life of the project and recalls some of the highlights.

"Fens LeAP LEADER+ is all about improving the quality of life for people living in rural Cambridgeshire & West Norfolk, but how do we measure this? How do we know we are making a difference? Yes we can set targets such as the number of people using a new service - but what about the "added value" of projects - the differences made to communities and individual lives - these are perhaps the most difficult successes to gauge. Over the last three and a half years it has been my job to find out more about the individual projects that the Fens LeAP LEADER+ Programme supports; to hear the human stories behind the projects from the people who make them happen.

Building Success… and Showcasing it!
When looking back over my time with LEADER+ I think one of the most enjoyable and rewarding aspects has been organising the events that showcased the diverse range of projects the programme has supported. Around 55 people braved the Fen roads on a very foggy day in October 2005 to attend the first event held at March Town Hall. There they heard how LEADER+ helped improve quality of life in the Fens by: helping older people to access benefits they are entitled to through the Fenland Form Filling Project, by helping young people into work and education on mopeds loaned by the KickStart Project, by giving the over 55's the incentive to find out more about ICT & local heritage through Community Heritage Stores, and much more. By 2006 we felt there was even more to celebrate and held another event, this time at The Glebe Community Centre in Sutton, where around 75 people got a chance to hear more Fenland success stories. These events have been an excellent opportunity to highlight the achievements of Fens LeAP LEADER+ Programme in the area and also a chance for projects to find out more about each other.

Developing Networks
This was probably the most challenging aspect of my work. Although most people when asked will acknowledge the value of networking, getting them to take time out of their busy schedules 'just to have a chat' is not easy! Jackie Squires, Community Development Officer at the Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk, came to a FastTrack workshop with an idea for a network of community groups. As Jackie and I talked it became clear we both had similar goals - to enable isolated groups in the Fens to come together to share ideas and resources, in short, to network! We therefore decided it would make sense to work together and, along with Maxine Fiander from West Norfolk Voluntary and Community Action, we have organised a series of Community Groups Networking Meetings. The meetings are open to any community group or community activist working or volunteering in the Fens; they are an opportunity to find out more about what's happening in the local area and hear the latest information about various events, training and funding opportunities. So far the meetings have attracted a total 67 people representing 46 different projects and 15 communities. The feedback we've received from attendees has been very positive and overall this has been a really successful project; it has definitely exceeded all original expectations and we've even launched a 'network newsletter'.

Delegated Grant Schemes: A steep learning curve!
FastTrack was Fens LeAP Programme's first delegated grant scheme; it launched in July 2003 with the aim of making the Fens LeAP LEADER+ Programme more accessible to the grass roots community groups operating in the Fens LeAP area. This was achieved by allowing only small community groups and voluntary organisations to apply for grants of up to £3000. The idea behind this was that the applicants would be 'Fast Tracked' through this process with one simple application form rather than having to endure the lengthy two-stage application process experienced by full stage applicants. In the first year of the scheme there was a clear necessity for marketing the fund to these smaller hard to reach groups; therefore, in order to stimulate applications, my first few months in post were spent driving around the Fens with display boards and leaflets in tow, spreading the word about LEADER+. When I joined the LEADER+ Programme in 2004 I had experience of making funding applications but not of EU funding, so what better way to learn all about LEADER+ than to organise a series of workshops aimed at helping community groups apply to the scheme - and it wasn't just the community groups attending that learnt all a about LEADER+ - by the time the FastTrack Scheme closed in 2006 I felt I could talk confidently about LEADER+ in any situation (and according to my family I often do!). This came in particularly useful when, in November 2006, the Local Action Group approved a second delegated grant scheme, Community LEADER. This time the applications quickly came rolling in and I had a much more 'hands on' role in supporting the applicants.

LEADing the way to bigger things
Another aspect of my work has been evaluating the success of the programme and I carried out appraisals on the two delegated grant schemes, FastTrack & Community LEADER. The conclusion was the same for both, that a little money goes a long way in the Fens and often the smaller projects have the most significant outcomes. It can also be the stepping stone to bigger things. For example, when Walpole Highway Village Hall Committee applied to Community LEADER for funding to soundproof their new IT Suite, they knew that they also needed to find around £40k to carry out structural repairs to their hall; understandably they felt they had a huge mountain to climb. However successfully applying to LEADER was the confidence boost they needed and gave them the courage to apply for further funding. I am happy to report that they have just had confirmation of grants from WREN & the Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk and work on the hall is due to start shortly.

Helping to keep the area's heritage alive…..
Because of my own keen interest in local history I found Community Heritage Store one of the most innovative and exciting projects to work on. Aimed at getting the over 55's involved in ICT it proved to be both successful and popular. A legacy of the project was the formation of 5 local CHS groups across the West Norfolk Fens and these groups have found the Community Groups Networking Meetings' particularly helpful to keep in touch with each other. The West Walton CHS group in particular has gone from strength to strength; last year they held a very successful open day at Marshland High School with well over 200 people attending to view their huge collection of old photographs and other memorabilia on display. Through information obtained at a networking meeting the group successfully applied to the Fenland Food & Flower Festival Fund for funding to host this event.

And sharing the good news
My role in the Fens LeAP LEADER programme has been simple - to make sure people know about LEADER and the difference it has made to people living in West Norfolk and Cambridgeshire Fens. I have enjoyed finding out about the many and varied projects and reporting back through LeAP Ahead, I hope you've enjoyed reading about them.
If the Building Success project has made a difference to your community and I haven't mentioned it here, then I would like to hear from you so that I can include your comments in my final report. Please email me at vicki@norfolkrcc.org.uk or telephone me on 07981 642171"

Vicki Howling
Fens LEADER+ Project Officer
June 2008

Please note: The Building Success: Developing Networks Project will end on 30th September 2008. After this date please contact the programme staff at Cambridgeshire ACRE on 01353 860850

This project is part funded by the European Union through the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund.