Our Projects
Village Agents Pilot Project
At Community Futures we are thrilled to introduce the Village Agents Pilot Project.
Communities in rural Lancashire are set to benefit from a new Village Agents Pilot Project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and delivered by Community Futures.
The pilot will be delivered in four rural communities over the next 18 months and is the first of its kind in Lancashire. It aims to gather evidence to support the development of a Village Agent Scheme for Lancashire, which will be led by a team of trusted community members willing to be paid village agents. Their role will be to support people to combat isolation, access services and develop their own community initiatives.
The pilot is intended to lay the foundations and build evidence for a more impactful, wider reaching scheme across the wider Lancashire Area.
Our first Focus Discussion Group.
Check out our press release for all the details on our Village Agents Pilot Project!
“This project is an important initiative for Lancashire’s rural communities. Village Agents support and empower the community spirit so characteristic of rural life, acting as a catalyst for community action, and responding to needs identified through community conversations. If the pilot is as successful as we hope and anticipate, as it grows across the county the data collected will reveal trends which can be addressed through larger projects with rural community life and sustainable futures at their heart”.
Ruth Abram Outreach Officer – Community Futures
The difference we’re making
Support from individuals and groups has made a huge difference to the success of the project so far. People have provided valuable insight into how a village agents scheme might work in their community and are now keen to take the next steps with us.
“Thank you for helping us with grant funding to do warm hub sessions in the pub. Fingers crossed! Can’t wait to help with the village agent project, especially if it helps us to get a better community space.” – Parish Council
Our priorities for the next 6 months are to:
- Establish Focus Groups in all 4 communities.
- Build on the relationships with people living in the target communities and keep them central to conversations about the project.
Other Projects
4 Pilot Communities
Waddington, Gisburn and Slaidburn
Funding enabled a scoping and learning programme organised for us by Somerset Community Council (SCC).
Watch our video for more information about our visit.
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