In order to meet our residents face-to-face and gain insight into their needs and aspirations, our CDOs spend most of their time out and about in the communities that they cover. In pursuing the
CD Team purpose and its
aims, the CDOs get involved in a very wide range of community events and activities. These can include single events, such as helping a community to organise a street party, e.g. the “Big Lunch”, or providing longer term support where there are more complex needs and challenges.
While the CDOs are there to help communities take action, it is important that, in the long run, they provide our residents with the knowledge, skills and tools that will allow them to continue that action, with minimal or no CDO support into the future. One way in which this is achieved is through the setting up of
community groups. These can be formal, which requires them to be run by a committee that has an agreed constitution, or informal and perhaps with a very specific project in mind.
Community action does not always need huge amounts of money in order to succeed. For smaller projects, CDOs can help residents to apply for funds from the Neighbourhood Improvement Budget. Where larger sums of money are needed, the CDOs can advise and support residents with accessing alternative sources of funding.
The Community Development team has achieved some notable successes in attracting external funding in the past, including:
- £119,000 for renovating the Scout Hut in Wesleyan Rd, Peterborough
- £80,000 for the Golden Gardens project in Goldington
- £38,700 for the multi use games area (MUGA) in Offa Rd, Bedford and
- £9,300 for Southbrook Youth Club in Daventry.
If you have ideas for action that would benefit your community, please contact the Community Development Team.