Warwickshire News Mine

Warwickshire County Council’s Building Sustainable Neighbourhoods initiative (BSN) has allocated around £14,000 to help local groups in the Camp Hill area continue projects that have been running over the last few years.

Six groups have benefited from the money so far, including the Camp Hill Gardening Scheme, which can continue to provide essential gardening services for less mobile people and empty properties in an effort to keep Camp Hill looking at its best, but there is just under £3000 left for local groups to access.

Catherine Bower, Environmental Action Coordinator said: “Thanks to this funding we’ve been able to support a variety of projects such as DIAL, a dedicate advice service for carers and people with disabilities in the Camp Hill and Blackatree area.

“Local residents have been able to learn new skills such as first aid, food hygiene and digital photography; courses that the Camp Hill Early Years Centre are able to provide thanks to the funding they received from this initiative.

“We’ve also been able to finance the purchase of ICT equipment for the running of the annual Camp Hill Festival and grant funding to the Camp Hill Community Hub, which enables local people to access the internet computers, telephones in their local village hall and offers advice and information.

“And the Camp Hill Partnership Activity Group, a group of local residents who put on activities in the community, has been able to showcase Camp Hill’s very own Stars in Their Eyes thanks to money we were able to grant them for publicity materials, training and CRB checks so that members could work with children.

“We still have funds left for groups that meet one or more of BSN’s eight objectives and benefit the wider community. To see if you are eligible to apply for funding contact the Building Sustainable Neighbourhoods team on 02476 354291, or write to or drop into Unit 5 Albion Court, 80 Attleborough Road, Nuneaton, CV11 4JJ.”

County Councillor June Tandy, Chair of the Building Sustainable Neighbourhoods Management Board said: “This is fantastic news for the communities of Nuneaton and Bedworth. Projects that make a real difference to peoples lives will be delivered thanks to this money.”

County Councillor Chris Saint, Portfolio Holder for Economic Development said: “The additional funding is a major boost to the BSN programme that has supported over 80 community-based projects across Nuneaton and Bedworth since it’s launch in 2003. Through this initiative we can make sure that the vital services these projects provide don’t just stop if the money runs out.”

Building Sustainable Neighbourhoods (BSN) is a community regeneration initiative set up in early 2003 with funding from Europe, the Regional Development Agency (Advantage West Midlands) through the Coventry and Warwickshire Regeneration Zone, and other public and private partners.

The initiative will run to 2006 and is a partnership of various agencies and voluntary groups operating across Nuneaton and Bedworth.

BSN is aimed at working with local people to develop a range of projects to encourage community participation in regeneration, support people into employment and training, increase economic opportunities and improve the environment in local neighbourhoods. 

To be eligible for funding groups must meet one or more of BSN’s eight objectives:
1) Support local people in actively working together to develop, manage and run local initiatives that tackle identified problems in their local community.
2) Enhance the ability of local communities to access local opportunities, for example training and employment.
3) Improve existing community facilities that are currently under-used and develop their use by the whole community.
4) Support local people in delivering services at local centres that are of benefit to their community, particularly regarding learning, training and ICT technology.
5) Create sustainable local employment opportunities.
6) Support local groups who aim to tackle environmental deterioration within their local community.
7) Improve co-operative work, partnerships and networking between groups in local communities and throughout the Borough.
8) Establish one stop shops for service delivery at neighbourhood level, bringing information and service providers together, ensuring vital services are made available locally for people to access.

Link to WCC