Swinford Wind Energy Project Blog

Friday, 11 May, 2012

Community Fund - another chance to have your say!

The 4th Steering Group meeting for the fund was held on Tuesday 1st May at the wind farm site. The group is now in the position to share their proposal with the community on how the fund would be managed and distributed.

The community will be given the opportunity to share their feedback and ideas about the Community Fund and the work to date at the following open day events:

• Tuesday 12th June, 2-8pm at Swinford Village Hall
• Wednesday 13th June, 2-8pm at Walcote Memorial Hall

The events will be advertised locally through a mail out to all local homes, local media, the Swift Flash and posters displayed locally. There will be an online survey to complete through the blog for those who cannot make the events. The steering group have also expressed that they would like copies of the survey delivered door to door - please email Emily who will be in the area frequently over the next few months with your address if you require a copy.

A report of all the feedback received will be published in early July.

Friday, 11 May, 2012

Youth Focus Group share their ideas

On Saturday 28th April the Youth Focus Group met for the second time to discuss the community fund.

The meeting focussed on discussing the priorities and key criteria the group felt were important for the fund to really benefit their area. The group came up with a great list of key criteria which will now be used as a key starting point for the next round of community engagement. Some of the priorities identified included training, community facilities, projects and activities that have a lasting effect and supporting the economy.

The Youth Focus Group also expressed a desire to learn about renewable energy and have started planning a visit to the Centre for Alternative Technology in the summer. Vattenfall will part fund the trip, and the group is currently applying to the Leicestershire Community Forum for match funding, and discussing other fundraising activitities. To support the group's Community Forum application click here!

Don't forget, if you are a young resident and are interested in getting involved - or know someone who might be interested in getting involved - living in the parishes of Swinford, South Kilworth, Misterton with Walcote, North Kilworth, Shawell, Cotesbach, Catthorpe or Westrill and Starmore, contact Sian Ponting at sian@vasl.org.uk or 07576 021144 for more information.

Wednesday, 28 March, 2012

70 residents complete online survey

The latest online survey on the fund is now closed. 70 local residents took part in the survey to have their say on the possible scenarios put forward by the steering group for the distribution of the fund. The results have been shared with the steering group for consideration alongside the feedback from local parish council meetings.

To download a copy of the survey results, click here. Should you have any further comments please get in touch with your local parish council or email us.

Friday, 16 March, 2012

Online survey - final countdown!

There are 6 days left for you to complete the online survey and have your say on the possible scenarios put forward by the steering group for the distribution of the community fund.

This really is a key step in the process, and it is important that you take the chance to have your say!

Have your say here now!

Monday, 12 March, 2012

Youth site visit - the details

Wednesday, 29 February, 2012

Young residents set for site visit

Following the success of the Chill Out Bus during November 2011, we are continuing our work with the Rural Youth Voice Project to give the youth of the local community the chance to get involved with the project. The project and community fund has been featured in the "Speak Out" newsletter which is circulated to young people in the area, and we are organising a site visit for young people from local villages to come and see the work onsite in the coming weeks. If you are interested in getting involved, get in touch!

Friday, 10 February, 2012

Have your say - community fund distribution

As the parish meetings on the community fund continue, we are once more giving you the chance to have your say on a key aspect of the community fund through the blog!

The steering group for the fund have carefully considered how the community fund can be fairly distributed and have proposed a number of possible scenarios for you to consider. This really is a key step in the process, and it is important that you take the chance to have your say! The fund will be in place for 25 years, and it is really important that all decisions are considered thoroughly by you to ensure that a fund is established that can support the needs and priorities of your local community for a very long time!

This survey is available online to complete until 22nd March, 2012 - so you can take your time and give the matter some thought. This feedback, alongside the feedback from the parish meetings  will be considered by the steering group before a decision is made on its distribution.

Please also encourage others to get involved - thank you!

Click here to complete the survey

Thursday, 02 February, 2012

Have your say at the next parish council meeting

The local steering group for the community fund met on the 23rd January to discuss the next steps, based on feedback received from the local community through the information day, the survey and chill our bus tour. Representatives of the steering group have now developed a number of possible scenarios outlining how the fund could be distributed fairly between local parishes.

These scenarios will be discussed at the next parish council meetings in your area, giving local residents, groups and parish councillors a chance to consider and discuss the different options and put forward their preference.

This is a crucial step in the process. If you want to find out more, get involved and help to make this crucial decision, please go along and have your say! 

When and Where?

• Swinford

Tuesday 14th February, 7:15pm at Swinford Village Hall

• South Kilworth

Monday 6th February, 7:00pm and Monday 5th March, 7:00pm at South Kilworth Village Hall

• North Kilworth

Wednesday 15th February, 7:45pm at The Church Room, North Kilworth

• Shawell

Please contact the Parish Chair/Clerk

• Misterton with Walcote

Thursday 1st March, 6:30pm at Walcote Memorial Hall (Please contact the parish clerk prior to the meeting should you wish to attend)

• Cotesbach

Monday 13th February, 7:30pm at Cotesbach Village Hall

• Catthorpe

Monday 27th February, 7:30pm at The Cherry Tree Public House.

• Westrill and Starmore

Please contact the Parish Chair/Clerk

Can't make it?

For those who are unable to attend but want to consider the proposals, don't worry! We are preparing an information and feedback form that you can fill in through the blog to make sure that the steering group can hear your views.

If you have any additional queries please contact us or your local parish council.
 

Wednesday, 30 November, 2011

Community fund report published

The first phase of work to develop the community fund has now been completed, and we've received more than 60 pages of comments from local residents.

A wide range of issues were raised and some clear themes to consider, such as:

• making sure the community fund process is clear and transparent
• some answers to the key question of how the fund will be managed and who will benefit
• making sure local residents have the opportunity to be involved in the process of developing the fund
• making sure young residents have their say

Project ideas

The most common response in terms of the types of project that should be funded focussed on either improving or creating community facilities, followed by projects to benefit young people and/or local schools.

The area's young residents were keen to see more activities available for them to enjoy in their local village - for example film nights, arts clubs, sporting activities - as well as safe areas for them to spend time with friends.

Local Steering Group's first meeting

On 28th November, a local steering group met for the first time to consider the community feedback report and discuss the next steps. It has been determined that the group will meet again in January to agree the group's terms of reference. Any local residents with views or ideas on appropriate issues for the terms of reference to consider should contact their local councillor or parish council.

The group also determined that 2-3 scenarios should be developed before the next round of engagement to examine how best the fund could be managed and distrbuted between local parishes.

The group will also consider ways in which young people can continue to be involved in developing the fund.

 Download the full report

Thursday, 17 November, 2011

The chill out bus has left the area…

The chill out bus has finished its tour of the area. Over the last two weeks, more than 100 young residents visited to bus to talk about their area and the things that they'd like to see developed through the community fund.

The bus visited local primary schools as well as Swinford, Walcote and South Kilworth villages, where young residents came to "chill out", discuss their ideas and make suggestions about the things they'd like to see the fund support in the area.

Their feedback is now being to the full report, which will be available at the end of November.

Thank you to all who attended - we hope you enjoyed!

Don't forget, there's still time to have your say by completing the have your say survey...

Thursday, 10 November, 2011

Community fund work continues…

Work is continuing to gather feedback from local residents on their ideas for the project's community fund. Over the last two weeks, more than 100 young residents have been having their say on the community fund and the things they'd like to see the fund develop in their area.

Some of the ideas offered so far have included:

• developing safer cycle routes around local villages;
• establishing a community cafe and shop;
• creating nature trails which include places for them to "hang out" with friends; and
• hosting arts and craft activities in the village halls.

Further sessions on the Chill Out Bus are planned until the 16th November.

Feedback will also continue to be collected through the online survey until the end of November to give residents plenty of time to think about the fund and have their say.

Once this stage is completed, a feedback report will be sent to all residents who registered and took part in the process (at the information day, the chill out bus or through the survey), and a full report will also be made available on this blog. The feedback report will summarise the comments and ideas we've received and will explain the next steps towards establishing the fund.

Wednesday, 19 October, 2011

Have your say on community benefit fund

Aged between 10 and 25?  Make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to give us your ideas on ways the Swinford Wind Farm Community Fund could be put to best use in your local area.  Over the next 25 years Swinford Wind Energy Project will be making more than £1 million available (that’s £44,000 every year for 25 years) and it is up to you to have your say on how it should be used to benefit your local community.

During November, and in partnership with the Rural Youth Voice Project, we will be out and about on the Chill Out Bus asking what you would do with the £1million fund that will be available. We will be pulling up in the villages of Swinford, South Kilworth and Walcote to get as many ideas as possible from you, the younger residents of the community.

The Chill Out Bus is open to those aged between 10 and 25 years so come on board and let us know what you think!

The bus will be in the area on the following dates: 

• 9th November – 6 – 7pm @ Swinford Village Green

• 10th November – 5 – 6pm @ Walcote Memorial Hall

• 15th November – 5 – 6pm @ South Kilworth Village Hall

The bus will also be visiting Swinford Primary School and South Kilworth Primary School.

For more information contact Sian Ponting on sian@vasl.org.uk or 07576 021144 or follow the Swinford Wind Farm group on Facebook.

Thursday, 29 September, 2011

Need Community Fund Ideas?

Some local residents have asked for examples of how other communities have developed and used funding in their area. So we have put together a range of case studies so that you can find out more about other community funds and their experience here.

Tuesday, 20 September, 2011

Have your Say Survey

The Swinford Community Fund survey is now available to complete. If you were unable to attend the information day on the 22nd September, this is your opportunity to have your say on the fund.

The fund is still in the earliest phases of development. We do not know what the fund will do, who will be involved, or what kind of fund can best meet your needs for the next 25 years, so now is the time to give us your thoughts and ideas on how this fund should be developed to benefit your community.

Take part the Swinford Community Fund Survey Now!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/swinfordcommunityfund