The uses of this 2016 survey of BIDs nationwide are multiple. The survey’s authors outline how it holds up a mirror for the BID industry to look at itself by enabling: an annual snapshot to be taken of the BID community in the UK and Ireland for policy makers; chief executives of BIDs to benchmark themselves against…
An annual Town Team Review can be an invaluable tool in assisting the on-going organisational development of a local town centre ‘champion’. It need not be a complicated process and is key in ensuring that town centre regeneration is sustained . Organisational development is a gradual process but will also have key moments such as when leadership, staff…
Crowdfunding is about getting friends and contacts to chip-in and pay for a bright idea. Using web-based platforms, Crowdfunding massively extends your reach to like-minded individuals and makes collecting the cash much easier. Crowdfunding Examples Crowdfunding within communities is great for events and activities that capture the imagination and provide benefits for a wide range of people.…
Should you consider Community Shares if you have good idea or simply stick with grants and more traditional sources of funding? What are Community Shares? Community Shares raise money by offering local people to invest in the ownership of a new cooperative venture. It’s not an ‘either/or’ alternative as Community Shares are often used to…
In this third of our series of top town tips created jointly with Chris Jones Regeneration Ltd, we look at what it takes to lead and sustain town centre regeneration through generating the necessary income and investment. Types and Sources of Funding As well as nationally available funding such as the National Lottery and the LEADER Programme, local…
The LEADER Programme provides a total of £138 million in England and £95 million in Wales for rural development between 2015 and 2020. Local Action Groups You can apply to your Local Action Group (LAG) for funding for projects that help local businesses to grow or benefit the rural economy.Towns within LEADER areas defined by DEFRA as…
Is town centre renewal possible in these austere times? Last week I was lucky to take a one-day tour of Lincolnshire town centres. This taught me lessons and identified issues that have wider meaning for cash-strapped communities in need of renewal. The situation facing rural Lincolnshire town centres like Sleaford, Gainsborough and Boston will be familiar to…
Town Centre Investment Zones -Getting investment back into the High Street: Summary report of the Fragmented Ownership Group published by the British Property Federation This newly published report gives a great overview of one of the big ideas that could help re-invigorate our town centres. Town Centre Investment Management and Zones involves the pooling of a…