EAST CLEVELAND RESIDENTS HAVE YOUR SAY AT YOUR VILLAGE’S #BIGLOCALCOMMUNITYCONVERSATIONS

Residents and local businesses are being encouraged to share their ideas on how they would like to improve opportunities and facilities within eleven villages in East Cleveland.

#BigLocalConversations have already taken place in Liverton, New Skelton, Charltons, Boosbeck and Loftus with further conversations due to take place in Easington, Lingdale, Skinningrove and Liverton Mines.

East Cleveland Big Local Villages, Tees Valley Rural Action and Social Enterprise Acumen are working in partnership to host a series of conversations to bring together local talent, skills, energy, individuals, groups and organisations who want to make a difference in the community where they live.

Rita Lawson, CEO of Tees Valley Rural Action, the Locally Trusted Organisation providing support and guidance to the East Cleveland Villages Big Local and managing the funds on their behalf, commented: “East Cleveland’s Big Local programme is now half way through its 10 years and following a refresh of the Partnership, under the leadership of their new Chair, Linda White from Carlin How, they are now looking to put together an action plan for the remaining five years.

“We are hoping to generate new ideas and fresh thinking to help us to improve opportunities instead of focusing on many of the same ideas on how we can spend the funds. This is about engaging with the 11 villages that make up the East Cleveland Big Local area and looking at how to challenge the status quo and come together more closely to make a lasting change in their villages. It is also about harnessing the skills and enthusiasm of individuals who would not ordinarily get involved in such initiatives so that there is a legacy of community champions in the eleven villages of East Cleveland.”

Social entrepreneur Kate Welch OBE and CEO of Social Enterprise Acumen CIC commented: “We’re keen to hear people’s views on why they love to live where they live, what ideas they have to make it an even better place and how they can help to make their ideas a reality.”

Back in 2012, £1m was awarded for 10 years to help to make a lasting difference to each of the eleven villages in the East Cleveland Big Local area. Villages include Boosbeck, Carlin How, Charltons, Dunsdale, Easington, Lingdale, Liverton Mines, Loftus, Margrove Park, New Skelton and Skinningrove.

East Cleveland Villages Big Local funding currently has five priorities, improving access to employment and services, encouraging enterprise, further business development in the area, promote tourism and bring communities together so they live healthier lifestyles and ensure all families and individuals have support for their needs within their local community. However, these are subject to change following the report as a result of each of the #BigLocalConversations.

At the heart of The National Lottery’s Big Local is to empower local people, help them to become more resilient and dynamic where people and communities flourish by making decisions on what is best for them and the area in which they live.

For further information on East Cleveland Villages Big Local visit www.ecvbiglocal.co.uk or Social Enterprise Acumen visit www.socialenterpriseacumen.co.uk

Big Local Conversations will take place on the following dates, times and locations across East Cleveland.

If you have missed your date don’t worry Kate and the team would love to hear from you and you can still be involved using the contacts above.

• Liverton                Wed 22 Jan, 3-6pm                       Liverton Village Hall
• New Skelton        Thurs 23 Jan, 3-6pm                     Hollybush Activity Centre
• Charltons              Wed 29 Jan, 3:30pm-6.30pm     Charltons Village Hall
• Boosbeck              Thurs 30 Jan, 3-5:45pm               Boosbeck Village Hall
• Carlin How            Tues 4 Feb, 3-6pm                        Carlin How Village Hall
• Margrove Park     Wed 5 Feb, 3-6pm                         Margrove Village Hall
• Easington              Thurs 6 Feb, 3-6pm                      Easington Community Centre
• Skinningrove        Tues 11 Feb, 3-6pm                        Skinningrove Village Hall
• Lingdale                 Thurs 13 Feb, 4-6:30pm               Lingdale Village Hall
• Dunsdale               Thurs 25 Feb, 3-6pm                    Baby Moon, Dunsdale
• Loftus                     Tues 28 Feb, 3-6pm                      Venue TBC
• Final Event            TBC to take place at the beginning of March 2020