In all our conversations with places, whilst their preference may be for them not to constantly have to spend time bidding for funding pots, what they do want to see is funding that is place-led, flexible, not competitive, revenue not just capital, and that can meet local priorities; SPF provides that opportunity.
It is extremely encouraging to see that this funding is very much ‘place-led’ with objectives of building pride in places and increasing life chances, and sub priorities of community and place, supporting local businesses and people and skills. In essence, this is about connecting people to their place, engaging businesses and the community, focusing on meaningful geography, making the most of local assets, joining up policies and funding opportunities, meeting community needs and building place based, local leadership; music to our ears!
Our mantra and best practice, made ever more relevant by the cost of living and energy crisis is:
having a clear and shared direction of travel for your place; your story
widening place leadership; place led group
creating advocates for the place; ambassador programme
an implementation approach driven by your story; a place plan
Many places we have spoken with would be delighted to adopt this route but have simply not had the discretional funding available; now they can, and that’s both needed and exciting!
Following this approach is the route to economic growth, community cohesion, empowerment and extension of local leadership, supporting and properly involving local businesses, fostering pride, making the most of the assets and special things each place has, promotion of collaboration and networking, an encouragement of places to think big and reach out, a strengthening of the social fabric and a route to drive investment and jobs.
From Staffordshire to Skelmersdale and from Newhaven to North Notts, we have seen what adopting this approach can achieve, from successful funding bids to exciting meanwhile uses; winning UK City of Culture to buzzing ambassador schemes; attracting new investments to showcasing your place in front of external audiences, and much much more.
If ever there was an opportunity to break the mould and really do things differently, this is it. Our advice is to take some risks, be bold, be place-led and dare to dream; you might surprise yourself.
If you would be interested in having a conversation, without any obligation, please contact sarah.perry@thinkingplace.co.uk.
