Rhondda Community Business Initiatives Ltd

ACTION PLAN 2004

(Sponsored by Rhondda Community Business Initiatives Ltd. and Rhondda Community Development Association)
To download a full copy of the action plan, click here

INTRODUCTION

On the 8th September 2003, the responsibility for developing the social economy in Wales transferred from Economic Policy Division to the Social Inclusion Unit of the Communities Directorate. Social enterprise and the social economy as a whole in Wales now forms part of the portfolio of the Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration, Mrs. Edwina Hart, AM, MBE.

In the Social Enterprise Newsletter, Spring Edition 2004, she wrote that the potential of social enterprises has very much moved up the Welsh Assembly Government’s agenda. She went on to say that she is keen to support the creation of a dynamic and sustainable social enterprise sector, and that she could see them helping to deliver many of the Assembly Government’s key policy objectives such as contributing to socially inclusive wealth creation and enabling individuals and communities to work towards regenerating their local communities.

'We want’, she said, ‘to work with all those who can make this vision a reality – support organisations, local authorities, the WDA, and, most importantly, with social enterprise practitioners themselves’.

It is against this positive background that RCBI’s Board of Directors set themselves the task of developing Action Plan 2004 in preparation for Phase Two of the Community Regeneration Grid. After consultation with the Community Network it was agreed that the theme for Phase Two would be ‘From Community Development to Community Business’.

REPRISE

RCBI has always aimed to be a catalyst and innovator. Every initiative taken or supported over a long span of years has involved a process of (a) listening and consulting (b) joining or forming partnerships (c) acting or enabling others to act.

ACTION PLAN 2003 described a number of community initiatives and identified a new environment for community development. Arising from this, it made the following key points:

> Future emphasis was to be on the continuing development of community initiatives/projects, and the setting up of action-oriented steering groups.

> Key decisions and policy matters were to be made at RCBI Directors, RCDA Management or Community Network level.

> Steering groups could co-opt relevant Agency or Local Authority officers/members as appropriate.

These decisions emphasised RCBI’s determination not only to be a catalyst but also to continue to provide an independent mechanism through which local people and groups could work together for mutual and community benefit. Phase One of the Community Regeneration Grid has attempted to provide opportunities for local people to become involved in relevant planning processes, leading towards the development and delivery of meaningful community initiatives and locally supported projects.

ACTION PLAN 2004 re-iterates that RCBI and RCDA want to continue to work with Local Authority Area Regeneration Co-ordinators, and to strengthen and support Area Regeneration Action Plans.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

> Action Plan 2004 provides the link between Phases One and Two of the Rhondda Community Regeneration Grid. Phase One remains in place until 31/03/05.

> The targets for Phase One are to support 24 community initiatives, assist 26 community groups, and involve 100 local people in planning and developing strategies, partnerships and community initiatives

> We fully expect to achieve or surpass all our targets by the end of Phase One on 31/03/05

> It was agreed at our community network meeting on 13/5/04 that the theme for Phase Two would be ‘From Community Development to Community Business’. A proposed new structure for Community Enterprise was also agreed

> Action Plan 2004 sets out the way in which we can complete this structure and support the creation of new community businesses in Phase Two of the Community Regeneration Grid, building on the achievements of Phase One. All regeneration initiatives or projects will be located in – or of direct benefit to – Priority 3 targeted areas

From Community Development to Community Business

Definitions agreed at the Community Network meeting on 13th May 2004

Community Development is the process by which the efforts of people in a locality are united with those of the statutory bodies to:
Improve the economic, social and cultural life of the community.
Integrate the community into the life of the nation.
Enable the community to contribute fully to national progress.

Community Enterprise is economic activity controlled by local people to generate employment and economic development to benefit their local area.

A Community Business sells goods or services in order to benefit a group with shared needs or aspirations:
It doesn’t distribute profits to its members – profits are re-invested in the community.
It is democratically owned and controlled by its members.
Membership is open to everyone in the community.
It benefits a particular ‘community’.
It creates employment opportunities and provides services for the community.

It was also agreed that the well established community network underpinned by the close working relationship between Rhondda Community Business Initiatives (RCBI) and Rhondda Community Development Association (RCDA) would now be known as the Rhondda Community Enterprise Network. The lead organisation would continue to be RCBI. The Network intends to make full use of RCBI’s constitutional facility for developing community businesses in Phase Two of the Community Regeneration Grid.