enhancing our community meeting notes
	BAWDESWELL VILLAGE HALL & RECREATION GROUND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE STEERING GROUP HELD ON SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2005 IN THE VILLAGE HALL AT 10.00 AM   PRESENT:        James Lilwall (Chairman), Jayne Bown, Janet Cockburn,                            John Griffin, Gillian Horner, Alex Kirby, John Mallen, Marietta Menzies, Graham Swain, Piers Wallace, Nicholas Ward    APOLOGIES:           David Cockburn, Peter Jervis, John Menzies, Fel and                            Dave Roberts. 1. Matters Arising from the Minutes of the last Meeting not covered separately The information pack is going around and JC will continue to control its circulation and will maintain the files. JL now has a contact name for the Bowls Club, Paul Digby, and will contact him. 2. Updates a) Visits AK tabled a document relating to the local village halls explaining that she has included what they have that is different rather than making a full list including all the usual and expected attributes.  The Chairman said he thinks we need to ensure our project is for more than just a basic village hall.  It was agreed that we would only do targeted visits in future.  We will contact Little Ellingham and see them or asked them to come and see us.  JM said that all the halls visited, except for Foxley, made their money from weddings and parties that were held during the year and we must keep this in mind.  The Chairman thanked those members of the committee that undertook the visits and JC for organising them and AK for the documents she produced. b) Eco building PW reported that he had spent some time on the web and has received information about various grants and awards available but this could not be pursued until we know what is wanted.  Large grants are available for photovoltaic roofing and being in a position to put energy back into the grid.  Straw bales can also be used for building and the costs are lower.  AK has also contacted her old college for information and has received an offer of help from them.  The Chairman asked that PW and AK keep abreast of eco friendly information and they accepted.  PW said there are courses available for finding information and he is prepared to do one. c)   Web Site AK and DC have liaised on it and it is in the process of being updated. d)   Norfolk Area Village Halls Association Conference The Chairman, JC, and JB attended the morning session of this conference and heard addresses by:  A spokesman for Promoting Rural England.  From Richard Weller of the Lottery fund, whose message was that they are keen on investing in communities and in knowing what the outputs will be from their investment.  The last speaker was Jean Hanks who has been the leading promoter of the Little Ellingham Hall project team.  She spoke on how it started and her key message was planning, planning and planning.  She said it is important to show why any organisation would want to help a project.  The information was very helpful.  Little Ellingham, a village of only approx. 250 inhabitants raised £51,000 and were granted £250,000.  The Chairman said that it would be very helpful for us to meet with her and find out more detail on what they encountered.  Their new hall is not finished yet but we should plan to visit it when it is completed.  They had a “buy a brick” scheme and this also proved that they had good village support for the project.  JB added that Jean Hanks had said to speak to as many professionals as possible and time spent on reconnaissance is never wasted, and to get people behind you and keep them on side.  The Chairman said Jean Hanks is definitely a key person for us to refer to. 3. What Now a)  Name for Project The Chairman felt we need a name for the project that is more in tune with investment in the community and environment, rather than just the hall and field.  Overall we are looking at a community project that involves all the activities that are taking place in the village and we should have a title that reflects this.  There was some discussion on possible names and it was agreed that “Project Bawdeswell” with the strap line “enhancing our community” would be the future name of the project.      b)  Mission Statement It was also agreed that we should have a Mission Statement.  JB and MM agreed to draft something for the next meeting.                                                                                                                   Action: Jayne Bown, Marietta Menzies     c)   Brand, Identity The Chairman asked if DC would be prepared to be the official photographer for the various events held in the village.  JC said she was sure he would be.  Legally it is necessary to gain the permission of people included in any photographs. Action:  David Cockburn The Chairman went on to suggest that we have a logo and PW agreed to work on this and provide some ideas for the next meeting.                                                                                                                      Action:  Piers Wallace     d)   What Investment, Return on Investment The Chairman said he would like to leave these 2 items until the next meeting.     e)   Community Survey There was some discussion and it was agreed that we are now at the stage where we need to survey the community and the Chairman asked if someone could put a draft questionnaire together covering what people are doing recreationally, what they are using of the village facilities and what they are doing out of the village and what they would like to see happening in the village.  PW also suggested that we ask if people have skills that can be used to further the project.  AK offered to prepare a draft and she and GH will prepare one suitable for children.  It was agreed that there should be a questionnaire per person rather than per household.  It was agreed that we need to be persistent in the return of the questionnaires.  AK felt it should be seen as the village appraisal mark 2, or as a follow up.  JC suggested that it would be helpful to know if people are holding activities in their homes.                             Action: Alex Kirby, Gillian Horner     f)   Feasibility Study, Project Planning These will be addressed when results of the questionnaire are known.  The Chairman sees it as being a time line; in effect the survey will be on going with new people coming into the village receiving one. It was decided that we should contact Veronica Savage to find out if she has a copy of the project plan for Little Ellingham that we can refer to and relevant dates for applying for funding.  We need to know key tasks that need to be done.  Also need to obtain contact details for Jean Hanks from VS.                                                                                                               Action:  Marietta Menzies It was also suggested that we try to organise an initial meeting with the National Lottery.  JM felt this should be scheduled for this autumn. 4. Any Other Business AK suggested that all the various societies in the village should be invited to have a stand at the Fete.  JM will consider what could be done to promote Project Bawdeswell at the fete. Action:  John Mallen  The Chairman also recommended that we should get some advertising out as far as the school is concerned and what benefit the school could get out of this investment. JB tabled a document showing the various booklets available on projects of this type.  It was agreed that this would be included in the circulation pack and if anyone wants to buy one to recommend it at the next meeting. 5. Date of Next Meeting     Saturday 4 June at 10.00 am in the village hall. Back to top
Contact us via email info@ProjectBawdeswell.org.uk or write to:- The Secretary, Project Bawdeswell, High Windows, Meadow Loke, Bawdeswell, NR20 4TG