July 28, 2023
July saw the usual SusSH Group Leaders’ Gathering replaced with a special workshop on Starting & Developing Your Community Group. Attendees at the event, held in South Brent, were able to hear from expert speakers on the ‘nuts and bolts’ topics of getting groups going and moving onwards and upwards.
24 people attended the workshop, with representatives of 13 different groups and organisations ranging from early stage planning through to solidly established.
In the morning, participants could choose between workshops on Starting a Group, led by Helen Vines of Community Action Groups (CAG) Devon, and Legal Structures, led by Gareth Hart from Iridescent Ideas CIC.
At lunchtime, the group had the opportunity to visit Sustainable South Brent’s Sustainability Hub and Community Fridge, learning about how these exemplar community projects took shape and operate on a day-to-day basis.
In the afternoon, workshop options covered Developing Your Group with Gareth Hart, and Collective Vision & Action Plan with Jane Nichols from SusSH.
We received some great feedback from participants, whose key learnings included understanding that there is no ‘one size fits all, how to create the ‘what’ of strategy for the ‘why’ of vision”, crystallising thoughts and aspirations into a coherent strategy, and the pros and cons of various structures.
Find all of the presentations and much more information here. You might also be interested in the selection of learning material available from Iridescent Ideas CIC, support material from South Hams CVS, and this information on legal structures.
Please note that we will be taking a summer break from our Group Leaders’ Gatherings in August and look forward to seeing many of you at our next session in September!