Breckland Economic Development Team, Norfolk

Background

Addressing rural problems

The rural communities across Breckland have a wide variety of economic and social needs. Previous attempts to implement a 'one size fits all' approach to service delivery have failed. Attracting significant funding for regeneration projects in rural areas such as Breckland can sometimes be difficult because deprivation and isolation are perceived as less of a problem than in larger urban settlements.

Breckland Council's Economic Development team needed to get people from across the area working together in a way that recognises the differing needs within that area. Working with voluntary and community organisations, as well as local businesses, enabled the Economic Development team to implement projects in direct response to local needs. By packaging a range of projects together, the team was able to approach the regeneration initiative on a large scale and secure £12.7 million of funding from a range of sources.

Identifying projects

From an initial batch of project proposals, the Breckland Economic Development team selected the ideas that most closely aligned with the council's priorities, including its community engagement strategy, and requested full business plans for each of these. The chosen projects varied widely in type and scale but each one had the potential to deliver strong results. The Economic Development team, which is made up of four permanent employees and three project-funded posts, worked with 13 partners and 11 funding streams to deliver the regeneration initiative.

Impact

Community transformation

One of the Breckland Economic Development team's main projects was the redevelopment of Swaffham Community Centre, which was housed in a 1960s building and in urgent need of modernisation. Through the Community Economic Regeneration Package, it was transformed into a state-of-the-art office space for organisations that work within the community, which included a crèche.

The striking new building won an award for energy efficiency from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England and was rated 'very good' under the BREEAM method of environmental assessment. The rent paid by tenants, who include the local education authority, makes the centre financially sustainable.

Mark Stanton, Breckland Economic Development and Regeneration Manager, said: “The funders of the Community Economic Regeneration Package set a number of targets and outputs, and the hard work and strong performance of our partners meant these were greatly exceeded. The regeneration initiative has made a significant difference to the lives of individuals and entire communities”.

Young people into employment

Another project involved recruiting someone to help young people in Breckland to access the services of The Prince's Trust, the UK's leading youth charity which helps young people into employment or education, often through providing training, mentoring or financial assistance. The role was created to promote The Prince's Trust to young people aged 14 – 30, who are often the hardest to reach, and refer these individuals onto The Trust's programmes.

Graham Ball, Regional Director for The Prince's Trust in the East of England said: “One notable success was a young man who had experience of drug addiction and who'd been in prison on a number of occasions. He took part in a Prince's Trust pilot programme, very similar to our 12 week TEAM course, but centred around the construction Industry. 'Build Up' involved him working at a local building company where he gained a qualification and employment skills. He's since been working as a crane operator in Thetford, and has won an award for being the top apprentice in his company”.

Breckland's Community Economic Regeneration Package has been recognised as a successful project by the East of England Development Agency and the Government Office for the East of England European Unit.

Good Practice

What can be learned from this project?

• The Breckland Economic Development team ensured that each project within the Community Economic Regeneration Package was strong in its own right. The projects could range in size and type but they all had to deliver results. By taking an entrepreneurial approach, the Economic Development team was able to consider a wide range of projects. Rather than being risk-averse, the team ensured that all risks were fully assessed and actively managed.

• Day-to-day budget management for each project was handled by partners but Breckland Council was accountable for the way that funding was spent. The Economic Development team put in place sound financial management processes to ensure that budgets were used responsibly and in line with relevant funding criteria. With accountability for 78 measurable targets, a strong project management structure enabled the Economic Development team to monitor and evaluate progress throughout the project.
• The Economic Development team worked with partners to provide training to ensure that projects would be sustainable and deliver long-term benefits to the community.
• Good communication between the team leading the initiative and those delivering the projects was also key to the success of the project. The Economic Development team recognised that trust was essential and failing to share problems or concerns would affect the progress of the project.

Reference

Contact details

Mark Stanton
Breckland Council
Tel: 01362 656808
Email: mark.stanton@breckland.gov.uk

Breckland Council
Economic Development Service
Elizabeth House
Walpole Loke
Dereham
Norfolk
NR19 1EE

External links

Swaffham Community Centre