Forum:SCA could stand for Supporting Community Action, Wales, AND England

(This is a draft for posting to the localsustuk discussion list)

I noticed from the transition towns forum (1) this morning that

"The Welsh Assembly Government is holding a community event on Saturday 1st December, at the Glamorgan Business Centre, Pontypridd. It will offer an exciting opportunity to:


 * Network with other community groups
 * Get information about ideas and support to help move projects forward
 * Let the Assembly Government know what it can do to help community groups and projects develop and succeed

The day will be launched by Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, and will showcase the work of organisations that work with communities and their services through a central hall of interactive stands.

For both existing community groups and those wishing to establish new projects, there will be a wide range of workshops, including;


 * Exploring the community phenomena such as Transition towns, and Carbon Rationing Action groups, and meeting the people making them work
 * Case studies of successful projects, and the lessons learned, which can help in starting your own activity
 * Finding out more about potential sources of funding and how to access them

You will also be able to book in with a number of experienced advisers for a one to one session on your particular project or idea.

There will be a second event in North Wales in the New Year."

Great for community groups in Wales, but why nothing similar for England?

It's not as if there isn't a need.

Climate change, sustainability, peak oil, etc have all become higher profile over recent years and months. Community action on energy, food, and a whole host of other sustainability topics abounds.

It's not as if there isn't an opportunity

Since the apparent demise of government interest in programmes such as Local Agenda 21, this is exactly the sort of support some of us have been arguing for. A whole panoply of community groups are attempting to fill the gap. Resources can seldom be stretched from beyond the core purpose of the group or project to time consuming things like networking and information sharing.

If the government is serious about


 * 1) empowering communities, for example through the Sustainable Communities Act
 * 2) an 80 per cent climate emissions (reduction) target

why would it not want to support community action which could help?

What would it take to get similar support for community action across England?

posted and awaiting moderation Philralph @ sca21 14:28, 20 October 2008 (UTC)

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References (1) http://transitiontowns.org/forum/topic.php?id=31