Newport Community Forum - 2008
The idea of setting up the Community Forum arose from very well attended community visioning workshops (organised by Planed - Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise & Development. www.planed.org.uk) and these also formed the basis of the Newport Action Plan adopted in May 2004.
How does the Forum work?
The Forum is open to anyone living in the area of benefit or who has an affinity with Newport. It brings together local organisations, groups and individuals to work on developing projects of environmental, economic, social and cultural benefit to the community of Newport.
The Newport Forum Coordinating Group has been meeting at least 4 times a year and subgroups were formed, where necessary, initially to progress work on the proposals in the Action Plan.
What benefits are there for individuals & local groups?
By becoming involved in the Forum you can learn about other local groups and what they do. The Forum can help to inform other people about your group and we can all discover how to work together and with other organisations and statutory authorities to the benefit of the community.
Because the Forum provides a means of consultation and the opportunity to work in partnership by engaging a wide range of people and organisations, it can clearly demonstrate community support. This is respected by grant giving bodies and can be of assistance in fund raising. As the Forum is a constituted body with a bank account, member groups are able to apply for funding through us.
What has Newport Community Forum achieved so far?
One of the Forum's main achievements is to form working groups that have gone on to become independent or largely independent. These include The Newport Area Environment Group, Newport History Society and Newport and Dinas Older Persons Forum. Newport
Forum was responsible for producing the new Town Map at Long Street carpark and has compiled the Newport Events List (which can be found at The "Whats On" section of this website). The Heritage group has produced a bilingual leaflet on Newport's history and places of interest. The Forum's principle achievement in 2007, was in establishing the Newport Area Environment Group (NAEG) which has fostered the creation of "Transition Town Newport", aiming to face up to the twin challenges of climate change and peak oil.
What next?
On 13th February 2008, the Forum is arranging a public evening meeting to rewrite the Action Plan for Newport's sustainable future. Local organisations are invited to display their current activities and a buffet meal will be provided before participants work together in a tried and tested visioning exercise (devised by PLANED,CCW and the New Economics Foundation and sponsored by the UK Carnegie Trust)
Copies of the current Action Plan are available by telephoning Moishe or Wendy on 01834 860 965
For more information about the Forum, please contact Sandra Bayes on 01239 820 889 or Patricia Foot on 01239 820 644.