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LEADER+ COMPLETED PROJECTS
1066 Country Goes Green
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Organisation
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Rother District Council
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Project Area
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Winchelsea, Pevensey & Rye
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WARR Contribution
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£4,199
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This is a pilot project which seeks to promote to potential visitors the natural and cultural distinctiveness of the area, via the internet. Information is provided on the walking, cycling and equestrian facilities, combined with the promotion of clusters of local rural businesses that can provide services to both local residents and potential visitors. If successful they would look to develop the project in other WARR areas.
Agri –Industrial Shed Workbook
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Organisation
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WoodNet
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Project Area
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WARR Partnership Area
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WARR Contribution
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£40,800
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This project has produced a planning application for an industrial workspace construction, using low-value local timber. The processes have been recorded and combined with design information, in the form of a workbook. This is now open to public use as a template guide, enabling further examples of these buildings to be built around the south east and beyond. A prototype of timber construction in the form of a Pyrahut was developed using the same materials and techniques as those designed for the timber workshops.
Woodland Enterprise Centre – Hastings Road, Flimwell, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 7PR,
Tel: 01580 879552, www.woodnet.org.uk
Battle Cricket Club Clubhouse
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Organisation
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Battle Cricket Club
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Project Area
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Battle and surrounding area
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WARR Contribution
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£55,700
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Cricket has been played in Battle since 1738 but, following an arson attack on the old timber-built Clubhouse in 2001, the Club was in danger of folding. The new Clubhouse facility has enabled the continuation of cricket in Battle and the development of junior/youth cricket, in active partnership with state and independent schools in the surrounding area. The development of a small museum, displaying cricket-related memorabilia, explains the local history of the game and adds to the tourism attractions of Battle. The Clubhouse also provides additional facilities for local community organisations/clubs/societies.
Battle Cricket Club, Battle Cricket Ground, Battle, East Sussex Tel: 01424-201874
Battle Memorial Hall
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Organisation
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Battle Memorial Hall Partnership
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Project Area
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Battle
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WARR Contribution
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£60,500
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The Memorial Hall has been extended, upgraded and refurbished, to provide a better environment both for the many existing users and to attract new users. The wide variety of groups, coupled with their fields and ages, who are now placing regular bookings for the Hall, are proof that this work has enabled it to reinforce its central position as a multi-purpose amenity, supporting social, cultural and economic activity in Battle and its surrounding villages.
Battle Memorial Hall – High Street, Battle, TN33 0AQ, Tel: 01424 775639
Battle Museum
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Organisation
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Battle Museum Association
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Project Area
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Battle
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WARR Contribution
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£25,000
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Battle Museum has been relocated from an upstairs back room at the Memorial Hall to a restored and extended building next to the medieval Almonry. Opened by Gregory Barker, MP for Bexhill and Battle, on 28 April 2003, the additional space, accessible location and purpose built displays are already providing opportunities for school visits and research. It is hoped that its presence will also help to regenerate the somewhat neglected northern end of the town.
Battle Museum of Local History - The Almonry, High Street, Battle, Tel: 01424 775955
Website: www.battlemuseum.co.uk
Battle Volunteer Driver Scheme
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Organisation
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Battle Area Community Transport
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Project Area
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Battle and surrounding districts
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WARR Contribution
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£30,722
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This project improved the availability and flexibility of essential rural transport for medical-related journeys for those with the greatest need in the Battle and surrounding areas. A ‘pilot’ scheme was set up and volunteer drivers were recruited, who used their own cars to provide lifts to disadvantaged people. Demand for the service was proven, with 222 customers from 16 communities making over 1300 journeys covering some 30,000 miles. 82% of clients used the service on between one and ten occasions.
Battle Area Community Transport, Unit 8 Rutherford Business Park, Battle TN33 0HZ
Business Excellence through Resource Efficiency (BETRE)
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Organisation
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EcoSys Environmental Management and Education
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Project Area
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WARR Partnership Area
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WARR Contribution
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£40,998
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Small and medium businesses, primarily in the farming and tourist sectors, have been shown how to achieve measurable resource efficiency and environmental improvements (waste, energy and water) through the provision of free training, audits, technical advice, detailed support and newsletters. Demand for environmental products and services, linking with the East Sussex Sustainable Eco-Enterprise project, have been stimulated. As a result of increased profitability and competitiveness achieved through these measures, jobs have been safeguarded in the businesses in these sectors.
Ecosys Environmental Management & educstion, Unit 1, Level 4 (South) New England House Business Centre, New England Street, Brighton BN1 4GH Tel: 01273-245587
Buzz
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Organisation
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Action in Rural Sussex
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Project Area
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WARR Partnership Area
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WARR Contribution
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£77,039
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This community development and youth work project has built up the capacity of rural communities in Rother and Wealden to better meet the needs of young people in their villages. Local rural communities have been supported and empowered to enable the health, care and social needs of young people to be met at a village level wherever possible and, where this was not appropriate, to ensure that equity of access to services can be provided.
Action in rural Sussex, Sussex House, 212 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2NH, Tel: 01273-473422
Community Development Finance Initiative (CDFI)
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Organisation
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Capitalise Business Support Ltd
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Project Area
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WARR Partnership Area
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WARR Contribution
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£20,947
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Community Development Finance Initiatives (CDFIs) are institutions that provide loans to micro businesses and small, medium and social enterprises, when conventional bank finance is not available. This project was the only provider of financial support of this type to the financially excluded businesses of the area. It supported new and existing businesses and social enterprises, by providing loans towards set up costs, expansion or diversification, together with on-going business advice and mentoring for the life of the loan. As such, it helped to both create new and maintain existing businesses and hence employment opportunities in the rural area.
Community Leadership and Local Initiatives Development Programme
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Organisation
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Action in Rural Sussex
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Project Area
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WARR Partnership Area
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WARR Contribution
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£48,370
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The programme provided information, support, knowledge and know-how to individuals and community groups seeking to address identified issues or implement local actions that would improve their quality of life. Beginning with awareness raising and the identification of projects and individuals, it moved to a structured support programme of information and workshops, which assisted local communities in acquiring the necessary skills and know-how to both develop and manage local projects that address the rural issues identified within the area.
Action in rural Sussex, Sussex House, 212 High Street, Lewes, BN7 2NH, Tel: 01273-473422
Equestrian Scoping Study
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Organisation
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High Weald Bridleways Group
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Project Area
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WARR Partnership area
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WARR Contribution
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£5,876
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The Equestrian Study was commissioned by the High Weald Bridleways Group to establish beyond doubt the economic, social and environmental worth of the equestrian industry to the rural economy in the parishes of the East Sussex Leader+ area. It provides the most up to date picture currently available of the Equestrian Industry as an economic contributor to the survival of the Rural Economy and work is now beginning on a follow-up project which will act on the information provided.
Green Gym
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Organisation
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BTCV
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Project Area
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Battle and Rye Bay areas
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WARR Contribution
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£101,757
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This project promoted health through conservation volunteering. Green Gym community groups, which local people were enabled to lead and manage, have been established at Rye Bay and Battle. Some 150 participants had the opportunity to learn both practical environmental skills and wider transferable social skills, whilst also improving physical and mental health. As a result of their efforts, the environment has been improved at 10 sites, conserving and improving open spaces for biodiversity and for the recreational use and enjoyment of local people and tourists. Though funding has ceased, the groups continue to meet and work together.
BTCV, Ninfield Study Centre, Potmans Lane, Catsfield, Nr Battle TN33 9BJ Tel: 01424-446395
Growing Skills
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Organisation
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Plumpton College
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Project Area
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Whole WARR Partnership Area
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WARR Contribution
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£129,340
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A disused barn has been converted to provide a base from which disabled adults and hard to reach young people can utilise the therapeutic benefits of working outdoors in a horticulture/smallholding environment. Training activities involved the sowing, growing, harvesting and sorting of fruit and vegetables grown on the site, together with instruction in the preparation of simple, wholesome lunches. As a result, clients learned to improve their life skills, whilst also benefiting from work experience to improve their sense of business acumen and encourage the development of employment skills. To date some 56 disabled adults and 22 disaffected youngsters from the WARR area have benefited, with all the latter returning to full time education.
Ivyland Farm - Netherfield Place Farm, Netherfield, Battle, TN33 9PY, Tel: 01424 775615, www.thenetherfieldcentre.co.uk
Growing Together
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Organisation
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Pestalozzi International Village Trust
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Project Area
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Whole WARR Partnership Area
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WARR Contribution
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£88,415
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A garden and sustainable energy centre have been created at the Pestalozzi International Village to promote waste minimisation and energy conservation, including composting, water harvesting and rubbish recycling. The Energy Lab, which uses wind and solar generated electricity, was launched in March 2004 and is now completely off the national grid. It has been short-listed for the RICS Building Award 2005 (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors). Over 1600 people, including school children, attended workshops and open days aimed to increase awareness of local biodiversity and how to enhance it.
Pestalozzi International Village – Cottage Lane, Sedlescombe, Near Battle, East Sussex, TN33 0RR, Tel: 01424 870444, www.pestalozzi.org.uk
Heathfield Marketing Brochure
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Organisation
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The Heathfield Partnership
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Project Area
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Heathfield
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WARR Contribution
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£3,500
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Heathfield is surrounded by an area of outstanding beauty at the heart of the High Weald, but needs to encourage investment from businesses and visitors. By undertaking an intensive campaign of marketing and promotion, highlighting the opportunities for business in Heathfield and the surrounding hinterland it serves, the project developed a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable rural community. A Website has been set up to provide potential investors with easy access to the necessary information and the best practices developed are available to other local groups facing the same regeneration problems.
Heathfield Partnership Trust Ltd – 7 Forest Place, Cross in Hand, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 0TG, Tel: 01435 865700, www.heathfield.net
High Weald Green Visitor Project
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Organisation
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South East England Tourist Board
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Project Area
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Winchelsea & surrounding area, Wealden District
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WARR Contribution
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£8,800
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The project centred on Winchelsea and the surrounding countryside, building on the existing tourism product by linking the rural product with the variety of local attractions. This drew on the heritage, nature and outdoor activities/enjoyment of the area, as well as promoting Winchelsea as a relaxing rural base from which to visit Rye, London and Hastings. As a result, projects will be developed which increase visitor benefits throughout the community, provide a quality visitor experience and maintain and enhance the local environment whilst reducing the negative impact of businesses.
Toursim South East – The Old Brew House, Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN2 5TU;
Tel: 01892540766: www.seetb.org.uk
Make the CAP Fit
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Organisation
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Plumpton College
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Project Area
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WARR Partnership Area
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WARR Contribution
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£84,980
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This training and mentoring programme has assisted farmers and growers to adjust to restructuring under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms by adding value, engaging with local markets and delivering environmental benefits. Using local knowledge and market intelligence, it established a Networking and Marketing Hub to link farm businesses with retail outlets and worked with Tourism South East, to develop and pilot a sustainable tourism initiative enabling B&B’s to source a local Weald Breakfast. It also raised awareness, amongst consumers, school children, visitors and retailers, of the importance of sustainable farming and local food sourcing to the preservation of the historic Weald landscape.
The Netherfield Centre for Sustainable Food and Farming - Netherfield Place Farm, Netherfield, Battle, TN33 9PY, Tel: 01424 775615, www.thenetherfieldcentre.co.uk
Observatory Arts Centre Arena
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Organisation
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Isaac Newton Arts Trust
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Project Area
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Herstmonceux and surrounding area
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WARR Contribution
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£27,000
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The Isaac Newton Arts Trust has undertaken the first stage of transforming the redundant telescope housing and surrounding land at Herstmonceux Castle into a landmark of cultural and artistic activity. A hardy band of volunteers has cleared the landscape around the telescope building. Paths have been laid and 500 local primary school children each planted a tree bearing their name around the perimeter. The result is an open air Arena with the capacity for 2,000-3,000 people, where theatrical, musical and visual events and activities started taking place in 2005.
The Isaac Newton Arts Trust, 4 Hawkswood Cottages, Hawkswood Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 1UN, Tel: 01323 849255, www.observatoryarts.com
Observatory Arts Centre Business Plan
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Organisation
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Isaac Newton Arts Trust
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Project Area
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Herstmonceux and surrounding areas
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WARR Contribution
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£2,391
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The Observatory Arts Centre will become a unique venue in the south east, offering artists and performers of all disciplines somewhere to create work, hone their professional training and also perform for the general public. A feasibility study and business plan was required before the final phase could go ahead. Consultants have now examined the demographics and appraised the potential market for an arts and events programme, providing a blueprint for fund raising and the progress and sustainability of the scheme.
The Isaac Newton Arts Trust, 4 Hawkswood Cottages, Hawkswood Road, Hailsham, East Sussex, BN27 1UN, Tel: 01323 849255, www.observatoryarts.com
PiPs (Public Information Points)
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Organisation
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The Heathfield Partnership
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Project Area
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Heathfield and surrounding villages
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WARR Contribution
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£58,504
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The Heathfield area suffers from pockets of rural deprivation, poor public transport and lack of access to services, IT and the Internet. The location of 6 PiPs in selected villages helped to: improve computer skills through on-line training, provide access to information and services and to improve the skills base of the area as a whole. The location of each PiP was critical and its prominence, availability and usability ensured the programme’s relevance and sustainability.
Rotherfield Community Tourism Initiative
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Organisation
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Rotherfield Community Trousim Initiative
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Project Area
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Rotherfield Parish
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WARR Contribution
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£70,000
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The countryside around Rotherfield has been opened up to walkers, cyclists and horse riders, through the development and promotion of a network of bridleways and footpaths in the Parish. Five trails have been resurfaced, a Tourist Information Centre has been established and a public car park built. A Rotherfield Parish leaflet and Guide have been produced and visitor numbers have already exceeded all expectations. The local community have been engaged throughout, engendering a sense of pride and ownership.
Rotherfield Community Tourism Initiative - Post Cottage, Church Road, Rotherfield East Sussex, TN6 3LG, Tel: 01892 852209
Rye Performing Arts Centre
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Organisation
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Thomas Peacocke Community College
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Project Area
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Rye, Rye Harbour, Camber & surrounding villages
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WARR Contribution
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£9,500
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