A review of the two day conference in Halifax.
Inspirational Presentations Incredible Edible, Todmorden (Pam Warhurst) Focus on the one topic relevant to everybody FOOD To be sustainable balance LEARNING, COMMUNITY & BUSINESS Propaganda Gardens Raised beds owned by various groups, including scouts who can get a badge. Medical Centres, Police Stations, Train Stations, Schools. Developing Green and Egg maps, engage local farmers Use planting to encourage people to town centre, away from edge of town supermarkets.
Pop-Up Shops (Dan Thompson) Organiser/Tweeter of the riot clean ups Just published the Pop Up Business for Dummies "It's very easy, it's a question of speaking to property developers and landlords, and explaining what you want the space for. In most cases you'll find they just want un-let properties to be looked after. Neighbours also like to see footfall and traffic. Breathing life into old shops brings town centres back to life. Pop Ups should be timebound, possibly seasonal, great for business pilots testing out new ideas.
Pop up shops create exciting new opportunities for both brands and retailers. The main purpose - raise brand awareness and create a buzz of excitement surrounding the now you see it, now you don t pop up experience. Typically the duration is from as little as a week and up to a period of 4 weeks. During this period the occupier can test the market, a new product or brand, and thus get first-hand feedback from customers. Furthermore the retailer can test the retail location without having to commit to a long term lease. Showcase new products that customers don t usually have access to on the high street.
Examples of Pop-up Shops Kellog s - a pop-up shop in London s Soho area where people can buy their new savoury crisps. The price for the snack? One of your own tweets. HMV - 15 Pop Up Stores In Time For Christmas - The Marmite pop up shop will be on London s Regent Street in the run up to Christmas, selling a hundred branded gifts, running taste offs with Vegemite etc.
Joe Barratt, 19 A most inspiring young man!
Two brothers organised Stockport Market s Hall first market for teenage stallholders encouraging people to shop locally. Have recently received a 55,000 funding boost to make it a permanent fixture. "We want to help entrepreneurial teenagers build their business and progress into one of the many empty shops in the town. We want to be a catalyst for getting people back into Stockport town centre. The retail space will also have a social hub, so we can also tap into the town's creative talent, including artists and musicians, who will use it as a place to show their skills, network and meet other like-minded teenagers."
Terry Ryall Delivering over one million volunteering opportunities for 14-25 year olds across England Enabling over 800 young people to create their very own projects to make their world a better place Recruiting over 130,000 members and 1,600 charities. To make sure their work has maximum they use the latest technology to take volunteering to the people who want it. Vinspired apps Online Community
Young people are inspired to discover the value of volunteering - for themselves and for others. Believe that young people can change the world through volunteering. Flagship full-time volunteering programme gives young people the opportunity to develop their skills while shaping public and voluntary services. Work with over 200 corporate partners - persuading the likes of Nike, Tesco and ITV to invest over 50 million in youth volunteering and social action
Street Angels Belper Street Angels was launched in summer 2012 under the overall umbrella of Hope for Belper and with the backing of Belper Town Council and Derbyshire police. Street Angels is a network of local organisations across the country whose common purpose is to make a difference by helping to improve our night-time culture. Their aims are to provide a listening ear, to signpost where there is need and ultimately to build cross-generational community cohesion.
Local TV station via a University (Welsh Development Agency funded) via internet. Get Media Students involved to produce local adverts/stories. Boost local economy by working with local businesses to help them market themselves. Boost tourism. Issuing ipads, TVs to coffee shops, public areas etc, promoting positive stories and businesses. Initial adverts free, hoping future adverts will pay for station.
LIVING STREETS (standing up for pedestrians) Community Street Audits. Fit for walking campaign. Get involved in planning framework activities.
For Belper If every adult in Belper spent 5 per week it would be worth an extra 5 Million into the local economy
The Magic Tenner Hidden Gems
Launch of the Totally Locally free town kit Following the original project funded by the LA, the founders of TL realised the marketing tools would work anywhere and decided to allow free access to any interested towns. Chris and Nigel helped the initial group of towns asking for help, including West Bridgford, Edwinstowe and Matlock. Volumes of requests exploded; they could no longer meet the demand - they were doing this for free in their spare time. They have now developed a free to download kit that you can tailor to your own town s requirements.
Chris & Nigel still available, but now at a cost. Initial TL towns now developing individually and sharing best practises. New forum created for T L towns to share ideas and support each other. Transition Belper arranging a meeting to bring together as many independent retailers as possible with local authorities and the DVM team to commit to the campaign and start work. 15 th January 2013
Give us back thriving town centres: High streets - important hubs of social interaction and cohesion, as well as providers of local jobs. Visible indicator of how well, or how badly, a local economy is doing. But our high streets and town centres are facing serious challenges from out-of-town shopping centres and the growth of online and mobile retailing. Retail is an important element of a thriving town centre, but it s not sufficient. Instead, the high street and town centre must be re-imagined towards a new future where people come together for many different reasons.
Our high streets have to offer something new and different that neither shopping centres nor the internet can match. They need to offer an experience that goes beyond retail - the high street should be a destination for socialising, culture, health, wellbeing, creativity and learning, with schools, doctors surgeries and offices along with shops.
A few success stories Belper could copy
Lodsworth Larder An eco-friendly, non-profit, award winning community shop in a small village in West Sussex. Having no local shop since 1988, the community came together to raise money, take a loan from the Co-op Community Finance, and set up the shop. Due to its success, a number of small related businesses have been inspired to open up in the village.
Ben Nichols West Bridgford Bored one day in the school holidays, decided to create two flavours of fruit smoothies. Had a thought that this could be a great business so he designed some labels and created the brand SoSmoothies. He then started to grow the business by asking shops if they would take some for sale or return. This proved a sound strategy as sales figures are now growing rapidly. He is really enjoying SoSmoothies and is hoping one day that they will end up on supermarket shelves.
DUNBAR Bakery in East Lothian The family-run bakery on Dunbar s High Street was shutting down ending centuries of tradition. But desperate to stop the rot in the small East Lothian town s centre, locals formed a committee to raise the 50,000 needed for a buyout. Have recruited several young trainees all previously long-term unemployed and they are being trained in baking and retailing. Oldest shareholder is in their late 80s and the youngest is less than 10, so it s across the age range and it s across all social groups. Investment varies from 20, the minimum, to one person at least putting in 10,000.
Youth Cafes springing up all over the world
Artwork around Britain s empty shops
In Blackpool, the Culture Shops programme created over 30 artistic and community displays in seven empty shops Temporary lift to empty properties, improving the appearance of both individual shops and the surrounding locations, making areas of the town feel safer and more vibrant. There were also benefits for the artists and community groups involved.
Diamond Jubilee Party residents contributed food
Brighouse (small Yorkshire Town) A Community Success Story
Brighouse Charity Gala
Conclusion What can we do to make Belper a thriving community?
Let s get together!
Some Ideas please add! Town audit adults & youth. What does the public want from Belper? Totally Locally Pop-up Shops Artwork in empty shops Youth café Community edible gardens for youth/elderly/disabled Community shops Unusual & interesting community space/shop at end of Bridge St to encourage footfall to other shops Swop & Exchange Goods/Services Facility