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Democracy in Action course to help communities
06.11.09
A tour of New County Hall to see democracy in action is just one part of a course aimed at supporting community development in Cornwall.
Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C) is working with Cornwall College to offer the Democracy, Power and Governance Course to 26 learners from varying backgrounds and experience including members of residents associations, local community groups and new councillors.
The University of Plymouth accredited short course offers the opportunity to achieve university level qualifications and skills with the aim of supporting the individuals to make changes for the benefit of their local communities. The course is taken from a module delivered on the College\'s BSc (Hons) Combined Social Science programme is supported by ESF (European Social Fund) Convergence investment via the Learning and Skills Council and delivered by CN4C.
James Browning, Head of People said: “The Democracy, Power and Governance course is a unique opportunity for people to try out higher education, and to get a qualification as well as offering people the chance to see how the processes of democracy works both locally and nationally. As part of the course learners can plan a project to help support the development of their local area and see how they can make positive changes in their communities.”
Dave Linnell OBE, Principal of Cornwall College, said: “As a College we take a big interest in community involvement so it\'s great to be able to assist CN4C and add this new course to the large range we already have on offer, particularly as it is so centred on helping the local community.\"
Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Convergence Partnership Office for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, said: “The ESF Convergence programme is all about supporting people through training, upskilling and learning. Those people then gain the opportunity to improve their own lives as well as their communities.”
Mark Williams, ESF Director for the LSC South West said: “This is an important programme which should make a real difference to the individuals involved – providing them with the additional knowledge and experience they need to help local organisations and groups.”
The course involves two educational trips to see the processes of democracy in action - to Westminster and to Cornwall Council’s Communities Scrutiny committee. A networking event in the Long Gallery of New County Hall will allow learners and local decision makers the chance discuss local policy. Part of the course will be delivered by Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change within the communities themselves.
A special reception at Westminster will be themed on ‘Power and Democracy – How Active Citizens Make a Difference in Disadvantaged Communities’. It will include presentations from active citizens and CN4C. The reception offer opportunities to help create stronger communities by linking individuals and organisations that can help make a difference to the lives of local people.
For further information:
Katherine Wright
Higher Education Development Officer
Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change (CN4C)
01209 721522 / 07837 026 655
katherine@cn4c.org.uk
Editor\'s notes:
The course has been extended to offer an accredited, nationally recognised full qualification in Continued Profession Education with two further modules in Professional Development and Project Management. These will be delivered in a blend of community and educational settings with learners having full access to Cornwall College’s and the University of Plymouth’s resources. This model of blended delivery offers learners the opportunity to gain higher level qualifications for initiatives to support their local communities’ development.
This event has been possible thanks to a number of organisations working in close co-operation including Cornwall Council, Westminster Parliamentary Outreach, South West Lifelong Learning Network, The Combined Universities in Cornwall, Take Part 2- Cornwall Voluntary Sector Forum, European Social Fund and Learning Skills Council.
CN4C is a community-based neighbourhood regeneration company working with some of the most deprived communities in Cornwall. Our work focuses on the residents of often long-neglected housing estates on the edges of Cornwall’s town and villages.
We are a community-based organisation that aspires to put service users in control through our governance structures and through the ethos and values that inform our work.
For further Convergence information: helpline telephone 0800 0280120.
In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly the Convergence programmes are made up of European Regional Development Fund (£347 million) and European Social Fund (£153 million) and will run until 2013. They follow the successful Objective One Programme and prior to that Objective 5b.
The ESF Operational Programme is targeted at tackling barriers to work, improving workforce skills and research and graduate activity. It will be delivered primarily through co financing via the Learning and Skills Council and Jobcentre Plus.
