Council’s Community Partnership and Development Team listen to the Big Ideas

Do you have a good idea? If three other people were willing to help, what would you love to do to make your community a better place?

Monmouthshire County Council’s Community Partnership and Development Team are eager to help local individuals and groups achieve their community ambitions. The team are engagement specialists and aim to help develop and empower groups and individuals who want to make their town or village a better place and are currently taking their expertise out to communities via the Big Ideas roadshow.

The Big Ideas roadshow has had a successful start. Residents from Monmouth have been sharing their ideas at a variety of locations across the town. The community has come together and embraced the concept of sharing ideas via little cardboard people. Ideas are on display in Monmouth Hub, this will be replicated at community hubs across the county.

Pupils from Osbaston CIW Primary, Monmouth loved filling in dream clouds to reveal their Big Ideas. More school visits are planned in coming weeks.

The team are eager to listen to ideas and provide valuable information and support to make ideas become a reality and are looking forward to meeting more people from Usk, Raglan, Abergavenny, Caldicot and Chepstow in coming weeks.

A wealth of information is available, including how to obtain funding, opportunities to link individuals to groups who have similar goals and offer training opportunities to anyone who gives their time to help others.

A series of drop in sessions will take place along with visits to local community groups and meet and greet opportunities in popular public spaces across Monmouthshire.

The Team will be visiting a range of locations across the county in the next four weeks, covering Usk, Abergavenny, Caldicot and Chepstow. The following dates are for the coming week with more dates for Caldicot and Chepstow to be publicised at a later date.

· Raglan Cattle Market – Wednesday 20th March 10.00am – 12.00pm

· Usk Hub – Thursday 21st March 1.00pm – 4.00pm and 5.00pm – 7.00pm

· ACE Centre, Abergavenny – Monday 25th March 9.00am – 11.00am

· Abergavenny Leisure Centre – Monday 25th March 5.00pm – 7.00pm

· Abergavenny Market – Tuesday 26th March 10.00am – 2.00pm

Residents are welcome to contact the team via the Monmouthshire Facebook page, twitter @MonmouthshireCC or email Partnerships@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Cllr Sara Jones Cabinet Member for Community Development and Social Justice said:

‘This is a fantastic opportunity for communities to get the help and support they need from the Community and Partnership Development Team. The team works in partnership with a range of organisations and has a wealth of knowledge to unlock the potential of individuals and groups in Monmouthshire to help communities help themselves. I urge anyone who has an idea no matter how big or small to get in touch.’

To find out more visit www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/partnerships