Business Plan 1 – 2008-2011

Please see the list below which covers all projects within the Wrexham area for Axis 3 and 4 along with a brief description of each projects aims and objectives:

 For any further information on past projects please contact Northern Marches Cymru.

 

 

 

Project Reference	Project Name	Axis – (covered by Business Plan 1)
WRE 01	Environmental Improvements for Holt	Axis 3
WRE 02	Nant Mill Environmental Education Centre	Axis 3
WRE 03	Bangor Willows Riverside Walk	Axis 3
WRE 04	Greencare Rural Wrexham	Axis 4
WRE 05	CIB Satellites in Rural Areas	Axis 3
WRE 06	Welsh National Horse Driving Trials – Erddig	Axis 4
WRE 07	Sacred Space	Axis 4
WRE 08	Community Heritage	Axis 4
WRE 09	The Erlas Garden Sustainability Project	Axis 4
WRE 10	Rural Business Support	Axis 3
WRE 11	Wrexham Rural Business Grant	Axis 3
WRE 12	Environmental Business Project	Axis 4
WRE 14	Community Buildings Development Project	Axis 3
WRE 15	Rural Wrexham Key Fund	Axis 3
WRE 16	South Maelor Youth Work Model	Axis 4
WRE 17	Local Food	Axis 4
WRE 18	Open Church Network Project Centre	Axis 3
WRE 19	Plas Power Environmental Improvements	Axis 3
WRE 20	Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal Project	Axis 4
WRE 21	Community Safety Volunteering Project-Supporting Young People	Axis 4
WRE 22	Outreach Information Service for Parents in Rural Areas	Axis 4
WRE 23	Domestic Abuse and Support Programme-Butterflies, Right to be Safe Programmes	Axis 4
WRE 24	Development of Welsh Language in Rural Wrexham	Axis 4
WRE 25	Digital Storytelling	Axis 3
WRE 26	Improving Riding Opportunities and the Safety of Equestrian Road Use in Rural Wrexham	Axis 3
WRE 27	Rural Services Pilot	Axis 4
WRE 28	Rural ICT Advisory Service	Axis 3
WRE 29	Evaluation and design for re-instatement of a section of the original Glyn Valley Tramway	Axis 4
WRE 33	The Co-operation Network Project	Axis 4
WRE 34	The Co-operation Training Project	Axis 4

For any further information on the projects listed, please contact Northern Marches Cymru on 01978 298381.

WRE 01 – Environmental Improvements for Holt

Objectives/Aims – Enhance car parking provision, increase facilities for tourists, visitors and the community, and upgrade existing toilet facilities, Environment improvement, provision for cyclists and disabled.

 

This project has resulted in the creation of a much improved tourist and village green area.  The project included funding raised shrub beds and improved access to various areas of the site.  The additional car park is a great asset to the village and would bring in more tourist to the area.  The project also funded the village notice boards which are used by various organisations in the area as well as providing information regarding local bus services etc. 

WRE 02 – Nant Mill Environmental Education Centre

Objectives/Aims – The creation of an Environmental Education Centre at Nantmill by converting the old toilets into a large school/community/events room.

The project involved the creation of an Environmental Education Centre. Nant Mill is extremely popular with visitors, school groups and as a venue for events and activities. Nant Mill is also used as a base for carrying out the forest schools project work particularly with school children and disadvantaged young people. Unfortunately the only area available for school visits and events and activity work, is the upper floor of the existing visitor centre. This is a very small area and is not accessible from a DDA point of view.

The project converted the old toilets (a sandstone shippon farm building) into a large schoolroom/community/events room. This is used by schools, for events and for use by community groups. The creation of this new space would fulfil the needs requested by various local groups, visitors and educational professionals delivering environmental education.

WRE 03 -Bangor Willows Riverside Walk

Objectives/Aims – To create an attractive riversiderecreation area between the River Dee and the A525 and improve and enhance the local environment.

The project created an attractive riverside recreation area between the River Dee and the A525 and improve and enhance the local environment.  The area provides a space that can be enjoyed by visitors, encourage wildlife and be used as educational resource.  The project was centred around the use of willow in the social and economic history of the area, by using it to create willow woven artistic sculptures.  The community worked with artists to design these sculptures.  Basket making sessions were held in local schools using local experts.  The project involved the following work:-

• Creating a footpath to run along the river accessible to the whole community, and surfaced picnic area/river viewpoint.
• Installing seven picnic benches (two disabled accessible)
• Creation of willow-woven artistic sculpture as a centrepiece to the scheme, designed with input from local residents.
• Creation of a ‘living willow’ structure incorporating seating, again designed and built by an artist working with volunteers.
• Hold basket weaving sessions with local schools using experts.
• Provide an interpretation board, researched and designed through community workshops.
• Clear existing scrub and undergrowth.
• Install fencing at access points, together with a mobility friendly kissing gate.

WRE 04 – Greencare Rural Wrexham

Objectives/Aims – To provide a series of training opportunities for economically inactive people in traditional countryside, horticultural and landscaping skills.

The project was to provide a series of training opportunities for economically inactive people in traditional countryside, horticultural and landscaping skills, client care skills, budgeting and project development in identifying planning, implementing and maintaining local environmental regeneration. Working together with organisations, the project co-ordinated the provision of training, for a wide range of individuals seeking to build confidence through voluntary practical activity which contributes to the regeneration of local rural communities across Wrexham.  

The project encouraged opportunities for people to engage with others in a work-like situation, to learn new skills, build confidence and motivation through incremental achievement, to plan and design projects, to understand monitoring and maintenance, to learn to use machinery and hand tools, and the health and safety required for working in an outdoor environment – to take a step in the right direction towards re-engagement with volunteering, further study or indeed, paid employment. The Trust identified beneficiaries to engage with the scheme from a variety or partner organisations including homeless people’s hostels, job clubs, people who have been unemployed for long periods, people with health problems who were looking for opportunities to volunteer for practical outdoor activities through which training would be provided.  Healthy eating and active lifestyle advice was embedded into the Greencare training programme for beneficiaries.

WRE 05 – CIB Satellites in Rural Areas

Objectives/Aims – To develop a project in partnership with the education department to provide parents information points/touch screen kiosks with info about local events and services.

The Children’s Information Bureau (CIB) developed a project in partnership with the education department to provide Parents Information Points/ touch screen kiosks with information about local events and services in two schools, a library and community centre.  The kiosks have the capacity to provide a web portal linked to the CIB database and useful websites for parents, professionals and families to ensure that parents in rural areas are aware of the help and support available to them from a range of statutory, voluntary and community services.  A free phone telephone link to CIB staff is available as part of the service.

WRE 06 – Welsh National Horse Driving Trials – Erddig

Objectives/Aims – Hold the first ever Welsh National Horse Driving Championship at Erddig, Wrexham and work to ensure the event is self sustaining by 2010.

WRE 07 – Sacred Space

Objectives/Aims – To encourage local communities to engage with churchyards as Eco-sites, Geological interest, Genealogical interest, education, economic benefits, accessible natural green spaces, education.

Website link – www.sacred-space.org.uk

WRE 08 – Community Heritage

Objectives/Aims – To work with rural communities of Wrexham to identify, develop, support and evaluate new methods for them to gain social, economic and environmental benefits from the heritage resources from their area.

WRE 09 – The Erlas Garden Sustainability Project

Objectives/Aims – To promote and protect the health of people with learning and mental health disabilities by providing meaningful daytime activities, education and training and work experience in horticulture through the maintenance of the ErlasVictorian Walled Garden.

Website link – www.erlas.enuu.net

WRE 10 – Rural Business Support

Objectives/Aims – To provide innovative business support to micro and Social/community based Enterprises which would be tailored to address local business needs across rural Wrexham.

WRE 11 – Wrexham Rural Business Grant

Objectives/Aims – To input and offer support measures by way of grant aid to those businesses or community groups where other sources of funding are either not available or difficult to access.

WRE 12 – Environmental Business Project

Objectives/Aims – To carry out study into the environmental issues affecting local business.

WRE 14 – Community Buildings Development Project

Objectives/Aims – To increase capacity of Community Buildings Management committees, identify and develop exemplar pilot projects, support the development of viable, sustainable community buildings by providing central support.

Website link – www.avow.org

WRE 15 – Rural Wrexham Key Fund

Objectives/Aims – Support local voluntary groups in rural areas of Wrexham in applying for funds to support delivery of community led projects of direct benefit to the residents of rural Wrexham.

Website link – www.avow.org

WRE 16 – South Maelor Youth Work Model

Objectives/Aims – To support the development and delivery of a Youth Support Services Model as a one year pilot project, with a view to extending this and rolling out to other rural areas.

WRE 17 – Local Food

Objectives/Aims – Improving the quality of food by increasing opportunities for local and organic food procurement and reducing food miles within rural Wrexham.

Website link – www.localfoodfirstwrexham.co.uk

WRE 18 -OpenChurchNetwork Project Centre

Objectives/Aims – To create a base for the Open Church Network, in the upper room of Church House, Gresford.

The project created a home base for the Open Church Network, in the upper room of Church House, a Grade II listed building beside All Saints Church Gresford, one of the Open Church Network member churches. The room provides  a meeting and presentation facilities, study and display areas, storage, and act as an administration centre for the project. Toilet and kitchen / catering facilities will be available using the ground floor facilities of Church House. It has become important to have a base where groups can meet, presentations can be given, resources examined and shared, and a reasonable level of hospitality can be offered to visitors. The room also provides a base for the group members to hold regular meetings. Essential improvements were made to the toilet facilities, and space maximised to improve the meeting and function room capacities to provide supplementary meeting rooms and drop-in facilities for the villages of Marford and Gresford that are much needed.

Website link – www.openchurchnetwork.co.uk

WRE 19 – Plas Power Environmental Improvements

Objectives/Aims – To create a series of circular footpaths, a pond, viewing platform, picnic areas and interpretation panels around the site at Tanyfron.

WRE 20 – Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal Project

Objectives/Aims – To bring together the local communities located along the 11 mile canal corridor between Chirk and Llantysilio to facilitate greater understanding and awareness of the heritage, biodiversity and culture of the canal and its corridor.

WRE 21 – Community Safety Volunteering Project-Supporting Young People

Objectives/Aims – Aimed at reducing youth crime and anti-social behaviour by recruiting, training and supporting adult volunteers to work directly with identified young people known to be involved or at risk in crime or anti-social behaviour.

WRE 22 – Outreach Information Service for Parents in Rural Areas

Objectives/Aims – An outreach info service to parents and carers in rural areas.

WRE 23 – Domestic Abuse and Support Programme-Butterflies, Right to be Safe Programmes

Objectives/Aims – To develop inter-agency partnership arrangements that will progress a co-ordinated response to the provision of specialist support in rural Wrexham for domestic abuse victims.

WRE 24 – Development of Welsh Language in Rural Wrexham

Objectives/Aims – To promote the use and awareness of Welsh Language at Community level.

WRE 25 – Digital Storytelling

Objectives/Aims – Capturing some of the most valuable industrial heritage information of the 21st century for future generations and also linked to an all Wales national and international audience through the inclusion on various websites.

 

The nature of this project was to capture stories about peoples everyday lives.  You might not always think that they will be of interest to the outside world or that they are worth telling.  These stories were waiting to be discovered and this project really uncovered some amazing stories.   Though the medium of digital storytelling stories can be captured and preserve it for future generations.   People had the change to bring along pictures, old family keepsakes and tresures and record the stories behind the artifacts. 

Workshops were held for local communities to come along and get involved on how to interview people in the community, how to use digital equipment and edit stories after etc. 

Please click on the link to View some of the stories told and recorded - Rural Stories

WRE 26 – Improving Riding Opportunities and the Safety of Equestrian Road Use in Rural Wrexham

Objectives/Aims – To improve the safety of equestrian road use in rural Wrexham through provision of training to horse riders, raising awareness of equestrian road use with motorists.

Website Link – www.avow.org

WRE 27 – Rural Services Pilot

Objectives/Aims – To undertake a study and audit ofservices/facilities investigate rural proofing and identify alternative methods to improve access to services, or deliver services in rural communities.

WRE 28 – Rural ICT Advisory Service

Objectives/Aims – To increase sustainability of local rural businesses by Assisting them in maximising their ICT usage and capabilities and promoting the use of ICT to rural businesses.

WRE 29 – Evaluation and design for re-instatement of a section of the original Glyn Valley Tramway

Objectives/Aims – To evaluate in detail the demand, viability and technical issues surrounding the re-instatement as an Operational Railway, a section of the original Glyn Valley Tramway.

WRE 33 – The Co-operation Network Project

Objectives/Aims – The Co-operation project seeks to identify and develop opportunities for collaborative working within the community and social enterprise sectors in Monmouthshire (adventa) and Wrexham (Northern Marches Cymru). The purpose of the project is to draw on the most successful elements of previous programmes in Monmouthshire and Wrexham and to implement project activities that will encompass examples of best practice and transfer skills between the two programme areas.

WRE 34 – The Co-operation Training Project

Objectives/Aims – The project seeks to identify and develop opportunities for collaborative working within the community and social enterprise sectors in Monmouthshire (adventa), the Vale of Glamorgan (Creative Rural Communities) and Wrexham (Northern Marches Cymru).

The overall aim of the RCA Capacity Building Programme, founded in 2003, was to empower communities by identifying community needs through the facilitation of a self empowerment process.