Empowering Communities is about getting more people in the South West involved and influencing the decisions that affect their lives and communities. The initiative is the regional hub for supporting empowerment activities, and particularly supports local authorities and community organisations to develop the skills and resources needed to get more people involved in local decision-making.
See here for more information about Empowerment in the South West. It is part of the National Empowerment Partnership.
See here for more information about the national programme.
Resources for all who are promoting community empowerment.
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Download our research and other material.
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Check out our links directory.
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Empowerment Case Studies.
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Localism means more people having a say in how their communities are run, and a new guide available from Creating Excellence is designed to help Councillors, community groups and public service officers see that they get just that.
Written by a team of professionals from local authorities and public services across the region, this 52 page online guide and booklet is packed with practical guidance and contact details for people who can offer help.
Published Oct 31, 2011 - 01:00 PM
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Published Oct 13, 2011 - 02:58 PM
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The South West Foundation, in partnership with the Learning Curve and the Skills Funding Agency, is about to open a new funding programme for the South West Region.
In connection with this a number of information seminars are being held at community venues in the region.
Published Aug 23, 2011 - 03:20 PM
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Published Jul 15, 2011 - 01:50 PM
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Over 70 people gathered to discuss the past and future of empowerment in the region at this sell-out event on 29th June at the Albemarle Centre, Taunton see attendance list , and more joined them online at Empowerment Works
Published Jul 11, 2011 - 12:49 PM
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The last of three annual evaluations of the Empowering Communities partnership is now available. Carried out by members of the React consortium, it contains nine messages highlighting key lessons drawn from the work of the partnership over the last four years.
Published Jun 06, 2011 - 03:59 PM
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Published Apr 26, 2011 - 12:49 PM
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Published Apr 15, 2011 - 01:31 PM
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The Localism Bill and the proposals within it for Neighbourhood Plans were the main talking points among the 100 planners, community representatives and people from the private sector at this over-subscribed gathering to discuss the developing role of Community Led Planning, and launch the Carnegie UK Trust's report The Power of the Plan.
Find links to all the presentations, other material and a blog on the day below.

Published Feb 23, 2011 - 11:18 AM
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Published Jan 21, 2011 - 04:59 PM
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Nearly 200 people from voluntary and statutory organisations from across the South West met at Somerset County Cricket Club for the region's first large gathering to discuss what the Big Society agenda may mean in practice. The final report of the conference can be viewed at this link.
For more downloadable information on the conference, please read on.
Published Nov 05, 2010 - 04:56 PM
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Published Oct 25, 2010 - 11:28 AM
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Published Sep 13, 2010 - 02:47 PM
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Published Aug 27, 2010 - 03:52 PM
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Published Aug 23, 2010 - 11:28 AM
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Published Jun 23, 2010 - 04:55 PM
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Taking Stock
Since the project started in 2007, Empowering Communities has commissioned research on a wide range of topics, both to inform its own activities and to explore empowerment in the South West more widely.
We are now considering what more general lessons can be drawn from our work, and have produced a summary of our research to date.
Published Apr 09, 2010 - 05:22 PM
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The Spring edition of our newsletter is now available.
It features news of participatory budgeting initiatives in the region, community researcher training, the training support we offer to local authorities, and much else besides.
Published Mar 31, 2010 - 05:40 PM
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Take Part helps people gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to become empowered, enabling them to make an active contribution to their communities and influence public policies and services.
The Take Part directory is an online resource providing information on Take Part learning.
Published Dec 21, 2009 - 11:45 AM
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Published Dec 16, 2009 - 03:04 PM
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The HCA Academy's Report "Empowerment skills for all: Analysing gaps and constructing a learning framework" finds that there is a widespread need for a broader approach to empowerment skills in front-line place-making occupations.
The HCA Academy is the skills arm of the Homes and Communities Agency, the national housing and regeneration body.
Published Nov 27, 2009 - 04:33 PM
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This online community of practice supported by IDeA is a place to share experiences, seek advice from others and to keep up to date with current thinking, practice and policy in community engagement and empowerment.
It already has more than 700 like-minded members (including officers in local authorities, police, health, elected members and people working in the private and voluntary sectors).
Published Nov 20, 2009 - 12:27 PM
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RADAR is recruiting for its empowerment leadership programme: Equipping and inspiring leaders, aimed at those who like taking initiative and long to change the world around them.
RADAR is interested in equipping people living with Ill health, Injury or Disability (IID) to be leaders and influencers in public life, and to take up leadership positions in the public, private and third (voluntary) sectors.
Published Oct 23, 2009 - 11:22 AM
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The Stronger Community work stream within the overall Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership is seeking 2 Local Authorities who can demonstrate effective partnership in community engagement to other Local Authorities and regional partners, and help deliver the first work strand of the RIEP stronger communities programme. Funding is available.
Published Aug 26, 2009 - 01:24 PM
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Published Jul 01, 2009 - 11:57 AM
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Published Apr 08, 2009 - 04:33 PM
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The South West Foundation with sponsorship from Help the Aged has just published its Research into the work of Older People's Forums.
Published Nov 24, 2008 - 11:48 AM
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Increasing the number of people who feel they can influence decisions in their locality is a priority for many Local Authorities in the region, and the Empowering Communities Partnership, led by Creating Excellence, has just published a report benchmarking the activities of twelve Authorities on this work. The report also explores Authorities' potential help and support needs in improving their performance.
Published Oct 01, 2008 - 02:45 PM
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Published Apr 30, 2008 - 12:49 PM
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The value of informal learning for engagement and empowerment, and the likely effects of cuts in funding to Community Empowerment Networks across the country (there are three in the South West), are discussed in two research reports that will be of interest to the community of engagement and empowerment professionals.
Published Apr 24, 2008 - 05:20 PM
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Following the announcement of the National Empowerment Partnership on 17 September by Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Empowering Communities, the South West consortium supporting this initiative led by Creating Excellence, was launched in Taunton on 5 October.
Published Oct 09, 2007 - 11:55 AM
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