Fieldworkers Conference 09

Skills for Development Work
A Learning Event For Fieldworkers

17th - 18th June 2009
de Havilland Campus, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

The event was for Fieldworkers in communities to discuss the key issues that may be affecting them and it presented them with the opportunity to hear from people who have dealt with the same issues in the communities within which they work. As fieldworkers require a wide range of skills in order to engage and work with the variety of groups and organisations they will come across, the event provided relevant and timely information, along with the opportunity to share best practice and discuss methods of engagement with the relevant statutory authorities.

The event focused on workshops for and networking opportunities for Rural Housing Enablers (RHEs), Community Led Planning workers and Village Hall Advisers. As a working conference event it offered the opportunity to discuss issues with colleagues who have faced the same challenges; to meet the wider network; meet ACRE’s Policy Officers; ask questions of those who have expert knowledge; and share best practice and successes.

The event contained various plenary sessions as outlined below;

Rural Proofing (Sylvia Brown ACRE): This is a commitment by Government to ensure domestic policies take account of rural circumstances and needs. view presentation

Empowerment Fund Project (Louise Rutterford Centre for Sustainable Energy): The primary theme of the programme is community involvement in planning. This includes; community participation in the development of planning policy;  the alignment of community and statutory led plans; and  the engagement of disadvantaged sectors of society (including rural communities) view presentation

Carnegie Rural Action Research Programme - Skills for Rural Community Development (Philip Vincent ACRE): This project considered the skills and knowledge needed by rural communities to become more resilient and adaptive to change over the next twenty years, with an emphasis on radical activism. view presentation

Collaboration Benefits (Sylvia Brown ACRE plus programme associates): This programme has been designed to complement existing RCAN activity and provide support that has relevance to rural communities.  It may also provide opportunities for future income generation for RCAN members and others participating in the programme’s training. view presentation

Please click on the links below for notes and presentations the themes of the conference workshops;

Community Led Planning

Housing

Village Halls

If you would like to make any comments on any of the work outlined above please email acre@acre.org.uk