Opportunity knocks at Honiton Together discovery day
Whoever said ‘it’s not a problem, but an opportunity’ might have been talking about Honiton’s reaction to the challenges the community faces as a result of budget cuts in the public sector and local services being under threat.
There’s a chance to find out more about an East Devon District Council supported project called Honiton Together at a discovery day being held in the town’s new Beehive Centre on Thursday 22 January between 1pm and 4 pm. There are still places available for stallholders too.
Whilst the impact of the recession and ongoing austerity measures is hardly good news, it does mean spaces are opening up for local people and local organisations to play a greater role in shaping the place where we live.
Honiton Together aims to support this by opening doors to funders, commissioners and decision makers, running networking events and giving the network an online, interactive presence.
The project also hopes to share and spread knowledge of great ideas that have worked elsewhere.
The Honiton Together project has been set up using Our Place funding, which comes from Central Government’s Locality budget. The development phase has been supported by Honiton Town Council, East Devon Volunteer Support Agency, East Devon District Council, Devon County Council and Honiton Worx.
Among the features of the discovery day is a live ‘Dragon’s Den’ session, where a share of £5,000 is up for grabs for suitable projects.
You will have a chance to pitch for a share of the funding in a live session, with an audience vote. Help in designing your pitch will be given on the day and decisions in principle will be made before the event closes. Slots for bidding are limited and filling up fast!
The discovery day, with the theme ‘Be inspired, be inspiring!’ will be a great networking opportunity too, with a number of stalls manned by local organisations, social entrepreneurs and charities.
There will also be conversation ‘hotspots’ among the stallholders. Topics will include:
- The Local Economy (What is it for? How can it work for local people?)
- A Healthy Honiton (What would it look like? How can we get there?)
- The Neighbourhood Development Plan (a vision of Honiton’s future)
- Funding (Big Lottery, Heritage Lottery, funding strategy support)
- Honiton Together (how can we take it forward?)
Other features include lightning talks related to each conversation spot, a pledges wall, conversations supported by experienced facilitators and a free buffet lunch.
So, if you still haven’t already booked your place or your stall, please email agibson@eastdevon.gov.uk
