5th Nov 2011

Village SOS Live in Caernarfon!

Tuesday 8^th November Galeri Caernarfon FREE event

Caernarfon has been announced in the UK-wide events series as part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Village SOS campaign, which is supporting communities across the UK to start up new enterprises - from shops and food projects to broadband schemes - that will help to rejuvenate their areas and meet the needs of local people.

As well as the free events, the campaign includes a nationwide advice line, where people can get expert advice about setting up and running community enterprises from business, social enterprise and rural specialists.

The event, organised by rural communities charity Plunkett Foundation and DTA Wales, takes place on Tuesday 8^th November, and will see rural and enterprise specialists in attendance alongside representatives from Big Lottery Fund who will be answering questions on funding, as well as Locality, Co-operatives UK and Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE), who will explain how community ownership can save North Wales villages from rural decline.

Peter Couchman, Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation, said: “The Village SOS events series will raise awareness of what rural communities can achieve together through community enterprise. This may be saving their local shop or pub, saving and restoring a heritage asset or establishing a range of other community enterprises.

“Wales already has some fantastic examples of communities using enterprising ideas to transform their villages, and we’re delighted to have the opportunity to provide unique, free advice and support to more communities in the region.”

Peter Wanless, Big Lottery Fund CEO, said: “Village SOS is all about inspiring community action – empowering people to come together to make a difference in their communities.
“The event in Caernarfon on 8^th November is one part of our campaign to support communities across the UK on their journey. Attendees will have the opportunity to get expert advice from some of the country’s foremost rural and enterprise specialists who will help to develop their ideas for community enterprises and set about making them a reality.”