Live & Local

ViRSA workshop will discuss rural retail with delegates

The Village Retail Services Association - ViRSA - will be at ruralnet|2008 delivering what will be a highly motivating and interesting workshop. Charlotte Foster, community retail advisor for ViRSA in the north west will be facilitating the workshop, which will be running on Day 1 of the conference programme.

ViRSA is offer funding, support and free advice to rural communities across Britain whose village shop, Post Office or other retail service is threatened. ViRSA recognises that community-ownership is often the only viable option for villages wishing to retain or introduce a local shop. Are there additional services that can co-exist in the village shop and post office and help improve their viability? What additional social benefits does community-ownership bring?

Charlotte Foster, Community Retail Adviser, ViRSA:

“I’m looking forward to facilitating a workshop for ruralnet|uk. In particular, I hope the participants will learn more about the social benefits of community ownership and the support that ViRSA offers to rural communities.”

We are delighted that ViRSA is supporting ‘Live & Local’ is this way and they are an exciting addition to an already impressive workshop line up, which includes The Soil Association and Land for People.

ViRSA is an activity of the The Plunkett Foundation.

Add comment June 25th, 2008

Land for People lead the way on ‘Local Ownership’

“HOLDING LAND IN TRUST FOR SUSTAINABLE AFFORDABLE HOMES, WORKSPACE, AGRICULTURE, LIVELIHOOD”

Land for People, the community land trust, exists to help communities in Wales, Shropshire and the Marches become more sustainable, with an emphasis on building affordable homes for local people. They will also be delivering the ‘Local Ownership’ workshop at ruralnet|2008.

Land for People believe that for communities to become more sustainable, people living and working in them need to access to land, buildings and finance. This workshop will discuss how local communities can take control of their resources and environment for the long-term benefit of their community.

Add comment June 24th, 2008

The Soil Association and ‘Local Food’ - workshop confirmed

We are delighted to announce that The Soil Association will be delivering the ‘Local Food’ workshop at Live & Local.

At a time of rising food prices, the opportunities and challenges that exist for local food markets is of particular interest and importance. This workshop will examine the emergence of local food co-operatives, the growing demand for allotments and the opportunities to ‘grow your own’ - includes case study examples.

The Soil Association has just begun an exciting new programme to develop CSAs and organic buying groups. They are part of a partnership project on local food and social enterprise, ‘Making Local Food Work’, funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

Community supported agriculture (CSA) is about reconnecting people with the farm on which their food is grown. There are lots of different ways that CSA can work. Normally, local people will invest in their local farm in some way in return for a share of the harvest. CSA is a partnership between farmers and consumers where the responsibilities and rewards of farming are shared.