The Royal Countryside Fund represented at the Community Buildings Conference
November 24, 2023
Hosted by Community Council for Somerset, the event was held for Community Buildings to meet funders, advisers, service providers, and other hall trustees.
The Royal Countryside Fund provided £18,090 in funding to Community Council for Somerset’s ‘Smart Communities’ project in January 2022 to increase the resilience of community buildings by reducing their environmental impact, increasing financial sustainability and encouraging them to adopt new technologies. Smart Communities provide expert advice/training, case studies and have created a DIY eco audit tool and online resources. They also carry out energy audits on community buildings in partnership with energy consultants, Inspired Efficiency.
The CCS invited Pippa to speak at the event about funding insights and she detailed the work of the RCF and highlighted some of the rural communities projects we’ve funded. Sitting on a panel with The National Lottery Community Fund, Norris and Fisher Insurance Brokers Ltd, Robert Horn CCS Community Buildings Advisor, Inspired Efficiency and Resource Futures, the audience were invited to ask any questions, issues or concerns they have regarding their community building projects. In the afternoon, Pippa carried out some 1-to-1 surgeries with individual organisations that were seeking advice.
Reflecting on the event, Pippa says: “The event provided a fantastic opportunity to meet some of the beneficiaries that have been supported through the RCF and Smart Communities project, and to hear about the valuable work being done by the trustees to increase the sustainability of their community buildings.”
