• European Team

Community

'Community' in the Culture and Community Directorate includes the service areas of Community Initiatives, Economic Development (including Tourism) and European and External Funding. These services aim to improve the social, economic and environmental well being of people and communities living in Somerset by:

• promoting, advising and supporting economic development
• developing and enhancing support to the community and voluntary sector groups
• drawing in funding from partners, other agencies and Europe.

Community Initiatives
The work of the Community Initiatives group includes:

• Sustainability - enhancing social well-being and sustainability such as health improvement, social inclusion, governance and community participation;
• Voluntary Sector Support - developing and enhancing support to the voluntary and community sector organisations in Somerset;
• Community Strategies - supporting the development and implementation of community strategies through the Local Strategic Partnerships.

Economic Development, Regeneration and Tourism:

• Researching, developing and co-ordinating economic strategy in Somerset and managing Somerset's economic partnership body;
• Developing relationships between Somerset County Council and the business community;
• Developing the image of Somerset as a business location and co-ordinating inward investment;
• Promoting and encouraging business competitiveness, including the growth of key sectors and business productivity;
• Marketing and development of a sustainable and growing tourism economy;
• Major physical regeneration schemes;
• Rural development, including diversification of the rural economy and support for rural communities;
• Employment creation, social enterprise and capacity building in less advantaged communities.

European and External Funding

• Co-ordinating European policy and information;
• Securing and supporting local, regional and inter regional partnerships;
• Supporting, quality assuring and reporting on projects funded through European and other external funding programmes;
• Encouraging successful bidding by Somerset County Council and its partners.

Jane Murray
Corporate Director