Outside Events Listings

Making Spending Count

15th September 2008, Manchester

A national conference on Participatory Budgeting and its role in community empowerment. See the FLYER for details or go to the website at: http://www.participatorybudgeting.org.uk/events/national-participatory-budgeting-conference .

'Bettter Public Spaces' Learning Exchange

A Beacon Scheme event

16th September 2008, London

The government's cleaner, safer, greener communities agenda has focused on improving the local environment, making places safer and engaging and empowering communities to adopt sustainable life styles.

This event will provide an exciting opportunity for local authorities in England to hear how the beacons in the 'Better public places' theme are succeeding in improving their public places.

Beacon authorities used their knowledge and understanding to provide services that went the extra mile to engage and empower different groups and reflected their changing population.

The learning exchange will give attendees the opportunity to find out how the ‘Better public places' beacon authorities have:

shaped their locality through engaging partners and communities across traditional service and organisational boundaries
obtained corporate commitment and the championing of quality of place
engaged and empowered their communities
demonstrated noticeable improvement on the ground especially in areas of high deprivation

For more information, go to the website HERE.

NAVCA Annual Conference

16th-17th September 2008, East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham

This year's NAVCA annual conference will be addressing the future of funding for the third sector with keynotes from Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund and Greg Clark MP, Shadow Minister for Charities, Social Enterprise and Volunteering. As well as the usual mix of formal and informal network sessions and workshops, panel discussions and off-site visits there will also be space on the programme for delegates to set their own agenda in the ‘Open Space' slot. To help shape the sessions you can participate in the planning at www.navca.org.uk/conferenceblog. For more details about the conference go to www.navca.org.uk/events/annualconference.htm or call 0114 278 6636.

'Improving Accessibility' Learning Exchange

A Beacon Scheme event

17th September 2008, London

Accessibility planning is not just about transport. The location of services and the way they are delivered have a significant influence on accessibility. Therefore, partnership working between transport authorities and organisations representing key services is vital to ensure that accessibility problems are identified and appropriate solutions are put in place.

Improving accessibility can also make a significant contribution to national and local objectives in other sectors. This includes improving health and tackling health inequalities, improving participation, attendance and attainment in education and promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age.

Beacons have demonstrated that they are delivering initiatives that tackle accessibility issues and meet the needs of their communities. They are involving their communities on an ongoing basis and they consider both transport and non-transport focused solutions.

The learning exchange will give attendees the opportunity to find out how the ‘Improving accessibility' beacon authorities have:

delivered initiatives that tackle accessibility issues
involved their communities on an on-going basis
considered non-transport solutions
overcome many of the barriers that prevent people from accessing the services they need.

For more information, go to the website HERE.

Back to the Future - a journey through a chnaging landscape

CDX Annual Conference, AGM and 21st birthday celebration

13th-14th October 2008, Sheffield

In honour of our 21 st birthday, CDX is holding a conference and AGM about community development looking back to move forward.

There will be an opportunity to listen to a government minister, an academic and a community development practitioner about current policies that impact on community development practitioners' work.

Why attend?

With a mix of seminars, workshops and lively speakers, the conference will:

address issues around the current policy climate

support community development practitioners to face challenges in their work

provide resources and materials

teach practitioners new techniques to help in their work

be an opportunity to network with other community development practitioners

discuss the theory and history of community development

Who should attend?

New and experienced community development practitioners…those who work in health, education, housing, with young people, BME community groups, or for voluntary and community sector organisations…statutory health or local authority workers…academics or community development managers…students, volunteers, activists…

See the BOOKING FORM for details. Early bird discounts and some bursaries available, for more information please contact tanwir@cdx.org.uk.

Northern Regeneration Summit

22nd-23rd October 2008, Manchester

Regeneration & Renewal's annual event is back for its fourth year. Exploring the latest thinking on fulfilling the North's potential in a climate of economic, political and policy change, the event is a unique opportunity for public and private sectors to discuss key challenges facing regeneration professionals working in the North of England.

The flyer will be available soom but, in the meantime, see the schedules for Day One and Day Two. Or see the website for more details: www.northernregenerationsummit.com

We have five Reduced Price places for Urban Forum members available, at £67+VAT per person, please email your details to alistair@urbanforum.org.uk.

Chain Reaction

17th-18th November 2008, London's Southbank

Part conference, part festival, and part new movement, Chain Reaction is an international event that will combine the serious intent of World Economic Forum in Davos with the eclectic, magical and innovative sharing of ideas of the Hay Festival of Literature, whilst also focusing on the practicalities of the need for social change.

Chain Reaction will bring together community activists, policy makers, business leaders, young people and people like you from across the world to:

Connect: We are all connected. Meet different peole and make new connections to share learning and ideas for building a better world
Collaborate: We succeed when we work together. Work with others to develop new ideas for social action
Commit: We all have power. Commit to taking forward new actions for positive social change and to making a difference together.

Chain Reaction will include a large number of international delegates drawn from the world of business, politics, and community. Uniquely, Chain Reaction will also champion the voice of those under 25 years of age - our future global leaders? Chain Reaction will bring people together in unexpected groups; those with power will meet those whose only power is their own actions; world leaders will work with children; business leaders with micro-enterprises.
Every delegate will learn how social leaders can use their individual and collective actions. Participants will connect with others working to make a difference; collaborate across sectors and territories; and commit to taking forward practical action to build a better world.
Every single one of us has the power of our own actions. If our actions are reflected in the actions of organisations, and supported by governments, then together, we have the power to change the world – literally creating a chain reaction
Get involved at www.chain-reaction.org.