Mission statement:

"To identify and help deliver economic opportunities to increase community involvement, empowerment and capacity building, within the heart of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth ".

The Community Economic Regeneration Project is a partnership between Waveney District Council and Great Yarmouth Borough Council, supported by Objective 2 European funding, which has seen the engagement of two Community Economic Regeneration Co-ordinators, (CER) each working in the five inner wards of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. In Lowestoft they are: Harbour, Normanston, St.Margaret’s, Whitton and Kirkley. The five wards in Great Yarmouth are, Regent, Nelson, Cobholm & Lichfield, Claydon and Magdalen West.

Working in partnership, the aims of the project are to draw together individuals, groups and organisations to develop local communities, making a contribution to where people work, live and socialise.

One of the projects being supported by the Lowestoft Co-ordinator is the Lowestoft Community Enterprise (www.suffolkacre.org.uk), which is the umbrella name for the Credit Union and Healthy Food Co-op. Based at 229 London Road South The credit union has seen its membership grow to over 160 in its first year, and has recently had the successful launch of the Waveney District Council, payroll deduction scheme.

The Community Development Section at Waveney District Council works in partnership with, Waveney Community Forum cvs (www.waveneycf.org.uk), and SAVO (Suffolk Association of Voluntary Organisations) (www.savo.co.uk), to provide support and training opportunities to local groups and organisations. The CER co-ordinator as part of the Community Development Section also provides a sign posting service for groups or individuals who would like help on issues such as funding, and development.

The Great Yarmouth Co-ordinator is employed by Norfolk and Waveney Enterprise Services, works under contract from Gt. Yarmouth Borough Council. Because the community aspect is already being addressed through the Community Connections organisation, a slightly different approach was adopted in Gt. Yarmouth compared with Lowestoft in that regeneration could best be achieved through improved employment prospects. Therefore, whilst working in partnership with the Voluntary Sector Partnership and Community Connections, the emphasis has been on business start-ups and expansion, particularly as applied to Social Enterprises.

The Cobholm and Lichfield Childcare Centre and Blue Cat are 2 Social Enterprises set up with NWES (http://www.nwes.org.uk) in the last two years (Blue Cat is an adult training business). In addition, long-term assistance is being given to the Community Activity Park project and FirstMove/FurnishAid.

Both Co-ordinators work closely to ensure that, where synergy exists, it is developed to its maximum potential and the risk of duplication is reduced.

Please click for details of the Objective 2 programme in Great Yarmouth

Please click for details of the Objective 2 programme in Waveney

The Objective 2 programme in the Eastern region is administered by the Government Office for the East of England - www.go-east.gov.uk

For further info please e-mail: cerproject@waveney.gov.uk