Those that have previously been involved during the Development Phase remain involved and work through developing agreed action plans. These plans identify projects with associated timescales, costs, responsibilities, etc., champions to drive them forward and a methodology for giving the plans a high profile and publicity, with the ultimate objective of identifying and levering in funding to enable plans to become reality!

This phase sees participants making between one and three presentations of their Town Action Plans to audiences which they have identified and which typically are made up of colleagues, funding and support agencies, the media and the general public – the audience selection, format and style of these presentations is all designed to ‘make things happen’.

 

 

Whilst nervous to begin with, the volunteer presenters invariably want to ‘do it again’, it is this sincerity and enthusiasm which persuades investors to back a town and its plans.

Typically following a presentation, dates go into diaries and further meetings/presentations are made to move the process forward. In addition to funding, other offers of help can take the form of administrative support, assistance with the completion of funding applications, additional manpower, etc., all very welcome and necessary to get things moving.

So what is it that makes Towns Alive so special and different?

There is no magic formulae as such, Towns Alive simply addresses the people and the issues head on, challenging conventional thinking and encouraging those who will ultimately benefit to engage and make things happen, this being achieved by providing the skills and information to energise them into positive and creative action.

Participants have commented that Towns Alive is different because:

'You (the facilitator) haven't given us the chance to become negative and griping, we've been too busy examining the issues and working on finding solutions'.

'Being small one and two man businesses, we don't often get the chance to meet our colleagues, even our neighbours! This has given us the opportunity to hear other views and work alongside people with similar aims, but in a constructive way'.

'The great thing is that you (the facilitator) don't have any axe to grind, you present a fact or an observation and get us to think about it, either as it affects our own business or the town'.

Towns Alive has been used in a variety of ways, from the holistic approach of addressing all town inhabitants, to focusing specifically upon a particular sector, e.g.., the business sector.

If you have a town which is looking to 'make things happen', then find out more about how Towns Alive could help your community, contact us.