Case Study 6 - Partnership Trusts Black Country Consortium A company whose task is the regeneration of the Black Country, with members including the associated Local Authorities, Black Country Business Link and the Black Country Learning and Skills Council. In addition, there are numerous external partners including the regional development agency, the Environment Agency, a School Improvement Partnership, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, Government Office for the West Midlands, Wildlife Trust, and Regeneration companies. They have made a bid for lottery funding and aim to restore and open up vast stretches canals, greenspaces and parkland corridors for the benefit of local people and to improve biodiversity. Mersey and Red Rose Community Forests An initiative to create new and management existing forests in the North West. It is a partnership between public, private and voluntary bodies including: The Countryside Agency, the Forestry Commission, six surrounding local authorities, local landowners, businesses, Government agencies, environmental and voluntary bodies, Countryside Services, communities, schools and many individuals. They are involved in greening both urban and natural areas. Community Forest North West is a registered charity that was created to support and coordinate the work of the two community forests. The forest trusts receive funding from a variety of public and private sources and in turn provide funds for local community initiatives that follow their key aims. The Mersey Forest Partnership developed the Community Contracting Initiative, which aims to: •
Support existing community groups who are already helping to manage woodlands (by providing officer support, training and grants for woodland improvement).
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Identify woodlands that would benefit from the involvement of local people.
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Encourage the setting up of a number of new community groups to help manage woodlands in the Forest.
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To manage woodlands sustainably with community, wildlife and economic benefits.
Bankside Open Spaces Trust (BOST) This trust was set up in response to several factors, crime and anti-social behavior and the area’s open spaces neglected and unsafe. In addition, increasing regeneration of the Southwark area threatened open spaces. The Trust’s aim was to ‘foster a sense of community through the protection, care and development of local green spaces.’ The Trust acts as the community client on Local Authority-led projects. The Trust is made up of local residents and businesses that make up the Board of Trustees. They have made contact with experts for