Christchurch Community Partnership

Christchurch Community Partnership (CCP) is a network of individuals and organisations that seek to create space for engaging and empowering local residents, the community, private and statutory organisations. They aim 'to improve the social, economic and environmental well-being and the quality of life of those people who live in, work in and visit Christchurch'.

Established in response to the Local Government Act (LGA 2000), the Christchurch Community Partnership is an active member of the county wide Dorset Strategic Partnership (DSP).

The Community Plan [2Mb] [PDF] (opens in a new window) identifies the agreed priorities for Christchurch. Shaping our future, [466kb] [PDF] (opens in a new window) the Community Strategy for Dorset 2007-2016 includes many of the priority actions designed to respond to community needs in Dorset and includes much from the Christchurch Community Plan and the plans of the other five boroughs and districts across Dorset.

This strategy together with the Local Area Agreement between central government (GOSW) and Dorset forms the main reference for the release of funds from the Dorset Strategic Partnership (DSP) to the respective boroughs and districts across the county.

Christchurch Community Partnership Annual General Meeting 01-09-2010

It is a year since the last Annual General Meeting of the Partnership held on 20^th May 2009 when members appointed the second Board of Trustees for the Christchurch Community Partnership and reviewed the first year of progress within the Partnership as a registered charity. You are, therefore, invited as a member of the Partnership to participate in the third Annual General Meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday 1^st September 2010, 7.30 pm, at the Captain's Club in Christchurch.

Kindly RSVP to Julia Whelan on 01202 495017 or email j.whelan@christchurch.gov.uk by 12 noon on Thursday 26^th August 2010 to confirm your attendance.

Please note the Invitation letter and the various reports, inclusive of the Annual Report and Financial Report, are posted on the right hand side of this page. Copies can also be accessed at the CCP Support Unit, Civic Offices.

Community Planning

Hurn Parish has now completed their

Hurn Parish Plan - August 2010 [2Mb] (opens in a new window). The Hurn Parish Plan can also be downloaded from Related Downloads on the right hand side of this page.

Action groups

The seven action groups meet quarterly and address the following issues:

Community Safety
Culture and Learning
Generations
Health and Care
High Quality Environment
Increased Prosperity
Travel and Access

Partnership groups

There are now eight sub-groups within the Partnership which focus on particular issues as well.

Christchurch Community Centre
Christchurch and District Sports Council
Christchurch Older People's Forum
Christchurch Youth Council
Cycling Action Group
Fit Christchurch
Friends of Christchurch Station
Friends of Christchurch Dial-a-Bus

A new community centre for the town

Every community needs a place they call its own. This is the Partnership's flagship project. We are working closely with many partners and volunteers to develop a proposal for a new community centre (opens in a new window) to replace Druitt Hall in Druitt Gardens.

Involving people and valuing volunteers

This community plan has already involved the input of many hundreds of people. It is full of those people's ideas about how to make Christchurch an even better place to live and work. And inside each of those ideas are some opportunities - ways that you can help us all to make it happen.

Getting involved is good. It's fun for you, you have the opportunity to develop new skills and receive training and pride in knowing that you've made a valuable contribution. This is good for Christchurch too, because every small contribution adds up to achieving what we all want - a vibrant, safe, healthy environment that we all care about whatever our background.

Do have a look at the projects within the Community Plan [2Mb] [PDF] (opens in a new window) to see the many ways you can get involved. You may be considering a one-off involvement, as little as just one afternoon. You may be looking for more regular involvement. See if there's something here that appeals to you or draws on your particular skills or interests. Remember, Christchurch Community Partnership is here to help you with practical and sometimes even financial support [62kb] [PDF] (opens in a new window) for getting any of these and many other actions going.

Funding Allocation

The Christchurch Community Partnership has been allocated the sum of £38,900 by the Dorset Strategic Partnership for local community projects. This funding is available for projects which aim to:

Address need identified within the community planning process and contribute towards the realisation of the Christchurch Community Plan
Help the Dorset Strategic Partnership to realise improvements in our quality of life across Dorset as set out in the wider Dorset Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement

Useful links

Partnership Steering Board Meetings

Date	Time	Venue
Wednesday 14 April 2010	3pm-5pm	Committee Room
Thursday 17 June 2010	3pm - 5pm	Committee Room
Wednesday 28 July 2010	3pm - 5pm	Baptist Church Christian Centre
Wednesday 10 November 2010	3pm - 5pm	Committee Room
Wednesday 16 February 2011	3pm - 5pm	Committee Room
Wednesday 04 May 2011	3pm - 5pm	Committee Room

The Christchurch Community Partnership Trustees Board meets in the Committee room between 1pm - 2.30pm before the above meetings

Latest news

Membership amends CCP Constitution

The membership of the Christchurch Community Partnership approved the proposal from Trustees to amend the CCP Constitution [82kb] [PDF] (opens in a new window) in response to the advice received from Charity Commission at their Special General Meeting held on Monday 1 September 2008. Dr. Bob Gilbertson (Chair of the CCP) thanked the entire membership for their continued support and demonstrated interest in the work of the Partnership and the community of Christchurch.

In keeping with the guidance from the Charity Commission, the Membership decided to "Delete the objects presented in clause 3 of the previously approved version of the CCP Constitution and replace it with:

Promote the benefits of the inhabitants of Christchurch, without distinction of sex, sexual orientations, race or of political, religious or other opinions, by bringing together statutory and voluntary organisations in a common effort to improve the physical and economic conditions of life in the Christchurch area and to promote the provision of facilities in the interests of social welfare with the objects of improving the conditions of life of the said inhabitants.
Promote all or any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community within the area of benefit.

Upcoming activities

Christchurch Events Calendar 2010 [104kb] (opens in a new window)

Christchurch Activities for Young People - CAYP [1Mb] (opens in a new window) 2010 programme

Fit Christchurch Event – Saturday 18 September 2010

Christchurch Community Partnership Annual Conference 2009
The 2009 annual conference was held on Wednesday 20 May 2009 at the Captain's Club. This year the conference focussed on Valuing Volunteers and included a volunteer commendation ceremony.
High Quality Environment Action Group
Vision: A Christchurch where the high-quality natural and built environment is protected and enhanced.
Volunteering
Getting involved as a volunteer is good. It's fun and you have the opportunity to develop new skills and receive training and pride in knowing that you've made a valuable contribution. This is good for Christchurch too, because every small contribution adds up to achieving what we all want - a vibrant, safe, healthy environment that we all care about.
Culture and Learning Action Group (CAL)
Vision: A Christchurch which is valued for its range of cultural and educational opportunities and where quality of life is high.
Christchurch Vision 2026
Christchurch Borough Council, in conjunction with the Christchurch Community Partnership, is developing a sustainable community strategy for the Borough. A series of vision seminars with service providers and local residents has resulted in the emergence of a 'common vision'.
Fit Christchurch
The Fit Christchurch programme aims to increase the number of people in Christchurch who eat healthily, engage in regular physical activity and maintain a healthy body mass.
Health and Care Action Group
Vision: A Christchurch where good health is promoted, ill health treated and vulnerable groups supported.
Generations Action Group
Vision: A Christchurch where relationships between people of different generations are strong and where all sections of the community are valued.
Travel and access action group
Vision: A Christchurch where travel is efficient, affordable and sustainable.
Over 50's Forum
Membership to the Forum is open to any person over 50 residing within the Borough of Christchurch or any representative of any local or national organisation dealing with the concerns of older people.
Christchurch Strollers
The Strollers are part of the Community Partnership's Health and Care Action Group. They have qualified leaders who organise the health walks.
Increased Prosperity Action Group
The vision of the group is a Christchurch which is economically vibrant and where people want to live, study, work, bring up children and be supported through unemployment and retirement.