A net:gain delegate tackles sustainability issues

Sarah Pook, Manager of the Craven Arms community centre faced a dilemma common to many managers of rural community centres. Sarah had successfully developed the centre as one of Shropshire’s ‘Broad Places’ – internet support venues delivering great benefit to scattered local communities – over the last few years. But, as a small, rural project, sustainability was a real challenge.

This is why Sarah now needed a simple way to gather ideas and issues into a forward plan which involved staff, volunteers and other stakeholders to capitalise on this momentum.

Inspiration came when Jackie Mantle, leading the new net:gain programme at the Mayfair Community Centre, persuaded Sarah to join the first group of voluntary organisations to try out the programme.

“From the very start,” says Sarah, “it’s provided me with a manageable way forward. We have a package of tools, techniques and support to explore possibilities, refine our ideas and gather the information we need to make progress.”

Even better, through the net:gain network Sarah has access to online experts who can provide advice on funding, business development, technology, marketing and income generation.

“Anyone who works in a rural area knows that it can be difficult to get services locally," says Sarah.

Now she can share experiences and learning with many other delegates who are overcoming similar problems, thanks to net:gain.Sarah can now develop plans that will allow her to:

• Maintain and develop the centre’s focus on its community
• Replace the centre’s equipment and systems when required
• Develop a community ICT learning programme

Most importantly, with the year-long support net:gain offers, Sarah is confident that she will be able to identify funders and present her organisation’s needs and costs to them in a coherent and persuasive way. She is also planning income generation opportunities to make her centre sustainable in the long run.