Looking Back, Looking Forward
Joanna Rowelle
As the year draws to a close, we, the Towns Fund Delivery Partner team, have been reflecting on the last few months. Since we started working with you and your towns towards securing a Town Deal, we have been struck by the commitment and progress that has been made in developing your Town Investment Plans (TIPs) in what has been a challenging year by any standards.
We are also looking forward to how we can continue to support you as you move forward to the next stage: developing your business cases. We shall be offering new areas of support in new formats to provide guidance and advice during stage 2 while also introducing new services that we hope will bring longer-term benefits for your towns beyond the Towns Fund programme.
The story so far
Last summer saw the start of our Towns Fund journey with you and the 101 Towns invited to participate in the Towns Fund, working with MHCLG and our Towns Hub colleagues.
Our Towns Team, fronted by our Town Coordinators, have spent the ensuing months working with you to provide the support you need for your Town, drawing on the skills and resources of recognised specialists and experts. We have seen so many examples of how you and your towns are tackling the development of your TIPs in new and innovative ways; how you have formed and established your Town Deal Boards; the approaches you have taken to identify your town’s vision; involving your communities in what the future could look like and selecting projects that will help fulfil this vision.
We have also seen the challenges that you are facing that have been made even more difficult with COVID-19.
For those of you who are working towards submitting your TIPs by 29 January 2021, our team is ready and able to support you during the last few weeks in the run up to the deadline. We know that many of you are working with our Team on specific aspects of your TIP documents and you have booked ‘check and challenge’ sessions to help get your bid documents in the best shape.
Please speak to your Town Coordinator if you have any specific queries or concerns as we are here to help. If you can, please share your draft TIPs with the team as soon as possible so that we can provide timely support in helping you to finalise them.
There is also a wealth of learning materials, guidance documents, best practice examples and tips available on the website for you to access and help you with your bid-writing.
Looking forward to Stage 2
Some of you will be starting 2021 with a new stage of your Towns Fund journey. This will be unique to your town as you start to prepare business cases for your projects and for delivery.
We are developing new materials, guidance documents and services as you take forward your projects and a Stage 2 Introduction pack will be sent to you in early 2021 to explain how we can help.
Our regional teams of Town Coordinators and Service Specialists will continue to be on-hand for you to access their advice and support as before. In addition to specialists in visioning and project prioritisation; community engagement and monitoring and evaluation, we have specialists in business cases and project management. You can also discuss your projects with our team of Topic Experts by booking in for an ‘Expert drop-in’ hour via the website or requesting specific support via your Town Coordinator.
Your Towns Fund Community: Working together for a sustainable future
Although your town and its future journey is unique, many towns have common challenges.
In the last few months, we have learned so much about your towns and the need to share knowledge, best practice and advice between towns, has emerged as a strong theme.
With this in mind, we are facilitating new opportunities for you to address common issues and topics collectively and work with colleagues in similar roles in other towns. Our aim is to help you build your connections and networks across local authorities, towns, regions and with other external partners who can offer advice and, in some cases, new funding streams.
We are also offering access to leadership and governance coaching and platforms for you to share your stories and pride for your town.
You may have already heard about some of these new opportunities but if not, please talk to your Town Co-ordinator who can put you in touch with the relevant member of our team to find out more and how to sign up.
Town Working Groups - a series of working groups connecting towns with common challenges or characteristics
Place Leadership Programme - a coaching programme on place leadership designed to enhance your leadership skills will launch next year. The programme is designed to strengthen your town’s ability to plan for the longer-term
Storytelling - we have a storyteller who, working with you, can tell the story of your town and your Towns Fund journey. We want to tell the important stories of communities, the people who are making your Towns Fund bid happen and those whose passion is bringing your town’s future to life.
Town blogs - if you would like to share your town’s experiences, learning and ideas, you can draft a blog that we will put on the website.
TFDP volunteers - as part of our commitment to you, the TFDP partner organisations are offering volunteers to provide career and transition skills support to your town communities. We are also considering other support initiatives for 2021.
And finally…
On behalf of the TFDP team, I would like to wish you all a very happy and peaceful festive break.
We are looking forward to working with you over the coming months as you progress your plans and projects and start to make your vision a reality.
Best wishes
Joanna Rowelle
Senior Responsible Officer, Towns Fund Delivery Partner