Who we are and what we aim to do

Community Connections was set up in July 1999 to promote and actively initiate community development and community empowerment initiatives across the Borough of Great Yarmouth and its travel-to-work area.

• take a significant lead in initiating and supporting community development work in areas where local people experience isolation, prejudice, disadvantage and exclusion
• facilitate collaborative working between existing community development workers
• encourage good practice across all sectors in developing community consultation and participation which will enable local people to have a greater ownership of services being provided to them

• working with local people to support them in setting up community groups and activities
• seeking funding for the employment of community workers in the area of benefit, with an emphasis on the most disadvantaged communities
• offering support to people who are actively involved in or wish to pursue community development work activities: helping to set up networks, skills training, advice and opportunities for personal development
• providing support and guidance to local groups and organisations in setting up community projects, and developing community work methods of working
• actively encouraging and supporting local organisations in their development and community activities


2. To encourage local people to become more involved in their community

We do this, for example, by:
• supporting local people in setting up community and neighbourhood groups with particular emphasis on support for the most deprived areas within the area of benefit and the most vulnerable people in the community
• offering help and advice to individual community champions
• working for more effective communications and more accessible information by supporting and developing projects which:
  • produce and distribute good quality newsletters, leaflets and promotional materials
  • actively promote inclusive networking, workshops and forums
  • offer training in communication skills
• working in partnership with others to provide good quality training
• actively encouraging local people to represent their community effectively on decision making bodies


3. To offer help and support to disadvantaged people and groups

We do this, for example, by:
• helping people develop confidence and life skills
• offering help and advice
• signposting people to appropriate support services
• encouraging people to work together and form self help groups
• providing support and resources - eg. meeting rooms, equipment, expertise, information


4. To make the connections between the strategies and services of local organisations and the needs of local people and communities.

We do this, for example, by:
• gathering information and making it accessible to the whole community
• helping form strategies and policies that are inclusive and relevant to the needs of local people, particularly the most disadvantaged
• supporting local people as they participate in decision making processes
• making the links between different partnerships and activities in the area of benefit and facilitating more effective collaboration