Great British Coastal Conference announced
Communities Minister announces conference to help the Great British Coast reach its enormous economic potential.
A conference to help the Great British Coast reach its enormous economic potential will be held in Brighton on 30 June 2016, Communities Minister Mark Francois announced today.
The conference will feature top tips and practical advice from people working day in day out to improve our much-loved seaside areas.
Aimed at coastal community teams, council officials, MPs and other interested groups, the Conference is the latest initiative from the government to rebalance the economy and help all areas of the country thrive.
Alongside a keynote speech from Communities Minister Mark Francois, representatives from the Big Lottery Fund, council leaders and MPs, the conference will feature interactive workshops on:
- community engagement
- managing multiple regeneration projects
- connecting the shorefront to the town centre
- attracting inward investment
Communities Minister Mark Francois said:
We’ve seen a sea-change in investment across the Great British Coast with our new £90 million fund building on the £120 million we invested since 2012.
But to make the most of that money we need local people to create a wave of action along our shore.
That’s why this conference will equip those on the ground with the practical skills they need to revive our much-loved seaside areas and I’d encourage all those with an interest to get involved.
Putting the wind in the sails of our seaside towns
The conference is the latest project in a wave of action to get Britain’s seaside areas thriving.
Local people care deeply about their own local area. That’s why last year 118 Coastal Community Teams in England were created and given a share of £1.18 million to help drive forward coastal communities’ growth.
All of these teams have submitted radical economic plans which set out a blue-print for growth, jobs and prosperity in their communities.
Coastal Community Teams and other creative coastal entrepreneurs can also now bid for a share of £90 million government funding available UK-wide over the next 4 years.
This cash boost is part of the latest round of the Coastal Community Fund and is designed to help budding businesses and canny councils reel in jobs and revitalise our much-loved seaside areas.
Grants of between £50,000 and £4 million are available and bids in England close on 30 June 2016. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland applicants should prepare bids now for when their applications will open in early July.
This builds on the £120 million already invested in over 200 projects since 2012 through the Fund – an investment which is predicted to safeguard or create up to 18,000 new jobs.
Analysis has shown this has been money well spent with every £1 invested having the potential to create an up to £8 boost to our coastal economies.
Image licensed under Creative Commons by Wiki editor5807.
Conference booking information
Whilst free to attend the conference attendance is limited.
To register your interest to attend or to be kept up-to-date with coastal announcements please contact GBCoastalconference2016@communities.gsi.gov.uk