With only a few months left of LEADER+ funding for Cittaslow, we are about to start an evaluation of the programme with consultation of key stakeholders.
I ask myself the question 'who is missing from the Cittaslow table in Diss?'.
Our challenge has always been to engage people and I especially have certain distaste for clique or established groups that deliberately make themselves difficult to penetrate.
I believe that if Cittaslow really does wish to improve the quality of life for all community members; it is fair to say we need to seek out more of the marginalised groups in Diss and assist them in finding their voice so that they may become empowered.
We are very pleased that some of the community groups projects that have accessed the Cittaslow Diss Community grants programme are now starting to happen.
The Cittaslow-funded Diss Book Festival is next week (May 19-24).
We have also funded a Diss booklet about Thomas Paine, which will be launched at the Cittaslow Centre, on Saturday, May 24, 2pm, with free coffee and cakes. All are welcome.
From tomorrow, we will be exhibiting at the Cittaslow Centre the best of work from Year 10 GCSE art students from Diss High School, who have been working all year on Image and Text.
Also on display will be artwork around the theme of the Gingerbread Man from local primary schools, who have been asked to write the Gingerbread Man into a different story.
With the whole town gearing up for Diss Carnival, Cittaslow has agreed to fund a marching band to accompany the procession. Look out for our giant snail, he is sure to pop up somewhere!
Remember we still have Cittaslow grant money to give away to community groups and are able to fund 75 per cent of Cittaslow project costs, up to a maximum amount of £2,000. Application forms can be downloaded from the
Diss Town Council website or from the new Cittaslow website
www.cittaslowdiss.co.uk when it is launched early next month.
Diss Community Partnership is keen for more volunteer directors, due to the number of projects planned for this year. For further information, contact Ed Ling, 01379 642002.
Cynthia Schears is Diss Cittaslow co-ordinator and can be contacted at the Cittaslow Centre, 7 Cobbs Yard, Diss, IP22 4LB, 01379 642002, 07828 123414 or email: cynthiaschears@googlemail.comThe full article contains 406 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
