Resources for Communities

Through its work with communities, ACT has extensive experience in supporting local people to solve local problems for themselves. As a result, we have developed a range of resources and materials that community members can download to use to help them achieve their goals. Follow the links below to find out more.

ACT Guidance Sheets – This series of guidance sheets is intended to support you with your project. Some are specific to Community Led Planning, others are generic and may be useful to any community project.

ACT Gazette - ACT's quarterly newsletter providing information on Community Led Planning and Development, Community Assets (Village Halls) and ACT project updates and events.

ACT Hallmark Toolkit – Hallmark is a Quality Standards Scheme for Village Halls. This toolkit assists village hall committee members work through the process of achieving a relevant quality standard. The scheme promotes the delivery of effective and well-managed village halls through a quality standards scheme which is baked up by a system of peer visitors.

Case Studies – Stories from around Cumbria that may help inspire your community projects (written & film)

Community Exchange Toolkit – a range of guidance sheets and video interviews forming a toolkit for a community wanting to start their own Exchange or Community Cafe.

Community Emergency Planning Toolkit and Poster- A ten step guide and to help you to produce an Emergency Plan for your community and Keswick Community Emergency Plan video interview.

Governance and Business Planning – a range of resources developed through the BASIS partnership with Young Cumbria and Cumbria Youth Alliance providing an introduction to Governance; Business & project planning; Quality Standards; Marketing; Funding and Fundraising; Setting up and running effective organisations; Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Planning for Your Community - Guidance on Neighbourhood Planning for Cumbrian Communities

Publications - ACT uses the evidence it collects through its work with communities, research activities and consultation events, particularly via the Cumbria Rural Forum, to produce a range of publications