Village SOS is another exciting community initiative funded by Big Lottery Fund (BIG), set up in 2010 to kick start a rural revival across the UK. It aims to inspire people in rural villages – many of which face challenges such as declining local amenities, lack of employment opportunities and rural isolation – to get involved and make a difference in their communities.
BIG has awarded grants worth £4.5m to ten rural villages across the UK to develop community enterprises that will breathe new life into their local area. Six of these villages have had their stories filmed for a primetime BBC One television series, Village SOS, currently being aired at 8pm on Wednesdays.
Alongside the TV series, BIG has launched the Village SOS Active Learning Campaign, a resource that will help enterprising rural communities inspired by the Village SOS programme to start up their own community enterprises.
How it works
Village SOS Active offers a range of tools, advice and information to help people bring their ideas for community enterprises to life, including an online community network where people can discuss ideas and share solutions to common issues.
The campaign is also providing a number of learning events across the UK and a dedicated national advice line, 0845 434 9123, where rural communities can receive expert advice on developing ideas for and running their enterprises.
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