There are some green homes projects locally that have been very successful but those are mainly in an urban setting. Try using this guide to set up Green Open Homes in a rural setting.   The idea is that people can visit a new energy efficient or refurbished home to see local homes that are warm, green and cheap to run and can find out about those features. 
Bath Green Homes has a website that can provide support.

1. Decide how many homes you are going to aim for and in which geographic area.
2. Decide on a date for the Open Homes.
3. Promote the idea and recruit homeowners of energy efficient homes on the given date.  Homes can be old or new, heritage to low coast.
4. Recruit responsible volunteers to act as stewards, helping with promotion, publicity and supporting the homeowners.
5. Each home will need an information sheet with details of its key features. These need to be printed and available for visitors on the day. These can be further used as case studies.  It should include  a heading describing the property; an overview of the property build materials and age etc; Key features installed/upgraded; an Introduction; a paragraph on each of the key features installed and any issues; details of savings made; contact details for the features installed and businesses involved.  Along with some images.  For more ideas look at case studies from Bath Homes or the Scottish Open Green Homes Network.
6. Try to encourage those businesses that have been involved in installations in new buildings or renovations to support or sponsor the project.  This might be by being on site answering questions or supplying information.
7. Prepare a press release and arrange for promotional materials to be circulated widely.
8. Make sure the information on access is clear. Is this a drop in session open to all or by appointment in which case a booking system will be needed.
9. Record the day's events in video, images and written feedback from attendees.
10. Evaluate the project and get the feedback of those who participated.  Do you stop now, keep it small, or build on your success.  You could join an existing network or build your own supported with a website and case studies online holding several events a year.

Other versions on this theme:
Green Farms Open Day, Green Business Open Day, Community Green Energy Open Day.  Green Fayres or Green Business Expos.

There are many ideas for Treasure Hunts for younger children in a safe environment.  The Net Mums website has several ideas for the younger ones.  Teenagers however are looking for something a bit more challenging.  So how about a scavenger hunt?

1. Participants can first be asked to make something to wear on their heads, from a hair-comb, to a fancy, a bonnet to a flat cap or trilby.  Alternatively make something special for the occasion like a mask or a waistcoat.  To promote the "mend and make do" ethos it could be only from recycled materials.
2. The organiser needs to make a list of items to make/collect or photograph.  These should then be written on scavenger hunt cards and given to the scavengers at the start.
3.  Items to collect/make could be: A daffodil; an Easter card; an Easter chick; a piece of ribbon; a chocolate bunny; a painted egg, novelty Easter earrings or bracelet; a poster or advert for a local community event; a DVD that refers to a rabbit and so on..
4. A list of things to be photographed with could be: An Easter bunny; daffodils; in a local coffee shop; at a local play area; by an iconic local site or heritage site; by the fire station/police station; in a local museum or library; on a local bus; by a church or village shop; by the oldest local building or tree and so on..
5. You could also choose to make the hunt a mix of collecting and photographing if that better meets your needs.
6. On the day on the scavenger hunt, properly attired (the best dressed might gain points, a prize or some small advantage), each person, pair or group is given the scavenger card with the list of things they are to collect or photograph. Mobile phone cameras can make photographing an easy option.  
7. All the scavengers start together at a specified time and place.  
8. If the scavenger hunt is collecting items, it may be necessary to give each group a fixed amount to spend.  
9. They should also be given a meeting point to return to by a specific time so the winners can be determined and for safety reasons.
10. Other ideas might be a treasure hunt where clues are given to find hidden objects or to follow a set route where photos are taken as proof that the route was followed.

The National Trust has Geocaching events, which is the modern version of a treasure hunt using GPS coordinates and there are other websites that run geocaching around the County as well.

The point is that each hunt can be tailored to meet your needs and is a great way to engage young people and get them outside.  So now that Spring is around the corner why not give it a try.

Step 1 - Find a venue
It could be your social space at work, your local pub, a community hall or even your garden.

Step 2 - Spread the word
Try promoting it by email, Facebook and twitter, text your friends and get them to spread the work or create an event poster for shops and noticeboards.  Don't forget parish magazines and local websites.

Step 3 - Pick your quizmaster
Find yourself a charismatic person, with a load clear voice and a sense of fair play, and then persuade them to be your quizmaster.

Step 4 - The questions
Some quizmasters prefer to write their own questions but there are sets available online.   The pubassist website has a large number of downloads. Make sure no-one else has access to the answers.

Step 5- Make some money
Decide whether you want to charge for entry by the person or get teams to pay a fee between them. Teams of four are the average. Whatever you decide make sure it is clear on the advertising for the event.

Step 6 - Make it your own
Each team could for example register a name - like Rhona's Romans and appear in fancy dress.  Or there could be mini prizes for the fastest answer or specific questions that are harder or more technical.  What about a speed section? A separate answer sheet would be best for that handed in after the set time.

Step 7 - Name that team

Get people to write their team name on the top - bonus point for the one voted the best.

Step 8 - Work out the winners

Hand out answer sheets or read out the answers.  Have another team mark the answers or designated people to collect them in.

Step 9 - Celebrate success

Announce the winners and the amount raised and what it is for.

The Toads on Roads project has been running for over twenty years and we know of around 880 toad migratory crossings.

Common toads are very particular about where they breed and often migrate back to their ancestral breeding ponds each year. They follow the same route, regardless of what gets in their way, which sometimes leads to them crossing roads. Where we get this toad vs. traffic scenario, the toads inevitably come off worse.

The Toads on Roads project registers these sites as 'migratory crossings' and helps coordinate local Toad Patrols, who can apply for road warning signs to be installed and actively help the toads across the road.

Part one of this project is to check if your local Toad Crossing has already been registered and if not register it.

1 Check the active map for your crossing

2 Check the map of unknown sites for your crossing

3 Check the map of inactive sites for your crossing

4 If your crossing is not on any maps then you can register your crossing via the Froglife/Toads on Roads website with the Department for Transport database.

5 To register the site you will need to know the road name and, preferably, a grid reference (otherwise a postcode), plus a brief description of the site itself including the length of road the toads are using.

6 It's important you know how many toads, and/or other amphibians, you saw so the size of population can be determined. Unfortunately small populations may not warrant registration.

7 Your contact details will be required - that way a confirmation letter can be posted  to enable you to keep in touch with updates and newsletters; your details will not be displayed on the Toads on Roads website and will only be passed on to potential volunteers to man Toad Crossings with your permission.

The Froglife, Toads on Roads website contains further information and guides to projects. As part 2 of this project you can download a  pack for setting up and running Toad Patrols.

Dawn

Forming a Flood Action Group
 
Forming a community based flood action group to work on behalf of the wider community in finding ways to reduce flood risk, has proved very effective across England and Wales.
 
Flood Action Groups are a representative voice for their community and their aim is to work in partnership with the Agencies and Authorities whose work involves flood risk.
 
Through these 'grass-root' groups, communities are able to;
 .address their concerns over malfunctioning assets/and other issues
 .be constantly in touch with what is intended for their community
 .know procedures that are already in place regards routine maintenance
 .have a voice as to the future flood risk of their community through consultation.
 .Instigate 'flood watchers'
 .Create awareness of flood risk to the wider community
 .Prepare to reduce the impact on the community should a flood event occur
 
The National Flood Forum supports communities in the formation of Flood Action Groups, gives tools to ensure their success and sustainability and initiates the first meeting with all the right professionals needed.
 
We believe in simplicity, realising that we all have lives to live and spare time is short.

Use the link to find the 10 step guide in setting up your Flood Action Group.

In partnership the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and North Wessex Downs AONB has been successful in winning £140,000 of Government funding to deliver an exciting new project called Stepping Stones.

This project will take place on the Pewsey Downs and the West Wiltshire Downs. It will run from 1st October 2012 to 31st March 2015. The Stepping Stones objectives are:
. To connect high quality wildlife hotspots, such as County Wildlife Sites, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves, by  creating habitat links and stepping stones of habitat so that individual creatures and species can hop from one to the other, thereby expanding their range.
. To enhance the areas around the best wildlife sites, buffering valuable habitat.
. To create spaces for collaboration and sharing best practice.
. To gain the involvement of local volunteers and organisations in the design, delivery and monitoring of the project.

Help us to create Stepping Stones between Wiltshire's wildlife hotspots

If we can work with people to reconnect the landscape by creating functional links between high quality habitats, then we will be able to reduce the ecological isolation of habitats such as species rich chalk grassland and populations that are at risk, such as the marsh fritillary butterfly. We have started identifying key areas where links will have the greatest ecological impact so that we can start working with landowners to establish appropriate management within an effective corridor.
There are many ways to get involved. For instance, we will want to enhance some areas with wild flower plant plugs grown from seed of local provenance. You might be a local gardener who would like to help us do this, or you may be part of a Garden Club, Horticultural Society, school or community group which might like to be involved?
It is expected that we will be establishing voluntary schemes with farmers on the intervening arable land between areas of high habitat quality, or we may use Environmental Stewardship options, to create corridors and stepping stones. On-going agronomic advice and support will be part of the package so that these corridors and nodes of habitat are maintained and managed well.  For more from the Cranbourne Chase AONB Autumn Newsletter click here.
To get in touch, call David Blake at the AONB Office.

Do you like to Knit?
Teddies for Tragedies aim is to create a central location where charities and volunteers who want teddies can ask for them.
It puts teddy knitting groups in contact, to better fulfil the needs of charities wanting teddies.
It helps knitters and groups find homes for their teddies (and other knitted items).
Teddies for Tragedies is not a charity, it is a knitting pattern.
Since its inception in 1985 hundreds of thousands of teddies have been knitted and given to charities and volunteers to bring a smile to children.
Teddies and other items are usually knitted by local groups and given to charities operating locally.
There is no national organisation, and no need of one, anyone can knit a few teddies for a cause near their own heart.
To find out more about the patterns and those looking for knitted items click here.

To complete this project.

1. Find out who needs teddies, or other knitted items in your locality and by when.
2. Recruit local knitters who can follow the pattern and instructions.  This may form the basis of a knitting club where older people pass on their knitting skills.
3. Ask for donations of wool that fit the pattern requirements.
4. Find a suitable venue, and time for the group to meet.
5. Start knitting and keep track of who is doing what.

Autumn is here and the nights are drawing in. So many people will spend their time watching TV or surfing the net or with social media. Here is an idea for social engagement in your community that will bring people together for some fun that doesn't have to cost very much.

Board Games Clubs can be simple or more complex depending on the games you choose to play.  It could be an after school club were young people play and learn social skills as well as strategy by learning to play Checkers or Chess, Monopoly or Snakes and Ladders. Alternatively, adults playing complex games such as Lord of the Rings or Ticket to Ride on large tables, or old favourites such as Cluedo and Scrabble.  The fact is there is a huge choice and many of us have one or two stashed in a cupboard.

So what do you need?

1. A venue with tables and chairs and probably some refreshments available.  It might be a pub with a large room, a village hall, a school, or someone's home or barn.  With public venues you might negotiate a lower rate of hire if you are bringing in customers on a quiet night.  If it is a community not for profit venture then a community venue might be offered at cost. 
2. Next you need players.  Decide if this is for a specific age group such as 14 to 19's or for everyone old and young.  Many clubs take 14 years old and upwards. 
3. You will need to let people know what you are planning.  Be clear about what games are to be offered, start and end times, fees (if any) and whether people should bring their own games.  It might be that this is run as a trial during school holidays, as a mid-week low cost chill out for working folk, or as a lunch club.  Whatever you decide communication with the possible game players is important.  
4. Advertise via leaflets, noticeboards, free papers, parish magazines, email, social media and websites.  You could ask your local PTA, milkman or paper delivery person to help spread the word.
5. Decide what games you will have available and make sure someone knows how to play and can pass on the rules.  The whole idea is that beginners can learn from knowledgeable players.  Some visitors may choose only to watch for a while.
6. You may need some method of deciding whose turn it is to play a popular game.

The variety of games is huge even without including card games!  The club is what you make of it. So why not give it a try? 

There are some clubs in Wiltshire.  There is a Board Games Club in Frome for more click here.  Also in one in Chippenham for more click here.

The top of the line is a club called the Triple Helix Wargames Centre that developed into a business in Westbury and won the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce Wiltshire New Business Competition 2010/2011. Visit here.

A Scarecrow trail/competition can be as simple as judging the best creation usually based on a given theme or developed into a full blown trail with a quiz and a prize.
They can be held at any time of year, incorporated into a flower show, carnival or fete, or used as a traffic calming measure!  They can be developed as a marketing tool and draw in visitors giving the economy a boost.  Or they can simply generate a feeling of community and fun.

Approach the Town or Parish Council, School, Village Hall committee, Chamber of Commerce who can support the idea and provide funds for printing and advertising etc. if needed.

Form an organising committee.

If you need more information research a school or village near you that has already run one.

Decide on a theme.

Decide whether this will be a free bit of fun or if you are charging an entry fee and giving a Prize.

Arrange for marketing, advertising and information leaflets or an entry form.  Perhaps via a website.

For quiz trail scarecrows generally have to be up by a set date, be photographed and remain in situation for at least 2 weeks to qualify for a prize.

If it is to be a full blown quiz trail delegate a person responsible for writing the quiz and route.  A bit like a treasure hunt.  You might like to present 2 versions under 15's and Adults.

For quizzes make sure you have scrutinised the questions and answers and have them available for the competitors to check after the event.

If the event is not about raising money as a Charity event, funds can still be generated from the sale of the Trail Maps and Refreshments and used to cover costs or donated to good causes.

For more ideas on rules and options please go to our resources page.

If batteries are thrown into your normal rubbish bin, they are likely to end up in landfill. Once buried, the batteries start to break down and can leak some of these chemicals into the ground. This can cause soil and water pollution.

1. Choosing your battery recycling supplier

The approved schemes are:
. Budget Pack
. BatteryBack
. CCR Rebat
. DHL Battery Compliance
. ERP UK Ltd
. REPIC eBatt
. Valpak
More information about approved schemes.

2. Be informed -Battery recycling general information

You can also take your batteries to your local Household Recycling Centre for more information about recycling facilities in Wiltshire visit Recycle for Wiltshire.
It is advisable to join a registered battery recycling scheme for a number of important reasons.
A scheme will ensure you can comply with the 'Duty of Care' when storing batteries. If you are in possession, or have control of waste, you have a legal 'Duty of Care' to store it safely without causing pollution or harm and to only transfer it to someone who is legally allowed to take it. The Duty of Care applies to everyone who handles waste; from the person who produces the waste to the person who finally recycles or disposes of it. The Duty of Care is one of the main ways to combat fly tipping.
If you move the collected batteries, for example if there are smaller collection buckets in shops but then you as a community group takes the smaller buckets and decants into a larger buckets, then you will need to consult the Environment Agency for advice on the need to have a waste carriers licenses. A battery scheme should go through this with you. More information from DEFRA

3. Sustainability and Funding

The Community Area Grants available from your local Area Board are specifically for charities, community groups, town and parish councils looking to set up a community project in Wiltshire.
For more information about the Community Area Grant scheme please click here.
To view a copy of a successful application is click here.
We recommend you discuss the grant application with the community area manager before applying as they can give you help and advice. Click here for a list.
Additional funding opportunities and further toolkits and projects can be found on the WWCN funding pages.

4. Making the most of the scheme- building on success

Some supported schemes supply posters and promotional materials. Whether this is the case or not ensure that any information on posters or websites or collection points is accurate and includes your group's details. This will ensure that your group is linked to this helpful and practical project and becomes raises your profile with your wider community. You then are known and trusted when you embark on future projects.

5. Do you want to get started?

Then please read and complete WWCN's helpful Community Battery Project action plan by clicking here.

Fairtrade Fortnight has just ended but there's still so many more ways to go Fairtrade - how about getting your mum some Fairtrade flowers or chocolates for Mother's Day? Every step counts!

1. Find out more! 

2.Choose an idea

Check out the following ideas for inspiration and choose something your group could do:
.Inviting a friend out for a Fairtrade coffee
.Organising a Fairtrade chocolate tasting at school
.Telling your friends on Facebook about your favourite Fairtrade product
.Buying Fairtrade tea bags when it's your turn at work
.Asking your local shop to stock more Fairtrade choices

3.Add your step!

4. Start advertising

Download some free campaign material and information to help publicise your step and encourage others to join you

5. Take your step!

Every step counts towards our total of 1.5 million steps we're hoping to achieve by the end of 2012 - one step for every farmer and worker in the Fairtrade system.

Dark Skies campaign aims to preserve and restore the beauty of the night sky by campaigning against excessive, inefficient and irresponsible lighting.

1. Get the forms

Ask your  Area Board for the Forms and Notes to complete this project.

2. Choose the street lamps

Note the street lamp numbers of the lamps you wish to turn off  (on the posts) and/or location(s) on a map.

3. Inform your vilage

Send out the consult letter informing those affected of the plan for the lights and the options detailed in the notes.

4. Get consent

Generate a consent form and ask all those affected to sign it to demonstrate their consent.

5. Put in your application

Check forms are complete and forward to your Area Board for approval and for forwarding to Council for action.

Twitter allows you to send short messages to tell the world what you're doing, thinking, reading or whatever else you feel like saying. If you use Facebook, think of it as being like the status updates. The service allows you to follow people and be followed by people. The people you follow will form your network and their updates will appear on your Twitter homepage. The people who follow you have chosen to have you in their network and see your updates.

1. Go to Twitter and create an account

You can give yourself any username you like but it's best to choose something that people who know you will recognise: that will make it easier for them to find and follow you and fill in your biography. Say something about yourself and what you're likely to be talking about. It helps people to decide whether they should follow you.

2. Post your first tweet

It should go in the box underneath the question "What are you doing?" and it must be 140 characters or fewer. Soon you'll start building your network and you'll want to have something on your page when your first visitors arrive. Try to post something that, in conjunction with your biography, will give people a reason to follow you. "Trying to understand Twitter" is fine as a first post but you need to follow it up very quickly with something more individual. Try posting a link to the most interesting article you've read recently, for example.

3. Start building your network

Look for friends and colleagues who are already using the site by clicking 'find people' at the top of the page. When you find someone who you want to add to your network, click on their name to see their page and then click 'follow'.  Following people is the easiest way to let them know you are there and some of them will soon start following you in return. Your page will display a count of the number of people following you and the numbers you are following. You can stop following people in your network at any time by going to their page, clicking 'following' and then clicking 'remove'.  Each time you find someone you want to follow take a look at who they are following. Add anyone who looks interesting and even a few people you aren't sure about. The more, the merrier. Try to add around 100 people so that you have a busy network. Remember - you can prune your network as you get a feel for who's who.

Don't be disheartened if it takes a while for your number of followers to grow.  You'll also be given recommendations by Twitter for who to follow, as you tweet more and connect with others the recommendations will become more focused and specific to you.

4.Join a conversation

You can send a public reply to people by putting @ before their username and then typing your message. The person you are replying to doesn't need to be someone you are following and doesn't need to be following you for the @ system to work. On Twitter.com, a reply button will be visible when you hold your cursor over a message. Clicking this will add the @ automatically.  Click Settings on Twitter.com and then Notices to decide how @ replies are displayed within your network. If you choose "all @ replies" you'll see conversations people in your network are having with others. This is a good way to find new people to follow.  If you want to send a message to someone but don't want all your followers to see it, you can send a direct message.

5. Add a link

If you want to post a link to a website or article you find interesting you'll need a link-shortening site. So go to a site such as TinyURL, copy and paste in your link and get a shorter URL to help you stay within that 140-character limit.

There are lots more tools to learn but this will give you a start and if you like it WFCAP are running a course soon on social media.

The UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe with only 4% native woodland cover.  But we need at least twice as many native trees and woods for the sake of wildlife and people, to combat climate change and improve our environment.

1. Decide on where you want to plant your tree

The trees must be planted by a community group or school on land that people in your area can enjoy and benefit from (not private gardens or land with no public benefit). Get lots of people involved - planting is a great community activity! Your community should be consulted and supportive of your project before you apply.

2.Get permission

Ask the permission of the landowner before applying and find out a grid reference to identify your planting site. Visit the ordnance survey website to look online at your planting site and identify the grid reference. Search for your local area using place name or postcode. Zoom in until you can clearly see the area you have identified for tree planting on your screen. Select the 're-centre' option and then click the centre of the intended planting area to ensure it is in the middle of your screen.  Once you have found your chosen location, look just below the map to see the 'grid reference at centre' information. There will be two letters followed by six numbers (8 characters in total i.e. SK905356). Northern Ireland grid references begin with a single letter (i.e. J338780).

3.Make your pledge here!

4.Apply for your pack here

5.Plant your tree!

Bring your community together to plant free trees from the Woodland Trust - and grow your own food, create new homes for wildlife and bring beautiful autumn colour to your local area.

The Woodland Trust has a fantastic range of FREE tree packs available to communities.

Individual trees, small copses, traditional hedgerows and woodland are invaluable features of thriving neighbourhoods in our villages, towns and cities. They enhance the places where we live, learn, work, rest and play.

British shoppers use more than 17 billion plastic bags per year - the equivalent of 350 for every adult. We use each one on average for only 12 minutes before throwing it away. Plastic bags are destined for landfill almost as soon as they are created, and add to the 2.8 million tonne mound of plastic waste produced in the UK every year. Some ends up in the sea, with every square mile of ocean now containing an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic, which choke and entangle sea birds and mammals.

1 Know your stuff

You need to be able to give informed answers to the questions of traders and shoppers, the first of which is bound to be, 'what's wrong with plastic bags?' Learn about the impact they have on the environment, and about the broader issues such as landfill and unsustainable lifestyles and have other success stories to hand: in Ireland there has been a massive (97.5%) reduction in the number of plastic bags given out since shops started charging for them.

2 Source an alternative

The ideal is to get people to use a reusable bag made from natural, compostable materials. An average cloth bag will save the owner from using at least 1,000 plastic bags. You will also need to find alternative disposable bags for shops to stock while people get into the habit of bringing their own bag, however, and for when they forget. Cornstarch and paper are both used in Modbury, but there are many options. Charging for bags will discourage people from using disposable bags and mean that traders can cover the extra cost of the nonplastic bags, which are more expensive.

3 Marketing & Support

You need a core team, including traders, prepared to do much of the legwork and willing to work together and to try to get the message out to everybody else! Keep the local press up to date and involve as many existing groups as possible. Making postcards and posters to display in shops, and tying in your campaign with other local events such as festivals can also work well. Having a brand or logo is a 'simple way of sending out a strong and coherent message'. 'It's crucial to get all or at least the majority of traders involved,' Handling supermarkets and highstreet chains is one of the biggest difficulties for a community going plastic bag free. Often chain stores need permission from head office, or even for company policy to change before they can act. Contact the area manager of your local supermarkets and other chains right at the beginning of your campaign to inform them of your plan; if they are unresponsive try head office.

4 Funding

'There is no reason why start-up costs should be prohibitive; you just need to work with what you have,' In Modbury, the first town to become plastic-bag free, the start-up costs were kept very low and covered by the traders themselves, who each paid £50 towards bag design, posters and setting up the website. The different campaigns around the UK have found various sources of cash, so look around to see who will support you. Friends of the Earth, local councils and community councils, local chambers of commerce, co-ops and recycling charities have all provided funding for plastic bag free campaigns.

5 The launch

To get the media and residents interested, start your campaign with a bang. In Hebden Bridge, campaigners set themselves a target of getting 80 per cent of shops to remove plastic bags on the launch day. Good PR is essential and a handout of at least one cloth bag per household is also a great idea if you can afford it - 'people love freebies,' says Hosking. For brightly coloured bags made from scrap material at no charge, try Morsbags.

AMT Benchmarking is a working, practical example of the government agenda of localism as developed in the Localism Bill, with key stakeholders and volunteers in town centres working together to firstly measure economic performance before using the data to implement initiatives and projects. Some towns used the data as evidence to unlock funding, while others used it to measure the impact of initiatives and developments.

For a town partnership to have credibility its work needs to be evidence based and it needs to be able to measure performance over time.  The web based system gives you a way of capturing useful data about your town in a simple step by step way.

1. Become a member of AMT for free through WFCAP's partner membership

Just contact wfcap for more details.

2. Find Volunteers

You need a group of people willing to work on the project, a perfect project for an economy group or you could contact your Town council or Chambers of Commerce members.  You'll need to commit to just a few days over a year.

3. Sign upto AMTi Benchmarking

There is a cost but you save £50 if signing up by 31st of March, and if you contact WFCAP asap there is a possibility of a funding stream we've heard of.  Alternatively it would be a great grant bid to your Area Board.  The money pays for the handbook which leads you through the data collection phase ensuring a consistent, standard
approach and use of an on-line recording system to capture the information in a simple and straightforward way.

 4. Carry out the benchmarking

The 12 Key Performance Indicators that are measured are:

• Total number of commercial units
  The balance of comparison/ convenience retail
  Key attractor/ multiple trader representation
  Number of markets/ traders
  Number of vacant units
  Prime retail property yields
  Retail rents
  Footfall counts
  Car parking availability and usage
  Business confidence survey
  Visitor satisfaction survey
  Shoppers origin survey

5.Recieve your report

Town Benchmarking provides a unique analysis and picture of individual town centres. The data can be used as a one-off or longitudinally, so any changes or promotions in the town centre can be measured.The real benefit of the system, however, is that the annual report generated for each town compares the data on each of the twelve KPIs against a national figure for all other Benchmarking towns, and other towns within your region and type.

This in-depth data offers market towns a tangible insight into how their town centre is performing, what is working well and what can be improved.

Allied to this, national figures can be built up year on year in terms of what is happening to our towns countrywide.