Submitted by the LEADER Administrator on behalf of The Rural Media Company (Nic Millington)

Our approach to increasing the sustainable numbers of volunteers and thereby building local capacity is essentially a simple one.

This project would bring together mid-Warwickshire communities and Boka Halat in a series of workshops to create new ‘ceilidh’ dances. These would feature as part of a later tour to those communities under the Live & Local banner of their popular AfroCeilidh evening.

The project would give young people in mid-Warwickshire the

As the recession starts to bite many people, particuarly the elderly, will become increasingly isolated. Many will be unable to get out and about and certainly won't be taking holidays. Why not have a Holdiay at Home scheme whereby a series of events and outings are organised over a week-long period. People could be collected from their own homes (the community bus could be used for this) and taken to places of interest, or even to the local hall for tea and entertainment.

Marton has started a pig club whereby members will share the costs and maintenance of rearing 10 rare Berkshire piglets. The group will start building the pens this weekend and are hoping to eat their first pork in the spring. The organiser didn't have the time or the land to raise his own pigs but wrote to 200 residents and has 20 members of the club so far. He says that his children are very interested and have already started asking questions about life and death!

It would be really good to join the villages up in Central Warwickshire using the latest Internet technologies. A LEADER village network could be created which would facilitate community cohesion, sharing of best practice and sharing of resources.

Earlier this year my village church held an arts event with a difference. Local artists (some of whom were quite new to this hobby) came along and showed their work, which was available for sale. The event included wine and canapes and was very sociable.

Visited Marton Art Exhibition and saw the 'Marton Madonna' This is a 3m by 4m copy of Raphael's Madonna which was produced in 36 panels by 36 different people from the village two years ago. Look spectacular.  It's certainly a good example a community arts activity that others may like to try.

A Coventry group of older people has regenerated its local allotments as a community allotment and won a prize in the 'Heart of England in Bloom' contest. They were guided by Age Concern's Growing Concerns initiative. Are your allotments run down, with several vacant plots? LEADER could help you to bring together a community group to restore them as a community allotment.