Summary of the EU INTERREG Project SEACS
(Sustainable Energy Across the Common Space)

Background information

Nature

This project aims to support community groups, small organisations and businesses in the Somerset Levels and Moors area with local renewable energy and low carbon schemes.

The much loved, much used Victorian pre-fabricated Church Hall which served the community of Blandford for over 100 years became disused, dilapidated and beyond economic repair.

The Hall Steering Group (HSG) gained planning permission to replace the existing structure with a new, purpose built, environmentally friendly facility which would be available 7 days a week throughout the year for the community to use. No such facility existed in Blandford.

The group was born out of a series of fireside meetings that took place late in 2004. After about a year it became apparent that for the group to develop it would be necessary for at least an individual to step forward as leader. Looking around there was no-one wishing to put his or her head above the parapet and so the group went into abeyance where it remained for about two years. The individuals were still around in the community, and kept in contact with each other, but no one felt able to take on the task of organising meetings. Meanwhile Dorset Community Action had created the opportunity for one individual to do voluntary work, and was wishing to compensate the parent organisation BREG for the individual’s time.