Earlier this month, 42 regional not-for-profit (NFP) leaders gathered in Mollymook on the NSW South Coast to connect and explore how, as local leaders, they could lean into their collective capacity in and with community.
Designed as an event to bring the local social sector together to support and strengthen local networks, it was the first of many that FRRR will host over the coming years as part of the South Coast Futures (SCF) program. SCF builds on FRRR’s impactful capacity building program, Investing in Rural Community Futures (IRCF), which was delivered in the south Coast communities of Nowra, Ulladulla, Bay and Basin, Batemans Bay and Moruya over the past five years.
We are grateful to the Snow Foundation for embracing the opportunity to continue to support the South Coast community by working with FRRR to deliver deeper, place-based work, including what else could happen when we invest in regional capacity following IRCF. Working at a regional level, SCF is designed to support local community groups and NFP leaders to continue to build capability and drive impact.
After exploring data gathered throughout the IRCF program, ongoing listening by the team and a reflection survey, the workshop conversations were structured around 14 themes. These were advocacy, youth, homelessness, food security, evaluation and storytelling, transport, diversity, preparedness, connection, engagement, First Nations self-determination, environment, health and wellbeing, and social isolation.
Attendees shared their desires for what a community could look like in terms of each of these themes. This yielded a rich tapestry of ideas, aspirations and observations, including:
- Youth – “I would like to see young people given the platform and space to create change”; “Outreach and drop in sites for struggling youth”; “Young people who are vulnerable to find their positive connection to community.”
- Food Security – “I would love to see a regional food hub”; “More food rescue being diverted from landfill.”
- Connection – “I would love to see collaboration between community enterprises and business so there is mutual benefit”
In the afternoon, using participatory practice, the group dug into the resources, connections, people and approaches that might be needed to take solid steps towards the desires shared. Representatives from Eurobodalla Shire Council and Shoalhaven City Council were present and contributed a great deal, together with many not-for-profits and volunteer groups. In fact, digging into the many hats worn by community in the room, we discovered we had 51 groups represented and four council teams, a wonderful representation of our strong community.
As is so often the case at events like this, people had not had the chance to connect in the past and, in some cases, had never met, even though they work on similar issues and projects. Attendees shared that they felt engaged, relaxed and empowered. We saw much laughter and many connections were made that would never have been possible.
The workshop explored so many ways we can connect in the future and we are looking forward to sharing back and developing regional roadmaps to guide our future discussions.
If you’d like to be involved in future events, you can email Carolyn Ardler, South Coast Futures Program Manager.