Tag: CERG

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Free Market Radicals in Rochford, Essex 10th Sept

After a long break in our events programme, due to the pandemic, CERG are back with the first in a series of Free Market Radical events.

The first event takes place in Rochford, Essex on Friday 10th Sept where our guest speaker, Jon Cruddas MP, will help frame the localism debate (for details see postcard below). This is also an opportunity for people in the town to discuss the future of Rochford.

Free Market Radicals is a project that is focused on developing good ideas and providing support to local partners who want to do good things. It is focused on understand what ‘localism’ means given the challenges faced by towns and villages across the UK today. A lot has happened in the last few years, and certainly since Covid-19 that has changed the context for town and village centres. We are keen to share reports, concepts, ideas and theory that may be of interest for people that want to take action, and some of it may be helpful in making a case for support or investment.

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    Silvertown Session on Community Wealth Building

    9th May

    The Cultural Engine Research Group (UEL) and the Royal Docks Learning and Activity Centre present:

    The Silvertown Sessions on Community Wealth Building

    Date: Thurs 9th May, 7-10.30pm

    Venue: Royal Docks Learning & Activity Centre, Albert Road, North Woolwich E16 2J

    Admission: Free

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    Why does money made in the local community not stay in the community?

    Why does global corporate competitiveness always come before local co-operation?

    How might the local economy improve if local authorities, universities and businesses procured their products and services from local traders rather than global corporations?

    Could these changes increase jobs and bring prosperity closer to home?

    Since the 2008 global economic crash many local communities have been devastated by austerity. Brutal cuts to local spending have left already deprived communities with emaciated services and struggling local economies. This event invites you to consider Community Wealth Building as a possible alternative to the broken austerity agenda.

    Programme

    7pm: Welcome reception with local food and drink

    Introduction to the Silvertown Sessions: Dr Tony Sampson (CERG) and Joy Caron-Canter (RDLAC)

    7.30: Session one discussion chaired Dr Andrew Branch (CERG)

    Framing the Concept: Giles Tofield (CERG)

    Guest Talk on the Preston Model by Dr Julian Manley (UCLAN)

    Responses from Dan Durcan (Senior Policy Officer, London Borough of Newham) and Chris Abell (Local Affairs Manager, Tate and Lyle)

    Audience Q&A

    9pm: Break with more local food and drink

    9.30pm: Session two facilitated workshops with local community, traders, academics, local authority, academics

    Open discussion

    10.30pm close

    The next Silvertown Session will discuss Youth Wellbeing in the Local Community. See https://cerg.blog/ for more details.

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    Truly Civic: Strengthening the connection between universities and their places

    Recent inspiration for the CERG project has arrived through the UPP Foundation Civic University Commission’s final report, Truly Civic: Strengthening the connection between universities and their places, and its desire to remove “perverse measurements” that inhibit local civic engagement projects.

    “It is clear that some of the current measures of teaching and research – which are often designed by government, rather than universities – mitigate against civic activity. Removing those is vital and in particular:– Reducing the reliance of measures such as LEO (Longitudinal Educational Outcomes) in high stakes metrics such as TEF, that penalises universities for releasing graduates into regional labour markets with lower employment outcomes, or into self-employment which often involves a period of low/no wages. [And also] in things like the REF that ‘local research’ is by definition inferior to international research.”

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    Line up for regeneration event at next CERG/RDLAC Silvertown Session (22nd Nov)

    Here’s the speaker panel for the Regeneration event at our next CERG/RDLAC Silvertown Session in North Woolwich.
    Anna Minton, writer, journalist, and academic
    Sonia Boyce, Artist, Crossrail Wall Project
    Aaron Uthman, Community Relations Ambassador, LCY,
    Chris Abell, Local Affairs Manager, Tate & Lyle Sugars
    Katherine Clarke, Artist Partner, muf architecture/art

    There will also be a launch of the Surfers Against Sewage, plastic free campaign and food & drink provided by local community chefs!

    RDLAC are also arranging for someone to come to promote the Citizen’s Assembly in the following week.
    A full programme will follow.

     

     

     

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    Next CERG and CCT Event

    CERG and RDLAC present the Silvertown Sessions

    Our next CERG/CCT event will once again be at the Royal Docks Learning & Activity Centre, Albert Road, North Woolwich E16 2JB on Nov 22nd – starting at 7pm.

    The theme will be Regeneration and our confirmed speaker is Anna Minton

    royal_docks_image

    There will be more local food and drink

    More to follow…