Miss Potter

Yesterday I went to see Miss Potter at the cinema in Truro. It's the first film I've seen this year, and since An Inconvenient Truth in December. Miss Potter isn't billed as a green film, but it does reveal Beatrix Potter's environmental contribution as someone whose profits as an artist and author of remarkable children's books enabled her to be a significant benefactor of the National Trust; without the detail of a new biography. Apart from her extraordinary talent, Beatrix Potter's search for love as well as independence could be seen as not unlike a Bridget Jones's Diary of its day, and is handled competently by actress Renee Zellweger.

Cornish daffodils

I've now done my first week's shopping since making a commitment to try to reduce food miles, shop local, and - where things aren't produced locally - to buy Fairtrade products where possible. With the exception of one car trip to a local convenience store when it was pouring with rain, I've walked to the shops. I'm lucky that so much fantastic local produce is available. For many everyday foodstuffs it isn't difficult to buy local in Truro's shops and markets, and Fairtrade products are widely available. One exception despite many local egg producers, is that locally produced chicken can be hard to find and relatively expensive; I hope this may change. An added bonus is that daffodils flower early here and are second to none.

Cat's post

A new comment today on a previous post reminded me that I had not provided an update on my cat's recovery from her dislocated hock. The surgery I hope may have been less traumatic than amputation, as at least she regained use of the leg once it had been pinned. I do feel it was a lot for her to go through, partly because it meant she was kept indoors for twelve weeks. On the other hand she is now out and about as normal, and some cats who lose legs are kept indoors permanently. She walks and runs, and is starting to climb and jump again. The joint is stiff but regaining some flexibility. She sleeps and stretches a lot - back to normal really.

Fairtrade Truro

Thanks to Truro's Fairtrade City Group, it was announced today that the city has been awarded Fairtrade status because of the number of local retailers who stock Fairtrade products. Falmouth achieved the same award in 2005. What we need now is a campaign for Fairtrade Cornwall.

Sad news - Professor Roland Levinsky 1943-2007

I've just heard that the Vice Chancellor of Plymouth University Professor Roland Levinsky was sadly killed in a freak accident on New Year's Day, when power cables came down in a storm. He will be missed as someone who did a great deal to successfully establish the new Peninsula Medical School, since being appointed in 2002. The medical school and postgraduate learning facilities at the Knowledge Spa in Truro are making a huge difference for the better to the local economy.

Happy New Year

It was a clear, mild, and breezy night and Truro's spectacular firework display went ahead.

What will the new year bring?

In 2007, I'm determined to do my bit to avert the progress of climate change. So I will use this blog to record the extent to which I am able to 'shop local', buying produce and products which have travelled fewer miles, from businesses with local roots. Given the range and quality of fresh Cornish foodstuffs, more local shopping for food promises to be a delight, even if it takes some thought and organisation. I will also continue to buy Fair Trade goods which are not grown locally. The Co-op supports valued local projects with Community Dividend, as well as providing some local convenience stores, and they have an organisational structure which provides clear local accountability; so I include them as contributing to local sustainability.

Christmas party

I chair the Board of Directors and Trustees of a local regeneration charity. On Friday we held a Christmas Party for staff and Board members. Time to remember why this is something I feel privileged to do.



A couple of weeks ago, the local weekly newspaper the West Briton published an individual Comment Column I wrote about the work that we do, as here.


"Behind the numbers which explain how Cornwall’s economy is poorer than the rest of the UK, there are many local people whose opportunities day to day are restricted by low incomes, disadvantaged neighbourhoods, and more limited access to transport and services.

Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change is a regeneration Company dedicated to transforming the quality of life for local people, places, and communities.

In Truro we have an office on the Malpas estate and also work with local residents in Malabar and Trelander. We are undertaking similar projects with residents of local communities in Camborne, Redruth, Illogan, Penryn, Penzance, St Ives, and Bodmin.

We help people who are not in employment find jobs and learn new skills. So far 1300 local people have found jobs, 100 people have become self-employed, and many others are learning new skills as a result of our Pathways programmes. We are able to help people with money for transport and essential work clothing to overcome practical barriers to employment.

We work with residents’ associations and other local groups to organise play days for children. And to develop and improve neighbourhood resources for people of all ages, like community centres, youth shelters, skateparks, and other outdoor play areas.

And we seek to transform disadvantaged neighbourhoods by working with local residents to landscape and improve public spaces on neglected residential estates.

None of what we do would be possible without the many talented people and partner organisations we work with.

This year Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change celebrated its fifth birthday. The Company has grown to have a turnover of over £1.5 Million a year. We employ more than 50 people, some of whom got to know us first through the work that we do.

All of our Directors and Trustees are unpaid volunteers. Many are residents of the communities we serve. Chairing a company and charity which needs to fundraise £32,000 a week to sustain our business focuses the mind, but is an enjoyable challenge.

We are currently establishing a new residents’ advisory forum to ensure that what we do continues to be led by the dreams and aspirations of Cornwall’s residents, particularly those living in social housing and disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Alongside this, we are reorganising the way that the Board is organised and will be looking for new Trustees.

By next summer, Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change will have received a total £3.8 Million from the European Social Fund through Objective One, which is mostly co-financed by Government agencies. Because of the range of work that we do, we have had more than 30 different funders so far, and we are grateful for all of them.

Unemployment in Cornwall has fallen dramatically. But at the last count, if people in long-term receipt of health-related benefits are included, over 40,000 people of working age are not in employment, and many of these would like to find a job.

We work on a day to day basis with people, many of whose lives were altered and restricted by Cornwall’s economic decline, who remain committed to the places where they live. We are determined to play our part in realising the aspiration that Cornwall’s new economic buoyancy will be shared by one and all."