Tendring Community Assets Full Final Report

5 The report was produced following analysis of available data, interviews with community and voluntary organisations, and stakeholder events in each of these three geographic areas in Tendring. For the purposes of this exercise, community assets were defined as those which are universal to residents or visitors to Tendring (albeit that some will be age/condition specific), zero or low cost, and with clear relevance to physical and/or mental health and wellbeing in the broadest context. This includes services, clubs, support groups, etc provided by any local or national organisation. For the purposes of this report all such community assets are referred to as "services". The mapping exercise identified the following key themes:  Services are abundant in towns and villages, but not necessarily matching population need.  There is a significant variation in how services are delivered in community centres and village halls. Some are very centrally controlled; others are just a series of individual bookings by private individuals and clubs.  There is a significant variation in the type and quality of information available, and it is often difficult to find services or sufficient detail about them.  It was widely reported that some people initially lack confidence to join activities, but once they are involved they feel benefit from them.  Providers of the services report that the social aspect is as, if not more, important than the type of physical activity.  Success in recruiting volunteers is variable. Some organisations report no problems, others are struggling. In many villages, volunteers managing halls or running services are getting older and it is difficult to see where the next generation will come from. Succession planning is vital and support mechanisms for volunteers need to be better established and more accessible for all.  Transport into and around Tendring is variable - the train services are good, with main line links into Colchester and beyond from both the north and south of the peninsular, but some rural areas are poorly served by buses for more local journeys or for access to stations.  CVST is seen as a particularly important resource to providers in South Tendring, and has growing importance in the Harwich area, since the development of the Dovercourt and Harwich Hub. It provides a valued support, information and development service to organisations and signposting for residents and organisations. Recommendations have been drafted in a way which enables organisations to decide what they can respond to and how. They have been presented as recommendations which will, in most cases, require engagement and coordination with other partners to be able to make an impact.