And we want to continue to help you turn your good ideas into reality and make rural villages in the district an even better place to live.

We work in partnership with the Community, so if you have an idea for improving services in your rural village or know of someone else who could use our help then do get in touch! We can offer advice, ideas, training, grants and help with planning and organising projects. And if we can't help we'll try to find someone else who can!

Here are some of the things we have done - and can do - to help:

offer a grant to improve your existing shop

help you to open a new community-run shop

support an Internet access centre

offer a wide range of training to suit your ideas for local services

look at ways of using the village hall, pub, school or church

develop an outlet for local produce

support the development of a community café (or cyber-café!)

help you put in place a delivery service or pick-up point for groceries

look at ways to save a local service that you value

advise on funding and local management of your project

During the six years of the project we have been working with over 400 villages in Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Whilst we haven't been able to help every village at once we have been spreading ideas and information about what can be done and the successes achieved in your area, through local meetings, the local press, newsletters and the Internet.

The Scheme is funded by Advantage West Midlands through the Government's Single Regeneration budget, and by support from the members of Warwickshire and Worcestershire Rural Partnership.

If you would like some help to progress your ideas - or more information on how to become part of "Vital Villages" contact us or see more details here.