How we support you

Community Associations are registered charities whose function is to provide recreation, education and leisure time activity which will improve the conditions of life for the local residents. They usually operate from and run community centres, but this is not essential and these organisations focus on activities rather than the running of a building.

Help and Advice

Providing active help… the main aim of the Community Support Team is to help vital community organisations to develop their services to the community. The team can advise on a wide variety of subjects including charity law, trustee responsibilities, organisational planning and management, in some cases they may even undertake temporary management of community associations to assist them through problems. The expertise within the team allows them to provide help and guidance in most areas of community development.

Improving Communications and Supporting Volunteers Developing communities

There are networking opportunities facilitated by the Community Support Team. Employed community centre managers are offered an opportunity to come together five times a year through the County Manager Network where they can access up to date information and briefings and take the time to share skills and knowledge with other managers.

There are also Borough networks open to all staff and trustees from community associations.These are an invaluable opportunity to share skills, knowledge and even resources along with access locally focused, current information. Some networks have also developed and received grants for joint projects.

Each year the team also facilitates a series of projects and taster sessions that community associations can access. This will be in the form of support from officers, and the provision of a toolkit, plus the loan of equipment for taster sessions to assess the popularity with local communities before committing to purchase themselves.

Training And Development: Developing people

The promotion of training and development comes high on the team's list. Again partnership is the key to success and the team seeks to work closely with Council's of Voluntary Service and District authorities to provide and promote development programmes for those volunteers and staff working in the community.

In particular it aims to assist community associations and village hall management committees to attend and/or arrange suitable training and development opportunities to gain and update the necessary skills for successful management of community facilities and activities.

The team offers a programme of training opportunities as well as offering bespoke training to organisations on a wide variety of subjects including trustee training and facilitation of away-day events for trustees and staff.

Providing Finance

The Department of Culture, Communities and Rural Affairs provides financial assistance to support community associations and village halls in maintaining their buildings and developing their communities. Both capital and partnership grants are available together with development and financial advice where appropriate. The team will also advise on other sources of funding where known.

The Community Support Service is part of Hampshire County Council's Culture, Communities and Business Services department.

Community Support Unit staff

If your organisation would like any support or advice from the team please contact one of us to discuss your needs

Alison Angell

Community Support Advisor: Advice and support for Community Associations. Specialist knowledge in training and development of staff and volunteers.
Training programmes for staff and volunteers at community venues.
Priority Area, Test Valley and Winchester.
email alison.angell@hants.gov.uk
tel 01962 845379 Mobile 07736 792686

Rebecca Baumber

Community Support Advisor: Advice and support for Community Associations. Specialist knowledge in youth involvement, funding and project management.
email rebecca,baumber@hants.gov.uk
tel 01962 847813 Mobile 07736 793 759103

John Haigh

Assistant Community Officer: Advice and support to Community Associations. Specialist knowledge of youth involvement and activities. Supports the East Hants and Havant Networks.
email john.haigh@hants.gov.uk
tel 02392 593056 Mobile 07590 939301

Abigail Walton

Assistant Community Officer: Advice and support for Community Associations. Specialist knowledge in older peoples projects and business planning. Support to New Forest and Eastleigh networks.
email abigail.walton@hants.gov.uk
tel 01962 846022 Mobile 07912 341123

Melissa Juniper

Strategy and Community Coordination Officer, (Gurkha and Nepali). Specialist knowledge in coordinating community and strategic support for the Gurkha and Nepalese Community.
email melissa.juniper@hants.gov.uk
tel 01962 873948 Mobile 07595 214 683

Val Kelly

Senior secretary: Team Administrator
email val.kelly2@hants.gov.uk
tel 01962 847937