We collect information about what local groups are up to from their newsletters and websites, and of course through general day to day contact with group members. You can also find out what other groups are up to by following us on Twitter (csinitiative) or by viewing the Civic Societies in the News section.
If you want help in establishing a new project, contact us here and we will put you in touch with a civic society who will be prepared to offer additional guidance and advice.
Many rail companies organise 'Adopt a Station' schemes, which aim to help improve links with local communities and customers living near unstaffed railway stations. Neston Civic Society and Birkdale Civic Society have both got involved in the `Adopt a Station` scheme
Award Schemes
Approximately 70 civic societies make local design awards a key part of their calendar each year. Each award might differ slightly but essentially all local design awards are recognising and rewarding good design that make a noteworthy contribution to the community. Some civic societies involved in local design awards include Burton upon Trent Civic Society, Ealing Civic Society, Salisbury Civic Society and Sheffield Civic Trust
Anti-Supermarket campaigns
Large supermarket chains can have a huge negative impact upon both the environment and the ability of independent local shops to survive. You can see some example of civic societies who have been concerned with the negative impacts of supermarket power. Bristol Civic Society, Hertford Civic Society,
Beach Clean Up
The Marine Conservation Society will often organise a litter pick as part of its annual survey about rubbish on Britain's beaches. This is a great opportunity for civic societies to get involved in a national event which will help raise your profile. One civic society to get involved this year was the Portchester Civic Society.
Blue/Green Plaques
A common project for many civic societies is erecting blue/green plaques to help promote public awareness of the heritage of an area. Some civic societies that undertake blue plaque schemes include Torbay Civic Society, Wetherby Civic Society and Scarborough Civic Society
Books (see also publications)
Salisbury Civic Society have produced a book (October 09) called Salisbury in Detail. Salisbury in Detail contains over 500 colour photographs of parts of buildings and of related artefacts in the spaces between buildings. It presents a portrait of the City of Salisbury by a slightly unconventional means, focusing on the individual details that are combined to form individual buildings, which then together create the city. You can read more about the background to this publication here
The Hackney Society have also produced a book called Hackney - Modern, Restored, Forgotten, Ignored. The book features 40 buildings to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Hackney Society. Written by 40 authors the book draws attention to good quality modern architecture; recent restoration projects; buildings that have been lost; and buildings that are currently at risk from neglect or demolition. You can read more about the publication here
Buildings of Local Importance
While many buildings that appear on a local list may not necessarily be of listable quality, they undoubtedly add to the richness of the local built environment. Many civic societies engage in projects to develop local lists including Peterborough Civic Society and Ripon Civic Society.
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Leicester Civic Society's campaign to save The Bowstring Bridge originally formed part of the route of the Great Central Railway main line through the centre of Leicester. Built in 1898, it was used for its original purpose until the 1970s when the railway was closed, after which it was converted for use as a footpath. More information at Save the Bowstring Bridge
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Camden Civic Society’s campaign to improve the design of the British Museum
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St Albans Civic Society’s campaign against a rail freight terminal in the Green Belt with five warehouses each larger than Terminal 5
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The Forest Hill Society and Sydenham Society have joined forces with seven other groups to campaign against cuts to train services between Charing Cross and London Bridge and the downgrading of existing services. Read about the campaign here
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Workington Civic Trust campaigning to save Curwen Park, Workington. Read about the campaign here
Conservation Areas
To celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Stamford becoming the first urban conservation area, Stamford Civic Society produced a booklet available for anyone to download here
English Heritage's survey of conservation areas reveals that approximately 1 in 7 is at risk from neglect, decay or inappropriate change. More information is available here
Community Garden
UK residents have relied on community gardens as an important source of food for hundreds of years. During the Second World War, for example, community allotments were set up on inner-city sites to provide affordable fresh fruit and vegetables to the local area. We are sure you will not be suprised to learn that many civic societies create community gardens including Bollington Civic Society, Gloucester Civic Trust and Lytham St Annes Civic Society
Design Project
Bournemouth Civic Society commissioned and undertook a characterisation study in the East Boscombe and Pokesdown area of the town.
The Heritage Lottery Fund distributes a share of the income from the National Lottery to projects aimed at preserving and making accessible the nation's heritage. 91 civic societies have secured funding from HLF including Corsham Civic Society, Kidderminster Civic Society and Stourport Civic Society.
Results from the Civic Society Initiative consultation period show that approximately 30% of civic societies would like to engage in projects that could help them reach a younger audience. We are delighted to say, that many civic societies including Buntingford Civic Society already have projects underway.
Litter is a problem that is a blot for many villages, towns and cities. A number of different civic societies are leading the way in campaigning to improve the town's litter problem examples include Brewood Civic Society and Melbourne Civic Society
This section provides ideas to help your society plan and carry out a successful membership campaign tailored to your own needs based on succusful experiences by other civic societies.
Read how Marple Civic Society enjoyed tremendous success with utilising the Electoral Register
Many societies provide information of interest to their members and partners through newsletters. Sending a newsletter is a common marketing strategy, which can have benefits and drawbacks. General attributes of newsletters include news and upcoming events of your society, as well as contact information for general inquiries.
Some good examples of newsletters we have been sent include Scarborough Civic Society, Huddersfield Civic Society
Deeply concerned by the degraded nature of the paving in the streets of London’s historic St James’s, the St James’s Conservation Trust carried out a survey of the footways in the area in 2008. You can read the full report here
Publications (see also "books")
Bradford Civic Trust has produced a publication called Common Sense Regeneration discussing plans for the City of Bradford following a public consultation programme in March 2009. You can download this publication here.
Leeds Civic Trust have also published a document Linking the Station to the City
Reports
Malcolm Sharman, Hull Civic Society writing on a seminar at the House of Commons. Read the report here
Street Audits work by bringing together local people and getting them to share their knowledge of their own neighbourhoods and through discussion can help identify the issues and challenges people see in their areas and generating options and ideas for solutions. Civic societies that undertake street audits include Salisbury Civic Society, Oxford Civic Society and Tottenham Civic Society
The Civic Society Initiative have launched a campaign to rid our streets of street clutter. Learn more here
Town design statement
The aim of a Town Design Statement is to ensure that any future development and change within a specific "town" is based on an understanding of the area’s past and present. Hartford Civic Society and Buckingham Society have both been involved in developing town plans.
Town trail
Town trails are produced to allow people to explore places of interest within a specific area. Many civic societies including Newark Civic Trust, Great Harwood Civic Society, Chesterfield Civic Trust, Buckingham Society
The Sutton and Cheam Society have been using a free community based website - read here
Wind Turbines
A member of the High Wycombe Society has produced a two page summary explaining the recent changes (published Nov 09) in regard to wind turbines and plans to extend permitted development rights to a range of domestic renewable development schemes.
