Background
The purpose of the Peak District Partnership (PDP), formerly the Local Strategic Partnership for the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak, is to bring together organisations in the Derbyshire Dales and High Peak to provide a single ‘voice’ for the area and focus collective effort on issues best tackled in partnership, adding value to the work of individual agencies.
Since 2012, the Partnership has been chaired by Dr. Peter Dewhurst, the University of Derby’s Commercial Director, supported by Vice-Chair, Neil Moulden, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Dales Council for Voluntary Service with Secretariat support from Derbyshire Dales District Council. Over recent years the Partnership has focused on the delivery of an annual Peak District ‘Think Tank’ event, bringing together key decision-makers from across the Peak District.
The 2021 PDP Think Tank
The 2021 think tank, held on-line on 1 July 2021, centred on community collaboration in driving a social enterprise agenda as a vehicle for shaping the Peak District in the post-pandemic world. PDP partners and community organisations considered the part local communities across the Peak District can play in building sustainable social enterprises. The timeliness of the Think Tank was underscored by the launch of the Government’s £150m Community Ownership Fund which is geared to supporting local communities to “continue benefiting from local facilities, community assets and amenities”.
The Think Tank had the following objectives:
- To provide a forum in which to explore the opportunities and challenges likely to be faced by those seeking to establish community focused social enterprises within the Peak District.
- To provide practical advice and tips for those looking to establish community focused social enterprises within the Peak District.
- To identify a series of actions that can be taken to assist in building a Peak District based support infrastructure for those looking to establish community focused social enterprises.
- To consider the opportunities that might arise via the Government’s £150m Community Ownership Fund.
The presentations and case studies from the event can be downloaded below:
- Bev Parker, CEO Rural Action Derbyshire [PDF 1.16MB]
- Charles Rapson, Director School for Social Entrepreneurs [PDF 976KB]
- Georgina Edwards, Policy & Research Manager Plunkett Foundation [PDF 470KB]
- Grindleford Community Shop Case Study [PDF 967KB]
- Winster Village Shop Case Study [PDF 1.13MB]
- The Green Estate Case Study [PDF: 926 Kb]
The Call to Action document sets out the recommendations emerging from the 2021 Think Tank.
Comments on the document are welcome and can be directed to:
The 2019/20 PDP Think Tank
The 2019 think tank was scheduled for December 2019, but was postponed on account of the general election. It eventually took place on the 29th of January 2020 and had as its focus “the future proofing of the Peak District’s town centres in order to ensure they remain relevant to the communities they serve (including residents, businesses and visitors)”. The think tank was again launched by Lord Burlington and included provocations from some leading industry and academic experts (speaker biographies are included below). The think tank was very well attended and the lively discussions covered towns both surrounding and within the Peak District National Park boundary.
- Speaker biographies
The think tank had the following objectives:
- To provide a forum in which to explore the challenges and opportunities facing the town centres of the Peak District in meeting the future needs of local residents, businesses and visitors.
- To identify the solutions that could deliver future proofed town centres.
- The outputs from the event are to be included in a report that will be used to inform future decisions of key organisations across the Peak District.
The key ‘provocations’ are available for download here:
- Prof Carley Foster: Rural Town Centres:Declining or Reincarnating
- Ojay McDonald: Future Proofing your Town Centre
- Buxton case study [PDF 15MB]
- Matlock case study [PDF 12 MB]
- Bakewell case study
The Call to Action document sets out the recommendations emerging from the Think Tank:
The 2018 PDP Think Tank
Delivered in partnership with the Peak District National Park Authority, Business Peak District and Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire, District Councils and hosted by the University of Derby at its Buxton Campus, the first think tank focused on the impact of demographic change on the Peak District from both an economic and health and wellbeing perspective, looking 15 years ahead.
The event comprised a series of short contributions from leading academics and sector representatives followed by roundtable discussions and a plenary session ahead of an opportunity to network over lunch. The event was very well received and it was agreed to hold a similar event, focusing on a different theme at least annually.
The Economy and Health and Wellbeing 'provocations' are available to download here:
- Wellbeing presentation [PDF 1.8MB]
- Economy presentation [PDF 3.5MB]
The Call to Action document sets out the recommendations emerging from the 2018 Think Tank.
