Federation of Community Groups (Fed)

Bracknell Forest
The Heart of your Community

What is the Federation of Community Groups?

The Federation started life in 2004 as an umbrella organisation for the 14 Community Associations across the Borough. However recognising the potential for further links with small locally focused community groups the Federation has established itself as an infrastructure organisation that supports all small locally based community groups encouraging community engagement and involvement at the ‘grass roots’.

The main focus has been to formalise the Federation and to engage with groups working at a neighbourhood level. This provides a community focus enabling access to traditionally ‘hard to reach’ sections of the community which potentially will link with the strategic work currently being undertaken by partner agencies.

However it was soon recognised that the Fed could become much more, helping to develop stronger links between our communities and neighbourhoods and promoting the involvement of local people in shaping the key services on which we all depend. The current Fed has established itself through the government’s ‘Change Up’ programme, as an organisation that supports all locally based community groups.

The Federation of Community Groups now comprises some 30 local groups from the whole of the Bracknell Forest area, including Community Liaison and Residents' Associations, The University of the Third Age, The Berkshire Filipino Association , Bracknell Twinning Association and Bracknell Tea House. It is independent and run entirely by volunteers.

The Federation also provides the networking opportunities to enable a local voice for small community and neighbourhood groups to have a say and influence what services are delivered locally.

What are our Aims?

• To provide advice and information to community groups in Bracknell forest

• To act as a Forum for discussion

• To represent the community sector on appropriate partnership and/or strategic bodies

• To promote dialogue between community groups and partner agencies

• To establish and foster links with related groups

• To establish working groups to look at specific issues

Working together

The Federation aims to work together with all partners in Bracknell Forest, i.e. public, private, voluntary and community. As such we have links to many neighbourhood initiatives including Extended Schools, Children’s Centres and the Neighbourhood Action Groups.

We have also produced a ‘Guide to Community Activity’ which provides full details of the facilities and activities in Community Centres through Bracknell Forest together with useful contacts for what is going on in your neighbourhood.

What we can do for you

If you belong to a local group from the Bracknell Forest Area, including Community and Residents Associations we would like to hear from you.

If you would like to start a new community group we can also offer assistance.

The “Fed” aims to promote dialogue between the various groups which make up the Bracknell Forest community and to facilitate communication between them and the statutory bodies e.g. Bracknell Forest Council, The Primary Care Trust, The Police and other services, thereby benefiting its members. By seeking to raise voluntary and community activity to a higher level, it is hoped to encourage people in their own neighbourhoods to get involved.

Membership is free and is open to all voluntary and community groups in Bracknell Forest Borough. We are completely independent and run entirely by volunteers.

Want to know more?

If you would like more information or would like to become a member please contact:

Chris Cowap, Partnership Development Officer Bracknell Forest Voluntary Action Ground Floor, Amber House, Market Street, Bracknell RG12 1JB Telephone 01344 304404 Email chris.cowap@bfva.org