The Dorset Towns’ Forum is an independent network of the county’s rural towns which supports community based regeneration of market and coastal towns, and encourages exchanging ideas and information across Dorset and with other towns in the South West. We do this through holding networking events hosted by different towns, providing updates on information and general support for town partnerships and Councils.
The idea of a Town Forum for Dorset has been around for a long time, but only really started to develop in 2008.  There are other Town Fora in counties in the South West, many of which have been running for some time (see Useful Links), and have developed into really active networks, so we definitely have something to work towards!
There is no formal membership as such, though the Forum is primarily for market and coastal towns Councils and the town based community partnerships, and interested organisations/individuals can also be involved.
There is a Steering Group for the Dorset Towns’ Forum, currently comprising:

• Nigel Engert, Sherborne Town Partnership
• David Webb, West Dorset Community Partnership
• Hilary Ritchie, North Dorset District Council

The Forum has Terms of Reference, click here for download version of Terms of Reference
The Forum is hosted by Dorset Squared www.dorset2.co.uk, and Dorset Squared provides part time staff support for the Forum.

The Forum is funded by the South West England Regional Development Agency, through the South West Market & Coastal Towns Network.

Aims & Objectives.
Aim:  To bring together representatives of all the market and coastal towns across Dorset in a network, so as to share issues of common concern, and help in the economic, social and environmental regeneration of the local communities

Objectives:

• To promote information sharing and good practice between market towns and town based partnerships across the County of Dorset, through networking, visits, events, web-based discussion forum and dissemination of information

• To provide information for market towns and town based partnerships, through email bulletins, website, case studies.

 

• To provide support for market towns and town based partnerships, and development of partnership-led projects, through signposting, skills development and training and other support. 

• To provide a link with other neighbouring County based Fora.

 

• To provide a link with, and be an active member of, the South West Market & Coastal Town’s Network

Developing operational links with the Local Strategic Partnerships and local authorities

 

 

Website created by Billie-Lou Rentall 2009 ©