PROJECT DIRECTORS REPORT  December 2009

1. INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW
As I see it the purpose of this meeting is to review  - review of the GWTVP and review of the Stories from the Stones pilot.  To do this effectively we need to look back and remind ourselves what we set out to do.

The GWTVP has its roots in the Chaplaincy for Agriculture and Rural Life - it developed in 2002 out of a concern that all was not well in the countryside and a belief that many people in more urban areas had no real interest or concern about what was going on in the countryside.

We set out to try to make a difference.  We wanted to see if we could harness the history and heritage of country churches in ways that would contribute to social and economic well-being in the countryside and contribute to greater understanding between town and country.

We chose the Teme Valley because it was one of the most remote areas in the Diocese, it was heavily dependent on agriculture and it was an area in which we already had contacts. We hoped to achieve our objectives through engagement with tourism.
To have any effect we needed to
bring more people into the area
encourage them to spend more time and money in the area
ensure that they left with a greater awareness and understanding of the place they had visited.

Seven years later I ask three questions:
What have we done?
How effective have we been
Where, if anywhere, do we go from here?


WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO BRING MORE PEOPLE TO THE AREA   We have:
Researched and developed a series of informative leaflets, called Wanderer's Companions. These were expensive to produce and we have not been very successful in distributing them.  We tried, not very successfully, to sell them and now we give them away whenever we can.
Created attractions for people to visit and things for people to do.
Created trails and walks with associated audio guides.
Developed  a web site.  This is being developed all the time.  There is evidence that it is quite well used - we are being charged more now because of this! The material in the Wanderer's Companions is now on the web site.
Other promotion - membership of Destination Worcestershire promoted the web site - but this is now too expensive.

A 1  How effective have we been?
We have done quite a lot but have no real direct evidence that we have had any effect on visitor numbers.  

A 2  Where could we go from here?
Make sure that the leaflets we do have are used.
Continue to develop and promote the web site
Develop reciprocal hyperlinks to the sites of parishes, churches and organisations like A Church Near You.
Make better use of free marketing opportunities by writing articles and letters
Promote more in-house date specific events e.g. put the spotlight specific churches/parishes / activities.


WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO SPEND TIME AND MONEY IN THE AREA
Used the web site to inform people about all the things they can see and do in the area. Promoted food and drink outlets
Developed activities to encourage people to stay longer in the Teme Valley.
Encouraged parishes to open their churches to visitors
Developed our own Go West  'attractions' - Stories from the Stones:
Audio listening posts
Parish Heritage Walks
Food & Heritage Trail
Heritage Quests

B 1  How effective have we been?
We have achieved our 'development' objectives and have 'models' that can be followed elsewhere.
We have done very little to encourage visitors to use them.
We have done very little followup or evaluation.

B 2  Where could we go from here?
We could promote more effectively through the people who offer accommodation
Could put better 'systems' into place for the next season - plan these over the winter for next season


C.  WHAT HAVE WE DONE TO ENSURE THAT VISITORS LEAVE WITH A BETTER AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLACE THEY HAVE VISITED
The Stories from the Stones programme aimed to bring new audiences for the heritage through
The development of new techniques of interpretation
The development of special activities for families
Developed a new handbook for churches
Active participation in the Heritage Open Days programme was effective in the early days

C 1  How effective have we been?
We have not done any evaluation.

C 2  Where could we go from here?
Get audio online - mp3
Encourage churches to keep records
Develop schools programme
More activities for families/schools



2.  WHERE, IF ANYWHERE, DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Looking at this review it is clear that a lot has been achieved in seven years but there is very little concrete evidence to show what the effects have been.
If the project were to move forward and attract more outside funding this would have to be rectified.
If it were to move forward in a less formal way this would not be so necessary.
The funding has run out and on-going practical support will need winding up after a period of little activity.
It would be possible to move forward on a purely voluntary basis, working together and making use of key skills, if key people were still supportive.
The website received 600 visitors in November they viewed 2334 pages. The online shop has now been set up to take credit card sales through PayPal, this opens up many opportunities but to date no-one has made use of the facility.
Unfortunately costs will rising with success. Annual costs for the web site, insurance and fees come to £1100.
It is time to look afresh at what might still be achieved.

People prepared to continue to give their support to clearly defined areas of Go West activity:
Robert Barlow(CARL)  
Bob Marchant - financial advice
Sandy Marchant - web site and development of Stories from the Stones
Peter Walker
Roy Walford - mentoring and business advice
Doug Whittaker (Church representative) plus sound and drama.
Derek Starkey - walk planning and some leading if the insurance can be sorted
Robin Sharples - Schools Programme - this must be income earning.

Activities already planned for 2010
In 2010 Sandy is committed to speaking at
Malvern Priory lunch Box
Mid Worcestershire Conservative Ladies Lunch
Borders Rural Theology Group
Schools programme likely to feature in the Church Times

Opportunities to take part in shows e.g.
Countrytastic   April  8th
Three Counties  18 - 20  June
Tenbury Countryside Show   7th August
Caravaner & Campers Christian Fellowship ?
Farming Conference.  18th November

3.      2010-2011: DRAFT PROPOSALS (for discussion at the  Annual Meeting)
That we celebrate all that we have, as a group, achieved
That we identify ways that the Stories from the Stones programme can be improved/developed etc.
That we engage/re-engage with all the churches up the valley: invite them to submit information on their church and parish (including tourist information) in a format that can be entered on the web site under the Church and Destination Gazetteers
That we add links to parish, church and A Church Near You  web sites
That we work to maximize benefit from local free promotion
Destination Worcestershire will promote our Food & Heritage Trail if we submit it in their format - this can include a reference to the web site and the shop and so well worth doing (The Wilden Trail does this)
There may be other promotional opportunities like this.  We badge some of our activities as events with dates and promote them through the free listings
We make much more use of our links with the Diocese and feed information.
We respond to opportunities to talk -etc.
That we develop and publish more Teme Valley Walks
That we explore ways to help parishes explore and tell their stories.
That we put the sound material online and make it available as mp3 downloads
That we complete a guide for schools.


Sandy Marchant 2/12/2009