The document outlines a community engagement program in Herefordshire aimed at empowering local communities and improving public services. The approach involved councillors and community leaders identifying themes and holding initial meetings over 10 weeks. Themes varied by location and focused on issues like health, enterprise, shared solutions, and opportunities for youth. Community members were then encouraged to take practical actions to address the identified themes.

1. Reaching the Hearts of Herefordshire
The purpose was clear and repeated often:
Public services
and community Empower and
Place and voluntary encourage Do something
councillors at sector work communities to practical – take
the heart of together do even more action!
their differently for themselves
community locally
The approach to the programme was quite simple and consistent in each
place. The process need take no longer than 10 weeks from beginning to end.
First planning
meeting with
Identify theme
Initial councillor,
with First event
conversations community
councillor(s)
leaders and
senior officers
Variable Week 1 Week 2 Week 6
Quick win issues
sorted Second Actions
Conversations in planning Second event moving
the wider meeting forward
community
Weeks 6 to 9 Week 8 Week 10 Ongoing
The themes varied locally and included:-
• What can the community do to be even more self sufficient in health
and wellbeing in Mortimer?
• What can the community do to sustain rural enterprise in Golden
Valley?
• How can we work together to achieve shared solutions in Kington?
• How can we create a thriving community for young people in

2. Bromyard?