The FOCAST Development Project is funded by the National Lottery Charities Board for 3 years until 2003. This funding provides a Project Coordinator to support the 26 member CA's and develop the role of the Federation. Diane Tooley is the Project Coordinator and is in this post until September 2003, pending further funding. Diane operates from Hebburn CA.

The project aims to support the sustainability of CA's in South Tyneside by:

• Providing advice and support for funding bids
• Facilitating relevant training opportunities at grassroots level
• Providing a useful bank of information for CA's
• Networking at local, regional, and national levels
• Working towards the future development of CA's and the Federation

FOCAST has completed a comprehensive consultation exercise with all CA's to find out opinion on the role of the Federation and future developments, as well as gather information about the CA's for the database. This has formed the basis of the Action Plan for 2001.

Future developments include:

• Training Programme
• Website Development
• Funding Information and Advice
• Information Points/Community Networks
• Marketing of FOCAST
• Promotion of local development plans
• Project work with CA's and sections
• Social events
• Newsletter