Changing Perspectives, Changing Power (CPCP) is a six year NOW funded scheme that provides help, guidance and training to local volunteer community groups seeking to help residents in the NOW area.

Such volunteer groups' programmes range from health initiatives helping people with HIV and raising AIDS awareness, through to recycling schemes promoting reuse and reduction of waste.

Community empowerment, self direction and improvement are at the core of what NOW is aiming to achieve in improving the lives and the environment for people within the NOW area. NOW has supplied almost £900,000 in funding for CPCP to provide three interlinked services:

1	Community Grant Programme:   CPCP provides funding for community groups within the NOW area. The grants take two forms   Community Grant:  To provide seed funding to help organisations get started.   Technical Support:  Grants are available for community organisations to purchase technical assistance to help them strengthen or expand their current operations or develop new activities.
2	One-to-one management support: CPCP provides higher level strategic and practical advice to community groups. This may range from setting up management boards, writing business and development plans through to filling in grant applications.
3	Structured Training Programmes:   CPCP helps develop staff via a series of training and skills development programmes. These range from half-day seminars through to accredited training programmes. All are focused towards helping staff start and maintain successful, effective and well run community groups and volunteer organisations.

	Resource Library:   Books are available on a range of subjects relevant to the management and effective running of community organisations and charities.
	Hot Desking:   CPCP provides free office space for three community organisations to have a base, meet clients and hold meetings.
	NOW Area Network (NAN):   NAN is a CPCP initiative that brings together community groups and organisations in the NOW area. Meetings are held quarterly to give groups a platform to meet, share ideas and form partnerships.
	Partnerships and Networking:   CPCP works in partnership with local voluntary and statutory organisations such as Metropolitan Police, Voluntary Action Waltham Forest, Waltham Forest Fund Raising Forum, BME Alliance, Forest Recyling Project, Waltham Forest Environmental Forum, London Borough of Waltham Forest Community Cohesive Strategy Forum and Waltham Forest College - to name a few.

To date, over 120 organisations have benefited from CPCP's services. If you would like to get involved please contact CPCP's Community Development Officer, Pat Howie or Project Manager Marjorie Price.

CPCP is delivered by management consultancy RHEMA. To download CPCP's annual report click here.