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Projects
Neighbourhood Improvements
In Bournemouth
Churchill Gardens Community Project
Grant: £4,000
This project aimed to clean up and improve this park to make it less likely to attract
anti-social behaviour, such as drug-taking, in order to encourage people to be more
respectful of the park (e.g. by using the newly supplied bins for their rubbish).
The project, run by a strong team of twenty local residents, made this park a more
pleasant and safer environment. Volunteers dedicated whole days to leafleting, meetings
and planting sessions (around 3,000 have been planted!). It received more local support
in the form of free materials, which meant the project has been able to do more than
it initially intended, such as improving a basketball court. Local eyewitnesses have
confirmed that anti-social behaviour in the park has begun to decline and the community
is beginning to make use of it again.
Townsend Together Welcome Pack and Map
Grant: £3,000
The purpose of this project was to make the Townsend area accessible and safe for residents and visitors. This was achieved by producing a welcome pack for new residents to help break down barriers and build community spirit and a large local map to show and encourage greater use of the area’s green spaces. Sparkplug Brenda was successful in engaging with local agencies such as the local council and various housing associations who are all pleased to distribute the packs. The large map was produced and it is hoped this will make the area more accessible and more people will know about and be able to access services and green spaces. Due to the late launch of the pack and map, Brenda and her team hope to evaluate the impact of these in six months, but initial feedback from residents at the launch has been positive.
Download packs from www.thetownsend.co.uk
Kidsafe
Grant: £2,500
Kidsafe planned to set up ten ‘safe house zones’ in Keeble, which young children would know, recognise and be able to go to if lost or needing help, and to create a child safety pack, containing a wristband for children which a contact number could be written on and useful telephone number and advice. Due to unforeseen complications, the original ten ‘safe house zones’ did not go ahead. However, the child safety packs were produced. This project has been successful in empowering local people: sparkplug Chrissy Pickering has grown vastly in confidence. Initially she was reluctant to deliver her presentation, but just a few months later she is busy organising community meetings and dealing with council officials.
In Bristol:
Queens Road Project
Grant: £8,000
The Queens Road area of Bristol suffered from problems such as litter, illegal parking
and speeding drivers, poor lighting and public drinking from both adults and young
people. This multi-faceted project aimed to improve the area by tackling these things
through a combination of diversionary activities and practical measures. This project
notably improved the environment and atmosphere of Queens Road, overcoming bureaucratic
and practical hurdles in order to do this. A ‘no drinking zone’ by the parade of shops
and improved lighting was put in place. Bristol County Council provided additional
backing with extra street-cleaning and improved kerbing to prevent illegal parking
at no extra cost, and Adshell removed the bus shelter for free. Local organisations
also provided match funding to further George’s work. As well as succeeding in engaging
with statutory bodies, the project resonates with the local community. Some local
residents have agreed to set up a speed watch programme, and a Youth Intervention
Programme is embarking on some outreach work with local young people.
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