Ellesmere Port, Cheshire

Identifying key priorities collaboratively

A community event was organised, in April 2017, to share the photographs from the enquiry and encourage discussion about suggestions and ideas. Resident Advisers used photo-boards to engage with stakeholders and other residents, exploring what they liked about the local area and what might be improved. A number of local stakeholders and researchers contributed to the event e.g. the local lunch club offered a light lunch, the local authority displayed information about regeneration plans, the local housing association had a stall and researchers demonstrated the Household Health Survey (HHS) database,. All attendees were invited to contribute ideas for action for change.

Issues and ideas for change from the enquiry and the dissemination event were drawn together into themes and presented at the first LOG meeting, held in May 2017. Acting on the neighbourhood environment was recognised as a key theme. Suggestions included improving local facilities for people of all ages to get together, developing more community groups and activities, addressing road safety concerns and improving outside spaces. A second key theme was improving communication across the neighbourhood.

Taking Action

1. Redeveloping the garden of a local community centre

Mobilising local knowledge to inform action

In November 2017, Resident Advisers visited a local community farm to get ideas about developing local land space and to get tips on growing plants, to support work to redevelop a community garden. A preparatory workshop centred on practical and ethical considerations prior to the visit. Hosted by the farm manager, we were shown around the farm and had the opportunity to take notes and photographs. Representatives from Keep Britain Tidy and Cheshire Waste Reduction Volunteers provided advice and produced a plan for the redevelopment of the community centre garden. The new plan was shared with families and groups using the community centre. They were invited to offer their input and to participate in the work. Unfortunately, the redevelopment of the garden of the local community centre was not completed in the lifetime of the NRP in Ellesmere Port.

2. Taking action on road safety

Mobilising local knowledge to inform knowledge

In December 2017, we undertook a safety-mapping enquiry. Resident Advisers, area residents and other stakeholders explored walking routes to schools and potential safety issues using a large map of the area.

Raising the issues

The results were discussed with several local stakeholders and several areas were visited. Several actions were progressed to highlight road safety issues on the route to school and at drop-off and pick-up times. Communication with a local school included the sharing of some current road safety initiatives from Cheshire West And Chester (CWAC) Council at their request.

Issues such as overgrown bushes blocking pathways and safety issues related to green spaces were also discussed with relevant stakeholders.

3. Expansion of local lunch club

A local lunch club, set up with the aim of reducing loneliness and social isolation among older residents, was extended to a second site within the Neighbourhood for Learning following a successful funding application to the Power to Change Bright Ideas Fund for £10,000. The bid was developed by Resident Advisers with support from the COREN organisation. The funding application was in response to the suggestion that there was a lack of opportunity for people to come together socially in the area of the second site. The lunch club was seeking to expand its provision by upgrading its equipment and facilities, serving more people, and developing a funding bid to subsidise travel costs to enable people that would otherwise be unable to get to the club. The club has facilitated the development of friendships and relationships extending beyond the weekly meetings at the lunch club.

The Team

Adele Ring – Academic Lead

Kay Slater – Resident Adviser