A practical, local project for residents of all ages to get stuck in to is a good way to attract local interest. It also provides a great opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills whilst also being able to enjoy the fruits of their labour. It’s also best if it’s a longer term project, providing them with something that they can take an interest in and take ownership of, rather than a one-off event.
It’s therefore important to get the activity right. Environmental projects are a good way to attract a lot of community interest. Residents of all ages can get involved, and it also means people can put in as much or as little as they want to, depending on their availability. It also becomes something that the residents will take pride in – seeing the improvements take shape will mean they have more of an interest in sustaining the improvements and involvement in ongoing maintenance.
The EC1 Community Gardener carried out a lot of environmental projects in the area and on the estates. The presence of the project worker on the estates generated a lot of interest, helping residents set up allotments in unused areas on estate grounds and working with residents to grow their own plants and vegetables. This helped generate a sense of ownership and a sense of place, and in turn the work was sustainable as the improvements were maintained by the community. In order to ensure the residents were able to continue the good work after the NDC had finished, the project focused on providing workshops and taught the residents techniques that they could use without support. The work the project initiated is still going strong.
