On Monday 24th February, members of the East Coseley Core Group and local residents and volunteers came together to start preparing for the next phase in their Big Local journey once their plan had been formally endorsed by Local Trust. In particular, participants thought about how new projects and activities could be stimulated and supported by Big Local.
At the start of the meeting, chairman of the Core Group, Brian Guest, was able to announce that after Irene Evison’s visit last month, East Coseley’s Big Local plan had been officially endorsed by Local Trust. Brian himself had received the wonderful news not 30 minutes before and he revealed that he’d contemplated what might happen if the plan had been rejected. And what Brian said was inspirational: he and everyone else would still be here engaging with the community without the money.
I’m certain Brian was right. Having been privileged to work with East Coseley people over the past few years, I’ve found everyone utterly committed to making East Coseley even more vibrant and they are worth so much more than any amount of money for the dedication and support they’ve shown and will continue to show.
Equally, everyone was ecstatic that the plan had finally been endorsed. People feel like their hard work is paying off and things are now coming to fruition. And the announcement was just the tonic for a great meeting that contained much chatter about growing projects, identifying and nurturing community leaders, involving schools and young people, making the natural and built environment more appealing, Big Lunches, Black Country festivities… I could go on!
So work continues with renewed energy. On Monday, there will be a Core Group meeting that will look at how the plan can be delivered in a way that involves and engages the whole community. Watch this space!
Over the last few months, we’ve collated insights and examples from East Coseley Big Local workers and Core Group members of ways in which Big Local funded projects and partners have responded to COVID-19. We have recorded these in the following review.
We’ve started to look at emerging challenges as a result of the pandemic, potential activities which would respond to Big Local Plan priorities, and how East Coseley Big Local could continue to support the community’s recovery post-lockdown.
We’ve asked the following questions to guide recovery plans:
How can East Coseley Big Local continue to nurture and harness the energy, kindness and creativity that has grown within the Coseley community?
How might East Coseley Big Local work with streets and neighbourhoods in order to strengthen support networks?
How might East Coseley Big Local help to rebuild confidence in the people who live in Coseley to feel safe to leave their homes?
With the rising demand for community groups to support local people who have been directly affected by the pandemic, how might East Coseley Big Local get behind this by helping people to discover and access existing local resources (of all kinds) and streams of funding designed for this, as well as Big Local funding?
What support might groups and clubs in East Coseley seek over the coming months? What useful existing resources could they be helped to access, unlock or share?
Maintaining our connections and partnerships and building on community empowerment
The response to the pandemic sparked a new sense of empowerment within communities. Residents are more confident and believe they have the ability to make positive change happen where they live. People of all ages became actively involved in their communities during the pandemic.
Through partnerships formed via the Covid-19 Support Networks, community groups, partners and residents, Big Local workers have been able to identify more vulnerable people in Coseley. The pandemic has enabled response teams to reach out, support and connect with many more people who are isolated. It’s important to maintain those connections in order to continue to find people that may like to engage in Big Local activities.
East Coseley Big Local may work towards harnessing the energy of volunteers who generously gave their time to support vulnerable people as part of the Support Network and explore how they might engage further in Big Local activities to support the local community and make positive change.
Creating, maintaining and improving community hubs and green spaces
In 2019 East Coseley worked with APEC Architects to plan and deliver community engagement activities and surveys, and undertook assessments of community buildings and green spaces, to support the development of the new plan. As part of this work, a set of resources were created containing assessments of local community buildings and spaces which East Coseley Big Local could use to aid decision making. These resources could be used to support community venues and groups to recover in light of closures due to Covid-19.
Keeping our community venues safe
When lockdown restrictions begin to ease, many community venues will be thinking about reopening to continue their activities, but many need support to ensure they do this safely. East Coseley Big Local has started to support Coseley’s community groups and venues to understand what rules may apply and what procedures they need to think about before they reopen or restart activities.
Before anything reopens, businesses, not-for-profits and community groups will need to show they are ‘Covid-19 safe’, which means thinking about safety measures and procedures.
The Covid-19 pandemic will likely change the way we work, socialise and go about our daily lives. Many people who were shielding feel anxious about coming out of their homes and fear what life is going to look like for them in the future. Many will need to feel confident that the risk of infection is low and that local community venues and meeting places have taken the necessary precautions to ensure their safety yet remain welcoming and friendly spaces to go to. Part of our work with isolated people may be to educate and inform people of Government guidelines, and support people in the community to rebuild their confidence and feel safe to leave their homes.
East Coseley Big Local projects could continue to initiate, develop and grow online activities to keep people connected when they are unable to leave their homes due to Covid-19 or other reasons. Supporting people to build confidence with technology has become an important part of tackling loneliness and isolation in Coseley.
Have you noticed or heard about any of the following, or other changes to the way that people in Coseley work and live during the pandemic? Here are some of the general things we’ve noticed happening in Coseley and surrounding areas:
More people taking an interest in growing
The value of a neighbourly chat over the fence
An increase in acts of kindness for vulnerable neighbours
An increased appreciation for open spaces
People started slowing down and embracing nature
People discovering new places on daily walks
People reviewing unnecessary spending, exploring simple ways to entertain at home
Older people using technology to connect with loved ones and to find old friends
People cycling, running or walking to places instead of using their car
People using local businesses more for essential supplies
In September 2020, residents, groups, organisations and workers in Coseley came together to discuss and gather insights from the response to the pandemic, and generate learning to inform the Big Local delivery. Here are some of the things people said:
Observations of ways local residents, groups, organisations or workers in Coseley supported people in communities to stay connected and well during lockdown:
New groups emerged to take action and to help other people access services. Local residents responded to the pandemic by setting up community support networks on social media, including Facebook pages ‘Here to Help’ and ‘Born and Bred’ sharing local information and advice. Next Door was set up for Roseville (Nextdoor is the neighbourhood hub for trusted connections and the exchange of helpful information, goods, and services.)
The work of the JST Community Connectors, supporting residents with family living far away, and the efforts of local groups and residents supporting local isolated people.
Collaborative working with groups and organisations, Just Straight Talk, Coseley Food Bank, residential homes (Willowfields and Jack Newall Court) Dudley CVS, Integrated Plus, and external funders, helped Big Local workers to meet the challenges of the pandemic and reach more vulnerable people in Coseley. Big Local Community Connectors also teamed up with local community groups using communication tool, Whatsapp, to maintain connection.
Local groups, including Coseley Food Bank, found it good to interact with more people and support people in need with food supplies and shopping. Families were also supported with bespoke food bank parcels if there were particular dietary needs.
Older residents used social media to connect people together to improve local green spaces. An 82 year old man who wanted to look after his wife’s grave used Facebook to call out for help to improve the churchyard, and to let them know when he’d be there if they wanted to help or simply have a chat. A section of the churchyard has now been transformed.
Helping people to stay connected using tablets funded by Big Local resulted in people making new connections and reconnecting with old friends. The reach and value for money of this project investment was recognised.
The pandemic made people look out for their neighbours more than ever before. People were looking after their neighbours despite having to self isolate. This included small acts of kindness to new neighbours who were new to the area, signposted to useful local information. This helped to bring people together.
Volunteers in Coseley have gone further than simply doing people’s shopping, going the extra mile to respond to other needs including tackling loneliness by befriending, connecting to others or supporting people with IT.
Groups have received funding from Big Local during the pandemic. The Coseley Station gardeners, have maintained Coseley stations platform garden throughout lockdown. The team have received £500 of Big Local funding to continue to improve the green space. Local group, New Hope Church, received funding from Big Local for Baby Bank, to connect with and provide essential supplies for families.
Some restrictions have been lifted but people are still restricted in what they can do and Government guidelines change on a daily basis. The pandemic isn’t over.
There are barriers for people with technology. Some people are without I.T. equipment, have low confidence in using new technology or poor wifi, meaning that some people were not able to connect in virtual ways.
Local groups recognised the need for venue improvements during the pandemic, for example, 1st Coseley Scouts have found the motivation to make improvements to the scout hut.
Big Local Community Connectors joined virtual meetings delivered by Local Trust to connect and take part in conversations with other Big Local areas. It was noted that other Big Local areas faced similar challenges and emerging themes.
Big Local workers found that many people wanted to continue to volunteer and support vulnerable people in the community when the Covid-19 Support Network ended.
What stands out about how Big Local funded work adapted in approach to continue to support and connect local people during lockdown? i.e. what did we change?
Using new technology to connect including Zoom; Christ Church used Zoom every day for prayer.
Big Local Community workers have adapted the way they work with virtual interactions, including telephone calls, video calls and Zoom gatherings to keep people connected.
Responding to people’s needs to meet physically as lockdown measures eased, providing opportunities to get involved in safe outdoor gardening activities.
Work during the pandemic adapted to the situation, projects would be different going forwards in recovery, and must be looked at accordingly.
The quick turnaround of funding from Big Local, e.g. to fund the baby bank at New Hope Baptist Church; helped to set people free to do what’s needed.
Immediate reaction from local groups at the start of the pandemic and preparation of local groups ahead of lockdown.
Bringing in outside funding to trial activities to connect people in different ways, including, fish and chip suppers, online Coseley Community Cinema.
How might any of these changes inform future delivery against Big Local plan priorities?
Intense levels of activity during lockdown can’t be sustained, but perhaps there will be more effective ways of responding to things – shown by how swiftly responses were developed.
Coseley’s community centre’s and buildings can no longer be used in the same way. Groups and venues of all sizes are now looking at ways to ensure they are safe and fit for purpose, and are ready for use when restrictions are lifted. The Big Local group recognises that groups and venues will experience new challenges and need support in ensuring they can run their usual activities in a safe way.
Reconnecting with people who previously attended Big Local activities particularly those experiencing loneliness and isolation. If data protection was addressed, Big Local could fund Christmas goody bags to be delivered to older people who would normally attend Lunch and Chat events.
What learning for the next 3 years should East Coseley Big Local take away from this period, based on your interactions, observations, conversations and experiences during COVID-19 response?
The importance of mental wellbeing of people in the community. People and families forced into isolation. People who fear coming out of isolation. Not just young adults but young children who do not understand what is going on but feel things are quite different and cannot cope with change. An example is Christmas at school. School plays and parties, if they take place the young are used to what went before but may not understand why it is different now. Coping with school life as it is now and maybe family life as well.
Changing ideas and the way Big Local moves forward.
How the community has pulled together and to not let that slip away again
