Stories, reflection and learning from the NTW partnership
Resilient communities
Outcome: The social connections and the capacity of individuals and communities to mobilise to address local issues and needs will strengthen and increase.
The approach has focused on creating the conditions for community-led self-help. NTW increased the resilience of neighbourhoods, with more prevention work provided by communities themselves.
Community Development Workers helped groups to design and apply for funding for local projects resulting in an additional £1.5m of grant funding coming into the borough. Local services become more responsive, as community self-help groups were recognised as integral, and not simply an add-on, to delivery. Community Development Workers and Community Connectors ran and supported community led events where residents and their families met, made new friends, had a good time and were introduced to support services in relaxed settings.
| Output indicator | Achieved | Target |
|---|---|---|
| New connections made via Community Connectors | 3980 | 1400 |
| People progressing from the community event to join a new group or network | 633 | 625 |
| Residents supported to develop self-help groups | 170 | 120 |
| People participating in at least one event | 4001 | 2500 |
| Percentage of the groups' volunteers reporting they feel more active in their community | 56% | 50% |
| New friendships | 1399 | 530 |
The strength and connectedness of communities, the quality and accessibility of support services, and economic growth potential are all interconnected and interdependent. Places can't thrive unless all these areas are working.
- Great Yarmouth Borough Council
A case study: Little Stars parent and toddler group
The Little Stars parent and toddler group was a new group that started running from Cobholm Community Centre as the result of collaboration between the Make it Happen team, Community Capacity Coordinators at Norfolk County Council and local residents.
A Children's Services Early Help Community Capacity Coordinator identified that there were no parent and toddler groups in Cobholm, and so she contacted the Community Development Worker and a Community Connector at the Make it Happen team. The Community Connector mentioned that she knew of a couple of parents who may be interested in having a group. The Children's Services Early Help Community Capacity Coordinator consulted with local parents and some expressed an interest in both having a group and helping to run it.
Make it Happen agreed to fund the hire of Cobholm Community Centre from an Awards for All grant given to Voluntary Norfolk for Connector activity for a period to see how the group developed. The residents promoted the group amongst their own networks and took ownership of the group.
On the group's first session in early October (2016) there were ten parents who came with their children. They reported really enjoying the group. It is conveniently located for families in Cobholm and allows parents to meet new people and address shared challenges in a way that fits in with their childcare responsibilities. The group has grown in size significantly. The Community Connector and Community Development Worker continued to support the group to develop and grow.
The joining to our community centre has given me and my family better life in Great Yarmouth. It is important for me as a foreigner and very important for my family.
Great Yarmouth resident
