Communities - getting others on board David Spark and Rex Kellett Groundwork Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex Kindly sponsored by Anglian Water’s Keep It Clear programme
Communities? • What do we mean by ‘Communities’?
Communities? • What do we mean by ‘Communities’? – Residential and social groups? – Cultural groups? – Businesses? – Schools? – Cross sections of society?
What are the required outcomes? • Clearly define what you need to achieve!
What are the required outcomes? • Clearly define what you need to achieve – Behaviour change? – Get a message across? – Engaging communities with each other? – Get feedback/garner opinion?
What’s so difficult about that? • Issues, challenges and barriers?
What’s so difficult about that? • Issues, challenges and barriers? – Lack of interest? – Lack of knowledge/understanding? – Conflicting opinions? – Community disagreement? – Personal conflicting priorities? – Single issue community leaders?
How to break down the barriers? Yellow Fish
Objective: Encouraging businesses to plan for severe weather and other risks Barriers & Issues: Never happened before? Lack of time, other priorities & pressures? Lack of experience, knowledge & skills? Over confidence or ignorance of the real impact? How: Sell the solutions? Engaging & illustrating the benefits Simplifying the solutions
Queen’s Hills Objective: Engaging the local community to have their say & take ownership of open space Barriers & Issues: Antisocial behaviour Differing opinions & objectives How: Increase local awareness of the resource and improve use Support set up of CIO (governance & constitution) Support and guidance for first funding application
Yellow Fish Objective: Community & business behaviour change to reduce damaging pollution Barriers: Lack of awareness Unwillingness to change How: Involve wider community, schools and businesses Different delivery methods for each group
Objective: Community & business behaviour change to reduce sewer blockages Barriers: Lack of awareness Unwillingness to change habits How: Educating wider community, schools and businesses Events & presentations Product giveaways - Visit the Groundwork stand in the hall!
Objective: Introductory funding resource Barriers: Sceptical/unaware of funds available Requires a leader/team Clear objective? Community vote How: Events & presentations Helping leadership confidence Guidance
Objective: Community cohesion and behaviour change Barriers: Community buy-in? Leadership team? Clear objective? How: Involve wider community and schools Events & presentations Helping leadership confidence Guidance
BEE Anglia Objective: Helping businesses to reduce their carbon emissions Barriers: No commitment to their property? Lack of investment cash/time? Scepticism/distrust? Aversion to perceived red-tape How: Engage, listen, analyse Identify associated driving forces Find the incidental benefits Offer guidance
What conclusions can we draw?
What conclusions can we draw? • Have clear objectives • Listen to the community; identify the target group’s barriers and driving forces & get them on-side • Consider how to engage with the wider community to maximise success • Manage expectations & shape your delivery to meet some of their expectations to succeed • Similar models of engagement can be used to achieve a wide range of different outcomes • Success usually comes from a number of organisations, groups and partners coming together
Want to discuss this further? Rex Kellett David Spark Senior Projects and Environmental Development Business Advisor Manager rex.kellett@groundwork.org.uk david.spark@groundwork.org.uk 07736 135249 07809 201447
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