Community Development and Engagement Projects

Involving communities in changes that affect their future is a consistent theme in WSA Community projects. We work alongside communities as they harness their collective power and bring ideas to fruition. We collaborate with partners or stakeholders who are committed to the values of community engagement. 

 

The case studies featured here highlight just some of the WSA Community projects where empowering residents and representing their views supported change.

Empowering resident-led leadership with Big Local

An illustration of a crystal ball from a Big Local community engagement project, including the words 'Future Activities' around the base.

Taking an asset-based approach to support communities creating lasting change within the decade-long Big Local programme

 

WSA Community supported many Big Local areas during the Big Local programme.

 

The Big Local  programme provided 150 local communities with the opportunity to make decisions on their own community needs and the changes that were best for their area. Over 10 to 15 years, grants of just over £1m were distributed to 150 areas across England with the aim of creating lasting change in their neighbourhoods.

 

WSA Community’s work during this time included:

        • Our Director (Wendy) served as one of the Big Local Reps offering direct support to resident-led Partnerships around all aspects of the programme
        • Working as measuring change partners with Partnerships and communities to help them record and understand the changes they were achieving. This was conducted through community engagement and we worked with colleagues to facilitate large community events and capture changes using graphic recording.
        • Being a ‘Make it Happen’ partner specialising in Community Engagement to support areas who asked for input around how best to engage wider groups within their communities.
        • Providing direct support to areas, including helping to collect information to understand community needs and writing Big Local Plans to reflect these.
        • Capturing learning for Big Local in agreed Big Local areas.

For all these interventions we took an asset-based approach, starting by supporting Big Local Partnerships to reflect on the strengths of their communities, their achievements so far and the assets in their area. We then looked together at what would make things even better.

Two examples of WSA Community Big Local projects:

Engaging Communities to prioritise change with Grange Big Local

When Grange Big Local in north London were developing their second plan for the Big Local programme, WSA Community supported staff and partnership members to undertake an extensive community engagement exercise.

 

Using a mix of surveys, participatory engagement methods and visits to existing groups, we worked with the Partnership to ask residents where they wanted Grange Big Local to focus resources and energy. We then produced a Big Local plan based on community need that would guide the Partnership going forward.

Identifying changes with Hateley Cross Big Local

After Hateley Cross Big Local in the West Midlands had been delivering activities and improvements in the community, WSA Community  supported them to pause and consider the impact of everything they had achieved.

 

Over eight years, Hateley Cross Big Local had delivered a range of services, including establishing a hub and food pantry, a range of outdoor improvements and events, employment navigation support and environmental improvements, like litter picking sessions.

 

We were delighted to facilitate a major community event at West Bromwich Albion football club where residents could really talk about the impact these changes had on them. Our two facilitators explored visions for the future, while our talented colleague captured everything in visual form.

Supporting the Grenfell Projects Fund to drive community recovery

A flip chart from a community development and engagement session, with the words 'safe' and 'inclusive' along the top and multiple post-its.

Capacity building and training for a resident-led panel that allocated Grenfell recovery funding to community projects in North Kensington

 

 

The WSA Community team supported a resident-led panel with capacity building and training for the second round of Grenfell Projects Funding.

 

As part of the Grenfell Recovery Programme, the Grenfell Projects Fund was launched to support community-led recovery in the North Kensington area through small grants. Following some dissatisfaction by the community after the first round of funding, a supported and trained community panel allocated funding for the second round.

 

WSA Community facilitated a programme of training to support panel members to build their confidence in the whole grant process. This included training on issues like good practice in community grant-giving, assessing and evaluating community grants and measuring change.

 

During this phase of the Fund, the panel allocated funding to 40 community groups in North Kensington. Residents fed back the value of external facilitation in supporting the process and also the way they worked together to achieve this.  We appreciated working with such an amazing, passionate and committed group who volunteered for many hours to support their community.

Engaging local communities to produce Birmingham Stories

A still from a Birmingham Stories film produced for Birmingham Museums Trust showing thee people outside, holding flower potswith plants in them.

Working with Birmingham Museums Trust to engage local community groups and showcase Birmingham’s rich culture.

 

 

WSA Community, in partnership with Merida Consulting, worked with Birmingham Museums Trust to engage local community groups and showcase Birmingham’s rich culture.

 

Reflecting the Trust’s aim of shining new light on people’s stories, collections and creativity, we engaged local community groups and provided positive opportunities for them to voice what was important to them about Birmingham.

 

These community stories were captured by Birmingham-based film maker Merida Associates and showcased on the Birmingham Museums website.

 

One video featured local people talking about the importance of the friendships and community network they gained from their involvement in the Scouts, and their love for the multi-culture, multi-faith nature of Birmingham. Another documented the work of the Birmingham Open Spaces Forum and the passionate volunteers who maintain and create green spaces for their communities.

 

Community members and Birmingham Museum Trust workers alike welcomed this approach to strengthening the ties between them. For us, it was fantastic to be involved in a project showcasing Birmingham’s people and culture in such a positive and engaging way.

Other WSA Community projects

WSA Community Evaluation and Research projects

WSA Community Lived Experience projects

WSA Community Training