Co stories co12 v3 (dragged) 12

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Listen,Learn, Action! Tansy Spencer

Jolanta and Tansy

Derby

I still remember the first time I knocked on a door to speak to people about their loves and concerns. Once I started speaking the conversation just flowed and I had such an amazing chat about what the resident thought that he gave his contact details to keep in touch. I felt absolutely on top of the world, and the morning carried on in much the same vein,

cake and coffee morning

with people happy to talk and start something. As time went on, the people I had spoken to wanted to start getting together to see what could happen within our community. At first people where a little bit resistant to come together and let me meet their networks, and share what they would like for the area. But slowly after building trust, they did start letting me meet with them as they

Krystina

talked about their thoughts on the community, and I did my best to harvest all their comments and ideas. One of the first things that happened was that people wanted to do something about the problem of fly tipping within the area. After meeting and discussing, they decided they wanted to create a poster to

My year has been amazing. I have met so many wonderful people

try and remind people that they should not fly tip. One of the

in the community and had the privilege of working with them.

volunteers did this all on her own and is very proud of what she’s

They themselves have been marvellous in helping to improve

achieved.

our community in either a large or small way, by taking action and making a change.

The poster has been distributed all over the estate, and was included in a newsletter. People feel that the poster has made

I leave you with a couple of pictures of two volunteers

a difference because the fly tipping has stopped being quite so

who have been out listening with me to build up their Eng-

bad. Next people wanted to do something about all the dog

lish language skills and their confidence. Jolanta had

mess being left on the pavements. With some help they applied

very little confidence at first and couldn’t speak much English,

for funding and were awarded enough to get 40 long handled

but she kept coming out listening with me and started taking

poop scoops to give out to those who find it difficult to bend.

part in the conversations and interacting more with people.

They are in the process of distributing these.

As a result she has now got a full time job, and still comes to some meetings and takes an active involvement in it all.

A group of volunteers are working on listenings within the

Krystina asked to work with me after she saw how it had

community which is helping to improve their English. They wanted

benefited Jolanta. She has also gained confidence, and even

to get some people together for a cake and coffee meeting,

put on a cake and coffee meeting herself, designing the posters,

to tackle the problem of isolation amongst those who cannot

making the cakes and inviting people. All my volunteers have

speak good English. A few families came down, and discussed

been amazing and are truly the ones who deserve all the

some of the issues, and they are now trying to get some more

appreciation for their belief and all the work they do. I can’t wait

people involved.

to see what happens in the next progression year.


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