Betteshanger A different approach to community engagement
Introduction The activmobs project in Betteshanger, locally titled ABC (Active Betteshanger Community), began with a request from a local county councillor to the Kent Public Health Department about encouraging more healthy living in the village of Betteshanger (a former mining area of Kent). An organisation associated with activ.mobs, Dynamic Therapy, was commissioned to survey the local community and establish what activities they would like to take part in and identify any obstacles to their involvement. The main community asset, the local community centre, was also underused and not viewed positively by parts of the local community. One of the objectives of the programme was to establish whether the community centre could become a better facility for the surrounding area.
Your Community – Your Voice Liz and Jo from Dynamic Therapy spent time with the residents of Betteshanger to see what activities were already on offer and identify any opportunities for the future. They carried out a door to door survey with all the houses in the Betteshanger Circle (See Appendix A for The Community Survey questions and Appendix B for the Survey results). They held two youth forums with children under 10 years and their parents and another with 10 - 18 year olds. They had interactive discussions about ideas and opportunities for things to do in the area that were not currently available. They used a P.O.I.N.T.S (problems, opportunities, insights, needs, themes and system challenges) exercise to organise some of the insights and information they learned from conversations with people of all ages around Betteshanger. The exercise can be found in Appendix C.
Survey outcomes The exercises carried out in the community identified many opportunities, notably the need to rebuild the connection between younger and older people in the community. One example was the idea for a Youth video to build the case for young people to be more involved in the community centre and social club committee. So‌a Participatory Film project was set up to give Betteshanger’s younger population an opportunity to get their views about their community heard at a Community Forum.
About the film The film was an opportunity for the young people involved to plan, direct, shoot and edit their own film - ‘Welcome to Betteshanger it’s a ghost town’. As well as filming their own places of interest, they wanted to get the perspective of others in the area. Talking to people who lived nearby, they realised there used to be a mine in Betteshanger, but they knew very little about it. They decided to ask Peter Holden, the current chair of the social club, and an ex miner himself, about his experiences to include in their film. They also decided to take footage of a number of people doing different activities in and around Betteshanger.
Who took part? Billy, Heidi, Jack and Luke from Betteshanger, the film crew, worked for two days on the film. Plus a big thanks to Peter, Alisha, Candice, Jo, Liz, Megan and the ballroom dancers for taking part in the film! Hannah Parathian from Insight (www.insightshare.org), Emma Barrett from the Social Innovation Lab for Kent (www.kent.gov.uk/silk) and Geoff Maile from the Kent Graduate Programme, facilitated activities over 2 days which enabled the young people to learn how to use the equipment and make a film. Insight is a UK/France based organisation which is pioneering the use of Participatory Video as a tool for empowering individuals and communities around the world.
Making the film - Day one
Going on a tour of the local area - getting some ideas for where and what we are going to shoot...
Planning for the day Getting to know each other and the community
Getting to grips with the camera Hannah showing Billy how to adjust the zoom
Making a start - Luke and Heidi filming in the football field
Making the film - Day two
Going through the footage so far and planning the paper edit together
More outdoor shots interviewing other people from the area to get their perspective
Thinking creatively - using Playmobil figures for the final shot
The film was taken to the Insight editing suite to add the finishing touches to the final cut
Forum agenda Betteshanger Community Forum Wednesday 27th August 2008 • • • • • • •
Arrival and Welcome The A.B.C. Project Viewing the film Group Activity – key points / surprises / what we didn’t find out Idea generation Prioritising ideas What happens next?
Reactions at the community forum “There were more young people than I have ever seen in the centre.” “The DVD was amazing honestly, it couldn’t have been more perfect!” “The film really did capture what they wanted at Betteshanger” “Some of the other children wished they’d got more involved” “Conversations wouldn’t have happened with out the film” “It helped everyone to open up and talk honestly” “How wonderfully well did the open forum go, was anyone else as surprised as me?”
Forum outcomes The process of the community survey, the film and then the forum started many conversations between the older and younger generations. The community centre was seen as the key focus for the community and there was an enthusiasm to try a whole range of different activities alongside the existing programme. It was suggested that more volunteers were needed to support those already running the centre or perhaps, that it could be left open all the time. It was apparent that some of the ideas would be easy to achieve and some would be longer term. Some of the ideas that received most support were: • A covered shelter with a light and bin • A kickabout area • A graffiti wall There was an emphasis that the young people should participate in decisions that affected them. They should be involved in the design and building of any project for them, to increase their commit to the end product.
What’s happening now? The biggest impact is the positive change on the types of activity that are starting to take place. There are still further changes that need to be made, about the communication between younger and older people, but the committee are looking at ways of encouraging regular feedback from young people, and a mechanism to broker that relationship. There is a new community noticeboard which is due to be put up in December 2008, which will tell people what is happening in the club and surrounding area; there is an evolving programme of clubs including dog training, gardening, aerobics and mother and toddler groups. There are developments to make the area more attractive and make better use of the land around the club through discussion with the Parish Council and work with GroundWork, an environmental regeneration charity. They are looking at plans for a kick around area or an outdoor gym and a graffiti wall which the young people will be involved in building themselves. There are also a number of new income channels which of course keeps the momentum going. Most recently, the community received £10,000 from the Colyer Fergusson Charitable Trust and a Kent County Council elected member grant.
For further information aaboutthis project, please contact Mark.Lemon@kent.gov.uk, Head of Policy, Department of Public Health, Kent County Council 01622 694835 For further information about participatory filming or SILK, please contact Emma.Barrett@kent.gov.uk or 07825 506 606
Appendix A Community survey questionnaire
A.B.C project - Community Questionnaire Please read through the form before answering the questions We need your input to assist us in helping you to create the community you want to be part of a place that you can enjoy, have fun and really feel that you have an active roll to play in helping and supporting the way forward in Betteshanger and the surrounding villages. We are working with full support of the Betteshanger Social Club and Community Centre, and partnership with both the centre and the community as a whole. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this please do not hesitate to contact Candice Kemp from the community centre who will be happy to answer them for you. Please tell us about your interests and hobbies ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………… What do you like most about your community? ..................................................................................................................................................... ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Your local amenities E.G. Fowlmead Country Park, Betteshanger Social Club and Community Centre, Betteshanger Sports Club, Local Gym Facilities. Are you aware of the local amenities in the area? …………. Y / N Do you use these local amenities? …………. Y / N If Yes, for what activities and when?.............................................................................. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Are you aware of the full timetable of activities they have to offer? ……………. Y / N Would you know how or who to contact to join an activity? ................ Y / N What types of activities would you like to do at these amenities? …………………………….……………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Your Community Centre Do you use the local community centre? Y / N Are you aware of what activities are available at the community centre? Y / N What do you do at the community centre? …………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………………………….……………… What would you like to have at the community centre; can you suggest something that would interest you? Social groups / activities / clubs, please put forward any ideas you may have! ...........................………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. Would you be able and willing to travel to a neighbouring village for an activity or hobby i.e. football / netball / modern dance Y / N Do you have any skills, hobbies or interests, that you would like to share with your community? ………………………………………………………… …………………………………….....................……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… What would you like in your community that’s not already available? ..…………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Are you? Creative / sporty / outdoors type / practical / sedentary. What are your personal barriers (things that would put you off) to becoming more involved in the community and its activities? Time Money Health Physical disability Transport Fear of the unknown Lack of motivation Lack of interest Peer pressure Lack of activities Would you be prepared to support an activity or hobby, if it was created within your community? Y / N
Would you be interested in helping to set up and sustain an activity within your community? Y / N If one of the activities that you have recommended became available in your community, would you attend it regularly? Y / N Please add any other information that you feel would be helpful to us in our quest to find out what the community really want……………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Personal Information (Voluntary) What town or village do you live in?.............................................................................................. (Please circle one) What age bracket are you? Under 18 18 – 30 Do you have any dependants? 1/2/3 Gender M/F
30 – 40
40 - 50
50 – 60
60 – 70
Over 70
We would really like to keep you informed of the wonderful developments that will be happening with regards to physical activity within the area. It may be to let you know of an activity that is starting that you have signalled an interest in, or to simply update you with any up and coming events. Can we have your permission to come back to you on this exciting matter? Y/N If Yes; Name …………………………………………… Preferred method of contact is? (Please give full details)……………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… Thank you for taking the time to fill out this questionnaire. This questionnaire will be kept confidential, and will only be seen by Dynamic Therapy.
Appendix B Community survey questionnaire results
Do you use the Community Centre?
Do you use the community centre? YES Do you use the community centre? NO
Convenience to travel?
Would it be convenient if the programme was held outside Betteshanger? YES Would it be convenient if the programme was held outside Betteshanger? NO
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Personal barriers to becoming more active
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
Singing Cookery Wii Reading Book Club gardening Bowls Fishing Walking Runing Push Chair Walks Art Languages Education Stop Smoking Amateur Yoga Pilates Aerobics Textiles Circuits Nordic Walking Football Basketball Rugby tennis netball cards Music dancing Knitting Cycling Chess Scrabble Active Retirement Allotmants Childrens Activites Mother and Baby Coffee Mornings Tea Dances Sewing Pottery Flower Arranging Jigsaws Films Local History Environmental Computer salsa Cricket Hip Hop Badminton Paint ball Games
No of people
Interest in Activity
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
Activity
Are you aware of the full timetable of activities the local amenities have to offer?
Are you aware of the full timetable of activities at them? YES Are you aware of the full timetable of activities at them? NO
Appendix C P.O.I.N.T.S. results
Problems • • • • • • • • •
Walking into the club – it feels private Social club open only at certain times Is the social club only for ex miners ? Social club feels old fashioned and outdated Tea dances sometimes cancelled maybe due to private bookings Perception that residents in the circle cannot hire the hall Difficulties in having access to the social club keys Poor response from the doctors surgery Perception that use of the football pitch will be only for the girls football team – and not for locals
Opportunities For using the club • A number of local groups started – gardening, local history, mothers and toddlers, cycling • Residents WANT to use the social club • Residents would like to improve the front of the club – gardening club • There are dog training facilities and spaces that could be made available • Table tennis tournaments • Film nights with the right films • Ideas for outdoor activities • Quiz nites (successful) • History – sharing between the ages • Coffee mornings • As a small shop (used to be one) • Library People • There are a number of “motivators” within the community • Carls “family barbeque”
• • • •
Candice Jerry the youth worker PCSO – Hayden Lots of local connections and networks (family networks)
In how to engage people • Knocking on doors • Personal touch – getting under the skin of the circle • Leaflets to schools • Parish mag Young people • Set up a young persons committee to run a youth club • Heidi and Dan to run it • Youth video to build the case for building a room / conservatory onto the side of the social club with card entry system, run and organised by the young people who should sit on the social club committee
Insights • Betteshanger no longer has a community spirit – but people want it back • No one can make a difference because no one can be bothered • People have their own chairs in the social club • Split community – miners and non miners • 94% feel their environment is safe and peaceful • 85% engaged in this project
System Challenges • • •
Social club itself – what changes is it prepared to make? Fowlmead cycle track and charges for usage Long term sustainability – keeping things going.
Themes emerging • Residents want to use the social club (lots of ideas of use) • There is a community spirit in Betteshanger and people who want to support it • Young people have capacity to develop things in Betteshanger • Some money will be needed to keep things moving in the short term – there is a need for maybe a “community co-ordinator” on the social club committee • The social club will need to adapt if it wishes to achieve its potential
Over the summer • Run a “Weekend Family Taster” (;this could be combined with Carl’s barbeque, and DT with a small group of residents and the social club could provide opportunities for residents to try different activities) • Ask the young people if they would like to make a participatory video. This could be around their lives, maybe the mining stuff, social club and something around their aspirations etc. SILK would be able to purchase equipment and provide training to do this • Work with the social club committee? – maybe outline some more specific proposals around changes they feel they wish to make to open the club more.