A Fresh Approach in Shropshire
The Shropshire team now has a full time, professional Resident Involvement Officer. I have been employed to engage with, build and strengthen the new community at Lightmoor Village in Telford and also to mirror that work at the new community in Lawley Village (Telford) in partnership with Beth Jonson Housing Association. I now have also been given the responsibility to engage with all Bournville’s Shropshire tenants.
Both projects present complex and unique challenges. Lightmoor for example is Bournville’s flagship development in Shropshire and presents a unique opportunity to build an holistic community that lives, plays and works together starting from scratch. If we grasp this opportunity wholeheartedly we can create an environment in which people as individuals and as families desire to live now and in the future. The creation of a "whole community" with areas for play and recreation, opportunities for education and community activities is a great privilege for me and for the Shropshire Housing Team.
The new Lawley development presents different challenges and I am currently working with the existing community to forge links with them and keep them constantly updated on our progress. I would like to regularly inform "Outlook" readers of our progress and plans for both developments and would welcome comments and suggestions.
The "whole community" approach is endorsed by both Central Government and the Housing Corporation and although it involves some new thinking it is really only building on Bournville’s long record of community involvement and innovation. I hope to bring this concept to my work with all Bournville tenants in Shropshire and join them into our purpose at Lightmoor and Lawley as both mentors and innovators. I am asking the Bournville Shropshire Tenants Association to work with me and the Telford team to build on the work that they have already done and strengthen their contact with us through innovation and good practice. The strengthening of involvement in Shropshire is good news for the Trust and will lead to stronger partnering, better understanding of our business objectives and most importantly stronger, safer and more inclusive communities.
