The last word

Posted on 20th March 2008 at 3.08pm by Julian Dobson

The last word goes to Carol Williams, vice-chair of Pulse.

'I think the week's gone tremendously well. At the beginning I was a bit apprehensive about the numbers, but I think it's been just right.'

There have certainly been enough people to keep the advisors and facilitators going. There are 16 business plans at various stages of completion, sitting in a fat folder and in a handful of memory sticks.

The last few members of the over-50s forum have said their fond farewells to Vincenzo, their dedicated adviser for the past week, and the boxes are being packed.

'For me, the main thing that's come out of this week is the amount of social enterprise and community organisations that are out there in Wigan, just plugging away to get themselves recognised and get funding,' Carol says.

'It's hard to do that on your own. Working with other people who are like-minded and have the same struggles and frustrations is so helpful and supportive.'

Carol feels confident that Pulse will grow and develop. 'We'll take it slowly, but we're in it for the long haul. Our constitution is still evolving and the new people who are coming into the organisation will have some input into that'.

The inspiration to make a difference

Posted on 20th March 2008 at 2.45pm by Julian Dobson

One week on, what difference has Wigan Extreme made? What hope is there for the project ideas and business plans that have been developed?

Kathy Valdes, a consultant with Community Innovation UK, has been working with individuals and groups throughout the week to help them develop their project plans. She's helped them ask difficult questions about their work, and find answers to those questions.

'I've loved every minute of it,' she says. 'I've been working with real people who really want to make changes in their communities.

'They won't all achieve what they want, and they won't all achieve the business plans they have written within the next year. Some will, and some will try one idea and then try another one.

'But they have all been inspired, they all have a passion and they will all change their communities. Wigan Extreme has been a very positive environment to be in. The rest of the world can be a bit negative, especially about some of the areas they come from.'

The biggest achievement, she feels, is that the participants have been able to build a network by doing their business planning together in an environment of mutual support. Friendships have been formed and people have overcome obstacles together. 'It's very real, rather than something imposed on people.'

Kathy feels many of the projects have made real progress this week. Peter Field, who has a learning disability, is working on plans for Field of Dreams, a small scale market garden, and his plan is ready to put into action. The Over-50s Forum is 'raring to go'.

The One Vision media project, for people with severe learning disabilities, has been particularly inspiring. 'That's one of the projects that moved me the most, because it's got most potential to empower people,' Kathy says.

As for the Pulse network, she says they'll continue to need support, but they've 'got what it takes'.

Action at the Abbey

Posted on 20th March 2008 at 11.16am by Julian Dobson

Like a lot of estates, Abbey Lane in West Leigh doesn’t offer much for local kids. All it has is a shop, Melanie Prescott says.

Mel worked with Wigan Extreme last year and has been back this year, because she’s determined to do something for the youngsters on the estate. She’s helped to form Abbey Lane Action, which will put on trips and activities for young people.

Last year they created the Rock Bus, which took groups of up to 45 children and parents to activities around the region. Now Abbey Lane Action has a grant from the Youth Opportunities Fund to run more coach trips and put up a youth shelter.

Paintballing trips and a visit to Chester Zoo are planned, and there has even been talk of getting a yurt – a Mongolian-style tent that could be used to stage youth activities wherever they’re wanted.

Last year Mel had ideas and concerns for her community, but didn’t know what to do about it. Now she has a certificate in voluntary youth work, is involved in a community organisation and has funding to make things happen.

Making waves in Poole

Posted on 19th March 2008 at 6.08pm by Julian Dobson

While most people working on their business plans at Wigan Extreme are local, one group have travelled the length of the country to do so.

Laura Atkinson and Charmaine Williams have been running a voluntary group, Dream Catchers, to improve the estate where they live in Poole, Dorset.

Turlin Moor, an estate of around 1500 homes, has had a bad reputation. It didn't help when the estate's community centre was shut down, set alight by vandals, and then knocked down by the council. 'We love it there,' Laura says. 'But other people don't. It was a no-go area, and people's beliefs are hard to change.'

Laura and Charmaine, with the help of Helen Dowling, RE:generate's projects director in the south of England, are doing their bit to change those beliefs.

Dream Catchers is evidence of what happens when you go out into a community and start listening to people. Using RE:generate's 'Listening Matters' methods, they knocked on doors and discovered what local residents liked, loathed and wanted.

Several projects have got going as a result. There are regular holiday playschemes for local children, providing arts and play activities. Four local people have taken the 'Take 5 for Play' course, leading to a qualification in playworking.

Time Out for Parents is another successful scheme. It's a self-help group for local parents, and although it's small, it's made a big difference. One mother was helped to escape an abusive relationship with an alcoholic partner. She was put in touch with agencies providing support for victims of domestic violence. 'I ended up turning my house into a women's refuge for four days,' Charmaine says.

Dream Catchers use a former café in the middle of the estate as a community resource centre, but they'd like a new community centre where they can expand their activities. The local council has promised a new centre, but the plans have been held up while negotiations continue over the sale of the land to a housing association, which would develop the site.

Laura and Charmaine are glad of the chance to get away from Poole and get some space to work on their plans. They're hoping to refurbish the former café where they currently work and provide computers with internet access for local people - many of whom don't have computers at home, and so miss out on services, community activities and job opportunities.

Gospel rhythms

Posted on 19th March 2008 at 3.06pm by Julian Dobson

Young people in Atherton don't think there's a lot to do. But they're warming to an idea that Lawrence Aboagye wants to develop.

Where Wigan was once famous for Northern Soul, Atherton could become a centre for gospel music if Lawrence's idea takes off. He wants to create a centre where young people can chill out, hear and perform gospel music and learn to dance.

'I'd like a social centre where we can train youth in gospel music,' he says. 'It would be a drop-in centre where people could relax in a peaceful environment.

'There's nothing like that in the area - it's either the pub or the street. I want to help bring youths off the streets. People complain about binge drinking, but there are no alternatives.'

Lawrence, a pastor with New Life in Christ Ministries, is confident a gospel music club could take off and that youngsters wouldn't be put off by its Christian ethos.

'Music is at the heart of youth today,' he says. 'I have spoken to a lot of kids who want this because they like to dance.'

The big issue, as for many prospective enterprises, is the lack of a suitable building. Lawrence's church meets in a rented scout hall, and the local community centre won't host religious activities. Lawrence has his eye on an empty office block, but needs to make contact with the owners.

His plan is at the earliest stages, but as a director of World in Wigan - the black and minority ethnic network - he feels well supported. He's also involved in the Wigan and Leigh Council for Voluntary Service, which has encouraged him to come to Wigan Extreme this week to develop his idea.