News (2007)

The People and the Park: the way forward

Firstly, thank you to those who were recently involved in ’The people and the park’ session at Park Baptist Church, in November.

As we discussed at the session, the next steps were to pull together all of the information gathered and create a report to go to the Cleaner Safer Greener (CSG) Board, which manages the developments of the park.

Everyone at the session was invited to help us to write up the report and we were pleased that some local residents took us up on our offer! Lots of hard work was put into creating the report, which is now finished, with copies available at the CLIP at The Neighbourhood Centre, 143 King Street. If you would like to be sent a copy of the report, please let us know on 01493 845920. Alternatively, if you have access to the internet you can download a copy from our website, at www.comeunity.info.

   
Members of the local community at the St Georges Parkway Scheme meeting

On Thursday 13th December the report was presented to the CSG board, and it was received positively. They have taken on board the comments and issues raised around the consultation process and have stated their commitment to working with the community and partners earlier, and more closely, on the future phases and schemes.

If members of the community wish to be involved with the park projects then there is the opportunity to work with the events committee who are working towards the event for the official opening of the park. More details of this can be obtained from The Neighbourhood Centre, 143 King Street.

A full copy of the report can be downloaded from Community Involvement in the St Georges Parkway Scheme Final (3.97MB pdf file).

Street Outreach

NORCAS have launched a period of Street Outreach for those with alcohol issues in the neighbourhood. Richard Knights, Street Outreach Worker, will be working closely with those drinking on the street to support access to a range of services and agencies. Richard will also be working with local residents to address community concerns and raise awareness of alcohol-related issues. This work has been part-funded by the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and the Comeunity Programme. To find out more please drop into the Neighbourhood Centre and have an informal chat with Richard.

Great Yarmouth Floods

The East Anglia coast was subjected to a severe flood warning from the Environment Agency for the night of 8th November. Many hundreds of residents living in Great Yarmouth were evacuated as a precaution but were able to return to their homes the following day as the flooding was not as severe as expected. In the end the main area of Great Yarmouth affected was South Quay when water came up through the drains. Fortunately the damage was slight.

Photographs taken at the time by Jeanne Goncalves of the Neighbourhood Centre can be seen on the Your Pics page. (09/11/07)

Ghoulish fun at Neighbourhood Centre

It was a night of gruesome fun in South Yarmouth on Halloween. Over 70 local residents joined in the ghoulish celebrations during the course of the evening from apple bobbing, to face painting, to costume making local kids got to enjoy some tricks along with some treats at the Neighbourhood Centre on King Street. A cocktail of ghost drool was on offer for those braver party goers.

Local resident and organiser of the evening Jamie McGarrity explained "It was a great way to provide an alternative to going out and trick or treating. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, the young people especially".

A team of detached youth workers were also out on the streets during the evening to sign-post young people back to the Centre. The local Safer Neighbourhoods Team reported a low-level of neighbourhood-based disturbances on the evening. Photographs of the evening can be viewed on the Your Pics page.

The event forms part of the work currently taking place in South and Central Yarmouth around Community Safety, supported by the ’Comeunity’ Neighbourhood Management Programme.

For more information call into the Centre at 143 King Street, or call 01493 845920. (07/11/07)

Hazel Blears comments on the Grey 2 Green project

Great Yarmouth and Ipswich Councils have been named by Hazel Blears as two of 18 councils - two from every region of the country - as 'empowerment champions'. Already pioneering a range of people power measures, these councils will work with other areas of the country to show empowerment in practice, share the lessons they have learned and help others to revive their local democracy through twinning programmes and regional empowerment road shows. (27/10/07)
More details available by downloading the pdf file.

Neighbourhood Management Programme is looking to appoint a consultant

The Comeunity (Neighbourhood Management) Programme is looking to appoint a consultant to co-ordinate a cross-cutting visioning exercise for the Middlegate Estate in Great Yarmouth. The vision will inform the development of a neighbourhood plan for the Estate. Key to the success of this exercise will be skilled facilitation of community involvement and the ability to engage a range of service providers and other stakeholders.

Further details can be obtained by downloading the Invite to Bid Visioning Exercise Middlegate and Neighbourhood Management Action Plan files below.

MS Word Format
Invite to Bid Visioning Exercise Middlegate

Interested In Research?

• Are you a resident of South or Central Yarmouth?
• Interested in asking questions?
• Making sense of numbers?
• Talking to people?
• Have you thought about developing skills in Research?
• Priory Research Services are offering 10 local residents the unique opportunity to particpate in an 8 week FREE accredited training course in research skills.

Further information is available by downloading the Comeunity OCN Information Document and the Action Research document below.

MS Word Format
Comeunity OCN Information Sheet
Action Research

Launch of Community Newspaper

The first edition of a free Community newspaper for South and Central Yarmouth has just been published. The eight-page edition will be delivered with the Great Yarmouth Advertiser but copies are available at the Neighbourhood Centre on King Street. It is packed full with interesting articles about what is happening in the neighbourhood.

A PDF version is available for download by clicking on the link below. You will need Adobe Reader to access this file. Click on the Download link at the bottom of the main menu.

Community Newspaper.

If you would like to contribute to the newspaper, either by sending in an article or story, or perhaps with its design, then contact the Neighbourhood Team on 01493 845920 or e-mail rt@great-yarmouth.gov.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.

Comeunity and Lowestoft Together

Comeunity Board members and volunteers paid a trip to Lowestoft on 3rd October to celebrate the launch of Lowestoft Together's Neighbourhood Centre on Surrey Street, Lowestoft. The visit provided a real opportunity to share good practice developing locally around neighbourhood management. A return visit for the Lowesoft Together programme is planned for the end of the year.

Great Yarmouth Volunteer Sector

The Great Yarmouth and District Volunteer Centre will be moving premises to the Neighbourhood Centre in October. It will be sharing accommodation with its colleagues from the Great Yarmouth Voluntary Sector Partnership, who are also part of Norwich and Norfolk Voluntary Services.
A launch for its volunteers is planned for Monday 8th October at the Neighbourhood Centre, starting at 12.30pm.

Jubilation over Grey 2 Green Projects given the Green Light!

Two local resident groups are celebrating after being awarded funding to develop two green pockets in the neighbourhood. Swirles Place, close to Market Gates Shopping Centre and Fox’s Passage, just off of York Road, have been awarded over £35,000 to create two improved communal spaces, planned and designed by local residents. Jean Fisher, Secretary of Market Roads Community Group, explained, “We knew what we wanted, but we didn't know how to proceed. It was the Grey 2 Green programme that helped us to make these connections.”
To find out more about Grey 2 Green and to propose an area, contact the Neighbourhood Management Team on: 01493 845920

Fox's Passage

Residents designing open spaces

Christmas is coming, but where is the money?

Residents are being encouraged to sign up as a member of the Rainbow Anglia Saver Credit Union before the 7th September to qualify for a low-interest loan before Christmas. Credit Unions provide a low-cost, affordable alternative to doorstep lenders. To find out more come along to the Neighbourhood Centre, 143 King Street, every Friday 10am-12pm or the Priory Centre, every Wednesday 10am-12pm or call Julie Stevenson on: 01493 845922.

Sunshine Crew Success!

A summer activity scheme for children in the Market Roads area, led by older teenagers has been heralded a massive success. Supported by a Comeunity Builder grant the Sunshine Crew have provided a range of summer activities from movie making, to mural painting. This culminated in a trip to Norwich City Football Club on 29th August to meet Football legend Jeremy Goss. Co-project leader Daniela Balls says, “The activities worked really well. We learnt a lot and the children really enjoyed it. We had lots of support along the way”. The group were supported by Community Connections and Broadland Housing Association. They are planning more activities for the October half-term. Watch this Space!

Team leaders Sara and Daniela

Junior members

Opportunities Galore!

An innovative partnership project is about to embark in South and Central Yarmouth targeting a range of opportunities in volunteering, training and employment to local residents and young people living in the neighbourhood. The project being delivered between the Great Yarmouth branch of Norfolk Voluntary Services and GYROS, is aiming to channel a range of local initiatives to the residents that could benefit from them the most. Paul Cheeseman, Project lead explains; “This programme is exciting as it provides an opportunity to bring together a range of services in an easy to use directory, whilst offering training and support to Comeunity Neighbourhood Mentors. We are very pleased to be working alongside GYROS whose support will ensure that the programme has good reach and scope.”

The project will also provide a range of neighbourhood events, drop-in sessions, outreach and a with culminate in a large Opportunities Fair. For more information contact Paul Cheeseman on: 01493 845994.

If you have any interesting news items relating to your local community then let us know. Contact us using the methods listed on the Contact Us page or pop into the Comeunity Office at 143 King Street. You will be made most welcome.

Other

Tom High (cc Health Trainer) is now based at St James Health & Resources Centre. He can be contacted on 07799 643 423.