Community needs
How to...meet community needs
Cleaner, Safer, Greener, ODPM, 2005
Case studies:
Health promotion
Improving Access to Green Spaces and the Countryside
Health Care Partnership
Walking the Way to Health
Women’s Walking Network
Disability
Sculpture project
Student access project
Student design projects
Trunkwell Park Garden Project
Health promotion
Improving Access to Green Spaces and the Countryside
Partners:
Site name:
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Contact:
Site name:
Location:
Description:
Contact:
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust
Various
Coventry
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust have worked with a range of organisations in and around Coventry - initially including the Coventry Primary Care NHS Trust, Coventry Carers and the Coventry Arts Exchange - to carry out an analysis of needs which will take place alongside a developing programme of activities and events. A gradual and graduated, user-led programme of activities and experiences aims to make connections between people's experiences in urban areas and their local green spaces and urban natural environments. As information is gained and confidence builds, it is hoped to extend this 'stepping stones' approach so that carers might feel able to decide to access the outdoors further from home.
Sue Woods T: 024 7663 4191
Various
Coventry
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust have worked with a range of organisations in and around Coventry - initially including the Coventry Primary Care NHS Trust, Coventry Carers and the Coventry Arts Exchange - to carry out an analysis of needs which will take place alongside a developing programme of activities and events. A gradual and graduated, user-led programme of activities and experiences aims to make connections between people's experiences in urban areas and their local green spaces and urban natural environments. As information is gained and confidence builds, it is hoped to extend this 'stepping stones' approach so that carers might feel able to decide to access the outdoors further from home.
Sue Woods T: 024 7663 4191
Health Care Partnership
Partners:
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London Borough of Merton
Ravensbury Park
Merton, South London
Ravensbury Park has benefited from an HLF restoration programme, which involved a development plan that relocated an overcrowded doctor’s practice to one corner of the park. As part of this, a 40-place day nursery, a café, a pharmacy and an alternative health care facility was developed. The proposal was developed in partnership with the Health Authority and the local GP’s practice, with a nominated primary health care developer now on board. As a result of this, a premium will be paid to the Council to fund the restoration proposals, including removing inappropriate buildings, creating a new bridge and providing a sum to underpin a further application to HLF.
Robert Hobbs T: 020 8545 3651
Ravensbury Park
Merton, South London
Ravensbury Park has benefited from an HLF restoration programme, which involved a development plan that relocated an overcrowded doctor’s practice to one corner of the park. As part of this, a 40-place day nursery, a café, a pharmacy and an alternative health care facility was developed. The proposal was developed in partnership with the Health Authority and the local GP’s practice, with a nominated primary health care developer now on board. As a result of this, a premium will be paid to the Council to fund the restoration proposals, including removing inappropriate buildings, creating a new bridge and providing a sum to underpin a further application to HLF.
Robert Hobbs T: 020 8545 3651
Walking the Way to Health
Partners:
Site name:
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Site name:
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Bristol City Council
Various
Bristol, Avon
Communities suffering from health inequalities, particularly target groups such as older people, low income households, ethnic communities and young women under 25, are benefiting from a programme of health-led walks in parks in the Bristol area. Rather than attempting to change activity behaviour, the scheme aims to increase individual well-being and self-esteem as a means to make target groups more active. The scheme relies on volunteers to lead walks, creating a social model of health promotion as well as contributing to Bristol's Health Improvement Programme. 'Walking the way to health' has increased park usage bringing with it some security and ownership benefits. It has also enabled an increase in funding because of recognition of the wider benefits as well as wider health improvements in communities through moderate exercise and socialisation.
Peter Wilkinson (Head of Parks) T: 0117 922 3535
Various
Bristol, Avon
Communities suffering from health inequalities, particularly target groups such as older people, low income households, ethnic communities and young women under 25, are benefiting from a programme of health-led walks in parks in the Bristol area. Rather than attempting to change activity behaviour, the scheme aims to increase individual well-being and self-esteem as a means to make target groups more active. The scheme relies on volunteers to lead walks, creating a social model of health promotion as well as contributing to Bristol's Health Improvement Programme. 'Walking the way to health' has increased park usage bringing with it some security and ownership benefits. It has also enabled an increase in funding because of recognition of the wider benefits as well as wider health improvements in communities through moderate exercise and socialisation.
Peter Wilkinson (Head of Parks) T: 0117 922 3535
Women’s Walking Network
Partners:
Site name:
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Milton Keynes Parks Trust
Various
Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire
Results of visitor research highlighted a need to do more for this under-represented group, particularly through making provisions for safety. In response, the concept of a Women's Walking Network was identified and developed in partnership with the local community and Milton Keynes Parks Trust.
Mary Balhatchet (Events Ranger) T: 01908 233 600
Various
Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire
Results of visitor research highlighted a need to do more for this under-represented group, particularly through making provisions for safety. In response, the concept of a Women's Walking Network was identified and developed in partnership with the local community and Milton Keynes Parks Trust.
Mary Balhatchet (Events Ranger) T: 01908 233 600
Disability
Sculpture project
Partners:
Site name:
Location:
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Description:
Contact:
BTCV, Riding School for the Disabled
Riding School
Barnsley, West Yorkshire
A local wood carver was invited to carve a series of tactile seats from large logs, sited on a trail in the grounds of the school. All visitors can appreciate these sculptures as they walk around the trail, and those people with visual impairment can enjoy the tactile experience of touching the wood and discovering the detail in the carving. The project was funded by a local arts trust, and the carving done in situ, so that visitors to the centre could see the work progressing and have a go themselves.
BTCV Barnsley
Riding School
Barnsley, West Yorkshire
A local wood carver was invited to carve a series of tactile seats from large logs, sited on a trail in the grounds of the school. All visitors can appreciate these sculptures as they walk around the trail, and those people with visual impairment can enjoy the tactile experience of touching the wood and discovering the detail in the carving. The project was funded by a local arts trust, and the carving done in situ, so that visitors to the centre could see the work progressing and have a go themselves.
BTCV Barnsley
Student access project
Partners:
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Location:
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BTCV, School of Architecture at Nottingham University, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham Environment Partnership
Various parks and other green space around the city
Nottingham, East Midlands
BTCV organised the production of a printed guide for the parks and green spaces in the city for people with disabilities. The project was set up with the Council’s Access Officer, and the team for visual impairment, together with 50 students from the University. The students were given hands-on experience of using a wheelchair and learnt about problems faced by people in using parks and green spaces, visiting 50 parks and other green spaces to assess their suitability for use by the disabled. Features noted included parking provision, ramps and dropped kerbs, access through gates, path surfacing, gradients, steps, provision of seating and toilet facilities. The students presented the information on maps and with written reports, from which a printed guide was produced with support from the Nottingham Environment Partnership.
BTCV Burton Joyce (Nottingham)
Various parks and other green space around the city
Nottingham, East Midlands
BTCV organised the production of a printed guide for the parks and green spaces in the city for people with disabilities. The project was set up with the Council’s Access Officer, and the team for visual impairment, together with 50 students from the University. The students were given hands-on experience of using a wheelchair and learnt about problems faced by people in using parks and green spaces, visiting 50 parks and other green spaces to assess their suitability for use by the disabled. Features noted included parking provision, ramps and dropped kerbs, access through gates, path surfacing, gradients, steps, provision of seating and toilet facilities. The students presented the information on maps and with written reports, from which a printed guide was produced with support from the Nottingham Environment Partnership.
BTCV Burton Joyce (Nottingham)
Student design projects
Partners:
Site name:
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BTCV, Local College
Outdoor trail
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
3D design students from a local college were involved in creating musical features to be sited on an outdoor trail, particularly designed for use by the disabled. The students came up with various designs of wind chimes and percussive instruments in wood, metal and other materials, which could be enjoyed by people using the trail. A selection of the designs were made up and sited around trail. However robust, this type of feature is prone to vandalism, and may be best included only on a supervised site.
BTCV Barnsley
Outdoor trail
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
3D design students from a local college were involved in creating musical features to be sited on an outdoor trail, particularly designed for use by the disabled. The students came up with various designs of wind chimes and percussive instruments in wood, metal and other materials, which could be enjoyed by people using the trail. A selection of the designs were made up and sited around trail. However robust, this type of feature is prone to vandalism, and may be best included only on a supervised site.
BTCV Barnsley
Trunkwell Park Garden Project
Partners:
Site name:
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Contact:
Thrive
Trunkwell Park Garden
Reading
Thrive is an organisation specialising in horticultural therapy and training for the disabled, and in 1997 they began an initiative to identify UK projects and bring them together in an active network. Thrive runs the Trust, which employs three full time staff, six full time horticultural therapists and 40 part time volunteers. The benefits are numerous, including building confidence, skill training and general social inclusion of disabled people.
Reference: DTLR Urban Green Spaces Taskforce Working Group 5: Partnerships for Improving Urban Green Spaces (p.39)
T: 0118 988 5688 E: info@thrive.org.uk
Trunkwell Park Garden
Reading
Thrive is an organisation specialising in horticultural therapy and training for the disabled, and in 1997 they began an initiative to identify UK projects and bring them together in an active network. Thrive runs the Trust, which employs three full time staff, six full time horticultural therapists and 40 part time volunteers. The benefits are numerous, including building confidence, skill training and general social inclusion of disabled people.
Reference: DTLR Urban Green Spaces Taskforce Working Group 5: Partnerships for Improving Urban Green Spaces (p.39)
T: 0118 988 5688 E: info@thrive.org.uk