Bridging Communities - a Partnership Project between Longfleet, and Skinner St . United Reformed Churches Bridging Communities Annual Report

Covering the period March 2007—February 2008, our second year Compiled by : Alison Dalton An Introduction to Bridging Communities Church Related Community Worker by the Borough the Regenera-

Bridging of . This tion area of Communities project manages Poole.

Longfleet United a Church Related Reformed Church, Longfleet Rd. Community Poole, Bridging Worker who BH15 2HP Communities is a works across the Phone: 07908110121 Office:01202 669566 Longfleet United council wards of Email :alison@dave Reformed Church Poole Town and Harbour Reach Welcome alison.charitydays. Event June 2007 co.uk Project supported Hamworthy East,

The aim of Bridging The Aims of Bridging Communities Communities , Inside this report • Bringing diverse The stated through community communities performance Introducing our Church 2 development Related Community together for the indicators for the Worker practice to benefit of everyone support given by The Work contribute to the 2 • Empowering, Poole Borough are: transformation of March - May 2007 2 supporting and • Development the regeneration June - August 2007 enabling people’s process evident 3 area so that it September - voices to be heard • Community 3 reflects kingdom November 2007 • Supporting the events taking place values, such as December -February • development of • Information 2008 4 social justice and opportunities for given to local Reflections 4 inclusion. Bridging people to put residents about Communities does something back in the regeneration Future Possibilities 6 this by: their community timescale and plan. Bridging Communities Introducing our Church Related Community Worker

Our Church Communities Project experiences during Related and Longfleet United this Community Worker is Reformed Church past Alison Dalton. She during May 2006. This year. was Commissioned to is her report of our the Bridging activities and

The Work: encourages a community a project could Community to make a difference for support the relevant development work is a themselves. communities to process, a journey for During her first year our address. people to travel Church Related These issues were: together. Community Worker •The lack of community Therefore it is all began the meeting and groups in the new about relationships, developments. people listening and, •The lack of provision eventually empower- for children and young ‘Community ing each other. people in the This means that Regeneration Area development there is a constant •The sense that the need to meet people, ‘Community Voice’ did work is a hear stories, and get not feel it was being know each other. A heard. process, community •The realisation that development worker barriers were already a journey for needs to know what The view from the power station beginning to form people would like to site looking across to the develop- between communities. people to travel happen, what is ment of Harbour Reach -2007. •The hope that the planned to happen, and ‘Faith Voice’ could also together. ’ what resources there listening part of her role. be heard in relation to are available to make She then asked us to the planned regenera- these things happen. considered what we had tion of Poole. The role of the learnt during our first •The lack of theological community years work together. understanding of development worker is From this we began to community then to help all of this realized that there were development work to mix together, to certain issues that we as practise within the Christian community. The Work: March—May 2007 During this first quarter continued the work be- for action. A coalition our Church Related gun on Poole Quarter, of individuals, groups Community Worker being part of an event and agencies began to began to introduce where the feedback meet to explore ways herself to those moving from our earlier to take the Fun4Kids into Harbour Reach, consultations were Spots events forward. Page 2 Hamworthy. She offered to the residents. The Work: March - May 2007, continued Bridging Communities We agreed to put in a during Lent. She also people’s work

bid for funding to the continued to support Stay and Play at Local network Fund to our partner churches Parkstone United Reformed expand these events. through writing Church Early 2007. 2007. Our work with the newsletter articles, churches continued supporting individuals with our worker to develop worship helping others to skills, and others who develop a Prayer4Poole are exploring ideas to Labyrinth at the High develop their church’s St, Methodist Church children’s and young The Work: June - August 2007

To support the We also supported At the same time, on church’s interest in the Housing the Seldown Park Fun4Kids Spots in Poole children’s and young Associations in hosting development High St

people’s work we a Welcome Event on Puddleducks, a parent Some of the post it arranged training the Harbour Reach and toddler group , (Core) for the local development. began to meet and we comments received from leaders from both the St Michael’s were very continued to the Fun4Kids Spots: URC and Methodist supportive of this event encourage the Churches. as they volunteered to Residents group. ‘Out of this The Fun4Kids Spots serve refreshments Our Church Related were successful in Whilst in Poole Community Worker world !’ obtaining the funding Quarter some inter- was alongside for four events, we ested residents began individuals, both church held the first very to meet to explore and secular , as they ‘Thank You it successfully in the high ways they could make a began to develop skills St. during the Summer difference to their new which could make a was fantastic !’ holidays. community. difference to their own communities.. The Work: September - November 2007

Our work with The to happen. Seldown Park In the Town Centre the Residents group Churches began to continued as they consider the need for an hosted their first alcohol free bar . community barbeque. As an organization we Whilst on Poole Quar- were lucky enough to ter a second Fun 4 Our Taiwanese visitors at host a party of Fun4Kids Spots in Kids Spots was held. the Quay Taiwanese Christians as We also supported the part of the Learning from Residents group as others on the the World Church Pro- they began asking what development wanted gram. Page 3 Bridging Communities The Work: December 2007-February 2008 In this final constitution churches as they begin quarter of the and to consider their role year some of our electing one in Poole at this time, as work has become of their well as the emerging more routine, number as voluntary groups. attending regular Chair She was happy to be meetings with both Just before part of the induction new and Christmas service to celebrate established groups, we held our Tim Meachins role as writing newsletter Fun4Kids Spots in 3rd Fun4Kids Minister of Skinner St articles to keep Carter Community Spots at United Reformed people informed, Carter Community Church, whilst etc. College, who were continuing to We have also extremely supportive. encourage the evolving Supported the bur- We have also completed Children’s and Young geoning residents an evaluation report of people’s work at group. as they have this years Fun4Kids Parkstone United considered the results activities. Reformed Church. ‘We hope to from their consultation This is a very impor- Also she has felt This group is now tant time for the both privileged to support, host a beginning to feel the Community and the in a very small way, the confident enough to Churches in Poole. High St Methodist celebration in become more formal, Therefore our worker Church as it begins to with the group has felt honoured to be explore the future the Autumn. considering adopting a allowed to begin to possibilities of their support some of the town centre site. We hope you Reflections will feel able to This has been a very is not so obvious. busy year with some Community develop- join us ’ tangible project s de- ment work is about be- veloping , such as the ing alongside a group at Fun4Kids Spots. How- that moment when a ever the ethos of a suggestion will enable Longfleet United Reformed Community Develop- the group to move an Church Festival of Windows Christmas 2007 ment Project means idea forward. Or it that a lot of the work could also be said, to have begun to work link potential with with the Evaluation resources to encourage Trust. From this work that potential to become we have decided to a reality. However that celebrate our first two reality is the groups years work during the success not ours at Autumn. We hope you Bridging Communities. will feel able to come This means a lot of our along to celebrate with work and it’s results are us when that event is Last Year’s Core training held hidden and unseen . To at Skinner St. URC organised.. Page 4 help us evaluate this we 2007-2008 in Pictures Bridging Communities

Some of the post it

comments received from

Fun4 Kids Spots Christmas the Fun4Kids Spots: Feedback Event on Consulta- 2007 tion March 2007 ‘We really National Assembly July 2007 ‘I like it, Mummy ‘Close to everything and Daddy enjoyed but doesn’t playing a game too .’ enjoyed feel like the centre of town.’

ourselves’.

‘I liked having

Old Town Youth the songs’. Group Fun Day July Fun4Kids Spots Christmas 2007 2007 Synod Fun Day Easter 2007 ‘A great thing to do on a ‘Hit it right, rainy day.’ I like it.’

‘It’s really good.’

Harbour Reach Welcome Event June 2007 Fun4Kids Spots October ‘He really ‘A great day, good to Fun4Kids Spots Christmas 2007 meet our enjoyed it! neighbors', ‘I cant think of a word to Thank You it was say how good it was. ‘ thanks.’ Fantastic!’

Last Year’s Core training held June -December at Skinner St. URC Fun4 Kids Spots Christmas Stay and Play at Parkstone 2007 United Reformed Church Page 5 Christmas 2007 Bridging Communities

Bridging Communities - a Partnership Project Poole Quarter, still being between Longfleet, Graffiti at the Old Grain Silo, built Parkstone and Skinner Poole Quay, now being rede- St . United Reformed veloped Churches Longfleet United Reformed Church The Cycle speedway track at Baiter Longfleet Road, Poole BH15 3DW

Mobile phone: 07908110121 E-mail: [email protected] haritydays.co.uk

Seldown Park, the eco village Poole Quarter

The Cycle Speedway track at Baiter after it’s regeneration

Future Possibilities As this is such an ex- ciation on Bike night more consultations, as citing times for Poole, on the Quay appropriate. it is also an exciting • Perhaps work with a As will the Fun4Kids time for all the commu- Pioneer Church of Spots but our hope is nities of Poole. Ministry that they will be coor- The Christian Com- • Maybe supporting the dinated more and more munity has begun to Methodist Church as by volunteers from the consider various possi- their project devel- church and community. ble options for it’s ops. Exciting times indeed! work within the Regen- The Town Centre eration area. Management is also Discussions have be- considering an alcohol gun to consider run- free bar, it would be ning various ecumenical great if these two pro- projects such as: jects became one part- • An alcohol free bar nership project. • Some form or messy Our work on the new church type project. developments will con- • Work with the Chris- tinue as people move Poole fireworks on the tian Motorcycle Asso- into them, including Quay