Local Voices Life in 5 Derbyshire Communities during Coronavirus April-June 2020

shift-together.co.uk INTRODUCTION Our mission is to create a culture shift across Key work strands in these places includes: Principles of Building Active Derbyshire whereby regular physical activity is not Communities: just normal, but also seen as central to good health Local leadership development – identifying emerging and wellbeing. leaders, connecting people locally, building a movement • Enabling and encouraging local people to to champion community led physical activity lead (mobilising) We are currently working in 5 small communities Influencing the influencers: Organised and systematic • Building partnerships around shared (1000-3000 people) to test an asset based approach story telling with different audiences in communities to purpose – focusing on the strengths of a place and nurturing demonstrate the value of community organising and • Identifying capacity community led action. regular physical activity. • Connecting people and building Creating Exposure: Testing new ways of exposing people New Bolsover/Carr Vale – Fairfield – Petersham relationships in communities to physical activity through events and New Mills - Crich • Exploring the potential of the material and campaigns, integrating exercise into other activities eg built environment Asset Based Community Development cookery classes and local challenges such as the Daily • Shifting power away from organisations to (ABCD): Mile and Family Mile. residents and integrating services and Underpinning Assumptions: systems where appropriate Our approach builds on the principles of ‘a-b-c-d’; • Inspiring behaviour change – showcasing ‘Asset Based Community Development’ – or even ‘a- what’s possible and inspiring a movement Based on our collective experience of community-based b-c-d-e’; ‘Asset Based and Community Driven for change through public narrative sport development, alongside a plethora of Efforts’. epidemiological evidence and data, we believe that: Strategic Asset based approaches build on what’s strong, not • An active community is a healthy community Leaders /Joined • Up Care what’s wrong. Initial effort goes into unearthing and People living ‘in community’ are best placed to drive sustained change Derbyshire connecting with local people who have energy, ideas • Achieving a culture shift where physical activity is Services & and who care about themselves, each other and their central to health and wellbeing depends on the System place. Enabling those people to lead in their place is contributions of multiple and interconnected agents Leaders central to this way of working and achieves and agencies sustainable change in the long term. Connecting the wider system around the ‘abcde’ model is central to “Community our approach and learning in Derbyshire and we are Networks & working with colleagues from Active Derbyshire, Local Social Authorities, Live Life Better Derbyshire, CCGs, Public Infrastructure Health, NHS and the Community and Voluntary Sector 01 to achieve the culture shift required for lasting change. Local Voices

As part of a Community of Learning, Sport England recently shared resources that capture insights during the outbreak of the Coronavirus. In response to this and building on the learning, we are sharing examples and observations from 5 Derbyshire communities using the 9 themes cited in the ‘Local Voices’ document. Our information has been sourced directly from people living in the 5 communities; from local leaders, residents, schools and community organisations. 1 Widening inequalities and impact of wellbeing

2 Common purpose 3 Making connectivity and trust count

4 Community and place matters

5 Daily life 6 Clarity of message 7 Digital divide

8 Financial sustainability

9 What does recovery mean? 02

1. Widening inequalities and impact on wellbeing

Impact on Wellbeing: -ve There is evidence of both a positive and negative impact As time passed there were increasing reports of anxiety and on life during the Coronavirus outbreak between April and deteriorating mental health, from elderly or isolated people who June: were fearful of becoming ill to families with young children who were bored and restless. +ve Widening Inequalities: During the early weeks many families reported enjoying It is evident from our work in 5 places that where there are high spending more time together at home, gardening, working levels of social capital things get done quickly, efficiently and with at the allotments and generally slowing down. minimal input from statutory agencies. In New Mills and Crich Some talked of being more connected with their where there is a strong culture of volunteering and a wealth of lived neighbours, friends, family and work colleagues. experience of organising, networks were mobilised quickly and Local parks and open spaces were important for everyone, volunteers had clear roles with guidance documents and protocol. Infrastructure especially where activities such as pavement chalking Communities without local amenities and rock painting became popular via social media. Whereas in Petersham, Fairfield and New Bolsover whilst there were found it harder to access basic Pavilion Gardens in Buxton hosted a ‘Sid the Snake’ rock high levels of activity and community organising, the default requirements whereas those with local collection which encouraged children from Fairfield to response from some citizens was to retract and await instruction shops, pharmacies and infrastructure paint rocks and walk into town (approx. 1 mile) to add to from the authorities. Support from external organisations was were able to look after themselves the collection. needed to put in place safeguarding systems and databases and adequately. Residents who give confidence to those leading. volunteered as part of an organised Mutual Aid As such, we could assume that in places where there is little social network in Crich capital or support for community leaders, responding to such a reported improved crisis would be even harder or less likely and the gaps in quality of mental health life would widen. “I felt useful”

“I enjoyed being with

can-do people” “It’s been a real Communities without “ privilege volunteering “ and speaking with our local amenities found it amazing community” harder to access basic 04 requirements 2. Common Purpose – energy, passion, kindness, and humanity Compassion, Community and Collaboration Co-operation In Fairfield, Petersham and New Bolsover Each of the 5 communities has shown partners who have been connecting around resilience through collaboration at a the asset based community development time of crisis. Driven by the desire to work over the past 2 years have increased care for each other and in particular for their efforts to collaborate during the isolated or vulnerable people in their pandemic (e.g. SHIFT, Active Derbyshire, wider neighbourhoods, local leaders Local Authority, CCG, CVS, Schools, Public with energy and ideas have stepped Health etc). Place group meetings shifted forward and taken action together. onto Zoom and were well attended and productive with resources being channelled Local Action quickly to support local action. In Fairfield, Petersham and New Bolsover/Carr Vale it was noticeable that Power Shift when the Community Builder was forced In Petersham the effective partnership to step back due to lockdown between infrastructure organisations and restrictions, community organisers we residents has led to a ‘Participatory had been supporting from within the Budgeting’ approach being explored, place stepped forward. Using Facebook agreed and funds held locally for the first as the primary platform, connections time. were made and plans came to life. Above and Beyond In Crich, where the Community Builder In many communities the efforts have lives and works it was clearly easier to stretched beyond shopping, prescription support local efforts and to remain collections and phone calls to setting up involved from with the community new projects. In Crich 4 ‘Community networks. During 12 weeks of lockdown Pantries’ have been created where residents

the Covid Voluntary Network handled are invited to ‘give what you can, take what People living in 650 calls, delivered over 500 you need’. Food, sanitary products, plants “ prescriptions and made and delivered and face masks have been shared and “ over 1000 hot meals to isolated people. there is a constant flow of goods in and out. community are best In addition, a ‘Digital Friends’ scheme has been developed to teach isolated people 05 placed to drive change how to connect on social media and using a tablet or smart phone. 3. Making connectivity and trust count

Local Networks Trust is a key feature in one success Distributed Leadership – Our work over the past 2 years has story in Fairfield and New Mills where New More work to do! intentionally focussed on building capacity Bodies Gym - a local, well respected within communities to enable people to lead in sports provider decided not to furlough Whilst in Petersham local leaders their place. Much of this has involved staff but adapt their operations, move have stepped up and taken connecting people, mobilising networks and on-line and listen to what their members responsibility during the crisis, the encouraging a sense of agency and personal were saying. They loaned out equipment, growth in power has led to a responsibility allowing people to take action. provided masks, delivered socially reluctance to ask for help and share distanced outdoor sessions on the car responsibility. Throughout the pandemic many of these park and posted every day on Facebook networks have revealed value beyond the to keep in touch with their members. Further work is needed to support initial purpose. volunteers to enable others to lead, They are a trusted and valued part of the to share responsibility and In Fairfield the Foodies Group which was community and as a result, their recognise the value of building established at the junior school to support members have been loyal and activity capacity rather than being a local families cook healthy, nutritious meals on a levels have remained high. hero! budget became a social network to share Joe Wicks PE Videos, photos of family walks and Trust within communities also led recipe ideas using food parcels. to a swift, agile and well organised Through community response in Mutual Aid groups who didn’t organising and need to ask for permission and just got on convening hundreds and took action. of community conversations, Confidence to refer In Crich, where residents have built efforts have recently been made by the relationships with Community Builder to connect the GP

each other and trust Practice and health providers with local

has developed. This social networks, there is now enough trust Members have been has become an and confidence that during lockdown GPs “ important source of “ referred patients directly to the Mutual loyal and activity levels comfort, strength and Aid Network where they were contacted 06 hope during a difficult and their needs were met. have remained high time. 4. Community and place matters

Agency Enabling Active Lives Thursday Night Clapping The shift away from structure and service As well as shopping services, food share led interventions and towards social action Clapping for Carers on a Thursday and prescription delivery, the Petersham has been observed in each of the 5 evening became a social ritual during group organised the production of communities with an uprising of local lockdown where streets and activity packs for young people which leaders who want to make a difference in neighbourhoods took to their were delivered to over 100 families and their community. doorsteps to clap, sing and chat to funded by the local councillor. Table each other. A chorus in what was tennis, bean bags, skipping ropes, activity otherwise an unusually quiet time. cards and body weight work outs were all In some streets it was an expression of well received. pride, gratitude and togetherness followed by encouraging notes on Facebook eg Carr Vale: ‘Great effort from Scarsdale Street in the applause today. Making our community Within days of lockdown in Petersham, a proud.’ Covid Mutual Aid Group was formed to support vulnerable people led by Anna, a When people realised that they could once shy and isolated resident with 3 stay connected on their own young children. The group of residents was doorsteps there was a decision to supported by local charities and continue with the VE Day celebrations organisations including Hope Long Eaton, after initially considering cancelling. Long Eaton Rugby Club, Erewash Borough Other communities encouraged Council, CVS and Shift Community Builder doorstep activity and some organised Zoe. fitness and dance sessions with music. Similarly in Fairfield local residents rallied The Friends of New Bolsover group also

together to organise distribution of food led a lot of the local organising and

parcels, family activities and signposting secured £1000 of Covid funding to under the umbrella organisation of ROFA purchase sports equipment for a Within days of lockdown, a “ (Residents of Fairfield Association). The community loan scheme in response to “ Scout Hut became a central organising young people who couldn’t access play Covid Mutual Aid group was venue07 and 23 new volunteers were equipment and the parks. formed in Petersham recruited. 5. Daily life

Visibility of Exercise During lockdown exercise such as walking, Inactivity cycling and jogging became highly visible Schools have reported that there were young people who were sleeping all on the streets and in communities and this day and playing on the x-box all evening/night. Although this may be was received with both positivity and providing a source of social interaction for these children, and anti-social resistance. In some instances, seeing behaviour has decreased over the period, physical activity levels seem to be neighbours heading out walking or running low with these young people who perhaps get most of their activity through encouraged others to do the same whereas school during the day. in other cases where runners were out on pavements, it became a source of fear and Residents observed that there were fewer children playing on open spaces even anger. than normal – likely due to the lockdown restrictions as well as closure of play equipment, sports clubs, groups and organised activities. Gardens became the new sports halls and families were spotted playing football, Lack of Fitness cricket and badminton during the sunny People who were shielding have spoken about being unfit due to lack of weather. Children learnt to ride bikes on the normal exercise and are now reluctant to walk to the shops as they don’t streets which were much quieter and safer think they would make it there and back. One Mutual Aid group is now than normal. considering a buddying scheme to encourage volunteers to meet nervous residents and accompany them to the shops or on a short walk. Displacement of Activity Exercise classes which had developed in village halls (such as yoga and pilates in Bainbridge Hall, New Bolsover) were quickly transferred onto screens and took place in front rooms. Most classes remained popular and in some cases grew due to unlimited capacity.

In Crich, the Patient Participation Group

(PPG) funded production of a chair-based Children learnt to ride bikes on yoga DVD by the local instructor for “ participants to use in their homes while the “ the streets which were much classes couldn’t take place in the community08 centre. quieter than normal. 6. Clarity of message Car Parks Closed In New Bolsover particularly, residents Local Trusted Messengers were unsure whether the local trails and In all 5 communities it was clear that footpaths were open and accessible as residents were most responsive to adjacent car parks were closed. This messaging from local and trusted people made people reluctant to walk despite rather than authorities. this often being possible. Lia Roos, Chair of ROFA (Residents of Clear, consistent messaging around Fairfield Association) was the source of access to open space would have been most information shared with people in welcomed by residents and enabled Fairfield via her Facebook page. Similarly in increased levels of activity. Petersham, Anna erected an interim noticeboard in her front garden to inform people of the latest news and activities taking place in the community.

In Crich, the parish magazine ‘Crich Standard’ became the central point of contact for volunteers and residents alike featuring stories, shielding advice and services available via the Mutual Aid group.

In New Bolsover the community newsletter Government Messaging stopped for a month (a further example of There was also uncertainty around the retraction in response to crisis) but is again levels of activity and exercise permitted up and running and the Friends of New per day, particularly in the early weeks. Bolsover Facebook Group has been the

Some understood the message to be 1 main source of communication locally

hour per day, others 1 session and others whilst the Community House has been one form of exercise. Clear messaging closed. Residents were unsure “ around exercise was perhaps an opportunity to encourage positive “ whether the local trails and habits and increase levels of activity. footpaths were open 09 7. Digital divide

Screen Success Digital Disconnect Access to technology became significant Whilst those who were during the pandemic. Those with the means technologically savvy switched to and the confidence quickly transferred their their screens to connect, many who activity to screens, be it work, exercise or relied on face to face contact were social. isolated from friends, families and their neighbours. Volunteers out Fitness Instructors who had been used to delivering food to residents became leading sessions in halls now had to figure acutely aware of the lack of out how to stream on Facebook with interaction and growing sense of cameras, social media platforms and isolation and loneliness amongst space in their living rooms to make this older residents and in Crich this happen. For those who were brave it paid prompted a new project. off with continuity for them and their participants. Digital Friends The Digital Friends project secured £7000 of covid funding to purchase tablets and smart phones for a local loan scheme. A group of retired residents who were confident with social media and digital technology provided one-one support to enable interested residents to access platforms such as ‘WhatsApp, Facetime and zoom and have now been in regular contact with their social groups and friends. “This has been an absolute blessing” 10 8. Financial sustainability 9. What does recovery mean? Investing in Communities Resurgence over Recovery Traditionally, community activity has been Rather than recovering to what was, there financed through grants, often following long seems to be an uprising and resurgence from and laborious application forms, panels and communities to pull together, care for each lengthy administrative procedures. other, to share and generate new ideas. This has been witnessed in all 5 communities in Participatory budgeting varying degrees and no doubt there is much more going on beneath the surface, neighbour In Petersham, the trial of a ‘participatory to neighbour. budgeting’ approach is already proving valuable. The benefits are seen in increased Leadership ownership, engagement and collaboration As leaders, we have the opportunity now to around a shared purpose as well as effective create space for resurgence, to listen, support, decision making and better use of resources. enable and champion the ideas and possibilities emerging through community Doing things differently networks. Covid has created an upsurge in residents stepping up to take action and many are Challenge seeking quick, intuitive funding streams to In enabling community leadership, there is also support their efforts. This is perhaps an a role for leaders to challenge the practices opportunity to do things differently, to bring within our systems which are no longer helpful. communities and the wider system Recreating something better will stakeholders closer together and use finance undoubtedly mean disrupting old as a means of joining up and taking shared ways and being brave together. decisions about what’s best for the people. Rather than simply providing funds, in future it

might be an opportunity to tie in crowd People living in sourcing of skills, expertise from appropriate “ organisations, network support and agree “ realistic outcome requirements with longer community are best timescales.

11 placed to drive change Next Steps “Citizenship is a muscle you Physical Activity build, not a cup you empty” Let’s build on what’s emerging as Jon Alexander, co-founder of the New Citizenship strong: Project noted in a recent interview for the ‘Now Then’ magazine that between February and May • Increased interest in nature, trails, this year, the proportion of the population who rivers and footpaths. think of Britain as a society where people look • Parks and local outdoor spaces out for each other trebled. • Doorstep interaction and front gardens as play spaces We have noticed in all 5 places in Derbyshire that • Informal activity: skipping, table tennis, where the notion of Mutual Aid has grown – be it slack lining formally or not, there has been a huge sense of • joy and a renewed desire to care for each other. Cycling, bikes and active travel • People have felt good for belonging to something Home workouts that’s making a difference. • Social Media Fitness Challenges • Sports Equipment Loan Schemes Shared purpose and shared power is deeply • Couch to 5k human and requires nurturing and encouraging, not harnessing and capturing. Our next steps And recognise where it’s difficult: must be to discover together as a system how we • Reduced fitness levels and confidence enable more ‘Mutual Aid’ type behaviours and for people who have been shielding support them to grow and flourish. • Sports clubs, exercise groups and fitness classes which have stopped and many who are unsure how to come back, if at all.

• Reliance on access to digital

technology which could exclude so A huge sense of joy and many, particularly older people “ “ • Young people choosing X-Box over renewed desire to care for exercise 12 each other T: 07917 634153

E: [email protected] shift-together.co.uk

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