Connected Communities 2019 – 2023 A Stronger Communities Strategy for Bexley Introduction Bexley: past, present and future AD 50 1178 1762 Romans build Foundation of Work begins on 1944 Watling Street the Abbey constructing North Cray (now the A2) Danson House 1878 Residents 2019 from London Association 1948 1968 2011 2023 Monument at to Dover was formed SS Empire New UK’s rst LGBT The Old Bexley Pulls 1849 Christchurch in Windrush community football team Library opens as Together To North Kent Line Bexleyheath docks over established in established The Exchange Beat Loneliness opens serving crowdfunded the river at Thamesmead by Bexley Erith, a space for Erith and Abbey through public Tilbury resident creativity and Wood subscription Dock community 0 250 1000 1500 1700 1800 1900 1950 2000 2030 457 1537 1800 1859 1865 1994 2014 2018 2021 Britons ght Sir John The Charter William Morris Crossness Lesnes Abbey Bexley”s rst Bexley Bexley’s local people the Jutes at Champneys Oak in designs Red Pumping Station Conservation community Community lead the way in the Battle of builds Hall Danson Park House is opened by Volunteers establish managed Lottery set demonstrating the Crayford Place is planted and Prince Albert their community led library opens up raising power of kindness will grow into charity to look after £20,000 for one of the the woodland local good ‘Great Trees 1929 1939 causes in its of London’ First Citizens Advice rst 6 Rotary Bexley opens its months Club doors to local established people – one of in Bexley the rst Bureaus borough in the UK 2 Allers Allotment is run by a community of dedicated volunteers who have recently entered into a partnership with Mind in Bexley Vision providing them with plots at a charitable rate Connected Communities is based on simple, every day actions that build up community Bexley voluntary community group Vision Over 360 people helped to shape Bexley’s Connected Communities strategy including students at Townley Grammar School in Bexleyheath Foreword Bexley’s Connected Communities strategy neighbours, spreading the word about their sets out how we will work with local people local community group, or coaching a sports who want to take positive action to support team – people do it for Bexley everyday. the people and places that they care about. It Through the consultation, we have learned outlines the London Borough of Bexley’s plans that in order to build more connected for supporting and investing in community communities, the best thing we can do as a development up to 2023. Local Authority is to get behind the people that It is well-connected communities that play are already doing this. We will do this by a critical role in delivering on a number of Encouraging and equipping local people to council priorities including managing growth It’s our ambition that this approach is adopted take part in civic life, to influence decisions that benefits all, preventing people and families across the council, but also increasingly across and local priorities and shape the place from reaching crisis, supporting residents to ‘the whole system’, with strategic partners, where they live live well, for longer and, by doing all this, also voluntary community groups, businesses helping us meet the budgetary challenge that Cutting red tape for residents who want to and local people all working together for we face. get on and be active in their community a healthier, more cohesive, successful and socially active Bexley. The strategy is informed by an initial 18 month Building positive relationships across the enquiry with Bexley’s communities to develop public, private and voluntary community sector to identify shared goals and unlock the initial draft, followed by an intensive three Councillor Alex Sawyer untapped resource month consultation on the draft to develop this Cabinet Member for Communities final copy. Developing people’s skills, knowledge and We know that healthy, cohesive, socially active confidence in responding to local issues and and successful communities are made by engaging with public sector bodies –and the people that live there. Everyone that we instil the knowledge that they can make a spoke to as part of our consultation on this difference. strategy participates in community life in some Investing in the culture change required to way – whether this is looking out for their deliver on this agenda. 5 Bexley Mencap have teamed up with Good Gym Bexley to launch a volunteer-led weekly run to carry out good deeds locally while keeping fit at the same time Vision In a connected community, people without learning disabilities understand what it is like to have a disability Member of Bexley Mencap’s Respect group Contents 7 At a glance Connected Communities are: COHESIVE HEALTHY We want communities in Bexley We want communities to be healthy to connect, promoting community and supported, that mobilise the time cohesion and social integration. and talents of local people, to support the places they live. SOCIALLY ACTIVE SUCCESSFUL We want local people, neighbourhoods We want Bexley to be a place where and businesses to have opportunities to everyone feels they belong and have be active citizens. opportunities for success 8 We want to build connected communities together through: VIBRANT PLACES, SPACES CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND A THRIVING VOLUNTARY, AND NETWORKS NEIGHBOURLINESS COMMUNITY, FAITH AND SPORTS SECTOR where all communities in where local people set, and maintain, Bexley have access to affordable, standards about the kind of place they where we work in partnership with local welcoming and appealing spaces, places want Bexley to be – where kindness is charities, community organisations and and networks to connect. commonplace, where people help each local businesses to share our knowledge, other out, where people don’t litter and resources, expertise and skills to make a hate crime is not tolerated. difference together. We know that local people are the bedrock of a connected community. That is why we GROWTH THAT KNOWING OUR believe the best thing we can do to support BENEFITS ALL COMMUNITIES communities to connect, is to get behind the people that already do this, to make it easier where we work together to ensure where we need to continuously for people to participate in community life successful communities of the future check who our communities are, their and to ensure that across all council business, by building on the strengths of what’s strengths, the challenges they face we are collaborative and transparent, and already there. in planning for Bexley’s next stage of put community partnerships at the heart of growth. everything that we do. 9 Why do connected communities matter? This strategy sets out the Council’s plans for investing in and supporting community development in Bexley in the lead up to 2023. The London Borough of Bexley’s corporate plan sets out five key outcomes: Growth that benefits all Clean and green local places Strong and resilient communities and families Living well Innovation and self-sufficiency Fundamental to achieving these culture and youth violence, vandalism, outcomes is building a foundation of lower educational and economic outcomes connected communities. and health inequalities. Populations with good social connections are Investing in stronger and connected healthier, happier and more economically communities, by making better use of our sustainable. Whether it is the connections communities’ strengths, is particularly between neighbours, between communities important to the Council in the context of the and local services or between people from funding challenges it faces. different backgrounds, these connections help So far, through working together, we have us access the resources we need to support saved (or gained income of) £78m since 2010, We can balance our books by continuing to ourselves, our families and community life. but we still have further to go. It’s estimated work with our communities, drawing upon Where social connections are poor, there is that by 2023 the Council will have needed to their local knowledge, skills and capacity. In likely to be social isolation and loneliness in have either saved or gained a further £37m particular, we are looking for communities older people, the rise of intergenerational into its budget to keep up with demand on to help with the following very specific local tensions, anti-social behaviour, gang services. opportunities and challenges: 10 Ageing well and staying safe: Changing communities: Active and kind communities: To address ever-growing demand The Council launched its Growth Residents and businesses have great on the NHS and social care, we are Strategy in 2018. The vision it proposes ideas, skills and local knowledge. working to help people to stay healthy, will create many opportunities for Creating connected communities is live well and support their families and existing communities in Bexley and not just the work of the Council, Police friends to do the same. We believe that will also shape communities of the and local charities. It also requires connecting the local health and care future. The Growth Strategy sets out leadership from local people. Whether system more closely to communities is a vision for creating ‘good growth’. In it is simply saying ‘good morning’ a good thing so that people can manage this Connected Communities strategy, to your neighbour, helping a friend health conditions with better support. we set out in more detail how we with the school run, checking in on The voluntary community sector plays a plan to involve Bexley’s communities a sick relative or volunteering for an critical role, alongside statutory health in Bexley’s growth and development organised charity – it is the local people and social care providers like the NHS to ensure that change is managed to that make all the difference to the and the Council.