A community in Plymouth held a collaborative and vibrant fun day for the second year.
After 14-year-old Sid Burgess had the idea of putting on the activity day last year to bring the neighbourhood together, the community got behind it once more. Another event has shown the community spirit and cohesion of the residents here.
There was face painting, games and activities for all ages as well as light refreshments at Foxfield’s Close near the MUGA football. It was also a chance for us to listen to our residents who live in that area to gain feedback and get ideas to support the community.
Our resident, Justine Charlick, said: “It’s such a great community spirit, some really strong lifelong friendships with people helping you out all the time, it’s become my forever home.
“Every neighbourhood has its issues but as a rule, everyone looks out for each other, everybody takes care of each other, and nothing is too much trouble here. It’s cosy and you’re never alone when hard times hit so it’s lovely.
“We try and hold these events once or twice a year and everyone comes out. The spirit is great, and the kids have got something to do so it’s just nice.
“It’s really great LiveWest puts this on, we will talk about this for weeks. We will be looking at photos, slightly mocking each other a little bit but there will be people who you don’t talk to every day but that have come today who you talk to, but you may not speak to them for months so that’s nice as well.”
Sid and his friend Harry Burring gave a helping hand this year by giving out leaflets and the day was a collaboration of organisations coming together with advice and support from our Housing team and Tenancy Sustainment team.
The games and activities were led by The Argyle Community Trust, arts and crafts were run by Plymouth Scrap store and activities for young people were run by Plymouth City Council Family Hub and Youth Service.
Barnardo’s, who run the children’s centres in Plymouth, also attended. Local PCSO, Ricky Souch, came with a police vehicle for the children to look at and Devon and Somerset Fire service provided an appliance and crew so families could about fire safety.
The Ocean Conservation Trust came along and a representative from CASS Plus, raising awareness of the service available.
Our resident, Sid Burgess, said: “It brings us all together when there is nothing to do and people start getting bored that’s when people can start getting involved with the wrong things. I don’t think it’s a community here it’s more like a family because we all back each other up and if there is something wrong, we will all try and sort it.
“It’s got me out of the house so that was good. Having the networking and organisations here helps because we can get more people involved and have more things with the youth centre to come down here to enjoy and more of the park too. LiveWest organised this event, if it wasn’t for them this wouldn’t be here.”
Joining them also was our new Community Connector for the area, Charlotte Holdsworth, who was meeting residents and discussing community ideas for the estate with them.
Charlotte Holdsworth, our Community Connector, said: “There is great community spirit here. It’s all about bringing people together but it’s also an opportunity for me because I’m quite new to this neighbourhood in focus area so I can get to know people.
“Residents can share their ideas too and that’s really important for us at LiveWest because then we can respond and work with the people in the community. They’re talking about LiveWest so we need to hear these things and these events provide us with that opportunity.
“There is an expectation that there will be fun days as there used to be and I think that is fair enough, that we do work together to have an event in the summer and children can enjoy it and families come together so we get to know our communities that much better.”