Grounded

This episode features a conversation between Michael Little and Avril McIntyre which Michael recorded as part of his Ratio Talks podcast. Avril is the Chief Executive of Community Resources, an organisation working to create spaces that are welcoming, inclusive and regenerative – starting from their base in the Lifeline Centre in Dagenham.

Avril lives in Dagenham and has been working with the local community since 2000. She talked about:

* Supporting community connections in an organic way, by creating a space in which it’s possible for people to meet without pressure

* Resisting the temptation to apply for funding that is only framed around high needs - because she wants her work to be relevant for the whole community

* How working in a programmatic way can undermine approaches that seek to work holistically with people

This is a short edit of a longer conversation! You will be able to listen to the fuller conversation on Ratio Talks.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

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We spoke to Siân Lewis, a senior community organiser at Grapevine - an organisation which works to strengthen people, spark community and shift power across Coventry and Warwickshire.

Siân grew up in Coventry and moved back here after a period of time living and studying in the US, and community organising gave her a way to reconnect with the city. We talked about:

* How essential it is to invest in building relationships and trust over multiple years: ‘You can’t do anything in a year. People aren’t going to trust you.’

* The personal accountability held by community organisers, and the challenges this can bring for those doing the work

* The importance of tackling negative narratives around areas known to be ‘deprived’ and in need of investment, which can also be seen as areas where community energy for change is lacking

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/arnito/la-route-de-soi

License code: LOMUULS1AL1QOIRI

Discussion about this episode

We spoke to Amelie Tan about her work for BD Collective, an infrastructure organisation which works to strengthen Barking and Dagenham’s voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector.

Amelie is moving on from her current role in August, but took the time to chat to us about her work and time in Barking and Dagenham, including:

* Building trust in a borough experiencing a lot of churn - building friendship and connection as a first step to encouraging organisations to think beyond their own boundaries

* The importance of listening deeply to understand a range of perspectives and past experiences that people will be bringing to a collective effort, to build towards a transparent and equitable culture

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/arnito/la-route-de-soi

License code: LOMUULS1AL1QOIRI

We spoke to Andy Jackson about his work spanning 25 years working to improve Heeley, a hillside neighbourhood in Sheffield that was once labelled a ‘slum’, but in part through the work done over the years by residents through Heely Development Trust has become a very different place to live.

Some of the things we talked about include:

* How it feels to be ‘stitching the state together’ at the local level by working with lots of different local authority departments; accessing different funding and reporting on different metrics of success

* The different types of accountability you feel when working in a community in which you live, where you are accountable on a personal level to your neighbours

* The uncertainties of the future, and how the ways of working we have learned over the last 20 years are unlikely to be the same ones we need in the years to come

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/arnito/la-route-de-soi

License code: LOMUULS1AL1QOIRI

In our newest episode, Sean Harris reflects on the role educators can play in tackling poverty, drawing on his work in the Tees Valley Education Trust: a multi-academy trust serving communities across Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland. Sean tells the story of how they embedded a place-based approach to tackling child poverty through the development of PLACE (People, Learning and Community Engagement)

Key takeaways:

* The Multi-Academy Trust had to think carefully about their role – moving from seeing themselves as the ‘beating heart of the community’ instead to think about itself as one vital organ in a whole system

* A coordinated effort that built on a strong problem analysis freed Sean and his partners up from chasing different pots of money

* The importance of being ‘furiously curious’ – to step out of comfort zones of the traditional 9-5 and dismantle some closely held mental models about poverty

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

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Atara Fridler discusses her work in Harlesden, in the diverse London borough of Brent; and her journey in place-based community development. She shares insights on community engagement, collaboration with local authorities, and the impact of her work on the community and herself.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/arnito/la-route-de-soi

License code: LOMUULS1AL1QOIRI

Our first episode features Stephen Skeet from Volunteering Matters discussing place-based community social action in Ipswich. We explore the challenges, mechanisms of change, and the evolving landscape of place-based work, highlighting the importance of strategic stakeholder engagement.

Takeaways

Place-based work involves shifting attitudes, defining success beyond traditional metrics, and engaging stakeholders strategically.

Community support and a network of like-minded individuals are valuable resources for those involved in place-based work.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Grounded Podcast

06:25 Exploring Ipswich: A Place with Diverse Narratives

21:35 Mechanisms of Change and Values in Place-Based Work

30:16 Challenges and Shifting Attitudes Towards Young People

40:15 Defining Success and Shifting Funding Models

49:20 Strategic Approach to Stakeholder Engagement

59:50 Reflection on the Evolving Landscape of Place-Based Work

01:05:45 Conclusion and Gratitude

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/arnito/la-route-de-soi

License code: LOMUULS1AL1QOIRI