Guide neighbourhoods

Castle Vale Guide Neighbourhoods

Background

Castle Vale Guide Neighbourhoods was established in 2005, one of 9 organisations nationwide identified by the Government as ‘Beacons of good practice in resident led regeneration’, with a further 6 organisations were identified during the 2 ¼ year programme. The original 9 were, Balsall Heath Forum, Burrowes Street CVCHA, Royds, Eldonians, Include, Pembroke Street, Poplar HARCA and the NFTMO

The others, Seedley & Langworthy, Stubbin, Goodwin, Leicester Northwest Community Forum, Perry Common and Neighbours 4U joined in late 2005 & early 2006

The aim of the programme was to extend the previous ‘Seeing is Believing’ model of visits to communities in which local residents share their successes in renewing and regenerating their neighbourhood, to a longer term approach of providing ongoing mentoring and advice. This process aimed to translate the inspiration and the enthusiasm of key individuals into learning for others (including community based organisations, regeneration practitioners and policy makers) so that they can contribute to the building of sustainable communities

Why Castle Vale was designated a Guide Neighbourhood

It is widely recognised by politicians and civil servants that residents living and working in their communities are critical in creating sustainable communities and delivering quality public services.

Residents living and working in a community that has undergone a programme of regeneration and renewal have developed an array of skillsand have gained vast experience of the regeneration process, and, residents and staff from various resident led organisations who had gone through the regeneration of Castle Vale have a vast pool of knowledge of processes of regeneration that could be shared with others.

What is this experience?

• Neighbourhood action planning
• Developing and sustaining partnerships
• Environmental issues
• Health improvement initiatives
• Local governance
• Neighbourhood warden schemes
• Estate wide CCTV
• Neighbourhood Charters
• Community controlled housing
• Supporting social enterprise
• Children and young people/Youth
• Neighbourhood management
• Learning and capacity building
• Community safety
• Managing community assets
• Organisational capacity and leadership

Government funding stopped in March 2007 but CVCHA saw the value of what had and could be achieved and have continued to fund the programme in Castle Vale..

Last updated: 19-02-2010