Growing a Powerful Community and Local Democracy

We vote for local councillors to represent us and to act as the bridge between the people and the Local Council.

That does not mean we sit back and let them do everything for us; that would give our power away. This community is definitely growing its own power and acting together.

Protecting local buildings

This year we've seen concerned residents come together to make sure that the Wellfield Hotel is back on the asset of the community value list. This means that the current owners cannot change the use of the building from a pub.

If you remember, there was an attempt to convert the pubs into flats.

It also means that if current owners decide to sell it, the local community has the first option to purchase. Perhaps we should start saving for a rainy day?

We've also seen parents who are passionate about children's play and dissatisfied with what's available in the holidays come together and take action to do something about it. You can read more about that at on the Community Play page.

Raising Money and Showing Solidarity

During the pandemic, through the Facebook community, we offered no-strings cash gifts of up to £50 for people and families struggling in the run up to Christmas.

The local community donated into a pot, raising £850 together. We noticed that those who received cash gifts tended to donate items they no longer needed to others in the Facebook group, or they helped at some of the community activities or in the food pantry.

Some repaid the cash too, when back on their feet and put it back in the pot for other people to use.

What ripples out when you offer kindness and trust in others is amazing.

We noticed that sharing, giving, and lending went up enormously on the Facebook group when we started offering kindness to each other.

Together we held a crowd funder and raised over £300 to plant bulbs of remembrance and hope at St Anne's Community garden.

As the lockdowns got tougher and we hadn't been able to grieve together for the family and community members we had lost, we decided we should mark it in some way.

We organised a planting weekend to plant bulbs to remember those we had lost and bulbs of hope.

We hoped that in the Spring time, we might be able to come together again for a garden party.

There's more community organising going on at St Anne's. A group of people from across the community are working to create a memorial space in the garden for babies we have lost. And the community has raised cash, through Coop support, for a covered seating area.

A local community elder sparked this idea. We met her walking the streets during the pandemic, getting her daily exercise. She lost her son some time ago and said she'd love to have somewhere to sit and remember him.

We love how people from all across the community are getting involved. It's good to see. You don't have to go to St Anne's Church to get involved.

Cash and Chips and Pounds and Pies

Northern Heart and Soul CiC (a local community business) managed to get hold of some cash so we could begin deciding together how best to spend money in the local community— putting cash into the hands of the community without lots of strings or time consuming funding applications.

Community members came up with a good few ideas, which they presented at Cash and Chips Night at the Wellfield Hotel on 8th November last year.

Ideas included more benches so people could take a breath; community defibrillators; a memorial garden for babies we lost, recycling bicycles, and more dog poo bag dispensers.

In the evening, people presented their ideas to the chip eating audience (thanks to Gidlow Plaice) and decided if they wanted to fund the idea. The audience voted unanimously that they supported all the ideas.

Audience members granted Phil the £200 he pitched for to grow his bike idea and allocated £400 so that two streets on Beech Hill estate can apply for dog poo bag dispensers and a year's supply of bags. bags. The audience thought the rest of the ideas needed a bit more work before starting.

Make your Vote Count

This year is an all out election, which means you'll get three votes instead of one at the local election.

Usually, each of the councillors is reelected every three years, but not this year.

This is because they've changed the boundaries, so everyone must stand. It's also the first time we've had to take ID to vote, so be sure to check you have what you need.

We've organised a hustings this year so that you can come and have a brew and maybe a butty with the people who are putting themselves forward to represent us.

It's at St Anne's Community Centre on Wednesday 25th April between 5-6.30pm. We know the 3 Labour Councillors who are standing - Phyll Cullen, Sheila Ramsdale and David Wood.

We don't know yet who is standing for the other political parties. Once we do, we'll invite them to come along.

This will be a chance for you to ask questions, see what their position is on matters that are important to you, and seek commitments for what you'd like to see happen if elected.

It's okay to just come along, and it would also be good to know if you're coming so we bring enough t bags!

There'll be a Facebook event and you can ring the number on this page or send us an email.

Stay in Touch

We hope you've enjoyed this first edition of Ey Up!

There are are a number of ways that you can keep in touch.

Join the Facebook GroupSpringfield, Beech Hill and Gidlow CommUnity

Join the community association through the websitesbhcommunity.co.uk

Keep an eye on the community notice boards for events.

Email us at sbhg.community@gmail. com

Text or phone 07845 872379