Community Engagement Groups

The group aims to bridge the generation gap by bringing all ages together to make positive improvements to their neighbourhood. 

They initially ran an exercise class for all abilities, with a coffee and cake group after. 

They’re now focusing on their neighbourhood – they’ve done a litter pick and have plans to paint a mural on the walls of a local under-pass that is old, run down and has graffiti. This puts people off using it but it leads to some woodland and ponds and the group hope the change will encourage more to use it.

Want to get involved?

For more details, please email Rachel Bullock, Community Engagement Officer – Rachel.bullock@sovereign.org.uk

This group wants to reduce anti-social behaviour and increase community safety in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth - they’re currently working with the police, NHS and local drug rehabilitation charities.

If you’d like more information on the group, please get in touch with Senior Community Engagement Officer Steve Hill on 07827 896 412.

This group wants to address environmental issues, reduce isolation and improve the health, wellbeing and safety of all residents in Christchurch. Some of their current projects include looking at speeding issues in some local streets, the environmental redesign proposal of Monkswell Green and a planning proposal to move a pedestrian crossing across Somerford Road, Christchurch.

If you’d like more information on the group, please get in touch with Senior Community Engagement Officer Steve Hill on 07827 896 412.

Digby in Action is a group of Exeter residents who want to improve community relationships in the area by putting on free and low cost events for everyone. They have been meeting since the summer of 2018 and have spent time getting to know each other and discussing how best to run events for the area. Next year, they’re planning to put on an Easter Egg hunt and a summer fete next year.  

If you’d like more information on the group, please get in touch with Community Engagement Officer Charlie Bowdidge on 07826 944 904.

Common Ground Faringdon consists of a network of individuals that are focused on bringing the town of Faringdon together to enjoy outdoor space and improve the appearance of the town. Now that Common Ground has finished refurbishing the raised beds at Faringdon Infant school it will be supporting the school and its pupils to plant produce in the raised beds. 

  

If you’d like more information

Please get in touch with Jess Dewhurst by emailing jessica.dewhurst@sovereign.org.uk or calling 07557 088 432.

The All Aboard group aims to reduce social isolation. Its regular meetings offer a time to chat, play board games and enjoy guest speakers over a cup of tea. 

During the summer months, members go on trips, which have included a cream tea cruise on the Rose of Hungerford and a day out at Cotswold Wildlife Park. They’ve also enjoyed lunch with entertainment at John O’Gaunt School and rounded off 2018 with their Christmas Party.

They meet in the lounge at Redwood House, Hungerford, usually on the first and third Thursdays each month, from 2-4pm. Everyone is welcome, whether you live at Redwood House or not - please let us know if you would need transport to attend. 

Places on trips must be booked in advance, but please feel free to just come along for the regular meetings and see what they do. Unless otherwise stated, sessions cost £1, which includes tea and cake - you may also like to buy raffle tickets.

You can get in touch with 
Catherine Wooliston on 07717 133021 or
Sue Pearson on 07922 017464 or 
Jenny Bowley (Sovereign) 07788 977 636

The Ryde Alive! has launched a new, social café, aimed at reducing social isolation and increasing friendship. Aptly named “Friends Together”, the social café is based at Wootton Bridge Community Centre based in the heart of Wootton near Ryde, and meets every fourth Wednesday from 2pm to 4pm. 

Anyone can come along to enjoy a cuppa and a chat, plus play board and card games or try  a game of table football or pool. In the future the organising group, Ryde Alive, hopes to organise bingo and quizzes, plus outings. 

Want to get involved?

For more details please ring Becky Haydock, Community Engagement Officer on 0300 777 7837.
Or email becky.haydock@sovereign.org.uk

This group is working to improve their area – in particular, the play park, which has been well used but is now tired, and the equipment is in need of regeneration. 

The group, made up of Sovereign residents and other local people, wants to improve safety and reduce vandalism and anti-social behaviour in and around the park. They’re looking at requesting speed restrictions on the surrounding roads and prohibiting dog walking and fouling. 

They also want to bring back community events, which used to be held in the park, so that the space can again become a focus point for the community.

Latest update:

• In August the group held its first community event: ‘Picnic in the Park’ where there was lots of entertainment for all ages.

• Regular ‘stay and play’ family sessions also took place over the summer holiday.

• The group’s bought a large number of play items to be used in the park at events and play sessions.

• They also met with IDVerde, a play park specialist, to discuss future play park installations and costings

• And they plan to visit a world-leading play park in Exeter, which specialises in play equipment for children with disabilities. 

If you’d like to keep up with Nelson Road Play Park group’s activities, take a look at their Facebook page.

They’d love to have a few more members to help organise future activities, as well as to hear from anyone in the community who’d like to come along. Please contact Becky Haydock on 0300 777 7837 or email becky.haydock@sovereign.org.uk for more details.

This group’s aim is to “create a safer and better place for children to grow and families to flourish”.

They’re working in conjunction with an older people’s charity, the local community centre and the local children’s centre to put on a series of intergenerational events around Speedwell, culminating in another “picnic in the park” in June 2019.

The group are on the lookout for new members so please get in touch with Jess Dewhurst by emailing jessica.dewhurst@sovereign.org.uk or calling 07557 088 432.