C.A.T.           Communities
Acting
Together
HartlepoolBoroughCouncil

29 Chatham Road
Hartlepool
TS24 8QG
telephone 01429 405596

Contacts...
Eddie Price: 01429 284069.
Mick Thompson: 07786 126776.
Muriel Boreland: 01429 291537.

Email:
[email protected]

Site Editor & Webmaster: Rolf Parvin
Email: [email protected]

11.0 Strengthening Communities.

INTRODUCTION. To ensure the benefits and opportunities developed under other theme areas are maximised it is important that the Dyke House/Jackson community continues to be strengthened and takes an active role in the management of the neighbourhood.

RESIDENTS' KEY VIEWS. Whilst residents recognise the neighbourhood spirit, active residents associations and co-operation with authorities as key strengths of the area there is a recognition that further support is needed to build community confidence, self esteem and self worth. Some residents still feel isolated and community engagement, whilst improving as a result of NRF activities and the NAP, still needs to be increased. Provision of good advice and information, awareness raising of what is on offer, partnership working and networking and supporting the infrastructure of the voluntary sector are key themes which have emerged. The Avondale Centre, Dyke House Annexe and City Learning Centre were all seen as local assets which needed sustaining. Chatham Road Community House also provide a positive base for residents and service providers to meet in an informal setting to tackle day to day issues that arise in the neighbourhood.
continued...

RESIDENTS' KEY VIEWS. continued...
The need for a central community centre that caters for all intergeneration needs has, however, also been identified as a key aspiration. Community involvement in managing the neighbourhood and support for increasing volunteering and the value of volunteering were also seen as being important.

KEY BASELINE/SURVEY DATA. In Dyke House/Jackson 42% of people feel no involvement in their local community as compared to the Hartlepool average of 37%. In addition only 35% feel there is a lot of community spirit as opposed to the Hartlepool average of 41%.

RECENT PROGRESS AND NEXT STEPS. There are now 9 residents associations within or covering parts of the Dyke House/Jackson neighbourhood, and the NRF funded Chatham Road Community House has become a hub for the community. In addition NRF has funded the Resident Participation Officer post which has proved successful in accessing and bringing residents together and identify needs and priorities to take local action where possible.

The establishment of the Community Network, as the community link to the Hartlepool Partnership, has a role inensuring that the key actions are undertaken to meet the priorities listed. Inorder to monitor progress the lead organisation responsible for delivering each key action is identified.
continued...

PRIORITIES.

*Significant measures are needed in Dyke House/Jackson to involve residents in decisions that affect their local community and to improve community spirit. *Satisfaction with local area as a place to live (MRUK 2002) Dyke House/Jackson rate 65%, NRS 77%, Hartlepool overall 77%. *Hartlepool Partnership has agreed to increase the proportion of people satisfied with their local area as a place to live to 85% by 2012. Improvements are needed in Dyke House/Jackson to raise satisfaction levels closer to the town rate.



    CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...
C.A.T. Communities Acting Together. 29 Chatham Road Hartlepool Dyke House Hartlepool TS24 8QG. tel: 01429 405596. Local contacts - Eddie Price tel: 07789 923565. Mick Thompson tel: 07786 126776. Muriel Boreland tel: 01429 291537. Webmaster Rolf Parvin Email: [email protected]
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1