Overview of the Open Space event on 16th December

Over 25 people, local Residents, staff of Lambeth First and local agencies came together on 16th December at High Trees Community Centre to address the following question: "How can we work together for the benefit of our neighbourhood?"

More event photos (with people)
More event photos (with workshop notes)

These are the sessions that people posted

Click here to see close-ups

Some of the sessions were combined, as participants saw connecting threads. Sessions that took place were all photographed and written up. Click below to have a look! Feel free to comment on them, post updates and to connect with others in the sessions who shared their contact details with you.

How can we make Tulse Hill happy?
Communication between older and younger, activities for young and vulnerable
What is Tulse Hill -- working with the system
Women-only forum
How can we make Tulse Hill more self-sufficient?
Influencing funding at the neighbourhood level
How do we involve wider community, time banks, neighbour-neighbour support

"What will you take away from today?" Some Participant comments:

"change with smile of enthusiasm"
"motivation to help solve problems with youth"
"acheivement"
"neighbours"
"positive active community"
"think small! community spirit - scaffolding is needed to build the connections that will build the community"
meet whole local of new neigbours 0 really good stuff"
"not just what you know its who you know"
"hope that we can work together"
"smile!"
"optimism"
"thoughts, ideas"
"fact of being more proactive"
"whenever we do things, people come. Glad I came"
"using opportunities"
"the thought that when things go bad, we need to go back to basics"

How can we make Tulse Hill happy?

Name of Session: How to make Tulse Hill happy
Time: 11:30
Where: Breakout Space 1
Who was there: Adam, Kathy, Sara, Saleha, Mamading
The Session Host: Sarah

Key Points:
* What you put in is what you get out - reciprocity is important. Time Bank broker - (can) initiate.
* Good neighbour guide? Takes time. Baby steps. Get conversations going, Don't be discouraged if it doesn't seem to be working
* Belonging. Friendship.
* Say hello to someone - be a catalyst
* Use (existing) networks eg schools (other parents on the school run) Actions:
* Adam, Saleha, everyone should talk to one of their neighbours everyday. (All it takes is a) smile (and a) neighbour.
* Everyone (has a role in) figuring out their neighbourhood needs (and generally have clear insights based on own experience) e.g. babysitting circle, lunch club (and can take baby steps) everyday towards making things happen.

Communication between older and younger people + activities for young

Name of Session: Activities for Young Kids/Diversions for the Vulnerable
Time: 11:30
Where: Breakout Space 7
Who was there: Gerald, Nina, Verona, Margaret, Mark, Angela, Aysev Ismail, Sofia, Matt
The Session Host: Gerald

Key Points:
* lack of support at home
* falling in with wrong crowd
* lack of guidance
* offer information "kids do not know what to do"
* external opportunities - music, -----, other
* communication breakdown (between) older and younger generations (mentoring schemes, peer 'friend' into school)
* facilities & premises
* ongoing support (scheme)
* Offer:
- parenting classes
- family relationships
+ personal identity
+ confidence building
* life-related activities

Actions:
* Margaret + Mark will work together to formulate an action plan to address lack of support at home, falling in with antisocial crowd, lack of guidance. This will include discussions around funding and investigating the feasibility of offering parenting classes.
* Gerald Slater, Margaret & Mark will engage to define the needs and what support is needed. Collaborate around offering mentor(ing) schemes, field trips and appropriate activities (not just music), and finally career inspiration.
* Matt Skinner and Aysev Ismail will be looking into how to foster intergenerational dialogue and will identify key respected people in the borough to inspire others to take part by taking the lead themselves.

What is Tulse Hill -- working with the system

Name of Session: What is Tulse Hill? How do we work with the system (for the benefit of Tulse Hill)?
Time: 11:30
Where: Breakout Space 4
Who was there: Wai Ma, Jacqueline, Pamela, Erica
The Session Host: Pamela + Erica

Key Points:
* Are CRBs always necessary?
* Getting to know the person
* Lots (of) small projects (in order to) reach more people
* (Need to understand how to) exploit and manipulate the system (for local benefit).
* (Find a) more collective way of doing it.
* (Need to deal with) The system categories which excludes so much (of) the people.
* (Inappropriate) Labels + Boundaries stop people working with community
* Use the carrot (incentives) - Gardening, Skiing etc.

Actions:
* Pam will lead on finding ways to engage people that doesn't put vulnerable people at risk. She'll work with the Safer Neighbourhood Team, local businesses and established providers. Needed resources are (appropriate) public spaces, effective ideas for advertising (getting the message out). Will do this over the next three months finishing in March.
* Erica and Jacqueline will lead in using CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and corporate volunteering to get more people involved by using carrots and rewards to (encourage) them to come to (community) events. (Don't) call them meetings. Need some giveaways for (those taking part in) soft activities, think Orange RockCorps. More organisations need to have Volunteer(/Community) Days, and there need to be clear Volunteer Rewards. Will investigate over next three months finishing in March.

Women-only forum

Name of Session: Women Only
Time: 11:30
Who was there: Saleha + Denise
The Session Host: Saleha

Key Points:
* Most muslim women cannot attend mixed events.
* Invitations "All are welcome" wording should be specific. Should be inclusive. Images important.
* Will remove clothing (like) "hijab" if all women + feel released.
* Aim is to have a fully integrated society Actions:
* Saleha + Denise will work together to organize a Women Only Open Space by/for March the 31st. This will need planning, time, a venue and contacts. They will need help from others yet to be determined and the support of Lambeth First.