Wormley and Turnford / Broxbourne Big Local

The neighbourhood

Wormley and Turnford are villages located within the Broxbourne borough in Hertfordshire, with a combined population of approximately 10,000 people.

The community is defined not only by geographic boundaries but also by shared challenges and aspirations. The initiative aims to create a more inclusive community by engaging residents from both deprived and affluent areas. This approach helps bridge socioeconomic divides, enables mutual understanding, and promotes a shared sense of community.

The Wormley Community Centre serves as a hub for community activities and community allotments for residents to engage in gardening and sustainable food practices.

The context

The Wormley and Turnford Big Local (WTBL) initiative is focused on combatting significant social isolation and mental health issues in the area. The community faces a high suicide rate and challenges related to drug and alcohol addiction, underscoring the need for targeted mental health support services. WTBL aim to create a safer, healthier community environment by offering direct interventions and preventative activity.

18 per cent of Wormley and Turnford residents live in the top 20 per cent most deprived areas in England, with sections of the community suffering from long-term neglect and underinvestment. The initiative aims to improve community cohesion and engagement by transforming key local facilities, such as the Wormley Community Centre, into vibrant hubs for social interaction, education, and support. This includes addressing issues such as access to mental health services and creating inclusive spaces for all.

The initiative also focuses on reducing anti-social behaviour among children and young people, by providing positive, engaging alternatives. Programmes like the DJ and MC Academy are designed to offer young people creative outlets and skill-building opportunities, providing social activities and reducing the likelihood of anti-social behaviour.

The model

Methodology and funding

• C2 and ABCD methodologies: The initiative employs community development methodologies such as C2 (Connecting Communities) and ABCD (Asset-Based Community Development). These approaches focus on building on existing community strengths and assets, creating connections between residents, and empowering them to take ownership of local projects.
• Funding Sources: WTBL is funded by a combination of national and local grants, including significant support from the National Lottery Community Fund. Additional funding is provided by local councils, businesses, Big Local and community organisations.

Key contributors and beneficiaries

• Leadership and staff: The initiative is led by a team of local trustees and staff who live in the community and have a deep understanding of its unique challenges. This local leadership is crucial in building trust and fostering engagement with residents.
• Partnerships with local organisations: Collaboration with local charities, councils, and businesses is at the heart of the initiative. To date they have worked with Broxbourne and Hertfordshire council, more than 50 local charities, Citizens Advice, and local churches.
• Beneficiaries: The primary beneficiaries of the initiative are residents, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as the elderly, youth, and those facing mental health challenges.

Sustainability and adaptability

• Building a sustainable legacy: The initiative aims to leave behind a sustainable, empowered community that can continue to thrive beyond funding periods. This involves securing the Wormley Community Centre as a central hub for community engagement and development.
• Adaptability to local needs: The model is designed to be flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the community. By continuously gathering feedback and adjusting strategies, WTBL maintains its relevance and impact, addressing emerging challenges and opportunities.

Community engagement and activities

• Diverse programmes and events: The initiative engages the community through a wide range of activities, including community parties, clubs, workshops, and special events. These activities are designed to cater to different age groups and interests, helping to address social isolation and mental health issues while fostering community cohesion.
• Focus on inclusivity: New activities such as roller-skating lessons, fishing workshops, and self-defence classes are designed to be inclusive, providing opportunities for children, including those with special educational needs (SEND). The initiatives also include programmes like the DJ and MC Academy to engage young people in creative and skill-building activities.
• Community-centred approach: Engagement strategies are developed based on feedback from residents through surveys, informal conversations, and community events. This ensures that activities are aligned with the community's needs and priorities, helping to build trust and long-term relationships.

What makes this effective and resilient

Community-led and embedded leadership

• Local involvement: The initiative is led by residents who serve as trustees and staff, ensuring that decisions are made by individuals with a first-hand understanding of community needs. This local leadership builds trust and ensures that the project aligns with the community’s priorities.
• Grassroots approach: By focusing on collaborative efforts and involving residents in decision-making, the initiative creates a sense of ownership and empowerment.

Flexibility and adaptability

• Responsive to community needs: The project uses feedback gathered through events and informal interactions to continually adapt its strategies. For example, community parties have been used to gather insights into resident needs, which are then used to tailor programmes and services.
• Diverse programming: The initiative offers a wide range of activities, such as tai chi and pilates for mental and physical health support, and the DJ and MC Academy for youth engagement. This diversity helps engage different demographic groups.

Examples of effective activities:

• Community parties: These events have been highly successful, attracting diverse crowds and building a sense of community. By hosting themed events like Black History Month and local talent shows, the parties has promoted inclusivity.
• Roller skating and fishing lessons: These new clubs have been well-received, providing opportunities for children, including those with special educational needs, to participate in physical activities and learn new skills with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
• Suicide awareness initiatives: Events focused on mental health and suicide prevention have successfully united the community and provided essential support, including professional advice and signposting to services.

Sustainability through partnerships

• Collaborative efforts: They collaborate with numerous partners, such as the YMCA, Hertfordshire County Council, and local charities enhancing their capacity to deliver services and share resources. Collaborations with organisations such as Lowewood Museum during Black History Month have enriched the local cultural experience and strengthened community ties.
• Sustainable community development: The initiative aims to leave a legacy by developing community assets like the Wormley Community Centre into central hubs for engagement and development. Securing a 999-year lease on the community centre is a significant achievement, ensuring its role as a sustainable resource for residents and an important part of developing the physical and social infrastructure of this neighbourhood.

What makes this challenging

Funding and financial stability

• Uncertain funding landscape: The initiative faces challenges in securing consistent funding, with the current economic climate making it difficult to sustain and expand its projects. Delays and competition for funding can impede service delivery and planning.
• Dependency on grants: The initiative relies heavily on external funding, such as grants from the National Lottery and local councils. This dependency creates vulnerability to shifts in funding priorities and requires continuous efforts to secure diverse funding streams.

Complex community needs

• Diverse demographic challenges: Serving a community with a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds requires nuanced and tailored approaches. Addressing complex issues such as social isolation, mental health, and youth engagement demands comprehensive strategies that are resource-intensive.
• Integration of services: Coordinating services across multiple partners and sectors, such as health, education, and social services, can be challenging, especially when addressing interrelated issues like mental health and substance abuse.

Relationship management

• Navigating diverse agendas: Maintaining effective partnerships with diverse stakeholders, each with their own agendas and interests, can be difficult. Building consensus and aligning goals requires careful negotiation and management.
• Community engagement: Engaging residents who may be sceptical or disengaged requires ongoing effort and strategic communication. Establishing long-term trust and participation is essential but can be challenging in a community with historical distrust of external interventions. Working closely with local GPs on initiatives such as diabetes prevention workshops, mental health support and social prescribing is supporting trust building.

Operational challenges

• Resource constraints: Limited resources and staffing can constrain the initiative's ability to expand services or respond quickly to new needs. Balancing immediate demands with strategic planning.

"To date, it has been important to work intuitively and organically, we are very embedded in our community, and we have found our way through long-term relationships."
Noelle Blackman, Chair of Board of Trustees, Broxbourne Big Local

Impact and outcomes

Quantitative metrics

• Beneficiaries and participation: WTBL tracks the number of beneficiaries and participants in its programmes and events. For example, over the last two years, the initiative estimates reaching approximately 4,000 individual beneficiaries through various activities and services. Specific programmes like the roller-skating club have regular attendance of up to 25 children per session, while community parties have attracted an average of 200 attendees per event.
• Demographic reach: The initiative collects demographic information, such as age and location, to understand WTBL reach and engagement levels. This data helps identify which groups are being served and where outreach efforts may need to be expanded. For instance, established groups like the social walking group primarily attract individuals aged 40 and above, whilst other activities engage younger demographics.
• Communication channels: Metrics related to communication strategies are also tracked. For example, the initiative has seen a 37.5 per cent growth in its Facebook group and a 53.8 per cent increase in its email list, indicating improved outreach and engagement with the community.

Qualitative feedback

• Community feedback: Feedback from community members is gathered through informal conversations at events and more structured methods like surveys and questionnaires. This feedback provides insights into residents' experiences, needs, and satisfaction.
• Case studies and personal narratives: The initiative uses case studies and personal stories to illustrate the qualitative impact of its work. These narratives highlight individual transformations and the broader community benefits, helping to convey the initiative’s success beyond numerical data.
• Community events: Informal feedback is often gathered at community events. Residents are encouraged to share their thoughts on what they would like to see happen at the community centre and what issues are important to them. This approach allows the initiative to gather deep insights into community priorities in a relaxed setting.