By The Tenant Involvement Team
As part of our contract with the Council we are asked to organise a couple of pop-up engagement events in areas that have traditionally been hard to reach, in order to open up conversations between residents and the Council.
A recent family-friendly event at The Lanes Community Centre proved that community engagement can be both effective and enjoyable. The informal gathering was a collaborative effort between Rotherfed, The Lanes community group, RMBC Neighbourhoods, Housing, and local councillors.
Instead of a formal meeting, the event was designed to be a relaxed, fun occasion. It featured a magician, party food, and creative activities like biscuit decorating for children. This casual atmosphere had a strategic purpose: it helped to break down barriers between residents and officials, creating a space for more open and honest conversations. People felt more comfortable connecting with their neighbours and local leaders, rather than feeling like they were just attending another meeting. Residents felt at ease raising important concerns about issues like bin collections, graffiti, and anti-social behaviour.
But the event wasn’t just about airing grievances. It was also about planting the seeds of change. Organisers took the opportunity to show residents how they could get involved, from joining local groups to volunteering on panels.
