Resources

Working With The Local Community

Involving the local community is an important part of the sustainability of any community sports initiative. However, for most projects there is not one local community but a number of different communities which may need to be approached in different ways and at different times.

Neighbours

Neighbours will have important views on the existing site and will be aware of, for example, how many people visit, problems with security and what activities create noise. They are very important in your initial fact-finding activities.

Neighbours may also be important to get onside with a project when the time comes for planning applications. Listening to their views and keeping them informed of what is happening will be essential.

Near neighbours will be particularly affected during any building work and if the asset transfer will mean an increase in visitors to the site (particularly in terms of car parking), and increase in noise levels or a change in the times at which the site is used.

For example, a football ground may have a small car park that is perfectly adequate on training days. However, on match days the cars and coaches bringing spectators and players may fill the local roads, irritating and inconveniencing the neighbours.

The local planning department will ask neighbours for their views as part of their review of any planning application you may submit. If they are already on board, this can speed up this process. However, if they are not happy with your plans, consult your architect or planning consultant – it is possible that their objections will not necessarily de-rail your application if, for example, the objections run contrary to existing policy about usage.

Working With The Local Community

Neighbours

Please indicate how you plan to invove the Neighbours, find out their initial views and the lines of communication you will open.


 

Potential Service-Users

Local communities are likely to be the biggest source of service users. Involving the local community at the planning stage with this in mind will enrich any proposal, improve their sense of ownership of the project and the resource and enhance use into the future. Developing genuine consultation with the local community where you listen to and, where possible, act on their views will be an important element of most proposal documents.

It is important to be realistic in consultation. For example, people might be very enthusiastic about a new trampolining club but their enthusiasm might fade if they knew it would cost them £2.50 a session.

Working With The Local Community

Existing members

Please indicate how you plan to invove the Existing Members, find out their initial views and the lines of communication you will open.


Potential new members

Please indicate how you plan to invove Potential new members, find out their initial views and the lines of communication you will open.


Existing service-users

Please indicate how you plan to invove Existing service-users, find out their initial views and the lines of communication you will open.


Potential service-users

Please indicate how you plan to invove the Potential service-users, find out their initial views and the lines of communication you will open.


 

The Wider Community

Members of the wider community may provide future spectators, participants in fundraising events, job applicants and volunteers. The local media is the ideal way of keeping the wider community informed about developments, as are public meetings.

Working With The Local Community

Wider community

Please indicate how you plan to invove the Wider community, find out their initial views and the lines of communication you will open.


 

 

Other Community Organisations

Involving other community organisations early on in the planning process can be helpful, not only because they can be a way of recruiting potential service-users, but because they may have conflicting or complementary plans, useful knowledge or relevant experience.

Ways of reaching out to other organisations include:

  • Talks at existing groups (eg. school assemblies, community organisations)
  • Local radio, TV, newspapers – press releases
  • Letters to the local newspaper editor
  • Leaflet drop to local houses (individually or with the local paper, for example)
  • Leaflets in neighbourhood offices
  • Website
  • Newsletter (email or paper copy)
  • Exhibition / poster / leaflets in the local library
  • Survey of members (by email or post)
  • Noticeboard outside the site with regular updates
  • Posters in local shop windows and other venues
  • Regular updates to local community groups who can update their members
  • Announcements at local bingo halls, religious services, dances
  • Public meetings
  • Publicised drop-in times to look around the venue

Working With The Local Community

Linked / interested community organisations

Please indicate how you plan to invove Linked / interested community organisations, find out their initial views and the lines of communication you will open.


 

It will also be important to link your plans to local or regional sports networks to gain their support and ensure your ideas are not duplicating others.

Working With The Local Community

Local and regional networks

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