Groundwork Leeds

Including everyone

Groundwork is an environmental regeneration charity, with a network of over 40 local trusts, which works in partnership with local people, local authorities and business to promote economic and social regeneration.

John Cummins runs one such project in Leeds: 'Since 1987 Groundwork Leeds had been working with communities in the old industrial areas. A lot of the pit villages had become very run down due to the closure of the mines. At first, our work mainly focused on improvements to the countryside around the villages. As time passed more people became involved and started suggesting further ideas, but their involvement was still informal. So, in 1992 we set up the first forums as a way of ensuring that the community was involved in all aspects of the regeneration of their own village.

'A good example is the village of Kippax, where the forums were re-started a few years ago. A leaflet went to every house in the village, and questionnaires were circulated about people's views. We drafted in extra staff and used a survey shop for two days – this was set up in a disused building and showed projects undertaken previously. The local MP and local city councillors attended the re-launch activities and eventually a public meeting was held – it was standing room only, and clearly people were eager to be involved in the regeneration of the village.

'Eventually, a committee with a chair, deputy chair and treasurer was elected. Meetings involving too many people often achieve little as consensus can be difficult, but the interested individuals who were not elected to the forum proper are now active in forum sub-groups. Their involvement is too valuable to lose.

'In terms of decision-making, one of the forum's first tasks was to do a physical survey of their community, looking at sites that were in need of improvement. They selected the individual sites and what they wanted doing, decided how to implement the changes and left the rest to our team of contractors and architects. The forum is now planning improvements to the village such as regenerating waste ground, improving the village gardens, and adding a nature area and pond to the local school. They've got the power to decide how they want the village to be.'

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