Perry Common Regeneration Partnership
Recognising that the regeneration of Perry Common was more than building new housing, green spaces and roads, St Martin's Church set up Perry Common Regeneration Partnership in 1999. A year later, Liisa Wiseman (nee Richardson) was appointed as its Regeneration Co-ordinator and moved into the community. You will see from below some of its acheivements and successes.
During the time of whole-scale demolition in the 1990's, St Martin's Church, at the physical heart of the Perry Common estate, became increasingly concerned about the need for wider regeneration of the community; embracing not only bricks and mortar but also the social, economic, emotional and health transformation of residents. The Perry Common Regeneration Partnership was initiated to this end in 2001. Evolving from one Regeneration Worker to a staff of four, its work includes the following:
- Perry Common's Community Shop – an independent information, advice and signposting service for local residents on any issue of local concern. It offers smoking cessation, local councillor and police surgeries and local courses and training opportunities, with a particular remit of learning, training and employment.
- Parish Nurse Project - integrating the health agenda through its own qualified nurse, with the faith agenda, recognising the spiritual aspect to healing and wholeness. Healthy eating, smoking cessation and physical activity training and initiatives are part of this work, as are basic health screenings.
- Administration Support Worker
- Perry Common's Neighbourhood Co-ordinator - working towards neighbourhood management, strategic-planning, and mentoring other communities across the UK through the Guide Neighbourhood Programme .
Identifying the need to address the poor health of its residents and wanting to expand on its successful Parish Nurse Project, the management committee recently decided to refocus its vision and attention on the wider health, wholeness and healing of the community. At the same time, Liisa, the Co-ordinator, left her position.
A successor body, called LIFE (Lifestyle Improvements for Everyone) has since been formed to address this particular theme of health. For more information, please contact Linda Hines (07960 386 252) or linda.hines@blueyonder.co.uk
Partnership working
Both the Witton Lodge Community Association and the Perry Common Regeneration Partnership work very closely together, dovetailing with each other's areas of focus to create a holistic regeneration. Crucial to the success, however, is the positive partnerships with others that include:
- Residents – we work with the community on the planning and implementation of research surveys, seasonal community events, design of new developments and so on
- Urban Devotion – a youth-work initiative using gap-year students to offer detached and centre-based relational activities and support to local children and young people. Prison visits, individual mentoring, regular community projects, schools sexual health education and an alternative education programme are some of its features.
- Birmingham City Council – Housing, Local Services, District Directors, Parks and so on
- Local GP practices, the Primary Care Trust , other health-related organisations
- Police – giving support to neighbourhood initiatives and following up nuisance and crime issues promptly
Contacts:
Please contact Linda Hines on 07960 386252 or email linda.hines@blueyonder.co.uk