Does no pay make you more powerful? Grassroots Channel Programme 21
July 27th, 2006
Courtesy of: www.podnosh.com
I've just spent a wonderful morning with two women who are both directors of Witton Lodge Community Association . Linda Hines has been involved for 15 years while Michelle Ashmore got stuck in just two or three years ago.
The Association has been working really closely with Birmingham City Council and other partners to drive through a huge regeneration project for Perry Common in the north of the city. It began with the bombshell that hundreds of homes were so structurally unsound they would have to be demolished.
The association is really central to its success for two reasons. First the 14 unpaid (and mostly resident) directors have a common sense idea of how to help the community thrive. Secondly the council was unable to raise the money for rebuilding on its own. The finance was only possible because of the association. Their hard won expertise is now being shared through the governments Guide Neighbourhoods programme (along with Balsall Heath and Castle Vale)
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