Over the next few weeks, we will be running a new series on each of our teams here at KCSC.
We sat down with each of our teams and asked them a few questions about their work, the projects they've been involved in recently, and what they are looking forward to over the next year or so.
First up, it's the Community Development team - Lucy Hughes, Community Resilience Programme Manager and Joe Batty, Community Development Manager.
Can you give us an overview of your team and your main objectives?
The Community Development team is made up of Lucy and Joe. This talented duo:
- Brings people together to explore and deliver community-led solutions to local issues.
- Works with community groups and organisations to get the rights kinds of support to residents at the sharp end of poverty and disadvantage.
- Provides training to boost community action, participation and engagement.
- Addresses and dismantles structural barriers within the charity sector to improve equity and inclusion, and strengthen the voice and influence of smaller, grassroots groups and organisations.
Community Development is a team powered by social justice, advocacy and collaborative action.
How does your team support and collaborate with local voluntary and community organisations?
We support community groups and organisations by:
- Investigating community needs and identifying gaps in local service provision
- Hosting training and information sessions that equip them to offer people a path out of crisis
- Representing their needs, insights and interests in sector and cross-sector meetings
- Bringing them together to work more strategically and more collaboratively
We coordinate the Food & Advice Network, a collaborative of local community food providers united around the principals of:
• Integrating dignity into food provision.
• Embedding advice, signposting and referrals into food provision.
• Providing safe, effective services delivered by well-trained staff and volunteers.
• Championing collaborative ways of working to tackle food insecurity.
• Reducing/ending need for foodbanks by piloting and developing initiatives that address the root causes of food insecurity.
Can you share an example of a recent project or initiative that demonstrates your team’s impact in Kensington and Chelsea?
We've been working with local community food providers to implement the Dignity in Food Support Toolkit, supporting them to carry out audits, action plans and reflective practice so that they can evaluate their own practices and services against the four core principles of dignified food support: to be welcoming, transparent, person-centred, and empowering. We are helping organisations to identify ways to embed dignity in their practices and operations.
Are there any upcoming initiatives or plans your team is excited about, and how will they benefit the community?
We have recently attended a National Energy Action session, an Active Bystandership session, and a local food poverty strategic meeting in Dec, attended by local food providers, Felix Project, City Harvest, Feeding Britain.
Now we're looking ahead to the Westway Transformation Fund: Training programme for Residents Associations to increase active participation and engagement.
We're mapping out ambitious, evidence-based approaches to tackling poverty and deprivation.
What is one thing you wish more people knew about the work your team does?
That there isn't a judgmental bone in our bodies! We love and appreciate community groups and organisations, and we understand how tough things are - for them, and for the people accessing their services. We will always meet people where they're at and tailor our work to suit their specific needs and contexts. If your vision is a fairer society and better outcomes for residents of Kensington and Chelsea, we want to connect!
Looking ahead, what are some of the goals or priorities your team has set for the coming year?
We're applying for funding to increase our strategic anti-poverty, community resilience and voice and influence work. We're going to:
- Work more closely with Resident Associations, delivering training on active participation and engagement that ensures residents have a voice at neighbourhood level
- Grow our role in bringing organisations and communities together to research and deliver the changes they want and need
- Focus on breaking down structural barriers within the charity sector to improve equity, diversity and inclusion and strengthen the voice and role of global majority led VCOs
- Continue to strengthen the co-ordination of food providers and wider VCS services to support residents at the sharp end of poverty and disadvantage
Thanks, Lucy and Joe!