Project:
Making a Difference in Devonport
Partners:
Hamoaze House
Friends of Devonport Park
Plymouth Music Zone
Scott Medical and Healthcare College
Horticultural Therapy Trust
Listening to people in the Devonport neighbourhood, as they reflect on their experiences of COVID-19 and the periods of lockdown. We met with more than 60 people and recorded their stories, some of which were broadcast on BBC Radio Devon. The main themes which were identified as a result of our conversations were: The importance of outdoor space, the benefit of creativity, and resilience and adaptability.
The ‘Making a Difference’ Project is founded on one very clear and simple message, to listen.
It sounds very straightforward, but it is actually really complex. It brings together our unique community engagement methodologies, with effective communication, planning and organising. We engaged with and reached out to communities and used a variety of methods to listen to the people who shared their experiences with us.
We invited people to take part in focus groups, pop-up events and face to face interviews, as well as virtual meetings and just a chat over a coffee.
Our first initiative, was ‘Making a Difference’ in Devonport, to listen to communities living in the Devonport neighbourhood about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent periods of lockdown; and how they found the experience mentally and physically; and we quickly realised that people just needed to talk and be heard - and so that’s what we did.
We continue to work with the people of Devonport as we look to co-design new projects as well as supporting existing initiatives which have been so valuable to residents during the lockdown periods.
