This inspiring video came to my attention recently and I felt it really deserved a blog post.

For a while I have been thinking about writing a series of posts called “People who got stuff done, and how.” As the name suggests, it was going to be a collection of inspiring stories about Community Lead Activism and how people managed to get good ideas off the ground. The idea was, it could be used as a guide for other people who wanted to instigate community projects.

I don’t think there is a shortage of good people out there with good ideas, but there is a shortage of ways that they can bring those ideas to life. Or more accurately; our hierarchical societies are not designed to easily facilitate grass roots action. If you have a really good grass roots community idea, there is rarely a straight forward way of bringing it to life. Except if you live in Bologna. https://owgf.org/2024/08/02/should-we-follow-bolognas-model-for-participatory-urbanism/

This story about Transforming Lawrence Weston would be an excellent candidate for my “People who got stuff done, and how” series. It’s quite incredible what they have achieved. I would like to interview some of the people to better understand how it all happened but there is a great explainer on their web site.

Like many UK communities, Lawrence Weston residents were unhappy with the way things were going after years of government austerity. So they got together and created a resident-driven organisation dedicated to making Lawrence Weston a better place to live and work. Ambition Lawrence Weston began with a simple approach: a community questionnaire that posed three key questions to residents. This questionnaire aimed to uncover the aspirations and concerns of the people living in Lawrence Weston. By asking, what residents loved about their community, what challenges they faced, and what changes they wished to see. The overwhelmingly positive feedback inspired a collective vision for a brighter future, paving the way for projects and initiatives that truly reflect the voices of the people. This grassroots engagement has been foundational in shaping the direction and priorities of Ambition Lawrence Weston, ensuring that the community’s needs are at the heart of all efforts.

Ambition Lawrence Weston was founded on the principle that local residents are best positioned to identify and address the needs of their community. These are a few of the things they have already achieved.

1. Lawrence Weston Community Farm: Transforming an unused area into a vibrant community farm. This project provides fresh produce, educational workshops, and volunteering opportunities, promoting sustainability and healthy living.
2. Youth Leadership Program: Designed to empower young people, this program offers workshops, mentoring, and leadership training, encouraging youth to engage with local issues and develop essential skills.
3. Community Arts Projects: Through various arts initiatives, including murals and exhibitions, Ambition Lawrence Weston has beautified the area while celebrating local talent and cultural diversity.
4. Digital Skills Training: Addressing the digital divide, this initiative offers training sessions that help residents improve their digital literacy, enhancing employability and community connectivity.
5. Lawrence Weston Repair Café: This project encourages sustainability by allowing residents to bring broken items for repair, fostering resourcefulness and teaching practical skills while promoting environmental awareness.
6. Wind Turbine Installation: As part of a commitment to renewable energy, Ambition Lawrence Weston has successfully installed the UK’s largest community wind turbine, reducing community emissions, promoting sustainability and raising money for the community.
7. New Supermarket Development: The organisation played a key role in bringing a new supermarket to Lawrence Weston, improving access to fresh food and creating local jobs.
8. Creation of Green Spaces: Ambition Lawrence Weston has worked on developing and enhancing green spaces in the community, providing new areas for recreation, relaxation, and social gatherings.
9. A new development plan: That gives power to the community, over how houses in the local area get built.
10. A new local lettings policy This ensures that the local people, living in the area, benefit from new houses that are being built.

At its core, Ambition Lawrence Weston is about connection. The organisation fosters a strong sense of community spirit by organising events that bring residents together. From cultural celebrations to neighbourhood festivals, these gatherings create opportunities for residents to meet, share stories, and collaborate on future projects. This sense of belonging is crucial for building a resilient community where everyone feels valued.

Lawrence Weston shows just what can be achieved when we activate and empower local communities. Community is the antidote to loneliness, feeling helpless, hopeless and anxious about the world. Do a internet search and see if there is a community group in your area, or perhaps even start one yourself. You will not regret it!

You can find more gubbins about the project here: https://www.ambitionlw.org/

The initial plan can be found here: https://www.ambitionlw.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Amb-LW-community-plan-2018-2023.pdf

This initiative dovetails with lots of other cool stuff happening in the UK and the world, in relation to doughnut economics. Check out some of that stuff here: https://doughnuteconomics.org/
For more projects like this, visit https://www.antidotelive.studio