Brookside residents to help spend £1m on improving community
Residents on a Telford estate will get the chance to decide how to spend £1million to improve their community as part of a huge summer extravaganza event this weekend.
Brookside Big Local has £1million to invest in improvements to the area over the next 10 years and wants to hear ideas from local people about what to spend the money on.
The Big Local Summer Extravaganza will take place on Saturday July 13 at the Windmill Primary School, Beaconsfield, from 11am to 3pm.
Entertainment includes local musicians, face painting, circus skills, bouncy slide, a fire engine and crew, a variety of craft stalls, sports and refreshments.
“It will be a great day out for everyone but most importantly we want to hear from local residents about what to spend the money on,” said Tina Rogers, local resident and chair of Brookside Big Local Steering Group.
“It’s your community so come out and tell us what you want to do. It’s time we made Brookside better and that involves everyone from the very oldest to the very youngest.”
The event will kick off with an opening speech at 11am by Tina Rogers.
Residents are encouraged to visit the Big Local stall throughout the day with their ideas and thoughts.
Brookside has been awarded the funding from Big Local, a strand of the Big Lottery, which targets areas facing social and economic problems.
“Telford and Wrekin Council and Telford and Wrekin CVS were approached by Big Local in 2011 to identify an area in the borough which most deserved to receive the money over 10 years,” Mrs Rogers said.
“Brookside was chosen and within the ward, specific sub-localities with particularly high levels of unemployment, poverty, poor educational achievement and health issues.”
But Mrs Rogers said it is up to residents to determine how the money will be used.
She said: “To release the funds, a steering group must make an engagement plan to show extensive resident participation in confirming priorities and projects.
“It must include a 10-year plan to be signed off by Local Trust, the support agency for Big Local areas.
“The funding is seen as an investment fund rather than a grant, so that its true value will grow over the years, and leave a legacy of improvements for future generations.”
Mrs Rogers said Brookside Big Local would organise a number of events in the coming months to engage with residents and local businesses.
“We want to talk to residents to create a 10 year plan.
“Later in the year, we are planning Brookside Expo - an event to show the hidden business talent in Brookside.
“It is such an exciting opportunity for the people of Brookside and we want as many people as possible to get involved.”
Ella Sips, of Telford and Wrekin Council for Voluntary Service, said the charity was thrilled Brookside was chosen to benefit from £1million.
“We want to help the community come together to discuss its needs and what better way to do that than with a fun, family day where everyone can enjoy themselves,” she said.
