Community Builders (ABCD)

Community Builder (ABCD)

Community Builder

ABCD

Working with the local community in the Clifton and Nowells area of East Leeds, through the engagement and motivation of the local people as ‘Community Connectors’ to bring about positive change in the area.

What is Community Builder (ABCD – Asset Based Community Development Projects) by Community Learning Partnerships?

ABCD starts from a place that prioritises and celebrates the strengths and assets communities have to draw from, rather than starting from a point of focusing on what is wrong in communities and needs fixing.

Our Community Builder has been spending time getting to know local people, looking for similar interests and passions, helping to connect people and looking for those people who are natural community connectors.

A community connector is someone who people are drawn to, who has a natural enthusiasm and can bring people together.

We have recruited three additional Community Connectors this year, and we are delighted to have their support across a wide range of activities. They have contributed to community action days, fundraising events, and our Christmas gift wrapping event and children’s party. Looking ahead to the New Year, the Connectors have identified new walking groups aimed at reducing social isolation and improving people’s wellbeing.

Want to get involved?

Here’s Donna’s story, and it’s a fantastic example of how much good comes from focusing on the assets and gifts within a community, rather than what’s missing.

It all starts when Donna meets Harriet our community builder. Harriet immediately sees Donna’s potential and her innate gifts for making a real difference. With Harriet and CLP’s consistent support, Donna kicks off her first major project: the Playstreets initiative. Playstreets actively make public spaces into safe car free zones. It’s a place where children engage in physical activity, foster social interaction, and build a stronger sense of community. Over 40 children and 30 adults participated, turning the street into a vibrant hub of activity and connection. The Playstreets initiative received a modest £16 grant from the Small Sparks Fund, used to provide hot pizzas for participants. This initial funding was a crucial first step, demonstrating the significant potential of community led projects.

“It gave the kids on the estate a safe place, creating opportunities for children to engage with others from different backgrounds, encouraging play and socialisation, this also fostered connections among previously isolated neighbours”

Donna’s time is often taken up with many projects she is involved with. Over the last few months she shared that she has lost some motivation and through their chats Harriet discovered her love of painting/drawing. It became apparent Donna has passion but is lacking in confidence in her own abilities. Harriet identified a 3 week beginner’s painting course and felt she would appreciate a sidekick to support her, giving her some much needed time to find out a little bit more about who Donna is..

“It was really nice teaching new skills to people and seeing the outcomes of their art. It was very relaxing and we could have some lovely conversations. I am looking forward to doing more art projects in the future.”

The course gave Donna the confidence in her own abilities to be able to facilitate a 4 week course in our Art Group and she is looking forward to run some more classes in the New Year.

“Having Harriet coming in has enabled us to start up some groups, very like-minded vision as us and we feel she is working on our passions and working with us to support us to bring this community together.”