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DNA Project
Deprived Neighbourhood Approach (DNA)
Project DNA is one of Medway Council’s newest projects
under the EU programme.
INTERREG IVA 2 Seas allows
for cross-border participation in projects that help local
residents to improve their quality of life, by empowering them to
make change in their communities in economic and social areas and
environmental improvements.
Locally the project focuses in the areas of Chatham central, and
Luton but it also is being implemented in three other cities
in Europe,
Breda in the Netherlands, Kortrijk and
Antwerp, Belgium.
The project is based on the principle that people who
feel involved in the changes to their neighbourhood are also proud
of it. As such, they will be more likely to take the initiative to
make successful projects in their neighbourhood and to look after
what they have achieved. In the long run, this will lead to
increased social cohesion and a safe and attractive
neighbourhood.
The deprived neighbourhoods that will join this project are all
characterised by a number of the same typical problems, such as
poverty, unemployment, anti-social behaviour, weak health,
overcrowded houses, and empty shops and other buildings. Public
authorities in the 2 Seas area are struggling to improve the
situation in their deprived areas. This partnership believes that
at least some of these problems can be overcome by creating
ownership.
DNA's target group contains residents, local traders,
hard-to-reach groups (people living on low incomes, alcohol and
drug addicts), new entrepreneurs, visitors and passers-by. To reach
ownership, the partnership will create and support resident groups
that will be fully involved throughout the project. The resident
groups will take part in the study visits that are of vital
importance in this project because the residents learn and pick up
ideas, knowledge and experiences that they will use afterwards for
their projects at home.
Locally, this project has already arranged for a Resident’s
Working Party, which is great for Medway and will allow the local
residents to have a great impact on their own lives and that of
their neighbours.
Some of the targets that the Resident’s party will focus on in
Chatham are:
- Public Buildings
- Community Facilities
- Pavements and Footpaths
- Public spaces
The aim of this is to make life safer, smarter and more
beneficial to all residents and visitors. The group will work
alongside local elected Councillors and Council Officers to advise
on public health issues and community safety.
DNA has three main activities:
- Community safety
- Health and wellbeing
- Public spaces
Community safety
The main aim of this activity is to improve community safety by
empowering people and reaching ownership in terms of community
safety. To help guarantee the success of this, both professionals
and residents will be trained and coached on how to positively
effect the areas into safer ones for the people who live, work and
spend their free time in a particular neighbourhood, and the
improved image/perception of that neighbourhood.
Pilot actions will take place in the deprived areas of Antwerp,
Breda, Medway and Kortrijk.
- Antwerp will focus on an action to combat nuisance and drug
abuse.
- Breda will focus on active neighbourhood prevention, mediation
and involvement (including Neighbourhood Fathers and Big
Brothers).
- Medway will focus on alcohol and drug abuse.
- Kortrijk will focus on nuisance caused by individuals.
During the local pilot actions phase, the
partners will mutually assist each other and work together
intensively in smaller cross-border teams within the defined target
areas.
Health and wellbeing
Health and wellbeing are the next steps towards an integrated
approach on the revitalisation of deprived areas in cities. Good
health and a positive self-esteem are essential to realise
effective and sustainable interventions in deprived areas.
Pilot actions will take place in the deprived
areas of Antwerp, Breda, Medway and Kortrijk.
- Antwerp will focus on the interaction of addicted and homeless
people.
- Kortrijk on social cohesion and healthy food.
- Medway on facilitating health checks for residents.
- Breda on obesity, depression and loneliness.
Public spaces
Public Space ownership is a new concept and can only be reached
in a neighbourhood that responds to the needs of its residents,
visitors, local traders and passers-by (the target group). This is
not only a neighbourhood where people feel safe (activity 1), happy
and welcome (activity 2), but also a neighbourhood which is
attractive to the target group, so that the people feel involved
and are proud of their area, where they live, work or spend their
free time.
Pilot actions will take place in the deprived areas of Antwerp,
Breda, Medway and Kortrijk.
- Antwerp focusing on the creation of playground facilities for
children at De Coninckplein.
- Kortrijk on children participation and public space management
in the V-tex.
- Medway on small physical changes in the streets of Central
Chatham and Luton.
- Breda on a second life (stimulating local SME’s in deprived
areas) for empty buildings and isolated places.
Budget
The DNA project has a total budget for all partners of almost €3
million spread over the two years, and is in effect until 30
June 2014.
Find out more
To find out more about this project, please contact:
- the Resident’s Working Party on 01634
817797.
- the DNA project officer at Medway Council, Noreen
Ryan, on 01634 331958.
2 Seas INTERREG IV A Joint Technical
Secretariat
Les Arcuriales 45, rue de Tournai 5/D,
F-59800 Lille, France
Phone: +33 3 20 21 84 80
Website: www.interreg4a-2mers.eu/
DNA is part financed by The INTERREG IVA
2 Mers Seas Zeeën Cross-border Cooperation Programme
2007-2013.
It is part-financed from the European Regional Development
Fund (ERDF).
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