Economic development and social regeneration

This community-led neighbourhood partnership was initiated in 2001 in support of real improvements for the community in All Saints, Chatham. This partnership is made up of local organisations working alongside Medway Council, including:

• the Diocese of Rochester;
• All Saints Community Project;
• South East England Development Agency (SEEDA);
• mhs homes;
• Kent Police;
• Groundwork Medway Swale;
• Medway Adult Learning Services;
• Medway JobsMatch.

One of the first tasks of the partnership was to consult with All Saints residents on the issues affecting the neighbourhood. More than 1,400 households were surveyed, resulting in an initial report, Real People, Real Challenges in September 2002, which identified the key issues:

• lack of community cohesion;
• lack of play and open spaces;
• high levels of long-term unemployment and skills shortages;
• racism and increased tension with asylum seekers;
• high level of substance abuse;
• too much litter and rubbish;
• lack of facilities and activities for young people;
• no multi-functional centre to cater for the specific needs of the area.

The All Saints Community Project (ASCP)

This began from local concern about the effect that the closure of All Saints Hospital would have on the local community and the future of the site in what was already a built-up area with little green space. It was seen as an opportunity to influence the discussion and the ASCP, whose aim is to empower the local community and help improve education, safety, employment and life skills and lower crime, was born.

Partnership is the key to success of the project, bringing together different voluntary and statutory groups to work in a co-ordinated way.

Project manager

The ASCP Manager is Linda Fiddyment. Her job involves any issues that fall within the scope of the overall aims of the ASCP, taking things forward to help achieve the project's aims, meeting with partners regularly, consulting with local residents of all ages, seeking new opportunities for projects in the area, delivering projects that provide social or educational opportunities and trying to obtain funding for work.

New Chalk Pit Community Park The All Saints Neighbourhood Action Plan highlighted the lack of open leisure space in the community as an improvement priority and a disused and derelict play area at Chalk Pit Hill was identified as an appropriate site for development. Young people from the All Saints Youth Group and pupils from New Road Primary School took a lead role in defining how the community park should look. The group became known as the Chalk Changers and were involved in the Child 2 Child project run by Groundwork Medway Swale in 2004 that defined what they wanted. The project built a new fenced ball court, a play area for younger children and an adventure trail, as well as areas for people to sit and enjoy the view. Work began in March 2005 and the Mayor of Medway opened the park in July of that year. The park is used morning, noon and night.

The project was achieved with the co-ordination and project management of Groundwork Medway Swale, Medway Council and the All Saints Community Project, who secured funding from:

• Department for Communities and Local Government: £100,000;
• SEEDA: £78,000
• the European Regional Development Fund Interreg IIIA CONRAD project: £13,000.

Young people as the catalyst

The key to the success of this project is the continued participation of young people. They have designed and developed the options for the site and are integral in its continuing success through their involvement and creation of the park’s signage, archways and play equipment. By delivering the project in this way, local young people have gained a sense of pride and ownership of the park.

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