Re-engaging and empowering a community

15 April 2023

15 April 2023

Who are we..?Byker? I bet your first thought was…

15 April 2023

Newcastle City Council

• Stock Transfer July 2012

• Grade II* Listed

• Individually designed estate

• 2000 properties, commercial & land

Different to other stock transfers because…

15 April 2023

Byker of Old

The Byker community was always very special…

15 April 2023

The community spirit was captivated by an international artist Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen

15 April 2023

Erskine’s vision was to built for the returning community…

• Design features

• District Heating System

• Schools and play areas

• Hobby Rooms

• Viewing Areas

• Shops

• Communal Space

• Horticulture

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…and in the 2000’s

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But time and social politics took their toll…

• Lack of Investment

• High density

• Charges for services

• Listed features .v. Lifestyle

• Over supply / vulnerability

• Asylum Seekers

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Byker's Grade II* listing

saved it…

15 April 2023

Stock transfer was the only solution..…

5 July 2012

15 April 2023

…then there was me and “The New Approach”!

• ?• Who?

• What?

• When?

• Where?

• Why?

• How?

15 April 2023

Who?

• CEO and Board

• Newcastle City Council

• Your Homes Newcastle

• BCT Team

• Strategic Partners

• Shareholders

• Contractors/Suppliers

…and of course the living spirit within Byker and its community

15 April 2023

What?

• Bottom up approach

• Reinvigorate a thriving mixed community

• 20% BME – 29 different languages

• Restore community pride and status

• Put Byker on the map

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Index of Multiple Deprivation (32,482 Super Output Areas)

Income 3%Employment 2%Health 1%Education Skills and Training 3%Overall 2%

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When?

• Start from Day 1 & Action Plan the year ahead

• Do things differently

• Live the Brand and Culture

• Make every day about our Mission, Vision and Values

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Where?

• Do everything in Byker

• Be based in the centre of the action

• Utilise the community offerings

• Recognise the diverse community

• Not 1 size fits all approach

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Why?

• Social Indices

• Poverty and deprivation

• Lost generations

• Learning to

• Learning how to ‘BE’

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How… its all about ‘be’ing

• Visible

• Available

• Ready to listen

• Responsive and ready to act

• Role models

• Agile

• Robust and resilient

• Provocative

• Supportive

• Encouraging

• Authentic relationships and

…teaching people how to ‘be’lieve in themselves and to ‘be’ the best they can ‘be’

15 April 2023

Start as you mean to go on…• Get the right people on the bus

• Don’t do things to people, do it with them

• Let the community drive the bus

• Let the community be involved in developing their own;• Community Engagement Strategy• Equality and Diversity Strategy• Communications and Marketing Strategy• Local Procurement Strategy

• Continuously building relationships and

• Always keep momentum

15 April 2023

What the Byker Community asked for…

• Two Way Engagement Intensive / Face to Face

• Developing insight Interpersonal relationships / open communication channels.

• Capacity Building Help for individuals and groups to overcome barriers

Support individuals into confidence & personal growth

• Empowerment Encourage & Enable people

to influence and take ownership of the direction of the community & services

‘Be agile, adapt, mature and evolve.

15 April 2023

Action Plans Deliver!

• What gets measured gets done

• Customers like them

• They are easy to understand

• They map progress

• They evidence achievement

Achieved

On Track

Not Complete

Awaiting Action

15 April 2023

Progress 2.5 yrs on…• Business

• Investment Plan

• Community Journey

• Added Value Log

Safeguarding Apprenticeships 28

New Apprenticeships 22

New Vacancies 6

Safeguarding Local Jobs 5

Progression to employment under 6 months 14

Progression into employment over 6 months 10

Total 84

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Creating thriving communities

15 April 2023

It’s about people and place

15 April 2023

Building up participation

15 April 2023

Community Partnerships

15 April 2023

Our journey has started…• Community Based to Community led

• 10 Year Business Plan (Approx £48m over 10 years currently commited)

• Customer Excellence Standard

• Value for Money

Underpinned currently by…

• Board & Staff

• Tenant Scrutiny / TPAS

• Participatory Budget Scheme

• Customer Communications Group

• TARAs

• Various Diverse Groups

• Capacity Building and growing

15 April 2023