Learning Objectives q To understand how community groups

Learning Objectives: q To understand how community groups contribute to place making.

What is placemaking? Placemaking is a multi-faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. Placemaking capitalises on a local community's assets, inspiration, and potential, with the intention of creating public spaces that promote people's health, happiness, and well being. v It has people at the heart v It is about how the environment and society would benefit v Therefore placemaking purely for economic gain is not possible

Who creates places? Governments (national to local scale) Planners and architects Local community groups

Heathfield Community Groups: • Heathfield and District Age Concern – help support the elderly or incapacitated residents. Every other Tuesday they hold a senior citizens lunch at the Union Church Hall with mini bus transport. They also provide a minibus transport system for the elderly to get to and from local supermarkets. • The annual Heffle Cuckoo Fair – this is a 700 year old tradition held in Heathfield where their are stalls, performers, dog competitions etc. to raise money for Demelza Hospice Care for Children, a local charity. In 2016, over £ 4000 was raised and this boosts community spirit. • Waldron Neighbourhood Watch – collaborate with the local police to make sure residents and their properties are safe. They also deal with issues such as flytipping, anti-sociable behaviour and fox invasions. This informal community group makes the locals have their voice heard and is good for fostering collaborative community spirit. • Street Pastors are a group of trained volunteers in the local area who patrol the streets form 10 pm- 4 am on Friday and Saturday nights to listen to, care for and help vulnerable local people. This helps makes the locals feel safer and again is good for local community spirit.

Bexhill Community Groups: • Highwoods Preservation Society is an environmental organisation whose aim since the 1980 s is to benefit both the public and the environment through their society. They maintain footpaths to encourage people to experience their local surrounding natural environment whilst bringing the community together by making “access for all” footpaths to allow disabled and elderly people to join in and enjoy nature within the Bexhill area. They also promote the historic architecture and buildings around Bexhill old town e. g. the Manor Barn, as well educating the public of the history of where they live to encourage them to value it and preserve it. • Bexhill Neighbourhood Watch –their aim is to maintain and improve the safety of the local Bexhill community. One thing they do is go into the local primary school in Little Common to educate the children on crime prevention. They also hold local fundraising activities to raise money that will then go back into the local community. • The Caring Community is an organisation which focuses on meeting the needs of the elderly by providing free medical care, “dial-a-ride” services to help the immobile elderly residents to get into town and use local services which will make them still feel part of the community.

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