Roseworth Ward

Securing a dedicated space to bring residents together

From the outset, the Roseworth Big Local partnership were keen to address resident feedback by creating a physical community hub, where residents of all ages could meet and take part in activities. They considered a range of options, including a vacant shop, but decided against this because of the costs involved. They then focused their efforts on securing a space in Kiora Hall, a council-owned building in the heart of the Big Local area, which was originally in use as an adult education centre.

When the North East Autism Society (NEAS) took over Kiora Hall in 2022, the partnership engaged with the NEAS leadership team. Drawing on their strength in building and maintaining close partnerships with local organisations, they forged strong links with NEAS and participated in mutually beneficial events and activities. This led to RBL securing a central space within the hall as a base for the partnership and a hub for community projects, including gardening group meet-ups, seated yoga and a casserole club. The Big Local programme experienced a significant increase in community activities and resident engagement as a result. In the final year of the programme, the partnership engaged with community groups to build their involvement and enable the sustainability of activities beyond Big Local. They agreed with NEAS that the space would remain available for community use, and community groups would have continued free access.

Beyond opening up the space for local groups, the partnership worked with NEAS to run events for the community, including a Spring Fayre in 2024. The success of the event was emblematic of the productive and lasting relationship they developed over the years with NEAS.

Launching sports and fitness facilities for community use

Early consultations with young people and the wider community identified an urgent need for improved sports and fitness facilities. After exploring existing local spaces, the partnership identified a green site at the eastern side of the area and worked in partnership with the borough council to create a multi-use games area (known as a MUGA). RBL and the council both contributed to the £191,000 building costs and the council agreed to maintain the facility after Big Local ended.

The MUGA opened in 2016 with an event that included a free giveaway of footballs and netballs, and the partnership commissioned local providers, like Middlesbrough Football Club, to deliver regular sessions and one-off events like family fundays. Two years later, RBL funded the build of an outdoor gym next to Kiora Hall and provided a year of free personal training sessions for the local community. These were taken up by almost 70 residents.

Improving physical fitness and reducing social isolation through ​‘Walk and Talk’ sessions

The Roseworth Big Local partnership saw wellbeing as a central part of everyday life and decided to weave the theme of health and wellbeing throughout all aspects of their work.

Mid-way through Big Local, the partnership approached local charity Red Balloons, who delivered ​‘Walk and Talk’ sessions attended by up to nine residents each week. These sessions were designed to improve wellbeing by encouraging people to get outdoors, be active and meet others. All walk leaders had personal experience of mental health challenges and were able to provide one-to-one support where needed. Peers shared their experiences too and Red Balloons encouraged residents to volunteer to lead future walks. One participant credited the group and volunteers with easing their anxiety and helping them get back out into the world after a bereavement.

Working collaboratively to improve mental wellbeing through gardening

Over the duration of the programme, RBL built a strong relationship with Tees Valley Wildlife Trust (TVWT) and provided funding to deliver a range of gardening and wildlife projects. These included wildflower planting events in 2015, a trip to nearby Hamsterley Forest in 2017 and a tree giveaway in 2022.

RBL also worked with TVWT to tackle social isolation and enhance mental wellbeing through activities designed to bring wildlife into residents’ gardens. They distributed almost 300 information packs covering a range of themes – from bird buddies and garden trees to hedgehogs and beautiful butterflies – and encouraged 67 households to sign up as Wildlife Garden Champions. Feedback from TVWT reported the Wildlife Garden Champions project enabled people to get closer to the nature in their garden, learn more about local wildlife and make friends with others in the area. TVWT also ran 10 practical workshops about wildlife gardening and natural art.

Funding a free cooking course for residents

Towards the end of the programme, residents shared an interest in developing cooking skills. Seeing this as an opportunity to support residents’ health and wellbeing, the partnership collaborated with Sprouts Community Food Charity to run sessions for residents, from Kiora Hall. They wanted sessions to focus on sharing practical cooking skills to help residents build confidence and inspire creativity in the kitchen. Sprouts ran Casserole Club – a slow cooker cookery course – which took place over 4 weeks with an uptake of 12 residents. The course was free, and residents received a slow cooker and learnt how to cook nutritious and low-cost meals.

Prioritising young people’s needs

Early on, Roseworth Big Local (RBL) commissioned local charity Eastern Ravens Trust to set up and run a Young People’s Steering Group. Feedback from this group helped orient the Big Local programme around young people’s needs, which centred on facilities and activities. To address these, RBL worked closely with Eastern Ravens Trust throughout the programme, funding a Family Support Worker within the charity and commissioning services to meet the needs of children and young people. These included activities for children of all ages and sessions designed specifically for girls and young carers. During school holidays, RBL supplemented funding from the national Holiday Activities and Food programme, so local children who would otherwise have been ineligible could enjoy a packed programme of activities, including football, water sports, craft and dance.

Supporting a choir group to foster connection

The partnership wanted to bring residents together by stimulating community activity. Mid-way through the programme, Roseworth Big Local funded the Big Vocal Choir, which was set up by two members of the partnership through a Rosebud Grant. Every week, the choir brought a dozen or more residents together to enjoy group singalongs, regardless of singing ability or experience. The group gave public performances too, including singing as a ​‘human Christmas tree’ in Stockton-on-Tees in December 2019. One of their most widely shared performances was a rendition of ​‘Bring Me Sunshine’ which they recorded to raise spirits during lockdown in 2020.

Supporting residents with cost of living, housing and welfare issues

Aware of increased challenges around the cost of living, housing, debt and benefits, towards the end of Big Local the Roseworth Big Local partnership set out to make it easier for residents to obtain professional advice. Knowing that many residents lacked access to a car, the partnership funded Stockton and District Advice and Information Service to run sessions by appointment. These were held at the community hub in Kiora Hall and the Hope Centre in a local church. Within a year, 100 residents had attended, collectively gaining £450,000 worth of extra benefits or savings.

Signposting residents to opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise have known about

The partnership’s strength in building relationships locally enabled them to connect residents with opportunities from other organisations. One example of this was the four-week ​‘Platter and Natter’ course run by charity Groundwork, where participants accessed wellbeing advice and tailored employment coaching for up to six months. Participants also received assistance with obtaining clothes for interviews and travel costs. Another was a rewilding event in a local forest, where people developed bushcraft and campfire cooking skills, while trying out archery and axe-throwing. In both cases, the partnership arranged for between six and 12 Roseworth residents to participate.