Welcome to the Catton Grove 'Our Bigger Story' website. This is part of the multi media evaluation of 15 Big Local areas in England. The website is an opportunity to follow what is changing in Catton Grove as a result of Big Local over a ten year period.
The aim of the website is to share the learning from everything that is happening in Catton Grove with other Big Local areas and highlight what works in communities with a wider audience of practitioners and policy makers.
Catton Grove Big Local has been supporting improvements to Waterloo Park since 2017. It had become a bit rundown and surveys and workshops in the park demonstrated people's desire to change this. The Friends of Waterloo park was formed at an inaugural meeting in May 2018 and with financial support and expertise from Big Local, it has continued to grow. The group is keen that everyone can get involved in making the park a better space and that all members of the community can make use of it. This is their story.
Catton Grove Big Local commissioned the YMCA to run two groups each week. Here is what the young participants think about them.
A local resident has started a football group and Catton Grove Big Local has provided money for equipment and insurance. Lots of people are turning up showing just what a good idea can generate. Anyione can turn up making it as inclusive as possible.
This film, made at Big Local's 'The Box' and Catton Grove Community Centre, records what's happening in Catton Grove, how people are benefiting and how the area is changing.
This short films is a follow on to a previous film (27.4.2016). It updates the progress of the allotment group which started as a Big Local project and is now independent. Here, group members discuss the challenges of community engagement and what they are trying to do.
Volunteers at the community allotment show how Catton Grove Big Local is encouraging people to get some fresh air, to grow food and to make new friends.
This film shows the opening of the Catton Grove Big Local "box' - previously a disused police office. This is the culmination of lots of work around negotiating management and refurbishment of the space.