Overview
Despite our love of formal training, much of the evidence suggests that learning happens between people and is best facilitated by peers. Creating a learning environment is key to all our work and, although never directly funded, our focus during our work in Newsham Park was to create an enabling network. This meant that we worked hard to foster relationships between different groups within the local community.
These differences in ethnicity, age, and socio-economic status were only reinforced by the ways in which funding was targeted at particular groups or particular problems. To overcome that, we deliberately sought to keep all activities open to everyone, not only on paper but in spirit. We also sought to create a safe psychological environment that enabled people to connect across perceived differences and find common ground between them.
The evidence of the success of this informal network can be found in the number of ongoing friendships between former participants and the extent to which the network-enabled people to share resources, help, experience and advice in ways that did not encourage dependency or foster shame.
The Enabling Network
NEWSHAM PARK
The following organisations and initiatives Tree House is either working to support or aligns with their values around social prescribing, social wellbeing, mindfulness and connectivity.
The following organisations and initiatives Tree House is either working to support or aligns with their values around social prescribing, social wellbeing, mindfulness and connectivity.
SERVICES
About Tree House
Project Delivery
Partners & clients
The poor state of the Bandstand in Newsham Park was raised repeatedly in our conversations with local people. Built in 1859, it had been shown little love since and, in 2012, had recently been subject to arson and appeared beyond al hope. From the local authority’s point of view, why try and restore something which had no current use.
Over two years, we brought together a group of local people who were willing to take the risk of asking for forgiveness and not permission. Using some highly skilled local voluntary labour, the iron uprights were, painstakingly and lovingly, stripped and sealed. This prompted the local authority to commission the work to have the roof repaired and the uprights repainted, thus preserving the bandstand for future generations' work. Our efforts inspired the Eden Project to come and film us for their Stories for Inspiration Archive.
Bandstand Restoration
Overview
