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
Developed in partnership with Liverpool University’s Veterinary School between 2015 and 2016, these events were designed to bring the community together with people who would be able to provide free advice and expertise.
The tone of the days was deliberately informal with lots of fun activities, including a Dogstacle course, alongside opportunities to seek advice on issues related to dog behaviour, nutrition and health.
The Dogstacle course gave owners opportunities to demonstrate how much control, or otherwise, they had over their canine companions and, therefore, offered easily accessible opportunities for conversations about these issues. Free health checks and tagging were also made available as well as opportunities to meet police dogs and dog handlers.
The community feedback from these events was entirely positive. Partner organisations valued the opportunities to have positive conversations with the community in ways that otherwise would not have been possible.
Dog Days
Overview
