Empowering communities

The power of one playing a part of the greater whole should never be underestimated. None of us are islands but all operate as part of a larger group called the human race. The human race in turn is part of nature - just one element interlinked with plants, birds, animals and the atmosphere to create the whole. The power of one is important. A friend of mine emphasised how we can all play a part in our own way and when all those actions come together we get real change, hopefully for the better. The Covid pandemic has been a time when many have rediscovered community. People have been looking out for each other. There has been much charitable endeavour, whether supporting foodbanks or helping the homeless. There has been support for those on the front line like NHS workers and teachers. It's not all been plain sailing ofcourse, with some staying behind closed doors, working out frustrations on various social media platforms. Over the past four years as a councillor for Wanstead, I've endeavoured together with fellow councillors Jo Blackman, Daniel Morgan Thomas, Sheila Bain and Paul Merry to help empower people and support our communities. Back in 2018, we played a part in organising a large public meeting on the environment. The Cleaner Greener Wanstead group emerged from that , which in turn spearheaded a number of local initiatives. A lot of people signed up and there has been progress on that agenda. The monthly litter picks are another initiative, where a group of volunteers come together to help clean up the area. Other groups in the area that existed long before we got elected, like the Wanstead Community Gardeners, the Wanstead Society, Wild Wanstead, the Wren Group and Friends of Wanstead Park all operate actively in the community working to make Wanstead a better place. Wanstead Climate Action is another valuable contributor. All have played vital parts in different ways. Christchurch Green is in the centre of our community. It is the place where the Wanstead Festival and other community events take place and come to life. It is a space that belongs to us all – though with sometimes competing views. There has been rancour amongst some over some recent developments. But nothing that cannot be resolved going forward. Councillors have agreed to attend a meeting next month to discuss future developments on Christchurch Green. Hopefully, this can be the start of a really positive dialogue, maybe a Friends of Christchurch Green group can be established, which empowers people to play a role in shaping the future of this green lung at the heart of Wanstead. It's up to people to decide. Moving forward, more and more people need to become actively involved in shaping the future of our borough. There has to be meaningful engagement, not simply conscripting volunteers to do tasks which would otherwise have to be paid for. Meaningful, involvement means people having a real voice in making those decisions that effect them. It also means engaging a variety of opinions, giving equal weight to all, not allowing the loudest to drown out everyone else. Together a better, more participative society can be created. The power of one can become the power of many and then real organic change occurs.