SINCE 2015…….
….Kingsbrook and Cauldwell BIG Local have been working hard with our community to deliver projects, activities and grants in our local area. Below are just a few of the things we have achieved.
1. 34 small grants, totally £87,500 and making a difference to 6465 people in our area
2. The role of Community Champion – a pilot for social prescribing in the local Healthcare Centre. Our Community Champion was funded from 2015 to 2017 linking services together to provide holistic support which would improve patient outcomes. Many new local health related support groups were set up and a final report showed that there was a calculated saving/benefit of almost £40k to the health and social care sector.
3. The Skate Park at the Moors – Started in 2015 and opened in 2018 this was an £87k project to build a Skate Park in partnership with Bedford Council. This was designed in consultation with users of the Skate Park and is widely used.
4. Access steps at Eastcotts green space – Build in Partnership with the local Kingsbrook Ward Councillors. Providing a proper access to reach the green space at Eastcotts used frequently for dog walking and previously only accessed via a mud slope. There is also now a friendship bench to sit and have a chat.
5. Funding to start Junior Park Run at Jubilee Park in 2017. Ran weekly until lockdown with up to 50 young people each week, but has now just re-opened with 20 already attending.
6. 2 Open air cinema events in 2019 bringing the community together. Attended by 250 residents in the community.
7. Several years of Halloween events –with apple bobbing, pumpkin carving, crafts and lots of fun. Each event was attended by up to 50 children.
8. 4 years of Clean Ups across the area – very popular with residents resulted in a 40% reduction in fly tipping in Cauldwell and a 74% reduction in Kingsbrook.
9. 2 Green Gyms installed – at Jubilee Park and the Moors. Both are still widely used.
10. Coffee Pot social group face to face and then online during the pandemic – supporting people who are isolated or have poor mental health, who find the weekly meeting a lifeline for support and connection. Mags continues to look after all her ‘Coffee Potters’ and they all say how much the chance to chat and be together each week means to them.
11. Summer fun 2021. A range of events across our community from football targets to circus skills.
12. Half term Activities 2022 planned and run by Youth Voices
