Presentation from the George Thomas Beechwood Community Trust about the Beechwood Little Centre, Big Local, play area and skate park.

George Thomas of Beechwood Community Trust welcomed the Committee to the Beechwood Little Centre and addressed the meeting on the development of community activities on Beechwood and the progress of the Little Centre.

Mr Thomas summarised developments in Beechwood since the 1980’s, noting a description from that time of the Ford Estate as “notorious”.  Through residents’ action, the establishment of a Homewatch scheme being key to the process, and working with the Council, the Beechwood Community Association was established in 1981.  The Association in due course became the Beechwood Community Trust with the intention of becoming a sustainable local organisation.  With regard to housing, an Estate Management Board had been established to enable residents, alongside the Council, to manage the local housing stock.  Following a tenants’ vote leading to a stock transfer to Beechwood and Ballantyne Community Housing Association, the use of estate land for housing development led to Section 106 monies being used to refurbish the Little Centre.  With tenants’ agreement, the housing stock had since transferred to the Liverpool Housing Trust.

A big development for the area had been the allocation of £1M over ten years of Big Local funding from the National Lottery, Big Local helping local people make communities better places to live in, both now and in the future.  A Big Local partnership, predominantly led by local residents, had been established and a refurbishment scheme had commenced 18 months ago.  A new Manager for the Little Centre had been appointed recently and would be looking to extend usage of the Little Centre.  The Little Centre, alongside the library, recreation centre and other local facilities, was also part of the Beechwood Digital Hub.

Mr Thomas and other local representatives further advised on recent community led developments in the area.  The Little Centre was now accredited for the provision of certain training; funding had been received for improvement of the adjacent Play Area, the Committee being advised of consultations undertaken and of the proposals for the area; the operation of the Beechwood Food Larder enhanced a service provided previously by the Beechwood Chapel; and the recently opened Skate Park had proved to be a great success and which had, in development, included consultations with young people and been a real example of partnership working in the area.

Mr Thomas advised of the difficulty in recruiting new volunteers and, while acknowledging that this was likely to be an issue elsewhere, commented that more, younger people were needed to help with the running of the Centre and, in due course, replace longer standing volunteers.  In conclusion, he noted that a lot of work had been done by local residents who should be commended for their efforts.

Responding to a query from Councillor Steve Foulkes, Mr Thomas agreed that Beechwood Community Trust might provide advice to a new generation of volunteers at the resident association on the Ridgeway Estate, but again noted the age profile of Beechwood Community Trust members and the difficulties in getting a new generation involved.

The Chair, on behalf of the Committee, thanked the Little Centre for their hospitality in hosting the meeting and the Beechwood Community Trust for their presentation to the meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Mr Thomas and other representatives be thanked for their presentations to the meeting, and the Beechwood Community Trust be thanked for and supported in their continuing work within the local community.