Tendring Community Assets Full Final Report

38 good flow of new volunteers, others are worried that it is increasingly hard to find anyone. Likewise some groups struggle to recruit new participants, others are full and turning new members away. For example Headway, the charity supporting people with acquired brain injury, cannot secure enough places on social events to meet demand - a particularly popular bowling event has a 6 month waiting list for new users. 10.1.7 To recruit new participants, some providers report that taster sessions for new groups can be very effective but that they need time to work, a single session is often not enough. The HILL project in Harwich offered 10 free swimming sessions as an opportunity for physical exercise and to meet new people. During this time relationships were built and participants recognised the value from regular exercise. The group chose to continue, paying the small charge at the swimming pool, and it continues to run on that basis. Taster sessions are held at TDC owned leisure facilities (as below) but some of the smaller charities or small groups would need some financial support for this to be viable for them. Tendring has many swimming pools, including those run by the local authority with attached leisure facilities and private pools (including those in holiday parks, some of which already offer low cost use to local residents). Although these facilities tend to be close to the coast, so not necessarily within easy reach of all residents, they do provide good physical assets that might be used for a variety of activities. Taster sessions are already offered for some new groups at Clacton Leisure Centre, such as the new walking netball group, and it may be possible to use this model to expand upon men's activities. 10.1.8 Local champions and buddies (to support attendance at new activities) help to get new services in place. National charities, such as those running Men in Sheds, could be brought in to support new targeted local developments or local champions could be identified to build local ideas. Areas where there are currently fewer activities for particular groups could be targeted, with the emphasis on sociable activities known to help improve health or mental well being for those participating. 10.1.9 People will need to enjoy participating; those groups enjoying greater success are seemingly those with a high level of social interaction or where people have some degree of control over the extent to which they participate. There is a risk in terms of the range of activities however, that leaving this to local chance could result in duplication of popular services rather than new, more innovative endeavours. 10.1.10 Short course activity has been shown to work as a way of rejuvenating group activities that may otherwise become stale or encouraging a core group to the exclusion of new members. For example, many of the group sessions operating at the CVST Dovercourt and Harwich Hub operate in this way in order to refresh membership and Weeley Residents Association is a good example of how a small group of residents galvanised their community and created a lively and engaging group working together for common benefit. The Association was started from an original group of 8 keen residents and now boasts 432 members. The group thrives on connecting people, assets and groups through word of mouth, and building trust and relationships. Recognising that future success is all about sustainability, they routinely pull in new volunteers through personal invitation and perseverance. Residents meet and make friends by participating in various activities such as litter picking (some in their own version of Womble outfits!), fish and chip suppers, bingo, children's groups, and many other events. They are keen to engage directly with each other through word of mouth and they go where people go (not just emails), and they have an excellent website, giving comprehensive details of all the activities and contacts. They produce two community newsletters and have printed posters in the village hall, shops and GP surgery.