Art in the Park - NEWHAM POETRY GROUP- £20,000

From "Stratford and West Ham Community Assemblies"

Go to the project

Art in the Park

We have been working with local community for the past 3 years and our aim is to make Startford park a destinantion of choice for local people. The Pavilion (opposite tennis courts) has been renovated in the past 2 years by raising more than £30k funding (by Newham Poetry Group) and with help of our local volunteers. The aim now is to continue this work. The project will be delivered at an existing building at Stratford Park (the old pavilion, front of the tennis court). We will work closely to BAME and LGBTQ+ groups, local schools, general residents and park’s visitors. By creative activities we will improve the park’s noticeboards and the bins/collections points around our park. The project will benefit all Stratford residents and present and future park’s visitors.

The aims of our project:

· Reinvigorate Stratford Park

· Create a meaningful public space

· Improved Stratford Park atmosphere

· Raise awareness about environment, air quality and recycling

· Increase residents’ sense of belonging to our local park

Volunteering opportunities

Outcomes of the projects:

· Involve local community in creative activities in our local park

· Invite grassroots groups to co-create a new narrative for our local park

· Improved the noticeboards of the park that now look abandoned (pics attached). Make Stratford Park a more welcoming space.

· Use a creative approach to invite people to keep the park clean and to support recycling initiatives

Partners: Residents (participants and volunteers), Adult Social Care, neighbourhood watch group, LBN youth detachment team (Stratford Park), LBN services, local artists & musicians, and other groups in the park (to avoid duplication and make programme more accessible). For example, Frame of Mind.

Programme of activities - the aim is to deliver a sustainable project in 3 phases (at Stratford Park and Old Pavilion in Stratford Park) to make it manageable and attainable –

· Phase 1: Creative Stratford Park (August 2021- March 2022 and ongoing) – £9350

· Phase 2: Welcoming and Greener Stratford Park (Infrastructure improvements) - Supporting to achieve Green Flag (Nov - Mar 2022 and ongoing) – £6500

· Phase3: Celebrating Stratford Park (Feb 2022 and ongoing) £4150

Offering different alternatives to our creative residents (in person and online to support people who can't join in person sessions)

Working group members visiting us