Grimsby in 10 years: learning from the Creating Actions workshop
More than 1,000 people have come together for a conversation about the future of Grimsby as part of the Grimsby Together project, leading to a rich picture of what matters to the area.
The mass engagement has been driven by the energy and creativity of the 100+ person network that came together for the Launch Event and others who connected with the mission of the work. Flyers have gone out on McDonalds trays, on busses, churches, by text to parents at schools, in police stations, notice boards in parks, shops and community centres, in pubs, within families, at schools, youth centres, in the windows of cars, sports clubs, leisure centres, on doorsteps, in community events, to service users, to stall holders at Freeman Street Market, in taxis, Morrisons, Asda, Tesco, the Mosque, Citizens Advice, Franklin College, shops on Freeman Street, and many other places.
Building on this energy, 23 people came together at Blundell Park for a public discussion on the impact long term trends could have on the area and how Grimsby can get ahead of them. The trends we explored were based on public research conducted by Sitra which reviewed global shifts in Nature, People, Power, Technology, and the Economy.
The discussion resulted in a number of interesting ideas to be explore in Grimsby for getting ahead of the global trends that are likely to impact the area. These included:
• “Community Cadets”: A programme to involve and engage different groups (including young people) in taking action in their area to build a positive future
• An ongoing collective decision-making tool: Developing structures that allow people in Grimsby to take an active part in shaping their area and participating in making change, building on the Grimsby Together conversation
• A flourish town for culture: Leveraging cultural initiatives, like the UK Town of Culture award to bring people together in the area
• AI in health and wellbeing: Ensuring AI is used to enhance personalised health services and improve overall wellbeing, making best practices readily available.
• Healthy housing initiatives: Developing housing that promotes health and wellbeing, ensuring sustainable living environments.
This blog refers to the Grimsby Together initiative, where citizens are shaping a vision for their town through a series of workshops, conversations, and gatherings. You can see more on the webpage: https://www.our-future.io/grimsby-together