Local Social was founded by Andy, a Shared Lives carer, and James who has a learning disability. Its mission has been to bring people together across Ware and the surrounding Hertfordshire neighbourhoods.
As a small local enterprise, the team are driven by a commitment to work with community strengths and assets and see relationships as the cornerstone of their work.
Local Social were supported to set up by Community Catalysts through their project with Hertfordshire County Council.
Around two years ago they were looking for a space from which to host a regular coffee morning in a particular area of Ware. They were pointed in the direction of a community space called The Grange, owned now by Sovereign Network Group (SNG).
SNG are a housing association operating across the south of England. They own the majority of the 80 plus homes surrounding the space. Most people living in the area are living on their own.
The Grange is a large community space built in the 1990s with laundry and kitchen facilities and a TV lounge. At the time, there was nothing being done with the space though in the past it featured as a key centre point for the local community, hosting dances and social events
“It drove me crazy that this space wasn’t being used!.”
It became Andy’s personal mission to see the hall used again and restored as the heartbeat of the neighbourhood.
Local Social started up a coffee morning at The Grange on Mondays. Gradually, local residents started to attend and over time they began to organise their own events such as fish and chip suppers.
Andy speaks very highly of the support and encouragement they have received from SNG, especially from Andy Sheen, the Partnerships and Fundraising Lead. The partnership between the two Andys has been incredibly positive. SNG have funded some lunches hosted together to engage with local residents to hear what people wanted to do with the building.
“This is the golden nugget for us, when connections and friendships are forming which spread beyond what Local Social organise.”
Local Social brought in another local charitable enterprise supported by Community Catalysts called ‘Always Bee You’ which is run by Jo Radcliffe. Always Bee You supports adults with a learning disability or mental health issues to live fulfilled lives. Local Social and Always Bee You have been connecting with others through SNG’s local partnerships forum meetings which has around 15 members.
Always Bee You captured a vision for the space and suggested a project, ‘Pleased to Meet
You’, to SNG with the support of Andy Sheen. There is agreement for funding and a contract
has been drawn up. Local Social are seen as the catalysts and will support the project.
There are community micro-enterprises just like Local Social and Always Bee You up and down the country with the knowledge and passion to bring new ideas to life which can really benefit local people and places.
This wonderful example shows what can happen when connections are made with like-minded people across different sectors, and the role that housing providers can play in supporting small community organisations to lead local change.
This work together is already beginning to transform this forgotten community space. We are excited to see what further magic emerges from the connections and relationships forming in this neighbourhood.
More about the impact of Local Social’s work.
Read the story of Always Bee You.