Healthy Homes Forum Workshop 1

The Healthy Homes Forum is underway!

On Saturday 12^th July, 24 Avenues residents came together for the very first Healthy Homes Forum workshop.

The workshop focussed on getting to know each other, understanding what the Forum hopes to achieve, and exploring what residents love about their homes - and what they'd like to see change.

Overview of the day

• As all good things do, we began with lunch - giving participants a chance to meet neighbours they hadn't met before and get to know each other.
• Participants heard from the City Council and Queens Park Community Council about why the Forum has been created and their role helping all Avenues residents get the home improvements they need. 
• We reviewed what participants - the experts on their homes - had shared in advance about their experience of living in the Avenues and hopes for the Forum. 
• We discussed ways of working and agreed to be inclusive, share knowledge and power and remain optimistic.
• We moved into a series of activities where participants shared their experiences of living in the Avenues - including what they like and dislike about their homes, their aspirations for the future, barriers to change and ideas to get the improvements they need.
• Wrap up and close.

What we heard

• People living in the Avenues love their neighbourhood and want to work together to make homes healthier, while preserving the area's special character.
• Residents share many of the same likes, dislikes, and hopes for the future of their homes.
• Some challenges to making improvements are common to everyone, while others are specific to renters or to homeowners.
• There are many opportunities to help residents get the home improvements they need - some that will need the Council to do things differently, and others that the community could lead.
• People enjoyed meeting their neighbours and hearing a range of perspectives.

Feedback on the workshop

“This is a very good idea and good planning – taking everyone’s ideas on board.”

"A great step forward to make our homes more adapted to the 21st century."

"I am glad this conversation is happening finally.

"I felt encouraged by the collaborative approach and excited about the potential long term impact on our neighbourhood."

"Well delivered introductions. Each stakeholder explained their role in the project and how in joint partnership with residents we will work together to develop the scope and objectives of the project."

Next steps

• Likes, dislikes and future aspirations will inform the upgrade options to be explored at Workshop 2 (September), where we’ll look at what improvements can be made, bearing in mind key barriers and context such as the conservation area.
• Barriers and ideas to make change happen will be explored at Workshop 3 (October), where we’ll focus on helping residents get the improvements they want.