Rosie as Queen for the day
“I have worked at Heyford Park since December 2021, while we were still experiencing lockdowns due to Covid! The community had been actively engaged in many activities prior to the Covid crisis and when I joined, the starting point was to get things open again. In my time at Heyford Park, I have supported and enabled a group of residents to become Heyford Park Community Hub, which grew out of attendance at coffee mornings and a crafting group. They now have a committee, several sessions a week and big ideas for the future.
Undertaking a community survey early on gave me a great insight into what residents wanted to see in their community – a big interest was in repairing recycling, re-purposing, and reducing items going to landfill. To this end I worked closely with a few key residents who eventually became Heyford Maker Shed, again a constituted group with premises, equipment and an active committee. I supported both these groups with funding
applications, policies and procedures, and finding premises.
After some residents asked for a wayfinding route so that they could travel around the development without cars, I also initiated what was to become the Heyford Park Art Trail. Working closely with Cherwell District Council and the artist Kerry Lemon, it was a great experience to attend the opening last December. In a lovely example of using community skills, the Heyford Shed group made many swift boxes, which wee then decorated with designs from the local school pupils. They are now installed on houses and public buildings around the development.
During my work at Heyford park, I had many conversations with residents, key stakeholders, and those who are the decision makers. Lives have become so busy since Covid and the struggle to find volunteers is as real as it is in many communities, and this is just as true in Oxfordshire. I wish the groups the best going forwards and am excited to see what the new community development worker brings.
I am retiring to spend more time with my new grandson, and singing with Northants Sings Out around the UK. I will also be volunteering locally!”