bpha is building a lot of new homes. When everything is new all at the same time it can be really important to have a CDO there to help residents to settle in and find out what goes on where. The range of matters that the CDOs get involved with is surprisingly far-reaching and they work closely with other organisations that are also trying to provide services to the new communities.
From left to right: Carly Meagher, Orchard Park CDO; Linda Whitfield, Wixams CDO; Katie Baldwin, Love's Farm CDO; Julia Holmes, New Communities Manager.
At ground level their actions centre on:
- establishing contact with all residents and providing them with information and support for their involvement in decisions that are being made about what may or may not be provided in the community
- providing opportunities for everyone to learn and develop within their communities
- creating social networks by organising Welcome events and regular activities where people can meet
- responding to residents’ needs and maintaining effective relationships with residents, partners and other service providers
Sub links:
Orchard Park
Orchard Park is on the northern outskirts of Cambridge. House building there is nearing completion and once finished there will be around 900 homes. Carly Meagher is the CDO and has been working with residents and partners at Orchard Park since the summer of 2008. Carly works closely with Orchard Park Community Council and is based in the Community Centre there. She has also helped to establish a group called “Able to be Independent” that offers support to residents with any disabilities. There have been numerous events and activities and Carly is helping to make sure that these continue after bpha’s contract to deliver community development at Orchard Park ends in December 2011.
Love’s Farm
Love’s Farm is a new community to the east of the market town of St Neots in Huntingdonshire. In all there will be about 1,410 homes there and of those 523 will house bpha residents. The CDO for Love’s Farm is Katie Baldwin. Katie has helped to establish the Community Association there and it has set up a website with help from residents in another of bpha’s new communities at Mawsley, Northamptonshire. To find out more about Love’s Farm the website is . The Community Association is doing some excellent work and has succeeded in winning the approval of Huntingdonshire District Council to take on the running of the new Community Centre. The Association is also working with the architect to devise plans for the building.
Wixams
Wixams is a new development currently being built about three miles outside Bedford, near Wilstead. At the moment the first “village” is under construction. Once finished it too will have around 900 homes, of which bpha will own 189. Linda Whitfield is the CDO for Wixams. Linda has already helped residents to establish a Community Association and there is now a community website at . With help from nearby Wilstead’s Neighbourhood Watch Group, Linda has also helped the new Neighbourhood Watch Group to become organised in Wixams.
For up-to-date information on what might be happening in your area check out the “What’s happening in your community” section on the home page!