2485a - Priti Patel MP from left Dave Smith, Head of Community & Stakeholder Engagement, Eastlight resident, Runyararo Garande and Lauren Brimson, Community Empowerment Officer.
Priti meets up with Eastlight Community Homes to talk about their pioneering All In campaign
The MP for Witham, Priti Patel has been meeting with executives from Eastlight Community Homes, the UK’s largest community led housing association, to discuss their All In community incubator campaign, a pioneering new programme that is establishing resident-led teams who are being paid to spend a year improving the lives of people in their own communities.
At their meeting with Priti, held in the Bakehouse Express at 63B Newland Street on Friday (18th February 2022) Dave Smith, Head of Community & Stakeholder Engagement and Lauren Brimson who is Community Empowerment Officer, provided an update on the creation of four new All In’ teams to be based in Witham, Colchester, Braintree and Halstead. Eastlight resident Runyararo Garande was also present to provide the resident’s perspective.
Under the All-in campaign, each resident led team will provide a bold, new solution to a big social issue in their community and will also be tasked with making it happen. Priti discussed how her office can help support their initiatives e.g. by helping them to make contact with local institutions such as schools, businesses and church groups.
Speaking after the meeting, Priti said: “I am very impressed with the approach being taken by Eastlight in encouraging residents to take the lead in generating new initiatives to improve their own communities. We had a very useful and productive discussion in which we made plans for mutual co-operation in the future. I am keen to give Eastlight all the support they need going forward.”
Dave Smith said: “We were very pleased that Priti has taken the time to sit down with us and discuss ways and means in which she can help us move All In forward. We know there are amazing people out there in our communities and we appreciate the support of key local stakeholders like Priti in helping us to connect with them.”
Further information about the All In community engagement project is available at https://www.weareallin.co.uk.
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