Engagement with local people in the communities we work in is a fundamental part of platforming change and progressing community development. Our Community Engagement Officer Alan Gordon discusses the ways in which he ensures that both the aspirations of local people regarding community improvements are heard, and that as many members of the community as possible are made aware of, and can subsequently benefit from our projects. He also talks about the highlights and challenges of the role, and the changes he has seen in communities as a result of our projects.
What does your role involve as Community Engagement Officer?
The key part of my role is going out and talking to, and more importantly listening to local people in the communities we work in, as well as local schools, agencies and other stakeholders. It is important that I retain what different people are involved in within the community so that I can refer them to relevant opportunities. It also involves attending a lot of networking events to engage more people with our various projects, and often surveying local people and hosting consultation events about potential project development opportunities. Ultimately my job is to pull in as much information about these communities as possible, and the aspirations and ideas that people have to improve their local spaces. On the flip side, it is also about communicating our message widely, so I also work with our Social Media Intern to ensure our communications strategy does just that.
What does a typical day in the role look like?
The role is very varied and requires a lot of flexibility. Some days I work as a community gardener, while other days are desk-based with a focus on project development applications. I also help to facilitate Natural Play Sessions, as well as community food work such as our Community Picnics. Additionally, I regularly meet with other agencies to both share knowledge and information that can support them to plan and deliver their initiatives, and discuss what value we can collaboratively bring to different areas and their communities.
What made you want to work at Edible Estates?
I had been looking to transition into a local food growing role for several few years when a networking opportunity resulted in someone suggesting that I get in touch with Edible Estates’ Director, Greig Robertson. After talking with Greig for a couple of hours I was offered some sessional work at one of the projects to gain experience, which developed into a full-time role. Edible Estates’ aims and values were in total alignment with everything I am passionate about; food growing, the field to fork process, community building and enhancement, and engagement with a wide range of people across all age-groups and from diverse backgrounds. As a long-time food grower it is fantastic to have that be a key aspect of my job, particularly when I can see produce being used and shared at community events.
What do you hope to achieve in the role?
The aspirations vary depending on the project, however on a foundational level building community, creating conditions for change, and supporting local people to make that change possible is one of my main goals. I hope that through our projects I can bring as much to communities as I can by establishing, or in many cases re-establishing, resources and services in a dignified way. With that I hope to foster community cohesion, and elevate local voices so they are heard and taken into account. Through processes like community asset transfers, which are not always easy to follow through, I hope to champion what people want and platform lasting change that will benefit people in the community. A big part of that is ensuring that children get access to the opportunities they deserve within their communities, as I believe very strongly that they should be exposed to as many different experiences, ideas and ways of looking at the world as possible.
What’s your favourite part of the role?
My favourite part of the role is listening to local people’s opinions and thoughts about their community and establishing connections with them. In particular, seeing their perceptions about our projects change for the better over time is fantastic, as it really confirms that what we are doing is of great substance. One of our Murrayburn and Hailesland community gardeners for example, had previously known nothing about food growing, and is now really involved in the garden and regards it as a positive thing in her life, and it is great to see that it has had a beneficial impact for her,
What are the biggest challenges in your role?
Engagement itself is difficult as there is no correct answer on how best to approach and engage with people, and I can never be sure how a particular method will work or what results it will yield, particularly as quantifying the results can be challenging. Exploring different engagement types, from online to in-person, and surveys to leaflet distribution, can be very time-consuming, and I have to bear in mind that the time spent may not be reflected in the results, while balancing the importance of covering all bases. The often long and difficult processes involved in making things happen can also be challenging.
What is a positive change you have seen in the community as a result of Edible Estates’ projects?
Visually our Community Garden project in Murrayburn and Hailesland has made a big impact, as where there was previously tarmac, it now feels like a really nice part of the community to walk past. Though it is intangible, small improvements to the public realm such as well-maintained greenspace is better for mental health and wellbeing than endless concrete, and however subtle it does have an impact on how local people view and experience their environment. The project has also given local people an excuse to come together in a safe space, and where they had formerly walked past each other for years without communicating, they have now discovered they have a lot in common and have subsequently established a good rapport with one another, which is all essential to community building. Additionally, the Natural Play sessions in particular have fostered intergenerational communication, and have given local children something positive to get involved with in a space where their aspirations and ideas for their local park can be listened to as well, which I believe is a great investment of time as it sets a basis for them to want their voices to be heard in the community as they grow up. As an example, a member of the community bought some football goals for the Natural Play Adventure Park area, which demonstrated a perceptual change in that they had thought about what might be a nice addition for the children in the community. Another of the Murrayburn and Hailesland community gardeners initially got involved by offering us a table and chairs that he no longer needed, and this gave me the opportunity to engage with him and extend him an invite to the Community Picnic that day. The next time I was in the garden he was there getting involved in the food growing, and has been an enthusiastic volunteer ever since.
Do you have any particular fond memories from your time working with Edible Estates?
One particularly fond memory is planting the wildlife hedge around the Murrayburn and Hailesland Community garden with some of the pupils from Canal View Primary School. It was a great day, and the hedge is now thriving and settled well into the landscape, which is great for biodiversity. As it starts to mature it will look lovely in the spring and bring some additional beauty to the area. Every time I visit the garden I admire the work that the pupils put into it, and hopefully they feel proud when they see it as well. Working with the children at the Natural Play sessions is always fantastic too
Other Team Interviews…
Steve Pike, Edible Estates’ Head Community Gardener
Julie Parkin and Georgia Forsyth, Canal View Primary School Farm Leaders
Tona Sonato, Edible Estates’ Community Chef