Community engagement is our way of developing positive professional relationships between diverse organisations (such as local councils and quangos) and local groups to really support change.
Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage has worked extensively in community development with groups across Sussex (with schools, older people, young people, people with disabilities and more) since 2010, and in partnership with many other local organisations such as Collected Works, QueenSpark Books, Jewish Care, Trust for Developing Communities, Brighton and Hove City Council and more.
More recently, this has expanded to community development through projects aimed at the BME community – partnering Brighton Black History, and BME Elders Group and through Fabrica gallery. We have also engaged with rural communities via Action in Rural Sussex and Lewes District Seniors Forum, encouraging relationship development and consultation for planning and funding strategy, prior to and post project commencement.
We begin by establishing dialogue with local communities and this has been fundamental to developmental success, for example, using accessible language and means of communication. We follow this with planning, consultation and informal engagement through events and activities, to liaise with groups and individuals at work, via exhibitions, talks, open days, and in partnership with participants and stakeholders.
Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage can help you develop your own ways to engage your community, from initial community consultations to community participation or fully community-led and managed projects. We can also develop bespoke solutions to improve the ways you measure social impact.
If you are interested in finding out more about how we can help support your work and activities, drop us a line through our Contact section.
We administer the Healthy Neighbourhood Fund on behalf of BHCC and in conjunction with local community groups. We have been very impressed with the work that Strike a Light – Arts & Heritage do year after year. They have applied for and successfully obtained funding through HNF, delivering vital projects especially around supporting older people in the locality. Strike a Light are always professional in their dealings and the projects are creative, fun and meet real needs in the community.
Cal Chester – Community Development Support Worker