Dunmow Showcase
Rebuilding community connections through physical activity provision
After Covid-19, Care for the Neighbours (John and Helen Wright) wanted to re-establish community spirit in Great Dunmow and the surrounding areas, by showcasing physical activity opportunities, services, and activities available to residents.
The community project, initiated by Care for the Neighbours was supported by Uttlesford United in Kind Coach, Christine Chester, and Find Your Active Community Coordinator, Mirka Marri, due to their connections across the system and community. Mirka recognised the importance of co-designing the event with key partners, to ensure that community assets were leveraged to build, grow, and develop the event. She also played a crucial role in identifying and coordinating various physical activity opportunities in the area.
As part of the event, residents were offered free taster sessions, including those from Katy Harris SOSA Dance and Dunmow Leisure Centre, as well as activities with the Scouts, Brownies, U3A, and others. Many of these groups had previously received Find Your Active small grant funding, which helped them either start or continue physical activity provision within the community, making it easier to involve them in events like this and continue to promote and share what they offer to help people find their active.
St Mary’s church was chosen as the venue due to its ample parking and free availability. Additionally, the project sought to help the church expand its community access and demonstrate the versatility of its building for other purposes.
There were a few barriers when planning and holding the event. These included:
- A lack of appropriate funding
- The car parking ended up being insufficient for the events footfall, therefore some residents struggled to access the event
- The wet weather hindered participation in some activities, such as Dunmow Orchestra, Scouts and UCAN
- Fixed pews in the church restricted the number of stalls and available space, making access difficult for people with mobility issues
- Activities such as yoga and tai-chi were deemed inappropriate for the church and had to be reconsidered
Key Learnings
Valuable Partnerships
Increased partnership work with Essex Wellbeing Services and referrals to activities.
Increased Awareness
Residents discovered activities in their local area which they weren’t aware of.
Word of Mouth
The Dementia Café linked with an instructor to provide a seated exercise class
Importance of Networking
SOSA dance class numbers have increased and organisations have gained confidence
The Dunmow Showcase helped to ignite community spirit once again and by leveraging local assets and building valuable partnerships, the event not only showcased a variety of opportunities in the local area, but also encouraged residents to discover and engage in new activities. Despite facing some challenges, the event's positive impact on community connections and awareness of local services was evident.
