Working together to improve their community
Thorplands is an estate on the outskirts of Northampton and is home to around 8,500 people. But it is also in the top 20% of deprived communities in the country, with serious problems involving crime, vandalism and intimidation. James O’Rourke decided to tackle these problems head on by bringing people together to improve their community and that is how the Thorplands and Thorpland Brook Community Co-operative was born.
Vital resources at a difficult time
The Community Co-operative provides – among many other things – a credit union, basic skills and IT training, activities for the estate’s Liberian refugee community, and police and councillor surgeries. But there’s always more that can be done.
“2006 was a difficult year,” says James O’Rourke “as the area was subject to a crime and anti-social behaviour partnership. But the Foundation’s funding supported many community groups and new community initiatives.”
Who are some of the Groups that benefited and how did their work make a difference?
- Thorplands United Football Club – who used the Community Co-operative Drop-in Shop as a resource to build up 15 football teams and provide a very low cost sporting activity for over 200 young people.
- Several adults with multiple and severe disabilities in the care of Scope – who were able to access our computers and the internet.
- The new Active Ageing Project run by Age Concern – which provided activities for older residents.
- The Women's Network – which offered skills training for women returning work.
- Volunteers from Weston Favell and District Credit Union – the first and oldest BME-led credit union in Northamptonshire use the facilities to offer low cost loans and savings accounts in an area of multiple deprivation.
