The ‘Beautiful St Brelade Project’ is a community engagement and support project which was commissioned by Deputy Helen Miles and the Parish of St. Brelade.

The vision of Beautiful St Brelade is to bring the community closer together, strengthen social bonds, promote community safety and harness the unique assets and talents of the Parish and its Parishioners.

The project was set up as a pilot project, focusing on three core aims:

• Building a Stronger Community
• Optimizing Parish Facilities for Community Use
• Enhancing Safety in St. Brelade

Flourishing communities are those where everyone has someone to talk to, neighbours look out for each other, people have pride and satisfaction with where they live and feel able to influence decisions about the area that they live. The Beautiful St Brelade pilot project set out to support the 11,000 strong Parish community to flourish through encouraging partnership and understanding and building upon the existing strengths of Parishioners and the assets of the community.

Over a 5-month period the Project Manager engaged with the Parish community focusing on ‘what’s strong, not what’s wrong’. This enabled an asset-based community development approach which moved away from undertaking a ‘needs assessment’ to recognising and leveraging existing assets within the Parish community. Through active listening events, learning conversations, community meetings, questionnaires and collaboration, the project has uncovered a diverse array of skills, talents, and resources in individuals, organisations and facilities that were previously underutilised but if mobilised could have a significant impact on the Parish and wider island community.

The engagement from Parishioners and the Parish Community with the project has been significant and very encouraging. The Project Manager was inundated with requests for meetings with over 50 held with individuals or small groups and the response to the adult and youth surveys was impressive with 290 Parishioners and 11 clubs/ organisations completing a questionnaire. It is evident from the engagement that Parishioners are passionate about their Parish, the majority like or love living in the Parish, they feel safe and in the most part feel that the amenities, services and facilities serve the Parish well.

Parishioners generally have high praise for the physical environment of the Parish which is a testament to the Connetable and his Municipality team. People were proud of the Parish environment and felt ‘spoilt’ by their access to the beaches, parks, cliff paths and railway walk and felt, in general, the Parish was well maintained.

Parishioners did feel that community spirit and Parish community life was lacking and not as good as it had been in years past. Consistently, throughout all the avenues of engagement, Parishioners highlighted the need for a ‘community hub’, increased engagement and communication from and by the Parish and more community events which focused on all ages and not just the senior citizens in the Parish.

There was a readiness by Parishioners to become involved in Parish life with Parishioners providing solutions to some of the concerns in addition to identifying what skills, talents and resources they could use to support the Parish or community. Over the past few months Parishioners have already started to mobilise and engage in community activity which was seen in the Parish response to Storm Ciaran where over 130 Parishioners signed up to clear debris, a Parishioner has launched a ‘Say Hello’ campaign, a Beautiful St Brelade Steering group has formed from Parish volunteers and a community garden project is being scoped. This initial activity has not only illuminated the vast potential within the Parish community but has also ignited a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility which the Parish should seek to mobilise and move forward.

It is evident from the feedback that:

• Parishioners love their Parish and are willing / able to be involved in Parish life.
• The Parish Hall does not necessarily need to organise all the Parish / Community events but does have a role in facilitating these to happen.
• Facilitation is needed to bring people together with similar interests to enable the cultivation of parish life.
• Additional communication is needed about what is going on in the Parish.
• Parishioners would like more engagement with the municipality of St Brelade
• Parishioners have a plethora of ideas, gifts, talents and skills, which if harnessed would naturally lead to increased Parish identity / community Spirit.

The Project Manager has made a number of recommendations based upon the engagement with Parishioners which have been collated in Appendix 1 of the report, however the key next steps for the Parish have been detailed below:

Community Builder.

Early in the Beautiful St Brelade project, it became clear that from the initial response of Parishioners and in line with well evidenced community development models such Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), Local Area Coordination (LAC) and social inclusion modelling, that the Parish would likely need resourcing in the form of a community builder or similar to continue on the work. The Project manager highlighted this to Deputy Miles and suggested that an application be made to the Jersey Community Foundation for funding to enable this to happen without any draw on existing Parish funds. After discussion between Deputy Miles and the Connetable, during which the latter expressed support for the proposal, a successful funding application was submitted. As a result, funding has been secured for the salary, training, and supervisory support of a Community Builder for a year starting from March 2024.

Recommendation

The Parish should allocate the funding from JCF into a ring-fenced fund and recruit a Community Builder as outlined in the Jersey Community Fund grant application. This is a pilot project, with initial funding for one year.

Community Hub

The project findings underscored the necessity for a Community Hub within the Parish. A widely supported proposal emerged suggesting that the building, which currently houses Les Creux Bowls Club, be acquired by the Parish to serve as a community hub following the conclusion of its tenancy in March 2024. In conjunction with Deputy Miles, additional inquiries were conducted as part of the project, leading to a preliminary agreement with Jersey Property Holdings to secure the clubhouse for one year starting from March, contingent upon securing the necessary funds for the tenancy. The Project Manager drafted a business case regarding Les Creux, which has been deliberated upon and submitted to the Constable for review, along with a request to present it at a Parish assembly for Parishioners’ endorsement to underwrite the startup costs of the project for one year using Parish funds.

It should be noted that the success of the Les Creux Community hub fundamentally lies in the recruitment of the Community Builder who could be based out of Les Creux and act as a Centre Manager.

Recommendation

The Parish should acquire Les Creux for the benefit of its Parishioners in the form of a Community Hub. The Hub could be overseen by the ‘Beautiful St Brelade’ Steering group supported by the Parish of St Brelade Community Builder.

Beautiful St Brelade Steering Group

As part of the Beautiful St Brelade project development, the Project Manager identified and brought together a ‘Beautiful St Brelade’ Steering group. The group’s membership is made up of passionate Parishioners who have identified themselves as willing to take on an active role in developing the ‘Beautiful St Brelade’ community project alongside Deputy Miles and Connetable Mike Jackson.

This group will be instrumental to ensuring that the project continues and that any further community work is developed for Parishioners and by Parishioners. The group have already begun the process of setting up as a charity to enable them to access further charitable funding for Parish Community Efforts.

Recommendation

The Parish is encouraged to sustain its backing for the Beautiful St. Brelade Steering Group by ensuring regular attendance by the Deputies and Constable. Additionally, it would be beneficial for the Parish to explore the possibility of investing in training sessions for these Parishioners in Asset-Based Community Development, Social Inclusion, and Safeguarding. Such training would not only enhance their capabilities but also bolster their potential to positively influence and contribute to the welfare of parishioners.

Parish of St Brelade Volunteer Community Support Team

Throughout the project and through discussions with Parish Staff, the Connétable, and Deputies, it became evident that there was once a flourishing Parish Community Support Team that has since dwindled and is now missed. Both Parish staff and elected members expressed a desire to revive this initiative, a sentiment shared by Parishioners themselves.

From the ‘Beautiful St. Brelade’ project, over 100 individuals have expressed eagerness to support the Parish in a voluntary capacity. In recent weeks, the Parish Hall has also received contact from additional individuals who are willing to volunteer.

To assist the Parish in establishing a new scheme, the project manager has completed all the necessary foundations for a successful scheme. This includes:

– Parish of St Brelade Volunteer Policy

– Parish of St Brelade Volunteer Agreement

– Parish of St Brelade Volunteer Onboarding

– Parish volunteering website via Better Impact

Recommendations

The Parish is urged to initiate the Parish of St. Brelade Volunteer Community Support Team, as there is a clear demand and demonstrated necessity for such an initiative. This will entail.

– Designation of a Parish staff member to lead and develop the team. The Community Builder, if employed by the Parish, would be an ideal candidate for this role.

– Hosting a formal launch event for the program.

– Implementation of processes and systems in accordance with the guidelines outlined by the Project Manager in Appendices 2-4.

– Development of a Training and Support System by the Parish for its volunteers.

Parish Meetings / Community Connectors

The ‘Beautiful St. Brelade’ Steering group will host a Parish Community Day in April 2024, with facilitation by the Project Manager. The intention is for this event to take place at Les Creux Bowls Club, providing Parishioners with an opportunity to understand its potential as a Community Hub.

During this day, the aim is to identify a network of ‘Community Connectors’ from within the Parish. These individuals will play a crucial role in supporting the Community Builder (or Parish staff) and the Beautiful St. Brelade Steering group in fostering further connections and relationships within the Parish community. Community Connectors serve as key figures who can bridge gaps and facilitate interactions among Parishioners or Parish neighbourhoods, thereby uniting people with common interests or goals into community action groups.

Recommendations

The Parish should continue to in foster the growth and facilitation of informal ‘community connectors’ and community action groups led by and for Parishioners, as these initiatives are vital for community building. These individuals and groups are most effectively supported by a Community Builder and the Beautiful St. Brelade Steering group to ensure that their ideas are nurtured into actionable plans.

By pursuing this approach, the Parish will empower parishioners and enable them to discover solutions from within the community, thereby fostering the development of ideas for enhancing Parish and community life.

It could be beneficial for the Parish to explore the possibility of investing in training sessions for these Parishioners in Asset-Based Community Development, Social Inclusion, and Safeguarding. Such training would not only enhance their capabilities but also bolster their potential to positively influence and contribute to the welfare of the Parish.

While the Project Manager engaged with numerous Parishioners, constraints on time limited outreach to marginalized groups, particularly the elderly, disabled, and other minority communities. This poses a risk of overlooking less visible assets within these groups, perpetuating power imbalances, and neglecting their needs. Moving forward, it is crucial for the Parish to foster inclusive and participatory processes, ensuring marginalized voices are heard and their needs addressed.

There’s also a risk of overestimating the community’s capacity, emphasizing self-sufficiency without external support. A collaborative approach is advocated, balancing community empowerment with external assistance when necessary. Addressing feedback on services and facilities is vital for aligning future developments with community needs. The project’s positive reception underscores its impact, but careful consideration of next steps is essential to avoid creating disillusionment or apathy among Parishioners if no further initiatives follow. The Parish must weigh its options strategically to maintain community engagement and foster a sense of heard and valued Parishioners.

The Parish of St. Brelade can be rightly proud of the feedback and accomplishments detailed in this report, revealing the Parish’s rich tapestry of skills, talents, and resources. The project’s primary objectives of strengthening community bonds and engagement, optimizing Parish facilities, and enhancing safety have guided the past four months of active engagement with parishioners.

This project has extended beyond listening to Parishioners voices; it has explored and recognized the diverse skills and experiences parishioner brings to the community. The commitment and enthusiasm displayed by Parishioners, coupled with the invaluable insights gained, lay the groundwork for a future where every Parishioners feels valued and empowered to contribute to the collective well-being of the Parish. ‘Beautiful St Brelade’ has not only illuminated the vast potential within our community but has ignited a spirit of collaboration and shared responsibility.

Moving forward, the recommendations provided in this report serve as a roadmap for the Parish to channel this momentum into sustained initiatives that further strengthen the communities’ bonds, optimize the facilities, and enhance safety.

It signals the beginning of a long-term, community-led approach that builds on ongoing investment in Parish-led services and aims to strike a balance between service delivery and community building. It emphasizes that this is not a short-term fix but a transformative journey, making St. Brelade a more interesting, healthy, safe, and welcoming place. As the project unfolds, it aspires to be an exemplar for other Parishes of the transformative power of communities, showcasing the positive change that collective action can bring.

The Parish of St Brelade has a great opportunity to build a legacy of a beautiful and united St. Brelade where all parishioners can flourish.