Written by Lisa Money
Before I joined Torbay Communities, I had never heard of Asset Based Community Development, or ABCD. Over recent weeks I have never been more aware of how applicable – and powerful – this approach could be in Torbay. In the last month I have been struck by the richness of what we have here, right on our doorstep.
In June alone I have connected with
- Healthwatch
- Local Motion
- Torbay Safer Communities Partnership
- The Torbay Arts In Schools Network (TASN)
- Torbay Family Hub
- The Kings Ash Community Partnership
- Multiple arms of the local authority including community research, young carers and the participation team
All of this as well as my ongoing connections with individual Imagine This… partner organisations.
In some way or another, all of these people are working to make Torbay a better place. They all bring something slightly different, each one doing great things.
What’s struck me is that together, we truly do have everything we need to make a Torbay a great place to grow up. When we come together the rich data capabilities of groups like Healthwatch and the local authority can add weight to the incredible work our voluntary and community groups are doing. By connecting those groups to one another and into other areas such as Family Hubs and arts partners we start to not only build on what we can do but to create increasingly unique experiences for children and young people, supporting them to be the best they can be, opening eyes, hearts and minds to the world of possibility ahead of them.
Now more than ever I can see – with crystal clarity – the awesome power we have right here. Recognising where we are all working to the same goals; trusting each other to bring passion and expertise where it’s needed most; revelling in the wins, big and small, of collaboration is all in our reach… it’s just a case of harnessing it.
