Wandsworth (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Edgecombe Hall Estate residents in Southfields attended a Wandsworth Council meet-and-greet, fostering community ties and discussing housing initiatives.
As part of our role as listening council, it gave them a chance to meet their neighbors and Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Housing.
The event came after nine new homes—two of which were wheelchair accessible—were completed on Beaumont Road as part of the Homes for Wandsworth program.
Aydin Dikerdem, Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
“The Homes for Wandsworth programme is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about enriching communities.
We’ve worked closely with the Edgecombe Hall Estate Residents’ Association to bring this event to life and provide an opportunity for residents to meet their neighbours and feel part of a thriving community.”
Local mum Donna said she thought the event was “a great idea”.
“Any community engagement is a good thing as there are a lot of people who wouldn’t know where to go to ask if they have any questions or comments,”
she added.
“It is always nice to have a real person to talk to.”
Kim, a 15-year resident of Edgecombe Hall Estate, expressed her satisfaction with the new development’s replacement of the old garages that once stood there.
She said that the new housing looks lovely. The garages had been neglected and the site wasn’t being used for anything. It’s positive to see where there was a gap that could be used for something to improve the area.
The development is a helpful addition to the neighborhood for the Muhammad family, who recently moved into one of the new residences on Beaumont Road.
Muhammad, who moved at the end of October with his wife Yasmeen and their two sons, says, “It’s fantastic.”
“The flat is very spacious and all the neighbours are very nice. It’s very peaceful here and everything is very easy. Plus, it’s a very friendly neighbourhood.”
The Open Door Community Centre in Keevil Drive, which regularly organizes community spaces drop-in sessions and provides a warm environment and complimentary hot beverages all winter long, served as the venue for the event.
The council’s dedication to hearing citizens’ issues was shown by the attendance of Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Housing.
In addition, the Wandsworth council stated that anyone interested in planning a similar event on their estate can get in touch with their local Residents’ Association or, if they are a council renter, the resident participation offer.
How did the event contribute to building a sense of community among residents?
In a number of ways, Wandsworth Council’s “meet and greet” event on the Edgecombe Hall Estate in Southfields helped people feel more linked to one another.
The gathering of the residents gave them a chance to socialize and engage with one another. Building bonds and a sense of community among community members depends on this social contact.
The event promoted community cohesion by involving citizens in a common experience. By fostering a network of supporting neighbors, these events might lessen feelings of isolation and improve general well being.
In addition to fostering trust, this open communication can motivate locals to take part in community projects.
By fostering shared memories and experiences, occasions such as these help strengthen the sense of communal identity. Residents may be motivated to collaborate on neighborhood problems and projects by this shared identity.